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A wave of bold storytelling swept through the industry in 2025, as filmmakers from Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, and Kannada pushed South Indian cinema to new heights. It has been the movie year of suspense and thrills. As the months unfolded, the most loved genre was blended with action and engaging drama. Let’s take a look at the list of top 10 South Indian thrillers released in 2025 that shaped the year’s most exciting moments. Top 10 South Indian Thriller Films Released in 2025 So Far . Kaantha | Tamil | November 14, 2025 | IMDB: 8.5 Fictionalized on the life of M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar, ‘Kaantha’ is a joint production of Wayfarer Films and Spirit Media. The producers are Rana Daggubati, Prashanth Potluri, Jom Varghese, and Dulquer Salmaan. Besides directing the thriller film, Selvamani Selvaraj also wrote it with Thamizh Prabha. Samuthirakani, Dulquer Salmaan, Ravindra Vijay, Bhagyashri Borse, Gayathrie Shankar, and Rana Daggubati lead the cast. Read more: Golden Globes 2026 announces full list of film and TV nominees Set in 1950s Madras, the narrative follows famed director Ayya and his tense bond with film star T. K. Mahadevan, whose growing ego begins to disrupt their work. When a renamed film spirals into chaos after an on-set murder, Inspector Devaraj launches an investigation with Ayya and Mahadevan as the main suspects. Kantara: (A Legend) Chapter 1 | Kannada | October 2, 2025 | IMDB: 8.3 Backed by Chaluve Gowda and Vijay Kiragandur for Hombale Films, ‘Kantara: (A Legend) Chapter 1’ boasts Rishab Shetty as its writer and director. Long before the events of Kantara (2022), this tale travels back to ancient times, exploring the mysterious world of Buta Kola. It’s an old Hindu tradition filled with legends, village protectors, and a long-standing family struggle that shaped the story told in the original film. Headlining the movie cast are Rishab Shetty, Jayaram, Gulshan Devaiah, Rukmini Vasanth, and Pramod Shetty. Read more: 'Raat Akeli Hai: Bansal Murders' trailer brings back Nawazuddin as Inspector Jatil Rekhachithram | Malayalam | January 9, 2025 | IMDB: 7.9 In the forest area of Malakkappara, Officer Vivek returns to duty and begins looking into the strange death of Rajendran, a man who confessed to a hidden crime from years earlier. The case grows even more puzzling when a young girl suddenly goes missing near the shooting spot of the film Kathodu Kathoram. With this plot, ‘Rekhachithram’ is a joint production of Kavya Film Company and Ann Mega Media. Jofin T. Chacko takes on the directorial role, while John Manthrikal was in charge of the screenplay based on a story written by Ramu Sunil. Anaswara Rajan and Asif Ali embody the protagonists, supported by Manoj K. Jayan, Jagadish, Siddique, Saikumar, Indrans, and Harisree Ashokan. Thudarum | Malayalam | April 25, 2025 | IMDB: 7.5 Bankrolled by M. Renjith through Rejaputhra Visual Media, ‘Thudarum’ flourishes with the direction of Tharun Moorthy, who contributed to the screenplay with K. R. Sunil. In the peaceful hill town of Ranni, a taxi driver named Shanmughan cares deeply for his old but beloved Ambassador car. When unexpected trouble arrives, he faces a tough challenge that shows how much courage and heart one person can hold. Read more: Top 10 Hindi Movies Debuting December 2025: Bollywood’s Year-End Blast Mohanlal and Shobana portray the lead characters. Binu Pappu, Prakash Varma, Farhaan Faasil, Amritha Varshini, Aarsha Chandini Baiju, Maniyanpilla Raju, Thomas Mathew, Irshad Ali, Krishna Prabha, and Sangeeth Prathap round out the supporting roles. Bazooka | Malayalam | April 10, 2025 | IMDB: 7.5 Featuring Gautham Vasudev Menon and Mammootty in leads, ‘Bazooka’ takes shape under the writing and directing of Deeno Dennis in his directorial debut. The ensemble also includes Divya Pillai, Sidharth Bharathan, Iswarya Menon, and Binu Pappu, with Babu Antony, Shine Tom Chacko, and Arattu Annan appearing in cameos. The action thriller follows a clever police officer and a sharp-minded businessman who join forces to stop a dangerous criminal. Their mission turns into a tense cat-and-mouse chase filled with tricky clues and bold strategies as they try to outsmart a ruthless psychopath. Dolwin Kuriakose, Jinu V. Abraham, Vikram Mehra, and Siddharth Anand Kumar helm the production, bringing together Yoodlee Films and Theatre of Dreams. Read more: 12 must-watch films this December

South Indian cinema is poised for a spectacular April 2025, where Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, and Kannada industries converge in a cinematic symphony. This month’s premieres are a bold mix of crime, action, fantasy, and laugh riots. These films are powered by stellar casts, igniting fan fervor. Let’s unravel the 12 must-watch titles ready to make waves across audiences. 12 Most Anticipated South Indian Movies Debuting this April . Ghaati / Telugu Crime / April 18, 2025 Starring Anushka Shetty and Vikram Prabhu, this crime drama excels with Krish Jagarlamudi as director and Chintakindi Srinivas Rao as writer. A victim-turned-criminal rises to legendary status in this gripping tale of survival. An empowered woman, driven by circumstance, finds herself entangled in the perilous world of the weed trade. The background score and songs come from Nagavelli Vidya Sagar. Read more: Polish PM offers Jesse Eisenberg military training for James Bond role Credit for producing the action movie goes to Yeduguru Rajeev Reddy and Saibabu Jagarlamudi under First Frame Entertainments. The Telugu film is gearing up for a grand theatrical debut, accompanied by dubbed versions in Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, and Hindi. Chaurya Paatam / Telugu Crime / April 18, 2025 Helmed by Nikhil Gollamari, this heist movie thrives under the creative writing of Karthik Gattamneni, who also oversees its cinematography. The storyline follows four reckless men who set their sights on looting Dhanapaali, India's most peaceful, crime-free village. But as their heist unravels, they stumble upon the village’s hidden dark side. Read more: Rakesh Roshan steps down as director of Krrish 4, hints at new leadership Indhra Ram embodies the lead roles, while Payal Radhakrishna, Rajeev Kanakala, Mast Ali, Anji Valguman, Supriya Aysola, and Edward Stevenson Pereji portray the other characters. Featuring music composed by Davzand, the comedy movie boasts V Chudamani and NVSS Suresh as co-producers and Trinadha Rao Nakkina as the producer. Kannappa / Telugu Historical Drama / April 25, 2025 Bankrolled by Mohan Babu, the action movie Kannappa is shaped by the direction of Mukesh Kumar Singh. Besides scripting for the film, Vishnu Manchu crafts its screenplay while also starring in the titular role. This fantasy epic brings to life the legend of Kannappa, the devoted follower of Shiva, rooted in Hindu mythology. Read more: David Warner set for Telugu film debut with cameo in ‘Robinhood’ Mohan Babu, Arpit Ranka, R. Sarathkumar, Kaushal Manda, Devaraj, Rahul Madhav, Brahmanandam, Mukesh Rishi, Raghu Babu, Madhoo, and Preity Mukhundhan headline the supporting cast. Akshay Kumar (his Telugu film debut), Kajal Aggarwal, Prabhas, and Mohanlal appear in important cameo roles. With Stephen Devassy composing the music, this historical epic is brought to life by AVA Entertainment and 24 Frames Factory. Apart from the Telugu version, the film will also be available in English, Hindi, Kannada, Tamil, and Malayalam dubs. Test / Tamil Sports / April 4, 2025 During a historic international cricket test match in Chennai, the lives of three individuals intersect. It forces them into a web of choices that will alter their fates forever. Read more: Now Streaming: ‘Moana 2,’ John Mulaney’s Show, ‘Confessions of Octomom,’ Amanda Seyfried’s ‘Long Bright River,’ & ‘Dope Thief’ With this plot, ‘Test’ stars Nayanthara, R. Madhavan, Meera Jasmine, and Siddharth, along with Nassar and Kaali Venkat. It marks Jasmine's return to Tamil cinema after a 10-year hiatus. In this sports drama, S. Sashikanth makes his directorial debut, while co-writing the script with Suman Kumar. Shakthisree Gopalan takes charge of the musical score.  The production credit goes to Sashikanth and Chakravarthy Ramachandra under YNOT Studios. The Tamil movie is slated for Netflix with dubbed versions in Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, and Kannada. Read more: Second season of ‘Myself Allen Swapan’ to premiere on Chorki this Eid Good Bad Ugly / Tamil Thriller / April 10, 2025 Scored by G. V. Prakash Kumar, the action film Good Bad Ugly thrives with the director Adhik Ravichandran, who also wrote it with Ravi Kandasamy and Harish Manikandan. The narrative follows a feared don who seeks to leave behind his violent past for a peaceful life with his family. However, the shadows of his ruthless history refuse to let go, pulling him back into the world he longs to escape. Ajith Kumar assumes the protagonist’s role, while Prabhu, Trisha Krishnan, Prasanna, Sunil, Arjun Das, Rahul Dev, Shine Tom Chacko, and Yogi Babu play the supporting roles. Marked as the first Tamil-language production of Mythri and T-Series, this comedy film is slated for a theatrical rollout in Hindi, Telugu, Malayalam, and Kannada. Read more: Amazon Prime Video Original Lineup for April 2025: Most Hyped Web Series and Films Idly Kadai / Tamil Drama / April 10, 2025 The writer, director, and producer of the drama film Idly Kadai is none other than Dhanush, who also plays the central character. Nithya Menen stars as the female lead with the additional cast of Arun Vijay, Rajkiran, Prakash Raj, and Shalini Pandey. The story follows a man from a catering background who unexpectedly gets the opportunity to coach a boxer. As he navigates this new path, he shapes the journey in his own unique way. The film is produced by Dhanush’s Wunderbar Films and co-produced by Aakash Baskaran’s Dawn Pictures. It is enriched by the music of G. V. Prakash Kumar. Read more: Top 10 Netflix English Originals to Watch in April 2025: Movies, Series, and Shows