South Indian cinema is going all out this week, with seven new releases spanning Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, and Kannada hitting screens between August 20 and 21, 2026. From Prithviraj Sukumaran’s gold-empire saga to Ravi Teja’s emotional father-daughter drama, there’s a genre here for everyone.
Table of Contents
This Week’s Lineup, Explained
1. Khalifa: Part 1 — Prithviraj Sukumaran leads this Malayalam action drama as Aamir Ali, heir to an international gold empire who’s pulled into a high-stakes war across Kerala, Dubai, London, and Nepal. Mohanlal appears in a special cameo, setting up the family’s legacy ahead of Part 2. Releasing August 20 for Onam.
2. Ram in Leela — A Tamil romantic comedy where Ram falls for Leela, a woman with one strange condition: he can never see her after 6 PM. His quest to uncover why fuels this quirky love story.
3. Brahma Kamala — This Kannada social drama follows two women — one in labor, another desperate to conceive — as their lives intertwine over one dramatic night, echoing the fleeting bloom of the sacred Brahma Kamala flower.
4. Ameer Log — A Telugu comedy-drama about three jobless friends in Hyderabad who turn an old cook’s secret recipe into an unlikely food venture, testing whether friendship can survive ambition.
5. Bethlehem Kudumba Unit — Nivin Pauly stars in this Malayalam rom-com about reconnecting with a first love amid neighborhood gossip and church-community chaos.
6. Irumudi — Ravi Teja delivers an emotional Telugu drama as a father battling addiction, undertaking a 41-day vow to win back his family’s trust — even as his past resurfaces.
7. Modha Rathri — A Tamil comedy-drama about an arranged-marriage couple hiding an awkward wedding-night mishap from nosy relatives, spiraling into one chaotic night of lies.
Release Guide
| Film | Language | Genre | Release Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Khalifa: Part 1 | Malayalam | Action Drama | Aug 20 |
| Ram in Leela | Tamil | Romantic Comedy | Aug 21 |
| Brahma Kamala | Kannada | Social Drama | Aug 21 |
| Ameer Log | Telugu | Comedy Drama | Aug 21 |
| Bethlehem Kudumba Unit | Malayalam | Romantic Comedy | Aug 21 |
| Irumudi | Telugu | Action Drama | Aug 21 |
| Modha Rathri | Tamil | Comedy Drama | Aug 21 |
Why This Week Stands Out
With Onam falling this week, Malayalam cinema leads the charge, backed by strong Tamil, Telugu, and Kannada entries — a reminder of just how diverse and prolific South Indian cinema has become, releasing across multiple languages almost simultaneously.
For more South Indian movie updates and release guides, check out technosports.co.in.
FAQs
Q1. Which South Indian film is releasing for Onam this week?
Prithviraj Sukumaran’s Khalifa: Part 1 releases on August 20, 2026, timed for Onam.
Q2. How many South Indian films are releasing this week?
Seven films are releasing across Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, and Kannada between August 20-21.
