This weekend (May 12–18) is going to be a busy one. A lot of movies are lined up for release this week. From supernatural thrillers and satirical comedies to dark humour and emotional love stories, with a wide variety of genres to suit every taste, this week's streaming guide has something for everyone. From the biggest stars including Rajkummar Rao and Tamannaah Bhatia to gritty Malayalam gems, this lineup reflects the diversification and experimentation that Indian cinema is renowned for today.
Whether you want to laugh, cry, or stay on the edge of your seat, here's the complete rundown of this week's top OTT releases and why you shouldn't let them pass.
Iyer in Arabia
- Platform: Sun NXT
- Language: Malayalam
- Streaming Date: May 16, 2025
Directed by M.A. Nishad, Iyer in Arabia is a socially-conscious Malayalam comedy-drama that walks humor with a message. The film stars Mukesh as a stiff, retired Brahmin Sreenivasa Iyer and Urvashi as his free-thinking, atheist wife Jhansi Rani. When their son Rahul (Dhyan Sreenivasan) falls for Saira (Durga Krishna), a Muslim woman in Dubai, the couple travels there to bring the affair to an end—only to get caught up in cultural upheavals and life-altering revelations.
The narrative uses satire to question generational beliefs and cultural rigidity. Critics have given mixed reviews: while performances by Mukesh and Urvashi have been praised for their depth and chemistry, the screenplay has been criticised for leaning too much on predictable tropes. Still, for fans of socially conscious cinema with a humorous undertone, Iyer in Arabia is a worthwhile watch.
Bhool Chuk Maaf
- Platform: Amazon Prime Video
- Language: Hindi
- Streaming Date: May 16, 2025
Originally slated for theatrical release, Bhool Chuk Maaf made an eleventh-hour shift to OTT on the pretext of nationwide security. Directed by Karan Sharma and starring Rajkummar Rao and Wamiqa Gabbi, the film is a romantic comedy with a sci-fi twist. The backdrop is Varanasi, where the storyline revolves around Ranjan, who gets stuck in a time loop—constantly reliving his Haldi day as his bride-to-be remains oblivious.
This quirky take on love and fate brings a twist to the rom-com genre. Seema Pahwa and Sanjay Mishra's cast adds to the film's entertainment quotient. Under Maddock Films' direction, expect an equal dose of humor, heartiness, and philosophical undertones. Bhool Chuk Maaf is for the audience who likes quirky love stories with a taste of light sci-fi.
Odela 2
- Platform: Amazon Prime Video
- Language: Telugu
- Streaming Date: May 16, 2025
A sequel to Odela Railway Station (2022), Odela 2 continues its supernatural thriller legacy, this time with Tamannaah Bhatia playing a spiritually charged role as Bhairavi, a Naga Sadhu. The movie is a ghost story about the haunting of the village by Tirupati, a ghostly revenge of a serial killer whose soul comes back to haunt newlywed brides.
Tamannaah performs well in a spirituality and mysticism-fundamentally rooted character. Though the visual presentation of the movie and its horror are up to mark, the script of the movie lacks strength with inadequate pacing and reliance on tired clichés. For people who can appreciate rural horror with spiritual tones, though, Odela 2 presents a strong combination of horror and drama.
Parannu Parannu Parannu Chellan
- Platform: ManoramaMax
- Language: Malayalam
- Streaming Date: May 16, 2025
Directed and written by Jishnu Harindra Varma, Parannu Parannu Parannu Chellan is a bittersweet romance is shot in rural Kerala and explores caste issues in love. Unni Lalu plays Jiju, a humble young man in love with Sandhya (Samriddhi Tara), who belongs to a superior caste. Their soft romance is confronted with societal opposition, particularly from the powerhouse family of Sandhya.
The film muddles the sentimentalism of 90s Malayalam love stories and a socially conscious storytelling. Fresh faces bring realism to the characters, and Vijayaraghavan and Sidharth Bharathan in supporting roles give it depth. The emotional chord is struck with music by Joy Jinith and Ramnath. If romantic dramas with a strong social underpinning are your tea, this one's for you.
Maranamass
- Platform: SonyLiv
- Language: Malayalam
- Streaming Release Date: May 15, 2025
Maranamass brings some dark humor with a serial killer at its core. Being an experimental-tuned film, it has Basil Joseph as an unconventional detective and Rajesh Madhavan as a banana-stuffing killer—yes, indeed. The film has no concern for whodunit, but why it's being done, with offbeat characters and outlandish humor in between.
The narrative is rinky-dink but entertaining, with cameos and acting that succeed despite the storytelling missteps. Critics say that while the rhythm struggles and the subplots are arbitrary, the originality of the tone and genre-pushing ambitions of the movie justify it. Provided that you don't mind dark humor and have no problem with film anomalies, Maranamass is worth streaming.
Nesippaya
- Platform: Sun NXT
- Language: Tamil
- Streaming Date: May 16, 2025
Nesippaya, directed by Vishnuvardhan, is a romantic action thriller starring newcomers Akash Murali and Aditi Shankar. The film follows Arjun, a young entrepreneur who flies to Portugal to defend his ex-girlfriend Diya, arrested for a murder she insists she didn’t commit. Despite their past, Arjun risks everything to uncover the truth, setting off a suspenseful legal battle against a corrupt corporate empire.
Set between India and Europe, the film explores themes like privilege, sexuality, and systemic abuse of power. While critics appreciated the emotional depth and strong performances—particularly Aditi Shankar’s—many felt the narrative lacked tightness and freshness. Nesippaya had a lukewarm box office run, but now arrives on Sun NXT on May 16, giving viewers a second chance to explore this love-meets-justice thriller.
🎬 Watch Guide: What to Stream Based on Your Mood
🎭 For Satirical Family Drama:
👉 Iyer in Arabia (Sun NXT)
A cultural comedy with seasoned actors, questioning orthodoxy through humour.
💘 For Romantic Sci-fi Comedy:
👉 Bhool Chuk Maaf (Prime Video)
A quirky take on fate and love with Rajkummar Rao stuck in a time loop.
👻 For Spiritual Horror Fans:
👉 Odela 2 (Prime Video)
Myth, horror, and rural legends come alive in this supernatural sequel.
🖤 For Dark Comedy Lovers:
👉 Maranamass (SonyLiv)
Murder meets banana peels and dark wit. A film that defies convention.
