With the festive mood of Diwali 2025 just around the corner, the silver screen will be aglow with some of the year’s most anticipated movies in various languages. Ranging from an emotionally charged family drama to a Dracula movie and from a romance thriller to a romance comedy and sports drama, this Diwali has a film fest in store for the country’s moviegoers. Here’s a closer look at the list of films that are going to illuminate this year’s festival of light.
Thamma (Hindi)
Produced by Maddock Films and directed by Aditya Sarpotdar, Thamma is the fifth instalment of the ‘Maddock Horror Comedy Universe’. It is a Dracula comedy saga with layers of love, revenge, and destiny over the period of many eras. The film stars Ayushmann Khurrana, Rashmika Mandanna, Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Paresh Rawal. Set against the backdrop of a fictionalised gothic metropolitan city, Thamma weaves another interesting tale from the house of Maddock this Diwali.
Fans are already buzzing with the excitement of Thamma. Its trailer got an overall positive response from the general audience. With people already grooving with its dance numbers ‘Tum mere na huye’ and ‘Dilbar ki aankhon ka’, and the previous track records of Maddock Films, it is almost certain that Thamma will have a guaranteed opening at the box office. If the word of mouth proves to be in favour of the film, it can be one of the highest-grossing Hindi as well as Indian films of the year. It is ready to hit the theatres on 21st October.
Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat (Hindi)
Directed by Milap Milan Zaveri, Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat stars Harshvardhan Rane and Sonam Bajwa as leads in a passionate, obsessive love story that blurs the line between romance and madness. The plot revolves around two lovers caught in a dangerous emotional whirl, where love turns into possession. The film’s dark theme and intense background score are haunting in their charm.
After the release of the first teaser, fans were quick to notice that it is definitely an affirmative progression from some of Zaveri’s underwhelming previous films. Many netizens praised the sizzling chemistry between Harshvardhan and Sonam. After dropping the title track of the film, sung by Vishal Mishra, the audience has become even more excited for the film. Clashing with Thamma, Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat is also releasing on 21st October.
Dude (Tamil)
From director Keerthiswaran, Dude is an offbeat romantic-action-comedy featuring Pradeep Ranganathan in a cool and stylish avatar. Produced by Mythri Movie Makers, the movie follows the internal conflict of the protagonist between protecting his own unspoken love or securing the same girl for the betterment and life of his best friend. It also stars Mamitha Baiju as the female lead.
Fans of Pradeep are relieved after the announcement that his another film, Love Insurance Kompany (LIK), is not releasing on the same date as Dude. With the infusion of Tamil masala, the film is expected to strike the perfect chord between romance, comedy, action, emotion, and drama and maintain the hit streak of Mythri Movie Makers across various languages. Dude is ready to hit the screens on 17th October.
Bison (Tamil)
Co-produced by Pa. Ranjith and Applause Entertainment and directed by Mari Selvaraj, Bison is an intense sports drama set in an underdeveloped and backward region of Tamil Nadu. The film stars Dhruv Vikram and Anupama Parameswaran in the lead roles. Bison promises an edge-of-the-seat cinematic experience about the story of a fierce and furious boy who chooses sports as a weapon to counter violence and discrimination.
Fans are awaiting the release of the film, as the director Mari Selvaraj is famous for telling his stories with the realism, rawness, and ruggedness it requires. According to Tamil movie lovers, Bison will be another addition to the filmmaker’s praiseworthy list. Bison is all set to lock horns with Dude at the Tamil theatres on 17th October.
Telusu Kada (Telugu)
Directed by Neeraja Kona, Telusu Kada features Siddhu Jonnalagadda, Raashii Khanna and Srinidhi Shetty in a character-driven film about a love triangle and polyamory. Set in Hyderabad, the film follows a man who proposes to two women; both women accept his proposal, and he also falls in love with both of them. The film comprises the inner reflection of its protagonist and a soulful narrative on this subject.
Fans are all in for Telusu Kada this Diwali. They are expecting it as a heartwarming and feel-good romcom, which will eventually put a smile on its viewers’ faces throughout the course of the movie. It will have a release on 17th October.
Sharthopor (Bengali)
From director Annapurna Basu and produced by Surinder Films, Sharthopor stars Koyel Mallick and Kaushik Sen in the lead roles and Ranjit Mallick and Anirban Chakrabarty in the supporting roles. This movie explores the intricacies of the discords and complexities of a brother-sister relationship and revolves around a court case between a brother and sister in a land dispute conflict around paternal property.
Its teaser has garnered acclaim among the audience for showing a very relatable problem and dealing with the issue of a married girl child’s authority in her father’s property. With this purposeful premise and strong cast, Sharthopor, releasing on 17th October, will be a sure-shot choice for cinema-going people during this Kali Puja.
This Diwali, Indian cinema isn’t just about riotous fireworks but also about the gentle glow of a Diwali lamp. From Thamma‘s gothic horror feel to Bison‘s crazy energy, from Telusu Kada‘s elegance to Sharthopor‘s profundity, and from Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat‘s rage to Dude‘s carefree charm, the festive roster has something to offer every kind of cinema buff. While theatres get dressed up and fans line up for tickets, one thing is for sure – this Diwali is of stories that shine.
