9 South Movies Releasing in Theaters This Week: Suriya, Trisha’s Karuppu to Tovino Thomas, Basil Joseph’s Athiradi

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. Karuppu

• Cast: Suriya, Trisha Krishnan, RJ Balaji, Indrans, Natty Subramaniam, Swasika, Sshivada, Anagha Maaya Ravi, Supreeth Reddy, Yogi Babu, Mansoor Ali Khan
• Director: RJ Balaji
• Genre: Fantasy Action Drama
• Runtime: 2 hours and 30 minutes
• Language: Tamil
• Release Date: May 14, 2026

Karuppu explores the story of underprivileged people fighting for their rights while placing their trust in the law. However, when the very system meant to protect them becomes the source of their suffering, the deity Karuppu Swamy takes human form to help them and put an end to injustice in society. The film explores how he fulfills his mission and protects those in need.

2. Mr Work From Home

• Cast: Thrigun A, Payal Radhakrishna Shenoy, Anish Kuruvilla, Satya Krishnan, Harsha Vardhan, Sivaji Raja
• Director: Madhudeep Chelikaani
• Genre: Romantic Comedy Drama
• Runtime: 2 hours and 9 minutes
• Language: Telugu
• Release Date: May 15, 2026

Set against a rural-urban backdrop, Mr Work From Home follows a man who believes working from home is the ultimate solution for success and comfort. However, as his professional life moves indoors, unexpected challenges arise in his family, relationships, and personal beliefs. What begins as convenience soon turns into a conflict between ambition and responsibility, technology and tradition, and self-growth and social roots.

3. Shivam Shaivam: The 1989 File Case

• Cast: Dinesh Kumar Kadhambala, Ansu Ponnachan, Katta Jayanth Kumar, Vemuluri Rajashekar, Alluri Aniketh
• Director: Sai Shreeniwas MK
• Genre: Mythological Thriller Drama
• Runtime: 2 hours and 6 minutes
• Language: Telugu
• Release Date: May 15, 2026

Set in the village of Lanka, Shivam Shaivam: The 1989 File Case questions the illusion of freedom by revealing a land still scarred by violence and oppression. As faith is twisted into bloodshed and humanity descends into brutality, divine karma emerges as a guiding force, leading one soul back toward righteousness.

4. Shikhandi

• Cast: Yuvraj Gowda, Khyathei, Raj Deepak Shetty, Nikhil Maliyakkal, Bala Rajwadi, Nikitha Swamy
• Director: Gurumurthy V
• Genre: Adventure Fantasy Thriller
• Runtime: 2 hours and 18 minutes
• Language: Kannada
• Release Date: May 15, 2026

Shikhandi follows an orphan who crosses paths with a ruthless man feared for his terrifying and unconventional methods of destruction. As their confrontation escalates, the orphan awakens mysterious invisible powers that begin to guide his fight. However, the battle runs deeper than the present, stirring the ancient legend of Shikhandi and unleashing a reborn vengeance that binds the past and present together.

5. Sattendru Maarudhu Vaanilai

• Cast: Jai, Meenashi Govindarajan, Yogi Babu, Adithya Kathir, Ramachandra Raju, Sriman
• Director: Babu Vijay
• Genre: Romantic Drama
• Runtime: 2 hours
• Language: Tamil
• Release Date: May 15, 2026

Sattendru Maarudhu Vaanilai narrates the story of a carefree orphan and a runaway minister’s daughter who marry on impulse. Soon, their love is tested by financial struggles and powerful enemies, ranging from corrupt officials to jealous rivals. As they navigate these challenges together, they uncover hidden truths and discover that love can endure even in the face of the darkest threats.

6. Harudu

• Cast: Venkat, Hebah Patel, Ali Basha, Saloni Aswani, Sreehari Paila, Ravi Varma
• Director: Raj Thalluri
• Genre: Action Drama
• Runtime: 2 hours and 10 minutes
• Language: Telugu
• Release Date: May 15, 2026

Harudu follows a complex web of corruption and revenge, where a group of unsuspecting thieves inadvertently gets entangled in a major investigation. At the center of it all is a righteous and intense police officer taking on a ruthless adversary.

7. Mayan

• Cast: Bindhu Madhavi, Vinod Mohan, Pia Bajpai, John Vijay, Aadukalam Naren
• Director: J Rajesh Kannan
• Genre: Fantasy Thriller
• Runtime: 1 hour and 53 minutes
• Language: Tamil
• Release Date: May 15, 2026

Mayan follows a software engineer who learns that he is the reincarnation of Lord Shiva and is destined to bring about the end of the world in just 13 days. As he struggles with this revelation, he must decide whether to accept his fate or fight to change it.

8. Sherr

• Cast: Kiran Raj, Surekha Venkatesh, Chris Rodrigue, Shobhraj, Bala Rajwadi, Tanisha Kuppanda
• Director: Prasiddh
• Genre: Action Crime Drama
• Runtime: 2 hours and 10 minutes
• Language: Kannada
• Release Date: May 15, 2026

Set in a gritty marketplace, Sherr follows orphans raised by a kind-hearted guardian amid rising gang conflicts. When a suspicious death reveals an organ trafficking racket, Shivu and Bhuvana uncover a dangerous conspiracy, battling crime, corruption, and betrayal in a high-stakes fight for justice and truth.

9. Athiradi

• Cast: Tovino Thomas, Basil Joseph, Vineeth Sreenivasan, Riya Shibu, Shaan Rahman, Darshana Rajendran, Zarin Shihab, Vishnu Agasthya
• Director: Arun Anirudhan
• Genre: Action Comedy
• Runtime: 2 hours and 37 minutes
• Language: Malayalam
• Release Date: May 14, 2026

Athiradi narrates the story of Samkutty, an energetic student who attempts to revive a long-banned college festival, sparking a massive rivalry with local strongman Sree Kuttan. As the two hot-heads lock horns, a lawyer also enters the picture, turning every moment into chaos.

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

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