Top 15 Upcoming South Indian Movies 2023 (Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, & Malayalam)

Big-ticket South Indian Movies are creating a buzz across the country. After the huge success of Bahubali, KGF, RRR, and Pushpa, there is an array of big-ticket south Indian films to be released in cinemas at the pan-India level.

South Indian movies have won hearts nationwide with their unique storytelling, excellent performances, and stunning visuals.

Here we will take a look at the highly anticipated Upcoming South Indian Movies that are soon going to hit the theatres. And the audience up north would love to watch them in the dubbed Hindi version.

Upcoming South Indian Movies 2023

The reason behind the popularity of South Indian Movies is the content rich in masala, and rooted in culture.

Top Upcoming Telugu Movies

It was the Telugu movie Baahubali which erased the barrier between south and north. The term pan-India essentially originated following the blockbuster success of Baahubali not only in the South but also in the Hindi belt. The film has created a market for south Indian films in the Hindi belt.

And since then we have witnessed a lot of south Indian movies that rocked the box office up north, especially post-pandemic (2022).

1- Adipurush

Star Cast: Prabhas, Kriti Sanon, Saif Ali Khan
Release Date: 16 June 2023
Director: Om Raut
Budget: 500 Cr+
Production Company: T-Series Films

South Superstar Prabhas has many big films in his bag for the upcoming year, he will be doing the role of Lord Ram in Om Raut’s next project Adipurush. It was scheduled to release on Jan 2023 but due to the backlash and severe criticism after the release of the teaser trailer, the movie was postponed again.

Kriti Sanon & Saif feature in the role of Janaki & Lankesh respectively. Om’s last film Tanhaji (2020) was a big hit at the box office grossing approx Rs 360 crores worldwide. Adipurush is bankrolled by Bhushan Kumar along with Krishan Kumar and Om Raut.

2- Bhola Shankar

Star Cast: Chiranjeevi, Tamanaah, Keerthy Suresh
Release Date: Summer 2023
Director: Meher Ramesh
Budget: N/A
Production Company: AK Entertainments, Creative Commercials

After the success of Waltair Veerayya, Chiranjeevi will next be seen in the masala action comedy Bhola Shankar. It also has Tamannaah, Keerthy Suresh, Murali Sharma, Raghu Babu, Rao Ramesh and Vennela Kishore in the key roles.

As per the Telugu portal, TrackTollywood, Bholaa Shankar will release on 12 May 2023.

3- Hari Hara Veera Mallu

Star Cast:  Pawan Kalyan, Niddhi Agerwal, Arjun Rampal, Jacqueline Fernandez
Release Date: Dussehra 2023
Director: Krish Jagarlamudi
Budget: Rs 150 crores
Production Company: Mega Surya Productions

Pawan Kalyan aka Power Star will be seen next in a period-action adventure in the year 2023. The film is titled ‘Hari Hara Veera Mallu’, it will be a pan-India film featuring Niddhi Agerwal, Arjun Rampal, and Jacqueline Fernandez.

Hari Hara Veera Mallu was slated to release in cinemas in May 2023. However, the film has now been postponed to Dussehra release due to a delay in production, as per Telugu media reports. Hari Hara Veera Mallu is being helmed by Gabbar is Back (2015) director Krish Jagarlamudi. A Dayakar Rao is bankrolling the film along with A. M Ratnam.

4- Salaar

Star Cast: Prabhas, Shruti Haasan, Jagapathi Babu
Release Date: 28 Sept 2023
Director: Prashanth Neel
Budget: Rs 200 crores
Production Company: Hombale Films

This south Indian action thriller is a bilingual Kannada-Telugu film, it is simultaneously shot in both languages. Prashanth Neel and Vijay Kiragandur are the directors and the producer of the film respectively, who also jointly made K.G.F: Chapter 2 which is on the no. 1 list of our article.

It will be released on 28 Sept 2023 in all 5 languages Kannada and Telugu along with dubbed versions of Hindi, Malayalam, and Tamil. It is made under the production of Vjay’s home banner Hombale Films.

5- Pushpa 2

Release Date: 2023
Star Cast: Allu Arjun, Rashmika Mandanna
Director: Sukumar
Budget: 350 crores
Production Company: Mythri Movie Makers, Muttamsetty Media

Allu Arjun’s 2021 blockbuster film Puhspa: The Rise’s sequel will be gracing the cinemas in 2023, earlier the film was to hit the screens in Dec 2022 but now has been pushed back to 2023.

Reportedly, after the success of KGF2, director Sukumar urges the makers to enhance the fighting sequence and the story of the film. Pushpa 2 wil be made with a budget of 350 crores.

6- Project-K

Star Cast: Prabhas, Deepika Padukone, Disha Patani, Amitabh Bachchan
Release Date: 12 January 2024
Director:  Nag Ashwin
Budget: N/A
Production Company: Vyjayanthi Movies

Project K is special for so many reasons, one is that the film will mark the maiden project of Prabhas and director Nag. Second, it is a high-budget film, it will see the Hindi cinema actor Deepika Padukone’s Telugu debut. Senior Bachchan is also roped in for this upcoming film.

Malang fame Disha Patani will also be seen in a pivotal role. It is a science fiction film touted as one of the most expensive films.

7- Game Changer

Star Cast: Ram Charan, Kiara Advani, Anjali
Release Date: N/A
Director:  Shankar
Budget: Dil Raju
Production Company: Shri Venkateswara Creations

After the huge success of RRR at international level, fans are eager to watch Ram Charan in his next big release and it’s Shankar’s next directorial Game Changer, title confirmed on Ram Charan’s birthday (27th Mar 2023), beautiful Kiaran Advani is the lead actress opposite him.

8- Devara

Star Cast: Jr NTR, Janhvi Kapoor
Release Date: 5 April 2024
Director:  Koratala Siva
Budget: 300 Cr
Production Company: Yuvasudha Arts

Jr NTR’s 30th project is now officially called Devara where beautiful Bollywood actress Janhvi Kapoor to romance with superstar. This is one of the expensive projects done by Jr NTR.

Top Upcoming Kannada Movies

Kannada cinema or Sandalwood proved their box office mettle by delivering the blockbusters like KGF2 and Kantara. Both movies went on to become one of the highest-grossing Indian movies of 2022. Check out, the much-awaited Kannada films which will release soon in cinemas.

1- Martin

Star Cast: Dhruva Sarja, Addhuri, Bahaddur, Bharjari
Release Date: 2023
Director: AP Arjun
Budget: 50 Cr+
Production Company: Vasavi Movies

Martin is touted to be a high-octane Pan India action entertainer, directed by AP Arjun. It will be released in Kannada, Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, and Malayalam versions, Martin hard hitting teaser has been released on 24th Feb 2023.

It is produced by Uday K. Mehta under the banner Vasavi Movies. Martin will feature Dhruva Sarja, Addhuri, Bahaddur, Bharjari, and Pogaru in key roles. The film is expected to release in cinemas in the second quarter of 2023.

2- Bagheera

Star Cast: Sri Murali, Rukmini Vasanth
Release Date: 2023
Director: Dr Suri
Budget: N/A
Production Company: Hombale Films

Bagheera is written by Prashanth Neela and is directed by Dr Suri. It is backed by one of the most successful production houses, Hombale Films. It will feature Srii Murali and Rukmini Vasanth in the main lead roles.

3- Untitled Upendra Film

Star Cast: N/A
Release Date: 2023
Director: Upendra
Budget: N/A
Production Company: N/A

Popular Kannada actor Upendra will be donning the hat of a filmmaker after 7yrs, for a pan-India movie. The first look poster of the movie was released in March 2022 which created a buzz among audiences. The film hasn’t been titled yet.

Top Upcoming Tamil Movies

1- PS-2

Star Cast: Vikram, Jayam Ravi, Karthi, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan
Release Date: 28 April 2023
Director: Mani Ratnam
Budget: Rs 500 Cr
Production Company: Lyca Productions, Madras Talkies

Ponniyin Selvan is the director Mani Ratnam’s dream project. The first part was released on 30 September 2022 and tasted Box Office success with 500 Cr+ WW. Known faces of the Indian cinema industry like Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Vikram, Jayam Ravi, Trisha, and Prakash Raj are seen in the film.

Madras Talkies and Lyca Productions are the producers, it is based on the book of the same name written by Kalki Krishnamurthy. The film was shelved in 2010 owing to commercial issues, later in 2019 Lyca Productions decided to revive the project. The film is made in two parts with the second part will release on 28 April 2023.

If leave Rajinikanth starrer 2.0, no Tamil film created an impact in the northern market. Even in the era when south films are taking the box office by storm with their pan-India release, none of the Tamil movies made a mark in the Hindi belt as much as Telugu and Kannada releases, outside the home state.

However, there are many anticipated big-budget Tamil movies that promises to emerge as highest-grossing flicks ruling the box office beyond boundaries.

2- Indian 2

Star Cast: Kamal Haasan, Sukanya
Release Date: 2023
Director: Shankar
Budget: N/A
Production Company: Lyca Productions

Ulganayagan aka Kamal Haasan will next be seen in the vigilante action film, titled “Indian 2” which is a sequel to his 1996 blockbuster Indian. It will be released in multiple languages. It is directed by S. Shankar, who will be collaborating with Shankar after 20 yrs.

The film also stars Nedumudi Venu, Siddharth, Kajal Aggarwal, Sudeep, and Rakul Preet Singh.

3- Thangalaan

Star Cast: Chiyan Vikram
Release Date: 2023
Director: Pa Ranjith
Producer: K E Gnanavel Raja
Budget: N/A
Production Company: Studio Green & Neelam Productions

Thangalaan stars Chiyaan Vikram of PS-1 fame, it will be directed by Pa. Rnajit of Kabali, Kaala and Madras fame. It is set to hit cinemas in Tamil, Telugu, Hindi, Kannada, and Malayalam.

4- Leo

Star Cast: Vijay, Sanjay Dutt
Release Date: 19 Oct 2023
Director: Lokesh Kanagraj
Budget: N/A
Production Company: Seven Screen Studio

After delivering the blockbuster Varisu, Thalapthy Vijay’s next is Leo. The film has already garnered much hype and will see a release of 19 Oct 2023.

Top Upcoming Malayalam Movies

The Malayalam industry or the Mollywood cinema is known for its compelling plots, realistic acting, and brilliant writing. The film industry is kickstarting the year with much anticipated upcoming Malayalam movies with intriguing storylines, check the list, below:

1- Empuraan

Star Cast: Prithviraj Sukumaran, Mohanlal, Manju Warrier, Tovino Thomas
Release Date: TBA
Director: Prithviraj Sukumaran
Budget: N/A

Empuraan is the sequel to Mohanlal’s 2019 blockbuster Lucifer. It is said to be made on a massive budget, however, the exact figures haven’t been announced by the makers yet. The film will have a pan-India release.

It is a full-on commercial entertainer that features prominent Malayalam actors Prithviraj, Mohanlal, Manju Warrier, and Tovino Thomas.

2- King of Kotha

Star Cast: Dulquer Salmaan, Gokul Suresh, Aishwarya Lekshmi
Release Date: 24 Aug 2023
Director: Abhilash Joshy
Budget: N/A
Production Company: Wayfarer Films, Zee Studios

Directed by Abhilash Joshy, King of Kotha is a gangster film that features Dulquer Salmaan in the main lead role. It is produced by Dulquer himself under his banner Wayfarer Films in association with Zee Studios.

Upcoming South Indian Movies FAQs