Friday, May 23, 2025

OTT Releases This Week May 19 to 25: Vallamai, Sikandar, Iru, Arjun S/O Vyjayanthi, Hunt & Heartbeat Season 2

With the last full week of May upon us, Indian OTT platforms are serving up an exciting mix of genres — from socially charged Tamil drama to commercial Hindi actioners, a bold Malayalam adaptation of Othello, and an emotional Telugu action saga. Whether you’re looking for a message-driven movie, a thriller, or pure masala entertainment, this week’s OTT lineup has something for every viewer.

Here’s a curated look at what’s new to stream across Netflix India, Amazon Prime Video, Aha Tamil, Tentkotta, ManoramaMAX, and more.

Vallamai – A Father's Fight for Justice

Vallamai, starring Premgi Amaren and Dhivadarshini, is a powerful drama centred around the resilience of a father seeking justice for his hearing-impaired daughter. Directed by Karuppaiyaa Murugan, the film follows Saravanan and his daughter Boomika, who move to Chennai for a fresh start — only for their lives to be shattered by a violent crime. When the legal system fails them, Saravanan takes justice into his own hands.

The film takes on emotional and social issues such as the challenges faced by the disabled and the failures of the justice system. While the performances — especially Premgi’s — have been praised, the screenplay has been critiqued for its inconsistencies. Still, Vallamaiaims to move audiences with its heartfelt message and father-daughter bond.

  • OTT Release Date: May 23, 2025
  • Streaming Platforms: Aha Tamil, Tentkotta
  • Language: Tamil
Read about the blockbuster OTT release of Retro

Sikandar – Salman Khan’s Eid Release Hits OTT

Released theatrically during Eid 2025, Sikandar stars Salman Khan and Rashmika Mandanna in a high-octane action drama directed by A.R. Murugadoss. The story follows Sanjay Rajkot, aka Sikandar, a powerful businessman whose wife is killed in a tragic incident. Her organs are donated to three strangers, and Sanjay embarks on a journey to help these recipients, attempting to find meaning in his loss.

Despite its emotional premise and massive ₹200 crore budget, Sikandar failed to win over critics. The plot felt stretched, the execution disjointed, and the emotional beats didn’t land. However, for Salman Khan fans, there are a few signature Bhaijaan moments worth watching. If you like action dramas with larger-than-life characters, it may be worth a watch — though expectations should be tempered.

  • OTT Release Date: May 25, 2025
  • Streaming Platform: Netflix India
  • Language: Hindi

Iru  – A Shakespearean Retelling on Campus

One of the most talked-about Malayalam films online this week is Iru, a bold adaptation of Shakespeare’s Othello. Directed by Fr. Varghese Lal, this campus-set drama explores caste, colourism, and identity in the politically charged atmosphere of Mahatma Gandhi University. The story centres on Rishi, a lower-caste orphan, and Priya, an upper-caste research student, as their inter-caste love becomes a lightning rod in the narrative.

Critics and viewers alike are praising the film’s social commentary and powerful performances. The story interweaves multiple love stories across caste and religious lines, presenting a deeply rooted tale of betrayal and social structure. Though it didn’t find its audience in theatres, Iru is being discovered on OTT and is quickly gaining a cult following.

  • OTT Release Date: May 18, 2025 
  • Streaming Platform: Amazon Prime Video
  • Language: Malayalam
Read more about the most anticipated Malayalam OTT Releases for May 2025

Arjun S/O Vyjayanthi  – A Mother-Son Emotional Saga

Starring Nandamuri Kalyan Ram and Vijayashanti, Arjun S/O Vyjayanthi is a spiritual sequel to the 1990 classic Karthavyam. The film brings Vijayashanti back as retired police officer Vyjayanthi, whose son Arjun, an IPS hopeful, ends up becoming a reluctant gangster. When a terrorist targets his mother, Arjun takes it upon himself to protect her and take revenge.

The film explores the depth of a mother-son bond while delivering typical Tollywood action sequences. While performances are strong — especially Vijayashanti’s return — the action scenes and pacing left many critics unimpressed. Still, for fans of emotional action dramas and nostalgia-filled callbacks, this one might strike the right chord.

  • OTT Release Date: May 16, 2025
  • Streaming Platform: Amazon Prime Video
  • Language: Telugu
Read about the Rana Naidu Season 2

Hunt  – Bhavana’s Paranormal Return

Hunt sees Bhavana reunite with director Shaji Kailas in a paranormal thriller set in a medical college. The story revolves around Keerthi, a forensic medicine student who discovers skeletal remains, triggering a chilling investigation into the supernatural. As the mystery unfolds, Keerthi must confront her rational beliefs and a darker truth.

The film’s horror-meets-investigative tone is a welcome addition to Malayalam cinema’s limited supernatural catalogue. While Hunt may not break new ground in horror tropes, Bhavana’s performance and the eerie campus setting create enough intrigue for late-night viewers who enjoy psychological thrillers with a touch of the paranormal.

  • OTT Release Date: May 23, 2025
  • Streaming Platform: ManoramaMAX
  • Language: Malayalam

Heartbeat Season 2- Interesting Medical Drama

After the success of HeartbeatSeason 1, the popular Tamil medical drama is set to return with Season 2. The show’s simple storytelling and emotional character arcs resonated with audiences, especially fans of hospital-set dramas. The new season is expected to delve deeper into the personal journeys of the doctors at RK Multispecialty Hospital. 

  • OTT Release Date: May 22, 2025
  • Expected Platform: JioCinema (Hotstar Specials)
  • Language: Tamil

Final Thoughts

This week’s OTT releases offer a little bit of everything — social commentary (Vallamai, Iru), emotional drama (Arjun S/O Vyjayanthi), horror suspense (Hunt), and star-studded spectacle (Sikandar). Whether you're a fan of regional cinema or looking to catch up on missed theatrical releases, this lineup has something for every taste.

Which one are you streaming first? Let us know your pick in the comments.

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