Theatres in several states across the country, like Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and Kerala, have reopened post the second wave of Covid-19 with star features such as Dulquer Salmaan’s Kurup (Malayalam), Sivakarthikeyan starrer Doctor (Tamil), Rajinikanth’s Annaatthe (Tamil), Naga Chaitanya and Sai Pallavi starrer Love Story (Telugu), Akshay Kumar’s Sooryavanshi (Hindi). And cinema halls have witnessed the return of the audience in large numbers.
In view of this, the makers of many major films around the country have announced their theatrical releases in the month of December. Though the Hindi film Dhamaka and Tovino Thomas’ Malayalam film Minnal Murali are headed for a direct premiere on Netflix, and Drushyam 2 is going to Amazon Prime Video, theatres have their own star-studded line-ups to look forward to.
Here, Silverscreen India brings you a list of films that you can catch in the theatres this December.
Akhanda – December 2
Nandamuri Balakrishna-starrer Akhanda is directed by Boyapati Sreenu. The trailer was released by the makers on Sunday. The Telugu film, which is expected to be an action drama, will feature the actor as an aghora. Other cast members include Srikanth, Pragya Jaiswal and Jagapathi Babu.
Marakkar: Arabikadalinte Simham – December 2
After much tussle and a fallout between the makers and theatre associations over the Mohanlal-starrer opting to premiere digitally on Amazon Prime Video, the film is now confirmed to first release in theatres on December 2. Written and directed by Priyadarshan, Marakkar narrates the story of Kunjali Marakkar, the fourth and the last of the Malayali naval leaders deployed by the Samoothiri of Calicut to fight in the war against the Portuguese in the 16th century. The film also features Arjun Sarja, Keerthy Suresh, Manju Warrier, Pranav Mohanlal, Kalyani Priyadarshan, Siddique, and Ashok Selvan in pivotol roles.
Thalli Pogathey – December 3
The Tamil remake of the Telugu romantic comedy-drama Ninnu Kori is directed and produced by filmmaker R Kannan, under his banner Masala Pix. Starring actors Atharvaa Murali and Anupama Parameswaran in the lead roles, the film is heading for theatres on December 3. In an earlier conversation with us, Kannan noted that Thalli Pogathey is not a frame-by-frame remake. The story revolves around a girl who declines a boy’s proposal to elope and gets married to another. However, after the married couple settles in the US, the boy, who is still in love with the girl, goes in search of her to try and win her back.
Skylab– December 4
This Telugu period comedy, arriving in theatres on December 4, stars actors Satya Dev and Nithya Menen in the lead roles. It is written and directed by debutant filmmaker Vishvak Khanderao, who earlier told Silverscreen India that the film is set in a village in Telangana against the backdrop of the Skylab incident. While Satya Dev plays Anand, a doctor, Menen essays the role of a journalist named Gowri. The cast also includes Rahul Ramakrishna.
Pushpa – The Rise – December 17
The first part of Allu Arjun’s pan-Indian film also features Rashmika Mandanna and Malayalam actor Fahadh Faasil in his Telugu debut. Written and directed by Sukumar, the film is produced by Naveen Yerneni and Y Ravi Shankar under the Mythri Movie Makers banner. It is expected to be an action thriller set against the backdrop of erra chandanam (red sandalwood) smuggling. The makers have announced that the film will be released in two parts. Pushpa was shot separately in Malayalam and Telugu, and dubbed versions will also be released in Tamil, Kannada, and Hindi.
Shyam Singha Roy – December 24
Nani, whose last film Tuck Jagadish opted for a direct-to-OTT release, will next be seen in Shyam Singha Roy, which will release in theatres on December 24. Also starring Sai Pallavi, Krithi Shetty, and Madonna Sebastian, the film is directed by Rahul Sankrityan based on a story by Satyadev Janga. The Telugu period drama set in Kolkata will also be released in Tamil, Malayalam, and Kannada.
83 – Christmas
This Hindi sports drama starring Ranveer Singh will be hitting the theatres for Christmas. The film will also be released in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Malayalam. Based on India’s first cricket World Cup victory, it also stars Deepika Padukone, Jiiva, Tahir Raj Bhasin, Saqib Saleem, Harrdy Sandhu, Ammy Virk, Pankaj Tripathi, Boman Irani, Nishant Dahiya, Sahil Khattar, and several others. It is directed by Kabir Khan.
Jersey – December 31
Recommended
Directed by Gowtam Tinnanuri and starring Shahid Kapoor, this film is the official Hindi remake of the 2019 Telugu hit of the same name which starred Nani in the lead. The story revolves around Arjun, a failed cricketer, who decides to make a comeback to fulfil his son’s wish to play for India. The remake also stars Mrunal Thakur and Kapoor’s father, the veteran actor Pankaj Kapur, in prominent roles. The film produced by Allu Aravind, Aman Gill, and Dil Raju is set for theatrical release on December 31.
Kaathu Vaakula Rendu Kaadhal – December (exact date not announced)
This Tamil film directed by Vignesh Shivan stars Vijay Sethupathi, Samantha Ruth Prabhu, and Nayanthara. It is scheduled to release in theatres in December, though the exact date has not yet been announced. Produced by Lalit Kumar, the film has music by Anirudh. On Monday, the team released the first-look posters.