18 October 2026
Issue 1
Issue 1 is the first week of Filmistan. One featured story, three sections, and the picture that holds the cover until the next issue.
SceneDeva, Gaana Composer of Annamalai, Dies at 75Deva, the composer behind Annamalai, Baashha and Arunachalam, died on Oct. 17 aged 75. His career, the tributes and the State honours funeral.
SceneSpirit Moves to Diwali 2027, Facing Ramayana Part 2Sandeep Reddy Vanga set Prabhas's Spirit for Oct. 29, 2027, Diwali. Ramayana Part 2 is also expected then, though it has no date yet.
SceneAnirudh Ravichander and Kavya Maran: What Is ConfirmedAnirudh Ravichander and Kavya Maran will marry in November. The Nov. 21 Chennai reception is on the record, and the Greece date is not confirmed.
SceneDrishyam: The Conclusion Nears Padmaavat's RecordDrishyam: The Conclusion has Rs 540.79 crore worldwide gross after 16 days, Koimoi says. The film is Rs 19.21 crore short of Padmaavat. The numbers.
ActorsSoori: From Parotta Comedian to Mandaadi LeadSoori, once Parotta Soori the comedian, now leads the coastal drama Mandaadi. How he got from Padayappa's sets to lead roles, in his own words.
ActorsKani Kusruti Joins the Team in SonyLIV's EyesKani Kusruti plays police officer Tina Sebastian in Eyes, a seven-episode SonyLIV series on stalking. The review, the cast and the career behind the role.
ActorsLalit Prabhakar on Playing Kasab in PrahaarMarathi actor Lalit Prabhakar explains how he prepared to play Ajmal Kasab in Prahaar and why some told him not to. Reviewers single out the performance.
ActorsJaideep Ahlawat, the Rival Vijay Salgaonkar NeededJaideep Ahlawat plays Rajveer Tomar in Drishyam: The Conclusion and a Pakistani prosecutor in Prahaar. Critics praise his stillness and want more of him.
CriticsChevittorma Review: Dileesh Pothan on a DeathbedLeo Thaddeus's Malayalam drama, which premiered at Busan, gets 3.5 stars from The Indian Express for Dileesh Pothan and Pauly Valsan's restrained acting.
CriticsYezhu Kadal Yezhu Malai Review: Ram's AI ProblemRam's Tamil chamber drama with Nivin Pauly and Soori draws a sharp review: strong actors, a moving love story and heavy use of AI shots.
CriticsNayyi Navelli Review: Yami Gautam's Muddled MythologyYami Gautam's horror comedy opened Oct. 16 to harsh reviews. The Hindu finds it loud and charmless, and News18 gives it 1 out of 5.
CriticsPrahaar Review: Rajkummar Rao Argues the Kasab CasePrahaar, with Rajkummar Rao as prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam, wins praise for its courtroom scenes. Critics split on Rao's polish and the family subplot.
SceneNational Awards: Regional Best Films by LanguageFrom Raayan to Mithya, the 72nd National Film Awards named a best film in every language. The regional winners, language by language.
SceneRaftaar Opens: Rajkummar Rao's Start-Up DramaRaftaar, with Rajkummar Rao and Keerthy Suresh, opened on Oct. 16 after a July date was dropped. What is known, and what is not.
SceneComrade Kalyan: Sree Vishnu's Comedy Is a Clean HitSree Vishnu's Telugu comedy broke even within days, one trade site says. Reviews call it silly but fun. Then Jailer 2 and Ranabaali arrived.
SceneBaththa's Box Office: Warm Reviews, Modest NumbersBaththa has warm reviews and a modest run. Trackers put it between Rs 23.7 and 26.8 crore net, and the daily numbers show a weekend pattern.
SceneIndia's Oscar Race: 33 Films, 14 of Them in HindiThe Film Federation weighed 33 films for the Oscars, 14 in Hindi. The contenders, the rules, and what became of Homebound.
SceneGondhal: The Marathi Thriller India Sent to the OscarsGondhal, a Marathi thriller by Santosh Davakhar, is India's official Oscar entry, chosen from 33 films. The film, the cast and what comes next.
ScenePremada Oorali: A Rs 2.5 Crore Kannada Film Takes OffA Kannada film made on Rs 2.5 crore opened to 60 shows and is past Rs 75 crore net. How Premada Oorali grew, and how it was sold.
SceneJailer 2 Opens Big: What Trackers and Exhibitors SayJailer 2 opened at about Rs 60 crore net, per trackers. What exhibitors say, how sources differ and where the total stands on Oct. 18.
ActorsS. J. Suryah: The Director Who Became Jailer 2's VillainS. J. Suryah plays Bodhi Kalpak in Jailer 2, and reviews split on whether the villains work. His path from director to screen antagonist.
ActorsUrvashi: Two National Awards and a Lead Worth WatchingUrvashi has two National Awards and a record six Kerala State Awards. Her lead in Aasha has critics praising her again. The record, sourced.
ActorsRashmika Mandanna on Jayamma, Her Ranabaali RoleRashmika Mandanna plays Jayamma in Ranabaali. What she has said about the role, what The Hindu wrote and where it sits in her career.
ActorsRandeep Hooda's Directing Debut Wins a National AwardRandeep Hooda won Best Debut Director for Swatantrya Veer Savarkar. His statement, the film's subject and a career built on transformations.
ActorsDhanush Answers Critics of His Two National AwardsDhanush won Best Tamil Film for Raayan and a Special Mention for Captain Miller. He later said better films existed. What he said and what is listed.
ActorsSanjay Mishra's National Award for Playing a CameramanSanjay Mishra won Best Supporting Actor for a restrained cameraman role in Bhakshak. His statement, the film and a career spanning three decades.
ActorsMammootty on His Fourth National Award for BramayugamMammootty shares Best Actor for Bramayugam. At the ceremony he explained how he found Kodumon Potti and thanked the team behind the film.
ActorsAnant Nag Receives the Dadasaheb Phalke AwardAnant Nag, the Kannada actor with 300 films, received India's highest film honour on Sept. 22. His career, honours and the ceremony.
CriticsReporting Live Review: Parineeti Chopra's Newsroom ThrillerParineeti Chopra plays a reporter chasing a sand-mining story in a Netflix film. Reviews credit its subject and fault its predictable path.
CriticsEnna Vilai on Netflix: A Fisherman's Honesty on TrialEnna Vilai, a Tamil courtroom drama now on Netflix, earns praise for Karunas and Nimisha Sajayan and doubts about its second half.
CriticsFahadh Faasil's Telugu Debut Gets Mixed ReviewsFahadh Faasil's first Telugu film as a solo lead got praise for him and Ssara Palekar, and doubts about pacing. Ratings range from 2 to 3 out of 5.
CriticsSigma Reviews: Jason Sanjay's Heist Debut Plays It SafeJason Sanjay's first film got mostly negative reviews. Critics praised Sundeep Kishan and said the heist never delivers. Ratings and the box office.
CriticsBaththa Review: Vijay Sethupathi's Gentle Gangster DramaBalaji Tharaneetharan's first release in eight years has Vijay Sethupathi as a feared don and a schoolboy. What critics said and how it is doing.
CriticsAasha Review: Urvashi Shines in a Thriller That FizzlesUrvashi is praised in Aasha, now on ZEE5, but critics say the Malayalam thriller fizzles in its second half. What The Hindu and others wrote.
CriticsRanabaali Review: Big Ambition, Overstuffed Telugu EpicVijay Deverakonda's Rayalaseema period epic opened Oct. 16 to mixed reviews: praise for craft and Rashmika, doubts about length and violence.
CriticsJailer 2 Reviews: Rajinikanth Wins, the Villains Do NotCritics agree Rajinikanth carries Jailer 2's first half and split on the villains and second half. What five reviews say about Nelson's sequel.