From action-packed movies to family entertainers, the festival week has an array of movies and shows hitting the screens.
THEATRE RELEASES
1. Maidaan
Release date: April 10
The highly anticipated sports drama and biopic 'Maidaan' takes viewers back to a glorious era of Indian football. The film revolves around coach Syed Abdul Rahim who is regarded as the architect of modern Indian football. Ajay Devgn portrays Syed Abdul Rahim along with Priyamani and Gajraj Rao. Directed by Amit Ravindernath Sharma, 'Maidaan' is produced by Boney Kapoor and Zee Studios.
2. Jai Ganesh
Release date: April 11
Helmed by Ranjith Sankar, 'Jai Ganesh' is a Malayalam mystery thriller revolving around Ganesh Gangadharan, a differently-abled graphic designer. Not much is revealed about the plot of the movie but the trailer promises an engaging ride. Unni Mukundan stars as Ganesh along with Mahima Nambiar, Ravindra Vijay and Jomol.
3. Aavesham
Release date: April 11
Jithu Madhavan is back with his second directorial 'Aavesham', which promises to be a mass entertainer just like his debut directorial 'Romancham'. The plots of this movie too have been kept under wraps, but rumours are that it centres around a group of college students who get into trouble and how a quirky goon essayed by Fahadh Fasil comes to their aid. The movie is said to be inspired by real events. Alongside Fahadh, Manzoor Ali Khan, Ashish Vidyarthi, and Sajin Gopu play pivotal roles.
4. Varshangalkku Shesham
Release date: April 11
Varshangalkku Shesham revolves around a group of friends who reunite after a long time. Directed by Vineeth Sreenivasan, the family entertainer features an ensemble cast including Pranav Mohanlal, Dhyan Sreenivasan, Kalyani Priyadarshan, Aju Varghese and Nivin Pauly. The music is composed by debutant Amrit Ramnath and promises viewers a heartwarming and fun watch.
5. Bade Miyan Chote Miyan
Release date: April 11
The highly anticipated remake of the 1998 classic of the same name promises to be an action-packed mass entertainer. Akshay Kumar and Tiger Shroff play soldiers who team up to protect the nation from a violent threat. Manushi Chhillar, Prithviraj Sukumaran, Sonakshi Sinha, and Alaya F. arrive in pivotal roles. Directed by Ali Abbas Zafar, known for his action-packed films.
OTT Releases
1. Amar Singh Chamkila
Release date: April 12
Streaming platform: Netflix
Imtiaz Ali's latest directorial is based on the true story of Punjab’s original rockstar Amar Singh Chamkila, often referred to as the 'Elvis Presley of Punjab.' Diljit Dosanjh essays the role of Chamkila and Parineeti Chopra as Chamkila's wife, Amarjot. A.R. Rahman has composed the music for the film. The movie looks into Chamikila's rise in the Punjab music industry, his performances, and his assassination.
2. Premalu
Release date: April 12
Streaming platform: Disney plus Hotstar
The blockbuster Malayalam movie 'Premalu' is arriving on streaming platforms. The movie revolves around Sachin and his romantic sojourn. Naslen, Mamitha Baiju, Sangeet Pratap, and Akhila Bhargavan play pivotal roles. The movie was released in theatres on 9 February and has become the fifth highest-grossing Malayalam movie.
3. The Hijacking of Flight 601
Release date: April 10
Streaming platform: Netflix
Inspired by real events, 'The Hijacking of Flight 601' revolves around two armed individuals who hijack a plane in exchange for 50 political prisoners of Colombia and a hefty ransom. The Colombian airline is hijacked for five days with 82 passengers on board. The six-episode series is directed by Camilo Prince and Pablo González.
4. Pon Ondru Kanden
Release date: April 14
Streaming platform: Jio Cinema
Vasanth Ravi, Aishwarya Lakshmi, and Ashok Selvan play the lead roles in this romantic comedy. The movie revolves around two friends who try to woo the same girl. Ashok Selvan essays the role of a doctor, Aishwarya Lakshmi, a chef, and Vasanth Ravi plays a common man. The movie was set to release in theaters but due to issues with the producer and the cast and crew, its release has been moved to streaming platforms. The news of Jio Cinema taking up the cinema came as a shock to the cast, crew, and even the director. Vasanth Ravi took to X to express his disappointment for not being informed about the release.