9 South Films to Watch in Theaters This Week: Arjun Sarja’s Blast, Karakkam to Antony Varghese Pepe’s Kattalan

South Indian cinema has an exciting slate of films lined up for theatrical release this week. If you’re wondering what to watch, here’s a list of upcoming releases.

9 South Films to watch in theaters this week

1. Kattalan

• Cast: Antony Varghese Pepe, Dushara Vijayan, Siddique, Jagadish, Kabir Duhan Singh, Sunil, Anson Paul, Parth Tiwari, Harishankar Narayanan, Hanan Shah
• Director: Paul George
• Genre: Action Thriller
• Runtime: 2 hours
• Language: Malayalam
• Release Date: May 28, 2026

Kattalan follows a fierce hunter trapped in the brutal world of illegal poaching and ivory smuggling. The film centers on an intense cartel vengeance and a rugged fight for survival.

2. Lakshmikanthan Kolai Vazhakku

• Cast: Vetri Sudley, Rangaraj Pandey, Brigida Saga, Saravanan, Lollu Sabha Maaran, Lizzie Antony
• Director: Dayal Padmanabhan
• Genre: Crime Drama
• Runtime: 2 hours and 17 minutes
• Language: Tamil
• Release Date: May 28, 2026

Lakshmikanthan Kolai Vazhakku revolves around the real-life story of C.N. Lakshmikanthan, a Tamil journalist and publisher known for yellow journalism, who met a tragic end in 1944.

3. Sandigdham

• Cast: Nihal Kumar, CH Arjun, Priya Deshapag, Kajal Tiwari, Naveenraj Sankarapu
• Director: Parda Saradhi Kommoju
• Genre: Mystery Crime Thriller
• Runtime: 2 hours and 28 minutes
• Language: Telugu
• Release Date: May 29, 2026

Sandigdham follows a secret officer who returns to his hometown to handle a mysterious case. As he dives deeper into his work, his professional duties collide with unexpected personal relationships and long-buried hometown secrets. The further he digs, the more the lines between his past and present begin to blur, unraveling shocking twists and hidden truths.

4. Dodmansa

• Cast: R Sharath Krishna, Reshmaa Lingrajappa, Huli Kartik, Bala Rajwadi, Shilpa Shivakumar
• Director: R Sharath Krishna
• Genre: Romantic Action Drama
• Runtime: 2 hours and 20 minutes
• Language: Kannada
• Release Date: May 29, 2026

Dodmansa follows Shivu, a village boy who dreams of becoming an actor. He moves to Bangalore and works as an auto driver alongside his friend. He falls for Sneha, an aspiring actress, while Devu, a struggling filmmaker, casts them as the leads in his first film. Their journey sparks conflict with the producer and puts their dreams to the ultimate test.

5. Mareechika

• Cast: Ashwin J Viraj, Regena Cassandrra, Anupama Parameswaran
• Director: Satish Kasetty
• Genre: Mystery Crime Thriller
• Runtime: 2 hours and 18 minutes
• Language: Telugu
• Release Date: May 29, 2026

Set in Hyderabad, Mareechika follows the events surrounding the disappearance of a woman. The story takes a mysterious turn when it is revealed that a man, Sanju, and his best friend Venkat Laxmi might be responsible for her disappearance due to their own selfish motives. They must now face the consequences of their actions.

6. Mruthyudevate

• Cast: Mahin Kuber, Sarika Rao, Dayana Jessika, Hima Mohan, Vinaya Prasad
• Director: Naveen Mahadev E
• Genre: Suspense Thriller
• Runtime: 2 hours
• Language: Kannada
• Release Date: May 29, 2026

Mruthyudevate follows a fearless woman who takes it upon herself to punish cruel men, becoming a relentless force against evil.

7. Karakkam

• Cast: Sreenath Bhasi, Femina George, Sidharth Bharathan, Jean Paul Lal, Abhiram Radhakrishnan, Biju Kuttan
• Director: Subhash Lalitha Subrahmanian
• Genre: Musical Horror Comedy
• Runtime: 1 hour and 44 minutes
• Language: Malayalam
• Release Date: May 28, 2026

Karakkam follows two reckless youngsters who uproot five brass crosses from a church cemetery on New Year’s Eve. Their carefree lives soon descend into nightmarish chaos when five restless spirits begin haunting them, forcing them to embark on a desperate journey to rid themselves of the ghosts.

8. Vibho 

• Cast: Vijay Bolenath, Dhatri
• Director: Vajranabh Natraaj Maharshi
• Genre: Supernatural Crime Thriller
• Runtime: 2 hours and 35 minutes
• Language: Telugu
• Release Date: May 31, 2026

Vibho follows a series of deaths in Bowda village that occur strictly on Amavasya (new moon) nights. As it continues for 20 years, fueling fear and superstition among the locals, a photographer and a forensic expert step in to examine the clues and uncover the truth behind the mysterious demise.

9. Blast

• Cast: Arjun Sarja, Preity Mukhundhan, Abhirami Gopikumar, John Kokken, Vivek Prasanna, Arjun Chidambaram
• Director: Subash K Raj
• Genre: Action Thriller
• Runtime: 2 hours and 24 minutes
• Language: Tamil
• Release Date: May 28, 2026

Blast follows a humble, middle-class family skilled in martial arts whose lives are put in danger after crossing paths with ruthless people. Forced into a deadly conflict, they must stand together and fight against overwhelming odds to protect themselves.

The above-mentioned films are among the South Indian releases slated to hit the big screens this week.

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