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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

Marking a significant moment in Dhanush’s film career, ‘Kuberaa’ has sparked fresh conversations across the industry. Released on June 20, 2025, this political thriller film has quickly ignited interest among fans and analysts alike. With growing buzz around its storyline and star power, its box office journey is drawing widespread attention. Let’s explore how this much-anticipated release is performing where it matters most – at the ticket counters. About Kuberaa Starring Dhanush, this crime drama boasts the directorial mark of Sekhar Kammula. He also co-wrote its screenplay with Chaithanya Pingali. Backed by Amigos Creations and Sree Venkateswara Cinemas LLP, the movie was simultaneously shot in Tamil and Telugu. In this star-studded production, Dhanush’s co-stars were Nagarjuna, Rashmika Mandanna, Jim Sarbh, Sunaina, Dalip Tahil, and Nassar. Devi Sri Prasad’s music intensifies the emotional and dramatic arcs. Notably, Dhanush lent his voice to the catchy track ‘Poyiraa Mama’ in Telugu and its Tamil counterpart ‘Poyivaa Nanba’. Read more: Amazon Prime Video Originals' Lineup For July 2025 The plot centres on a beggar’s transformation as he navigates moral complexities in his pursuit of wealth. The digital streaming rights were secured by the renowned OTT, Amazon Prime Video. Kuberaa’s Box Office Performance A steady and confident start at the box office marked the arrival of ‘Kuberaa’. It opens with a solid Rs 14.75 crore India net on Day 1. The film’s momentum was primarily driven by its performance in the Tamil and Telugu markets. Telugu audiences contributed Rs 10 crore, while the Tamil version followed with Rs 4.5 crore. According to Sacnilk, the movie recorded a global first-day collection of Rs 27.50 crore. This marked the highest opening for Dhanush in his career, surpassing ‘Raayan’ (2024), which had debuted at Rs 23 crore. ‘Kuberaa’s Day 1 record included Rs 14.75 crore from the Indian net market and Rs 10.15 crore from overseas territories. Smaller contributions came from Kannada (Rs 2 lakh) and Hindi (Rs 23 lakh) versions, underscoring its broad release strategy. A positive trend continued into Saturday, with an additional Rs 17.75 crore added to the tally. Read more: Netflix Originals July 2025 Lineup: Top 10 Must-Watch Titles The latest update adds a new figure, USD 2.20 million (Rs 19 crore), from overseas markets to the title. This brings the worldwide total to Rs 53.75 crore. Made on a Rs 120 crore budget, it is now firmly on track. The global earnings are expected to near Rs 80 crore within three days. Nationwide Occupancy Rates Strong regional turnout played a vital role in shaping the theatrical success of ‘Kuberaa’ over the weekend. The significant momentum came from Telugu-speaking territories, where packed theatres became a common sight by Saturday. Telugu screenings recorded an overall occupancy of 66.19%. Night shows surged further, touching an impressive 83.67%. Tamil audiences responded with moderate enthusiasm. The version maintained a 35.89% occupancy, which strengthened during the evening and night slots. In the Hindi belt, initial footfall was slow but showed promise by the end of the day. From a 4.68% occupancy in the morning, it climbed steadily to reach 19.91% by night, averaging at 10.87%. Location-specific data painted a clearer picture of regional engagement. For Tamil, Chennai led with 48%, followed by Dindigul, Mumbai, Trichy, and Vellore. Telugu saw the highest turnout come from NCR at 78.50%, closely followed by Mahbubnagar, Mumbai, Chennai, and Hyderabad. Read more: June 2025 South Indian Film Slate: Top 12 Pan-Indian Releases Verdict ‘Kuberaa’ draws a wide audience nationwide, thanks to the stardom of Dhanush, Nagarjuna, and Rashmika Mandanna. This Sekhar Kammula-directed film offers yet another showcase of Dhanush's singing prowess. Building on the record first-day momentum, Saturday maintained strong performance and pushed the total higher. Regional occupancy rates, especially in the Telugu zone, played a key role in driving footfall. This strong local response has significantly boosted the film’s theatrical performance and overall gross earnings.