A parade of diverse genres, from spine-chilling horror to rib-tickling comedy, takes the marquee this week, offering audiences an eclectic cinematic buffet. From the sun-soaked shores of Goa to the hidden depths of fear, here’s your guide to every new film lighting up theaters between October 15 and 19.
October 16: Detective Dogs, Theatrical Thrills, and Comedy Cavalcade
The Pet Detective
Sharafudheen stars as the titular sleuth whose specialty is finding missing furry companions. When a prized touring circus dog disappears, Sharafudheen teams up with Anupama Parameswaran’s daring circus acrobat to navigate shady animal syndicates. Vinay Forrt and Joemon Jyothir add quirky support in this family-friendly adventure brimming with heart.
Theatre: The Myth of Reality
A meta-dramatic exploration of truth and illusion, this Malayalam-language stage-inspired drama follows a troupe grappling with identity as their fictional play begins to mirror real-life conflicts. Ashwathy and Krishnan Balakrishnan offer layered performances, while Sarasa Balussery and Dain Davis provide both levity and gravitas in an artful dissection of performance itself.
Mithra Mandali
Renowned YouTuber Niharika NM makes her big-screen debut in this Telugu comedy, which explores an unlikely friendship between a brash social media star and an aging film fan in Chennai. Priyadarshi Pulikonda, VTV Ganesh, and Vennela Kishore bring razor-sharp timing to the proceedings, ensuring laughter flows as freely as social-media gossip.
October 17: Horror, Fantasy, Animation, and Regional Flourish
Black Phone 2
Ethan Hawke returns as the enigmatic recluse whose supernatural phone links victims of a sadistic killer. Mason Thames and Madeleine McGraw, reprising their roles, face new terrors in this atmospheric sequel that blends jump scares with an eerie folk-horror undercurrent—Jeremy Davies’s chilling cameo seals the film’s unsettling tone.
Good Fortune
This high-concept action-comedy-fantasy unites Seth Rogen and Aziz Ansari as down-on-their-luck buddies who stumble upon a mystical artifact granting bizarre superpowers. Keke Palmer’s streetwise heroine and Keanu Reeves’s inscrutable mentor round out a madcap caper that zips between punch lines and pulse-pounding set pieces.
Gabby’s Dollhouse: The Movie
Based on the hit preschool series, Gloria Estefan voices the devoted caretaker of a magical dollhouse that shrinks visitors into miniature adventures. Tina Ukwu, Laila Lockhart Kraner, and Juliet Donenfeld voice the animated residents in a colorful fantasy teeming with music, friendship, and life lessons for the whole family.
Telusu Kada
Telugu-language audiences get a romantic drama set in a quaint Andhra village, where Raashi Khanna’s schoolteacher struggles with tradition and modernity. Srinidhi Shetty’s city-slicker love interest and Sidhu Jonnalagadda’s comic relief as her friend add depth and humor, while Harsha Chemudu’s dramatic turn elevates the central romance.
Carmeni Selvam
Samuthirakani directs and stars in this Tamil political thriller as a crusading activist uncovering electoral malfeasance. Gautham Vasudev Menon captivates as the antagonist politician, while Abhinaya and Lakshmi Priyaa Chandramouli provide the moral compass in a film that blends suspense with social commentary.
Kambi Katna Kathai
This Kollywood comedy reunites Chaams and Karate Karthi as hapless cousins on a wild hunt for buried treasure in rural Tamil Nadu. Muruganandam and Muthuraman’s veteran comic turn roots the film in slapstick tradition, ensuring a rollicking good time for fans of madcap regional humor.
October 18: High-Voltage Action
K-Ramp
Kiran Abbavaram stars in this Telugu actioner as an ill-fated stunt-rider seeking vengeance against a crime boss. Yukti Thareja plays Kiran Abbavaram’s ally-turned-love interest, while Vennela Kishore provides comic relief and Sai Kumar portrays the ruthless antagonist who raises the stakes. Expect breathtaking stunts and a pounding score.
Curtain Call: Your Ticket to This Week’s Silver-Screen Spectacle
From spine-tingling horror to laugh-out-loud comedy, and heart-racing action to poignant drama, this week’s lineup proves once again that the silver screen remains the ultimate playground for every cinematic taste. Grab your tickets, choose your genre, and prepare for a week of thrilling stories under the marquee.
By – Sonali