Indian films to look forward to in December
Last updated: 12 December 2020
Several interesting Indian films are lined up for release in December in both cinemas and streaming platforms. Let’s take a look at what the month has to offer:
Film: Harami
Language: Hindi
Cast: Emraan Hashmi, Rizwan Shaikh and Dhanshree Patil
Release Date: 11 December (USA) TBC
Emraan Hashmi’s international film “Harami” is directed by Shyam Madiraju (Eden), who has co-written the screenplay with Shahin Khosravan and also co-producing with Brent Maddock (Tremors), Dori Zuckerman, Gavin Lurie, Mohit Rastogi (Special 26) and Pravesh Kumar Singh.
The film premiered at the Busan Film Festival on 21 October 2020 in South Korea and is the only Indian film out of the 10 films from 9 countries selected for this year’s main competition section (New Horizons).
Set in the backdrop of Mumbai, the plot follows a teenage pickpocket (debutant Rizwan Shaikh) who develops a conscience after one of his targets commits suicide. Newcomer Dhanshree Patil plays the female lead and Emraan Hashmi enacts the role of a crime boss in the drama set to release in US cinemas on 11 December. The India release date is not confirmed yet.
Watch the trailer of Harami below:
Film: Indoo Ki Jawani
Language: Hindi
Cast: Kiara Advani and Aditya Seal
Release Date: 11 December
Kiara Advani’s long-delayed “Indoo Ki Jawani” is set to be released in cinemas on 11 December 2020. The coming-of-age comedy is helmed by Abir Sengupta (Jomer Raja Dilo Bor) and bankrolled by Bhushan Kumar’s T-Series (Pati, Patni Aur Woh) and Nikkhil Advani’s Emmay Entertainment (D-Day, Airlift).
Aditya Seal (Student of the Year 2) plays Advani’s love interest in the film.
Watch “Indoo Ki Jawani” trailer below:
Film: Torbaaz
Language: Hindi
Cast: Sanjay Dutt and Nargis Fakhri
Release Date: 11 December
Platform: Netflix
“Torbaaz” follows a man who rises over his own personal tragedy and seeks to coach refugee camp kids in cricket, who are otherwise destined to become suicide bombers in Afghanistan. The drama is directed by Girish Malik (Jal) who is also serving as the co-producer.
Also producing the film are Rahul Mittra (Saheb Biwi Aur Gangster), Raju Chadha, Ponty Chadha and Puneet Singh.
Watch the trailer of Torbaaz below:
Film: Durgamati
Language: Hindi
Cast: Bhumi Pednekar, Arshad Warsi, Jisshu Sengupta and Mahie Gill
Release Date: 11 December
Platform: Amazon Prime Video
Durgamati, starring Bhumi Pednekar in the titular role, is a Hindi-language remake of Telugu director G. Ashok’s successful horror-thriller Bhaagamathie (2018). The film’s title was changed from Durgavati to Durgamati on 23 November.
The film follows a woman imprisoned in a haunted house while she is interrogated by law enforcers investigating a politician who they suspect of being involved in corrupt activities.
The film is produced by Akshay Kumar, Bhushan Kumar and Vikram Malhotra under Cape of Good Films, T-Series and Abundantia Entertainment.
Watch Durgamati trailer below:
Film: Lahore Confidential
Language: Hindi
Cast: Richa Chadha, Karishma Tanna, Arunoday Singh
Release Date: 11 December February 2021
Platform: Zee5
“Lahore Confidential”, written by Hussain Zaidi (Black Friday) and directed by Kunal Kohli (Fanaa), follows a divorced Indian woman who finds herself on a secret intelligence duty in Pakistan.
Richa Chadha, Karishma Tanna, Arunoday Singh and Khalid Siddiqui star in this spy thriller set to release on Zee5 streaming platform on 11 December.
Watch the official teaser of “Lahore Confidential” below:
Film: Maara
Language: Tamil
Cast: Madhavan, Shraddha Srinath and Sshivada
Release Date: 17 December
Platform: Amazon Prime Video
“Maara”, starring Madhavan, Shraddha Srinath and Sshivada, is a remake of Malayalam film Charlie (2015). The romantic drama is directed by newcomer Dhilip Kumar, and produced by Prateek Chakravorty and Shruti Nallappa under their production company Pramod Films with music by Ghibran.
The film marks the second feature film collaboration of Madhavan and Shraddha Srinath after their successful Vikram Vedha (2017).
Film: Guvva Gorinka
Language: Telugu
Cast: Satyadev Kancharana and Priyaa Lal
Release Date: 17 December
Platform: Amazon Prime Video
Written and directed by Mohan Babu Bammidi in his feature film debut, “Guvva Gorinka” is a romantic drama featuring Satyadev Kancharana (Uma Maheswara Ugra Roopasya) and British-Indian actress Priyaa Lal (Janakan).
The drama is bankrolled by Damu Reddy and Jeevan Reddy.
Film: Paava Kadhaigal
Language: Tamil (anthology)
Cast: Aadithya Baaskar, Anjali, Bhavani Sre, Gautham Menon, Hari, Kalidas Jayaram, Kalki Koechlin, Padam Kumar, Prakash Raj, Sai Pallavi, Shanthanu Bhagyaraj and Simran.
Release Date: 18 December
Platform: Netflix
Four celebrated directors have helmed an anthology that explores how love, pride and honour influence complex relationships, through four intricate and beautiful stories.
The films are directed by Gautham Menon (Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa/Ek Deewana Tha), Vetri Maaran (Asuran), Sudha Kongara (Soorarai Pottru) and Vignesh Shivan (Naanum Rowdy Dhaan) respectively, and is bankrolled by Ronnie Screwvala’s RSVP Movies (The Sky Is Pink) and Flying Unicorn Entertainment (Lust Stories).
“Paava Kadhaigal” is set to release on Netflix on 18 December.
Watch the teaser below:
Film: AK vs AK
Language: Hindi
Cast: Anil Kapoor, Anurag Kashyap and Sonam Kapoor
Release Date: 24 December
Platform: Netflix
Directed by Vikramaditya Motwane (Sacred Games) and starring Anil Kapoor (Slumdog Millionaire) and Anurag Kashyap (Imaikkaa Nodigal), “AK vs AK” revolves around a disgraced director (Anurag Kashyap), who after a public spat with a movie star (Anil Kapoor), kidnaps the actor’s daughter (Sonam Kapoor) and films the search in real time in his quest for revenge.
Ahead of the release of the film’s trailer on 7 December, the film’s main leads Anurag Kashyap and Anil Kapoor exchanged insults on Twitter as part of the film’s marketing strategy.
The comedy-drama is scheduled to release on Netflix on Christmas Eve.
Watch “AK vs AK” trailer below:
Film: Shakeela
Language: Hindi
Cast: Richa Chadha, Pankaj Tripathi and Ester Noronha
Release Date: 25 December
This biopic of South Indian adult star Shakeela features Richa Chadha (Masaan) in the titular role supported by Pankaj Tripathi (Mirzapur) and Ester Noronha. The drama is directed by Kannada filmmaker Indrajit Lankesh (Monalisa, Aishwarya) and produced by Sammy Nanwani.
“Shakeela” was originally scheduled to release in cinemas earlier this year but had to be postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic, and is now set for a Christmas release.
Film: Coolie No. 1
Language: Hindi
Cast: Varun Dhawan and Sara Ali Khan
Release Date: 25 December
Platform: Amazon Prime Video
Varun Dhawan’s “Coolie No. 1”, directed by his father David Dhawan, is a remake of a 1995 film of the same name also directed by his father.
Sara Ali Khan plays the female lead in the comedy drama.
The film was originally scheduled to be released in cinemas on 1 May 2020, but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the lockdown restrictions in India before Amazon bagged the worldwide distribution rights and slated to release it on their streaming platform on Christmas Day.
The remake is produced by Vashu Bhagnani’s Pooja Entertainment who had also produced 1995’s “Coolie No. 1”, which is a remake of a 1993 Tamil film “Chinna Mapillai”.
Watch “Coolie No. 1” trailer below:
Telugu film “Seeti Maar” starring Gopichand and Digangana Suryavanshi, and Varalaxmi Sarathkumar’s directorial debut “Chasing” are also scheduled to release in December, however we are waiting for an official confirmation from the producers.