8 South Films to Watch in Theaters This Week: Chiranjeevi’s Mana Shankara Vara Prasad Garu to Karthi starrer Vaa Vaathiyaar

Several exciting new movies are hitting South Indian theaters this week. With Pongal and Sankranti festivals approaching, here’s a look at some of the best films currently playing.

8 South Films to Watch in Theaters This Week

1. Mana Shankara Vara Prasad Garu

Cast: Chiranjeevi, Nayanthara, Catherine Tresa, Zarina Wahab, Harsha Vardhan, Abhinav Gomatam, Sachin Khedekar, Sharat Saxena, Sudev Nair, Venkatesh Daggubati (cameo)
Director: Anil Ravipudi
Genre: Action Comedy
Language: Telugu
Runtime: 2 hours and 36 minutes
Release Date: January 12, 2026

Oh my gosh, you HAVE to hear about Shankara Varaprasad! He’s a total hero – a national security officer with the NIA, can you believe it? And his story is just… amazing. He’s married to Sasirekha, this incredible woman whose father is super rich and powerful. But get this – she fell for Shankara despite her father not approving of him because he comes from a more modest background. It’s a love story for the ages, seriously! I’m completely captivated by their journey.

Sasirekha’s father didn’t approve of her relationship, which created problems for the couple. Despite still loving each other, Shankara and Sasirekha eventually broke up after a series of miscommunications.

Shankara receives a new assignment, but he’s also dealing with a strained marriage and hopes to reconnect with his wife as he carries it out.

2. Kanimangalam Kovilakam

Cast: Ajmal Khan AA, Abbhi Krish, Muhamad Rafi, Sarath Sabha, Kottayam Ramesh, Sminu Sijo
Director: Raajesh Mohan
Genre: Horror Comedy
Language: Malayalam
Runtime: TBA
Release Date: January 16, 2026

Oh my gosh, Kanimangalam Kovilakam… it’s all about this little group of people who live near the old hostel, right next to the cemetery! And that cemetery… everyone is terrified of it! Seriously, the students at the hostel practically sprint past it – they don’t even want to be near the place. It’s so creepy and atmospheric, it’s perfect!

But everything is about to change for them when they discover the real source of the haunting isn’t the cemetery, but the hostel where they’re staying. The movie follows how this discovery impacts the characters and their struggle to make it through the night.

3. Thalaivar Thambi Thalaimaiyil

Cast: Jiiva, Prathana Nathan, Thambi Ramaiah, Anuraj, Ilavarasu, Jenson Dhivakar, Sarjin Kumar, Jaiwanth
Director: Nithish Sahadev
Genre: Comedy Political Drama
Language: Tamil
Runtime: 2 hours and 35 minutes
Release Date: January 15, 2026

Thalaivar Thambi Thalaimaiyil is a new political comedy-drama film starring Jiiva and directed by Nithish Sahadev, who is known for his film Falimy. The story centers around family conflicts that arise during a local festival, and follows the main character as he tries to resolve these disputes and keep his family safe.

The film explores whether the protagonist successfully overcomes these challenges.

4. Anaganaga Oka Raju

Cast: Naveen Polishetty, Meenakshi Chaudhary
Director: Maari
Genre: Romantic Comedy
Language: Telugu
Runtime: 2 hours and 20 minutes
Release Date: January 14, 2026

Anaganaga Oka Raju is a new Telugu romantic comedy featuring Naveen Polishetty and Meenakshi Chaudhary as the main characters. The film is directed by Maari and showcases Naveen Polishetty, known for his role in Chhichhore, in a playful and amusing character.

More details about the film are yet to be officially announced by the makers.

5. Mango Pachcha

Cast: Sanchith Sanjeev, Kaajal Kunder, Mayur Patel, Hamsa Prathap, Jai Gopinath
Director: Viveka Prakash
Genre: Crime Action Drama
Language: Kannada
Runtime: TBA
Release Date: January 15, 2026

Mango Pachcha is a crime thriller taking place in Mysuru during the early 2000s. It tells the story of a young man who owns a DVD store and gradually climbs the ranks in the criminal world, driven by his desire for power and involvement in a hidden network.

6. Nari Nari Naduma Murari

Cast: Sharwanand, Samyuktha, Sakshi Vaidya, Sree Vishnu
Director: Ram Abbaraju
Genre: Comedy Drama
Language: Telugu
Runtime: 2 hours and 35 minutes
Release Date: January 14, 2026

Nari Nari Naduma Murari is a funny and heartwarming story about a young man getting ready to marry his girlfriend, who also works with him. But his plans get complicated when his former girlfriend unexpectedly shows up as his new manager.

He finds himself in a hilarious and chaotic situation, juggling the affections of two women – one from his past and one from his present. This leads to a series of funny mix-ups and confusion.

7. Bhartha Mahasayulaku Wignyapthi

Cast: Ravi Teja, Ashika Ranganath, Dimple Hayathi, Sunil, Vennela Kishore, Sathya
Director: Kishore Tirumala
Genre: Family Romantic Comedy
Language: Telugu
Runtime: 2 hours and 22 minutes
Release Date: January 13, 2026

Bhartha Mahasayulaku Wignyapthi tells the story of Ram Sathyanarayana, a man dealing with the complexities of love, marriage, and duty while torn between two women.

Ram finds himself in funny and difficult predicaments as he gets more involved with two different worlds, trying to navigate dating advice from today with what’s expected of him by society.

8. Vaa Vaathiyaar

Cast: Karthi, Krithi Shetty, Sathyaraj, Rajkiran, Nizhalgal Ravi, Anandaraj, Shilpa Manjunath, Karunakaran
Director: Nalan Kumarasamy
Genre: Action Comedy
Language: Tamil
Runtime: 2 hours and 10 minutes
Release Date: January 14, 2026

Vaa Vaathiyaar tells the story of DSP Rameshwaran, a police officer who takes the easy route and accepts bribes, despite his grandfather hoping he would live with the honesty and principles of the legendary actor MGR.

When a thrilling crime story unfolds, Rameshwaran’s life changes direction as he creates a secret identity based on the legendary MGR. The movie follows his fight against corruption and crime while using this unique persona.

Here’s a look at what’s new in cinemas this week. Plus, popular South Indian movies like The Raja Saab, Parasakthi, and Pennu Case are still playing in theaters.

2026-01-12 13:38

Read More