Movie update - 30th January

 

the 15-day countdown to the February 13, 2026, release of the Tamil romantic comedy "Pookie," a Valentine's-themed film about a couple's breakup struggles, directed by debutant Ganesh Chandra.

It spotlights lead actor Ajay Dhishan (known from "Maargan"), supporting star Sunil, and composer Vijay Antony, whose upbeat tracks align with the movie's jolly rom-com tone.

The attached poster features dynamic visuals of the leads amid breakup motifs like shattered hearts and flying papers, generating buzz among South Indian cinemas.

The actor-director Pradeep Ranganathan's win for Best Story Writer at the 2022 Tamil Nadu State Film Awards for his debut film Love Today, announced on January 30, 2026, after a four-year delay typical of these government honors.

Love Today (2022), a low-budget romantic comedy exploring modern relationships via a phone-swap premise, earned over ₹50 crore at the box office and critical acclaim for its relatable humor and social commentary on digital dependency.

Ranganathan's award validates his transition from television comedy to cinema, signaling the start of a prolific era with subsequent successes like directing Idhu Enna Maayam and hosting popular shows, boosting his pan-India appeal.

The post celebrates composer Sam CS's win for Best Music Director at the Tamil Nadu State Film Awards (covering 2016-2022, announced January 30, 2026) for his score in the 2017 Tamil romantic thriller Puriyatha Puthir, directed by R. Thirumalai and starring Vijay Sethupathi.

A collage image in the post juxtaposes the film's vibrant poster, Sam CS at work in a studio, and a key scene with leads Sethupathi and Gayathrie, visually evoking the movie's themes of mystery and romance.

Posted by film reviewer

@saloon_kada

, it underscores Sam CS's decade-long promise in Tamil music, aligning with recent buzz around the delayed awards that also honored actors like Dhanush and Sai Pallavi.

The post highlights A.R. Ameen's launch of Rooh Records, his new audio label aimed at promoting independent songs and discovering fresh talents.

A.R. Ameen, son of composer A.R. Rahman, steps into music entrepreneurship; the label's debut ties into his upcoming single "Bheegi Bheegi," featuring Dulquer Salmaan and Mrunal Thakur, set for release on February 2, 2026.

The accompanying image juxtaposes Ameen in a contemplative reading pose with the Rooh Records logo, symbolizing a blend of artistic reflection and infinite creative potential in India's burgeoning indie music landscape.

the trailer for "With Love," an upcoming Tamil romantic drama starring newcomers Abishan Jeevinth and Anaswara Rajan, directed by debutant Madhan and scoring a February 6, 2026, worldwide theatrical release.

The 2:18-minute trailer, uploaded by Sony Music South on the same day, features light-hearted school romance scenes with comedic flair, underscored by Sean Roldan's breezy composition, amassing 143,000 views and 15,000 likes rapidly.

A Pan-India film tracker and distribution company member, the share leverages his expertise to generate early buzz for the film's themes of true love and youthful humor.

 The post announces the theatrical release of the Malayalam film Chatha Pacha: The Ring of Rowdies on January 22, 2026, featuring Arjun Ashokan and Roshan Mathew as brothers launching an underground WWE-style wrestling league in Fort Kochi.

Directed by debutant Adhvaith Nair and scored by Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy—known for hits like Aalavandhan and Yavarum Nalam—the movie blends action-comedy with themes of rivalry and community, earning early praise for its tight pacing and humor in Reddit discussions.

The attached posters showcase high-energy visuals: one with Arjun Ashokan in a dramatic, powder-dusted wrestler pose under spotlights, and another grouping the lead actors in intense, red-hued standoffs to evoke the film's rowdy, underground fight vibe.

The post announces the OTT premiere of Telugu horror-comedy The Raja Saab, starring Prabhas, on JioHotstar starting February 6, 2026, just weeks after its January 9 theatrical release.

The attached promotional poster depicts Prabhas in a gothic, rebellious pose with dramatic lighting and ornate title styling, highlighting the film's supernatural theme.

This rapid streaming shift follows the movie's sluggish box office performance, recovering only about 36% of its budget after three weeks amid mixed reviews.

The post promotes the theatrical release of the Tamil psychological thriller "Lockdown" on January 30, 2026, featuring Anupama Parameswaran in a lead role amid a dramatic poster highlighting themes of isolation and intensity.

Directed by debutant A.R. Jeeva and produced by Lyca Productions, the film premiered at the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa, generating early buzz for its exploration of mental health during confinement.

With music by N.R. Raghunanthan and Siddharth Vipin, the movie stars supporting actors like Charle and Nirosha, positioning it as a mid-budget release targeting Tamil audiences through widespread cinema bookings.

the title reveal for #PDxVV, a Tamil film reuniting Prabhu Deva and Vadivelu after 25 years since collaborations like Kadhalan, with principal photography ongoing since August 2025.

Directed by Sam Rodrigues (Musasi) and scored by Yuvan Shankar Raja, the project under Kannan Ravi Groups blends action and comedy, positioning it as a 2026 release with tribal-western aesthetics in its promotional art.

The January 30, 2026, announcement named it Bang Bang, a zombie comedy, sparking immediate online buzz via a teaser video highlighting the duo's dynamic in a high-stakes, humorous survival scenario.

the streaming debut of the 2025 Malayalam supernatural comedy "Sarvam Maya" on JioHotstar, accompanied by its vibrant poster depicting leads Nivin Pauly and Preity Mukundhan in a mystical ritual setting.

Directed by Akhil Sathyan, the film blends romance, fantasy, and humor, earning acclaim for its emotional storytelling and achieving blockbuster success with over ₹150 crore in worldwide box office collections.

As a Pan-India cinema tracker, the author underscores the trend of quick OTT releases for high-performing Malayalam films, enhancing their reach beyond theaters.

The post announces the official theatrical release of SS Rajamouli's upcoming Telugu action-adventure film Varanasi on April 7, 2027, starring Mahesh Babu, Prithviraj Sukumaran, and Priyanka Chopra, with music by MM Keeravani of RRR fame.

It features two versions of the promotional poster showing a meteor striking Earth against a cosmic backdrop, underscoring the film's epic scale and its status as the first non-English movie filmed for true IMAX.

The post has garnered quick engagement with over 300 likes and reposts, positioning Varanasi as India's most ambitious cinematic project based on widespread media confirmations from IMDb, NDTV, and Wikipedia.

This post promotes the second week of Tamil film Draupathi 2 in theaters, a sequel to the 2020 caste-themed drama, starring Richard Rishi as Rudra Thandavam and directed by Mohan G with Ghibran's score.

Released around January 24, 2026, the action-drama draws from Mahabharata lore but faces mixed reception; IMDb users praise its narrative depth, while a Reddit megathread highlights polarized views on social commentary.

Low engagement (27 likes, 973 views) and a mocking reply about empty screenings suggest underwhelming box office performance, underscoring challenges for mid-budget Tamil sequels in a competitive market.

This post praises #Mellisai as a heartfelt, low-budget Tamil family drama focusing on father-child bonds, released in theaters on January 30, 2026, with a runtime under 2 hours for easy viewing.

Directed by Dhirav and starring Kishore Kumar G. as a devoted singer-father alongside Subatra Robert and George Maryan, the film blends emotional storytelling with musical elements, as seen in its promotional poster featuring a joyful family under a green umbrella.

Early buzz from Tamil cinema circles rates it around 3/5 for its simple, engaging narrative and neat performances, positioning it as a feel-good option amid a crowded release slate including other regional films like Lockdown and Karuppu Pulsar.