What to Watch This Week: 'Dhurandhar,' 'Akhanda 2,' 'Kalamkaval' and More

It’s a busy week across theatres and OTT. Big-screen stories range from action and patriot drama to spiritual journeys and crime hunts. Meanwhile, streaming brings romances, psychological thrillers and a cosy holiday special. There’s a nice spread of moods to choose from, depending on what you feel like watching.

Theatrical Releases

Hindi

1. Dhurandhar
   Aditya Dhar directs Ranveer Singh, Arjun Rampal, Akshaye Khanna, Sanjay Dutt and R. Madhavan in this large-canvas action drama that blends patriotism with the underworld. Inspired by real events, it follows a network of betrayals, covert operations and personal loyalties as the country’s fate hangs in the balance.

Telugu

1. Akhanda 2: Thaandavam
   Nandamuri Balakrishna and Samyuktha Menon return in a spiritual drama where children, faith and nature shape a community’s journey towards hope.

Tamil

1. Vaa Vaathiyaar
   Karthi, Krithi Shetty and Sathyaraj star in this drama about a grandfather obsessed with actor MGR, raising his grandson to mirror the legend. But as the boy grows into his own person, their ideals clash, testing their love.

Malayalam

1. Kalamkaval
   Mammootty stars in this story that unfolds in Calicut, where a detective traces a series of patterned killings. As he inches closer to the culprit, the case forces him to choose between the law and a grieving parent’s need for justice.

2. Dheeram
   Starring Reba Monica John, Vijayaraghavan and Divya Pillai, this thriller follows a vengeful killer whose motives unravel slowly.

Kannada

1. Maarnami
   Prakash Thuminad, Sonu Gowda and Swaraj Shetty headline this moving tale of Chetu, whose traditional Hulivesha performance becomes a refuge through loss and unanswered questions.

OTT Releases

Hindi

1. Thamma (Prime Video)
   Ayushmann Khurrana, Rashmika Mandanna and Nawazuddin Siddiqui lead the latest entry in the Maddock Horror Comedy Universe. It follows a journalist who becomes entangled with a mythical Betaal creature. What starts as attraction grows into a dangerous romance as they battle ancient forces threatening humankind.

Tamil

1. Stephen (Netflix)
   Gomathi Shankar, Michael Thangadurai and Smruthi Venkat star in this psychological thriller about a psychiatrist who evaluates a confessed murderer.

2. Kuttram Purindhavan (SonyLIV)
   This crime drama tracks three lives thrown together when a girl goes missing in a quiet town. With Baskaran (a retiring pharmacist), Esther (the grieving mother) and Gautham (a helpless constable) at the centre, hidden guilt and buried pasts surface as the hunt for the killer leads to uneasy alliances.

Telugu

1. The Great Pre-Wedding Show (ZEE5)
   A small-town photographer’s life spins into comedy and chaos when the memory card from a high-profile pre-wedding shoot disappears. The race to fix his mistake fuels this light hearted slice-of-life film.

2. The Girlfriend (Netflix)
   Rashmika Mandanna and Dheekshith Shetty headline this coming of age romantic drama about a young woman navigating love, compatibility and growing expectations during her college years.

Malayalam

1. Dies Irae (JioHotstar)
   Written and directed by Rahul Sadasivan, Pranav Mohanlal stars as Rohan, whose life unravels when he suspects a dark presence in his home.

English

1. With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration (Netflix)
   Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, welcomes viewers into her festive world where she shares traditions, recipes and seasonal crafts with friends in this warm holiday special.

2. Jay Kelly (Netflix)
   George Clooney and Adam Sandler lead this heartfelt comedy about an ageing movie star and his manager who embark on a spontaneous European escape.

3. The Abandons (Netflix)
   Lena Headey, Gillian Anderson and Nick Robinson headline this 1850s Western action series centred on two rival matriarchs — one wealthy, one fiercely loyal but poor — as their families fight for land and power.