As the vibrant colors of spring become more prominent, the South Indian film industry prepares to dazzle audiences with a spectacular array of new releases. Brilliant movie creators from each of the Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, and Kannada cinema are coming to showcase their best craft in diverse genres. This upcoming festive season promises an eclectic mix of entertainment for cinephiles of all tastes. Explore the cinematic landscape of this March with these 12 unmissable releases. 12 Must-see South Indian Movies Premiering in March 2024 Por | Tamil | March 1, 2024 The action-drama is crafted in both Tamil and Hindi versions, titled 'Por' and 'Dange' respectively. 'Por' features master actor Arjun Das and Kalidas Jayram, with Sanchana Natarajan in a supporting role. In the Hindi version, Harshvardhan Rane and Ehan Bhatt lead, supported by Nikita Dutta. However, TJ Bhanu appears in both versions. Bejoy Nambiar, the director and co-writer of the film, also serves as a producer alongside Prabhu Antony and Madhu Alexander. The movie extends its narrative up to explore cultural identity, friendship complexities, and intense rivalry. Set against a vibrant college festival backdrop, it delves into the intricate dynamics between two friends whose paths diverge, sparking fierce competition. Read more: Amazon Prime Originals in March 2024: List of New Shows and Movies J Baby | Tamil | March 8, 2024 Directed by Suresh Mari, a former associate of Venkat Prabhu and Pa Ranjith, this drama film stars Dinesh, Urvashi, and Lollu Sabha Maaran. This Pa Ranjith production centers around Urvashi's portrayal of the titular character. 'J Baby' primarily explores the theme of motherhood, depicting the poignant journey of a son in search of his lost mother. Rebel | Tamil | March 22, 2024 The film, starring music composer and actor GV Prakash, is directed and written by debutant Nikesh. Set in the 1980s in Munnar, it portrays the story of a rebellious student, employing a non-linear screenplay to unravel the tales of the town's inhabitants.  Making her debut as a female lead is Mollywood actress Mamitha Baiju. The cast also includes Shalu Rahim, Venkitesh VP, Adhithya Baskar, Subramaniya Siva, Kalloori Vinoth, and Karunas. Read more: Netflix English Originals Coming in March 2024 Double iSmart | Telugu | March 8, 2024 This is a science fiction action film written and directed by Puri Jagannadh, who co-produced the film with Charmme Kaur under the banner of Puri Connects. The movie stars Ram Pothineni and Sanjay Dutt in the lead roles and serves as a sequel to the 2019 film, ‘iSmart Shankar’. The latest installment revolves around a plot where a deceased police officer's memories are transplanted into another's brain, with an assassin aiding the authorities. ‘Double iSmart’ is set to be released in multiple versions, including Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, and Hindi languages. Bhimaa | Telugu | March 8, 2024 This action drama film, directed by A. Harsha and written by Ajju Mahakali, features Gopichand in the titular role. Read more: Most Hyped Bollywood Films Releasing in February 2024 Set in a rural backdrop, Gopichand portrays a police officer who stands taller than the malevolent forces plaguing the land, dedicated to protecting the people through decisive action. The supporting roles in ‘Bhimaa’ are played by Priya Bhavani Shankar, Malvika Sharma, Nassar, and Vennela Kishore. Ravi Basrur was roped in for the music composition of the movie. Tillu Square | Telugu | March 29, 2024 This romantic crime comedy film is directed by Mallik Ram, with a screenplay by Ravi Anthony and Sidhu Jonnalagadda. This installment serves as the sequel to the 2022 film "DJ Tillu," featuring Siddhu Jonnalagadda reprising his role alongside Anupama Parameswaran as the female lead. As Tillu finds himself embroiled in a mysterious murder, the movie plot takes unexpected twists and turns. Read more: February 2024 Amazon Prime Originals: Most-Hyped Shows, Series, and Movies

As the South Indian film industry continues to captivate audiences globally, January 2024 is set to be a landmark month with an impressive lineup of films from Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, and Kannada cinema. These industries, known for their diverse offerings, are ready to enthrall film enthusiasts with a variety of genres and star-studded casts. This preview delves into the most anticipated South Indian films scheduled for release in January 2024, promising a rich tapestry of storytelling, performances, and cinematic experiences. 12 Must-Watch South Indian Movies to Kick Off the New Year Guntur Kaaram | Telugu | January 12 "Guntur Kaaram" (GK), a dynamic action film directed by Trivikram Srinivas and produced by Haarika & Hassine Creations, features a star-studded cast including Mahesh Babu, Sreeleela, and Meenakshi Chaudhary. The movie centers around GK, the ruler of the city's underground, who unexpectedly falls for a journalist committed to exposing hidden criminal networks. Thaman S's captivating music, combined with Manoj Paramahamsa's stunning cinematography and Naveen Nooli's seamless editing, creates a thrilling cinematic experience.  Read more: Netflix’s holiday highlights: Top English Christmas films and series of 2023 Hanu Man | Telugu | January 12 Prasanth Varma's "Hanu Man" introduces the Prasanth Varma Cinematic Universe (PVCU) with a new superhero narrative set in the mythical village of Anjanadri. Teja Sajja, Amritha Aiyer, and Varalaxmi Sarathkumar lead the cast in this innovative tale. Siddhartha Nuni's visual mastery and Arjun Janya's musical brilliance work in tandem to bring this extraordinary story to life, marking a significant moment in Telugu cinema.  Naa Saami Ranga | Telugu | January 24 "Naa Saami Ranga," directed by Vijay Binni, is a period-action drama featuring stars like Nagarjuna, Allari Naresh, and Raj Tarun. Adapted from the 2019 Malayalam hit "Porinju Mariam Jose," the narrative is set in the historical context of Thrissur during the 1980s and 1990s. Oscar-winner M. M. Keeravani composes the film's music, adding a layer of authenticity and depth to this adaptation, which draws from real-life events. Shivendra Dasaradhi's cinematography and Chota K. Prasad's editing further enhance the film's appeal. Read more: 10 Most Hyped Bollywood Films Releasing in December 2023 Lal Salaam | Tamil | January 12 Aishwarya Rajinikanth's "Lal Salaam," produced by Subaskaran Allirajah under the banner of Lyca Productions, is a sports drama that brings together Vishnu Vishal and Vikranth in lead roles. The film also features special appearances by megastar Rajinikanth and cricket legend Kapil Dev. The narrative focuses on the challenges faced by two cricketers amidst religious and communal tensions. A. R. Rahman's musical genius, Vishnu Rangasamy's engaging cinematography, and B. Pravin Baaskar's editing skills make "Lal Salaam" a must-watch for sports and drama enthusiasts. Captain Miller | Tamil | January Directed by Arun Matheswaran, "Captain Miller" is an action-adventure set in the tumultuous period of British India during the 1930s-1940s. The film, originally titled D47, features Dhanush in a challenging role, supported by a talented cast including Priyanka Arul Mohan and Shiva Rajkumar. Read more: 12 Must-watch South Indian Films Releasing in December 2023 G. V. Prakash Kumar's music, Siddhartha Nuni's cinematography, and Nagooran Ramachandran's editing combine to create a riveting tale of rebellion and resistance. Scheduled for a Pongal release, the film is expected to captivate audiences with its portrayal of historical struggles and heroism. Thangalaan | Tamil | January 26 "Thangalaan," directed by Pa. Ranjith and produced by K. E. Gnanavel Raja, stars Vikram in his 61st film role. This historical action drama, set against the backdrop of the British colonial era in India, focuses on the resistance led by a tribal leader against British exploitation. G. V. Prakash Kumar's score and A. Kishor Kumar's cinematography bring depth and authenticity to the narrative, which highlights the struggle for justice and independence during a pivotal time in Indian history.  Read more: Top Hyped Hollywood Films of 2024: The Blockbuster Bonanza

The end of the year is already here. The cinematic realms of Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, and Kannada promise to illuminate the silver screen. New directors and actors are also joining the ranks of the famous ones to add to this year-end movie season. This article presents a curated selection of 12 must-watch South Indian films releasing in December 2023.  12 Most Hyped South Indian Movies Coming in December 2023 Hi Nanna | Telugu | December 7, 2023 The debutant director Shouryuv is coming up with this romantic family drama written by himself. This co-production of Mohan Cherukuri (CVM), Murthy K. S. under Vyra Entertainments, and Dr. Vijender Reddy Teegala, stars Nani and Mrunal Thakur. The storyline follows Nana, a young woman struggling to find her place in the world, who discovers self-worth and love with the help of Nani. Hesham Abdul Wahab composed the music, Sanu Varghese handled the cinematography, and Praveen Anthony did all the edits. Gangs of Godavari | Telugu | December 8, 2023 Krishna Chaitanya directs the action and history film, with Sai Soujanya and Suryadevara Naga Vamsi producing. Fortune Four Cinemas, Sithara Entertainments, and Srikara Studios are behind the production. The cast includes Vishwak Sen, Anjali, Neha Shetty, Nassar from Baahubali, Sai Kumar, and Goparaju Ramana, with Nora Fatehi in a special appearance. Read more: 'Din-The Day' achieves massive viewership in just 3 days The storyline delves into the sand and water mafia in the 1980s Godavari region of Andhra Pradesh. Yuvan Shankar Raja handles the music, Anith Madhadi works on cinematography, and Navin Nooli takes charge of editing. Salaar: Part 1 – Ceasefire | Telugu | December 22, 2023 This much-anticipated action thriller is written and directed by Prashanth Neel, with Vijay Kiragandur as the producer. The film features Prabhas in the lead role, supported by Prithviraj Sukumaran, Shruti Haasan, Tinnu Anand, Jagapathi Babu,  Easwari Rao, Ramachandra Raju, and Sriya Reddy. The story revolves around a gang leader fulfilling a promise to his dying friend by confronting other criminal gangs. Ravi Basrur took care of the sound and music, and Bhuvan Gowda handled the cinematography. Salaar will be released in Telugu, along with dubbed versions in Kannada, Malayalam, Tamil, and Hindi. Read more: Top Hyped Hollywood Films of 2024: The Blockbuster Bonanza Annapoorani: The Goddess of Food | Tamil | December 1, 2023 In his directorial debut, Nilesh Krishnaa brings forth this drama jointly bankrolled by Jatin Sethi and R. Ravindran under Zee Studios, Trident Arts, and Naad SStudios. The lead cast includes Nayanthara, Jai, Sathyaraj, K. S. Ravikumar, Redin Kingsley, and Renuka. The narrative revolves around a girl born into an orthodox family aspiring to become India's premier chef, challenging conventions to realize her dream. Thaman S composes the score, Sathyan Sooryan supervises the cinematography, and Praveen Anthony oversees editing. Parking | Tamil | December 1, 2023 Directed by Ramkumar Balakrishnan, "Parking" unravels the mystery of daily parking woes, depicting the search for parking spaces around apartments and streets. The cast features Harish Kalyan, Indhuja Ravichandran, Prathana Nathan, MS Baskar, Ilavarasu, and Rama Rajendra. Sam CS provides the music, and the film is a production of Passion Studios and Soldiers' Factory. Jiju Sunny manages cinematography, while Philomin Raj takes on the editing duties. Read more: Farooki’s ‘Shonibar Bikel’ to be released on Indian OTT platform Sony LIV Conjuring Kannappan | Tamil | December 8, 2023 Helmed by Selvinraj Xavier, this horror comedy features a star-studded cast, including Sathish, Regina Cassandra, Nasser, VTV Ganesh, Saranya Ponvannan, Anand Raj, Namo Narayana, Elli AvrRam, Redin Kingsley, Jason Shah, Benedict Garrett, and Adithya Kathir. Conjuring Kannappan narrates the story of a man experiencing visions of ghosts in the isolated bungalow he recently moved into with his family. The plot encompasses dreams, death, and the protagonist finding himself trapped in a ghostly dreamscape. The horror comedy is bankrolled by AGS productions. Yuvan Shankar Raja handles the music, and S Yuva is the cinematographer.

South Indian movies have garnered pan-Indian attention ever since the mass hysteria grappled by the Bahubali franchise. South India aptly backed up the craze with the release of KGF and Pushpa coming from two different industries with a larger-than-life story and mass commercial appeal.  As a result, the excitement surrounding South Indian releases isn’t limited to the belt audiences anymore, rather it has garnered a pan-Indian and global fan following. With that said, here are 10 of the exciting South Indian movies coming to theaters and the OTT platform in March 2023.  Best Upcoming South Indian Movies in March 2023  The South Indian film industry is predominantly divided into Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Malayalam industries. We will cover releases from each of these industries in the upcoming month of March  Pathu Thala – Tamil – 30th March  Pathu Thala follows the story of an undercover cop posing as an assassin working for a crime boss. What follows is a neo-noir action thriller film with twists in every scale imaginable. Pathu Thala is the remake of the 2017 Kannada film Mufti starring Sriimurali.  Pathu Thala stars Silambarasan, Gautham Karthik, and Priya Bhavani Shankar in lead roles. The film is directed by Obeli N. Krishna with music by A.R. Rahman. The film is scheduled for a theatrical release on 30th March 2023.  Read More: 2022 Highest-Grossing South Indian Movies. Idam Porul Eval – Tamil – 18th March  The last one on our list is from the Tamil industry titled Idam Porul Eval. The movie stars Vijay Sethupathi and Vishnu Vishal in lead roles. Not much is known about the movie other than that it is shot mostly in the hills of Madurai and Thandikodi in a remote tribal landscape. Recently movies like Pushpa have garnered accolades as they told a story from a similar raw and rural perspective.  Idam Porul Eval is directed by Seenu Ramasamy who collaborated with Vijay Sethupathi after 10 years. The music for the movie has been composed by Yuvan Shankar Raja. The theatrical release date for Idam Porul Eval is set for 18th March 2023.  Rudhran – Tamil – 27th March  A rowdy hero who takes a stance against the local gang and takes them out one by one. This is the basic premise of the Raghava Lawrence and Priya Bhavani Shankar starrer Rudhran. Tamil movies have always been known for their larger-than-life portrayal of the heroes and Rudhran will be no different. This movie is going to be no less than a fan service for the fans of Raghava.  Read More: 5 Must-Watch Movies of Rajinikanth Rudhran is directed by kathiresan who is also the executive producer of the film. The music of Rudhran has been composed by GV Prakash Kumar. The film will have a theatrical release on 27th March 2023. 

At least 18 people have died a day after torrential rains swept through villages and flooded roads in the southern Indian state of Kerala. Officials said rescuers recovered the bodies in two of the worst-hit districts, Kottayam and Idukki, where the heavy downpours triggered massive landslides, according to the Press Trust of India (PTI) news agency. The National Disaster Response Force and the Indian Army deployed teams to help with rescue efforts as several are still feared to be missing. Also read: 9 dead as rains trigger landslides in India On Saturday, when the heavy rains began, television reports showed people wading through chest-deep waters to rescue passengers from a bus that was nearly submerged by the torrents flooding the roads. The state chief minister, Pinarayi Vijayan, urged residents on Sunday to exercise extreme caution even though the intense rainfall has since subsided. Over a 100 relief camps have been set up, he added. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he spoke to the chief minister and added that authorities were working to rescue those affected. “I pray for everyone's safety and well-being,” he said in a tweet. Also read: Bangkok braces for possible flooding as rains continue In 2018, Kerala suffered catastrophic floods when heavy downpours amid the monsoon season killed 223 people and drove hundreds of thousands from their homes.

At least 17 people died and more than ten injured in a road accident in India's southern state of Tamil Nadu early on Thursday morning, confirmed a local police official to Xinhua over phone.

A leopard that ran into a house and sparked a frantic search and a frenzy of attention in southern India on Monday has been caught and tranquilized.