9 South Films to Watch in Theaters This Week: Mohanlal’s Drishyam 3, Siju Wilson's Dose to Shree Nandu, Avika Gor’s Ugly Story

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. Drishyam 3

• Cast: Mohanlal, Meena, Siddique, Asha Sharath, Murali Gopy, Ansiba Hassan, Esther Anil, KB Ganesh Kumar, Veena Nandakumar, Santhi Mayadevi
• Director: Jeethu Joseph
• Genre: Crime Drama Thriller
• Runtime: 2 hours and 39 minutes
• Language: Malayalam
• Release Date: May 21, 2026

After the events of the first two films, Drishyam 3 revisits the story of Georgekutty and his family. Despite protecting his integrity and loved ones in the previous films, Georgekutty remains deeply disturbed, questioning whether everything is truly safe and struggling with emotional turmoil.

As doubts about their survival resurface, Georgekutty once again finds himself dealing with people who are after him, forcing him to fight to protect his family.

2. Ramani Kalyanam

• Cast: Deepshikha Chandran, Surya Vashistta, Srinivasa Reddy, Chaitu Jonnalagadda, Shyamala
• Director: Vijay Adireddy
• Genre: Romantic Drama
• Runtime: 2 hours and 10 minutes
• Language: Telugu
• Release Date: May 22, 2026

Ramani Kalyanam traces the lives of Raj and Sanjana, two individuals shaped and scarred by their pasts. Their carefully built routines begin to unravel when they repeatedly cross paths in moments that swing between unexpected warmth and piercing distance.

As their present-day interactions deepen, old wounds and buried perspectives on life resurface. The film explores how a rekindled acquaintance can challenge, heal, and redefine two people carrying the weight of who they used to be.

3. September 21

• Cast: Pravin Singh Sisodia, Priyanka Upendra, Zarina Wahab, Amit Behl
• Director: Karen Kshiti Suvarna
• Genre: Drama
• Runtime: 2 hours and 4 minutes
• Language: Kannada
• Release Date: May 22, 2026

September 21 revolves around a young man caught between his personal ambitions and his responsibilities toward his family. It focuses on his father’s struggle with Alzheimer’s disease and highlights the intense mental and physical toll the condition takes on both patients and their families.

4. First Time

• Cast: Saurabh Dhingra, Ajay Rathnam, Annapurnamma, Anicka Vikhraman, Mime Gopi, Shivakumar Ramachandravarapu
• Director: Hemanth Ippalapalli
• Genre: Mystery Sci-fi Thriller
• Runtime: 2 hours and 10 minutes
• Language: Telugu
• Release Date: May 22, 2026

First Time follows two ambitious engineering students whose lives change when two aliens land on Earth on a covert mission to propagate their species. The extraterrestrials soon cross paths with supernatural forces and long-kept secrets.

5. Kuchuku

• Cast: Arjun Chauhan, Priyadarshni Gowda, Basavaraj Kumar, Psych Shivaji, Shanker Ashwath, Ramesh Pandit
• Director: Mysuru Raju
• Genre: Drama Thriller
• Runtime: 2 hours and 30 minutes
• Language: Kannada
• Release Date: May 22, 2026

Kuchuku follows two friends, Ramanna and Vishakanta, whose bond is shattered by unforeseen circumstances, turning their friendship into hatred. Despite the fallout, their sons remain inseparable childhood friends. However, jealousy and conflict soon begin to strain their relationship.

As tensions rise, the broken friendship between Ramanna and Vishakanta puts their children at risk, leaving their fate uncertain.

6. Purushaha

• Cast: Pavan Kalyan Battula, Saptagiri, Rajkumar Kasireddy, Vennela Kishore, Rayancha Kokkura
• Director: Veeru Vulavala
• Genre: Family Drama
• Runtime: TBA
• Language: Telugu
• Release Date: May 22, 2026

Purushaha follows Govind, a family therapist who strongly believes in communication, only to find his own marriage crumbling when his wife Kamala files for divorce, along with the wives of his three closest friends. As the four men navigate heartbreak, buried secrets, and difficult truths, Govind must practice what he preaches to win back the woman he loves most.

7. Asurana Kaiyalli Parijata

• Cast: Karthik GN, Yash Shetty, Rajini Gowda, Tejashvi Vignesh, Pradeep Poojari, Prabhik Mogaveer
• Director: Tejashvi Vignesh
• Genre: Romantic Crime Thriller
• Runtime: 2 hours and 2 minutes
• Language: Kannada
• Release Date: May 22, 2026

Asurana Kaiyalli Parijata narrates the story of Rahul, a successful ad agency owner who falls in love with Rashmi. However, his trusted employee Sharma becomes dangerously obsessed with her. As jealousy, manipulation, and murder tear their lives apart, Rashmi uncovers the disturbing truth that Rahul’s possessive love was the real force behind the chaos, revealing him to be the true Asura.

8. Dose

• Cast: Siju Wilson, Ashwin Kumar, Drishya Reghunath, Krisha Kurup, Jagadish, Rony David
• Director: Abhilash R Nair
• Genre: Suspense Thriller
• Runtime: TBA
• Language: Malayalam
• Release Date: May 22, 2026

Dose follows a doctor who uncovers a suspicious death at his hospital, triggering a dangerous chain reaction of secrets and lies.

9. Ugly Story

• Cast: Shree Nandu, Avika Gor, Ravi Teja Mahadasyam, Sivaji Raja
• Director: Pranava Swaroop
• Genre: Romantic Drama Thriller
• Runtime: 2 hours and 3 minutes
• Language: Telugu
• Release Date: May 22, 2026

Ugly Story explores the dark psychological consequences of obsessive attachment and toxic relationships. It follows Neha, whose life shifts from peace to fear after meeting Karthik, whose presence gradually becomes increasingly controlling.

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

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