Two words: festival season. October is that perfect mashup of holidays and hype where big screen stories meet long weekends and friend plans and the calendar refuses to breathe because every Friday and a few Thursdays are booked solid with movies that want the moment and the money and the memes too. This month brings colorful romance on day one, a folklore epic stepping into legend and a crowd pleasing horror comedy lining up for Diwali so grab the popcorn and a pen because the schedule is tight but the vibes are generous.
What to expect this month
- A double header on 2 October that pairs a grand wedding romcom with a folklore myth prequel which is not the usual clash and that is why it works for different audiences on the same day.
- Mid month drops led by zombie mischief and ensemble chaos sequels that lean on nostalgia and easy laughs for group plans that need quick yes energy.
- A Diwali week anchor that aims for mass family appeal in a genre India loves now horror comedy with a star pairing and a known studio playbook that has delivered before.
Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari
A big hearted wedding season romcom packed with color dancers, family banter and a Varun Dhawan and Janhvi Kapoor pairing built for broad appeal during a holiday window that doubles as a long weekend. The film is directed by Shashank Khaitan and produced by Dharma Productions and Mentor Disciple Entertainment which signals glossy frames and high energy songs by default.
Theatrical release on 2 October and the date aligns with Dussehra and Gandhi Jayanti which adds a rare double holiday tailwind to day one footfalls across major circuits this year. Teaser on 29 August and trailer on 15 September set up the marketing runway and advance bookings opened during the last week of September to capture long lead plans for holiday outings.
Varun Dhawan and Janhvi Kapoor lead with Sanya Malhotra and Rohit Saraf adding playfulness while Akshay Oberoi and Maniesh Paul stack supporting gags and uncle energy where needed for family laughs.
Releasing the same day as Kantara Chapter 1 but targeting a different core audience urban romcom crowd versus myth action believers which reduces direct cannibalization and gives multi screen plexes a clean programming split.
Share this with a friend who loves sangeet playlists and matching outfits and say two words balcony seats and that is the plan done.
Kantara Chapter 1
A prequel to a cultural phenomenon with Rishab Shetty back at the center channeling folklore fight choreography and thundering music into a theatrical must watch built for large format screens and packed evening shows. The trailer build has leaned into ritual spectacle and rural mystique with sharp cuts that promise higher stakes than last time.
Arrived in theaters on 2 October with strong early box office talk and loud regional momentum spilling into metro markets that discovered the first film late but committed hard once they did. Several trade trackers flagged robust day one tallies and a quick weekend lift powered by festive leave and mouth to mouth in local language belts then dubbed shows in the north.
Rishab Shetty fronts and key supporting players return or slot into a tighter origin frame with additions designed to widen the emotional map without losing the folk core that carried the first breakout.
Direct clash with SSKTK but drawing a different crowd at launch myth action fans and southern markets where the brand is already near ritual status which keeps both films breathing on the same date.
Do not miss out, try this trend before everyone else and book a night show with the loudest sound because this is a sound mix movie where drums and chants do the heavy lifting.
The mid month wave at a glance
Go Goa Gone 2 is dated for 15 October in several aggregated calendars and keeps the cult zombie comedy brand alive with the Saif Ali Khan and Kunal Khemu world expected to throw in new chaos for group plans that need laughs and nothing else.
Soulmates appears on 17 October listings with a niche cast headlined by Vijay Raaz pointing to a limited release that could surprise if word of mouth hits in urban circles that support offbeat love stories and small gems.
Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat is circling 21 October slots and shows up in multiple calendars as a romantic drama pairing Harshvardhan Rane and Sonam Bajwa for a steady one week run if screens are available around Diwali peaks.
Aggregator calendars often shift during final week locking so check local listings 72 hours before showtime to confirm screens and languages in each city.
No Entry 2 and other late month talk
No Entry 2 has 26 October marked in several trackers with Varun Dhawan, Arjun Kapoor and Diljit Dosanjh surfacing as the trio and if it holds the Sunday landing offers a two day burst into the Diwali window where family crowds start building. The film leans on brand recall and star chemistry more than plot so trailer tone will decide early booking speed in North and West circuits that powered the original.
The Taj Story is currently listed for 31 October anchoring the last Friday with a character cast including Paresh Rawal and Brijendra Kala which suggests a dialogue forward drama designed for reviews and slow burn growth if platformed right.
Single Salma appears in some lists for late October as a comedy entry though exact show counts and multiplex splits will depend on Diwali week holdovers and word of mouth from the 21 October anchor.
Thamma
A horror comedy with Ayushmann Khurrana and Rashmika Mandanna under the Maddock Films banner that practically invented the modern Hindi horror comedy run with Stree and sequels and spinoffs that trained audiences to expect jump laughs and folklore mashups. It is billed as the fifth entry in the Maddock Horror Comedy Universe which means callbacks, cameos and a post credit tease are very possible if not guaranteed.
Theatrical release is set for 21 October with Diwali positioning and opening day projections from trade watchers suggesting a chance at a career best day one for Ayushmann if the songs and trailer land and show counts are generous in metros. Multiple reports highlight a cast list that doubles as a comic toolkit Paresh Rawal for classic timing, Sathyaraj for gravitas and Nawazuddin Siddiqui for unpredictable menace against folklore styled creatures and myths.
Ayushmann Khurrana as Alok Goyal and Rashmika Mandanna as Tadaka headline while Nawazuddin Siddiqui shows up as Yakshasan with Paresh Rawal as Ram Bajaj Goyal and a list of scene stealers that fit the Maddock pattern of building laughs from character quirks. There is even a cameo note for Varun Dhawan as Bhaskar which is the Bhediya link fans will screen grab instantly if it pays off in the final cut.
Diwali week gives families more time to watch and rewatch and horror comedy functions as a multi age compromise if the scares stay playful and the music feels festive enough for car speakers and reels.
Share this with a friend who loves jump scares and candy colored set design and say choose seats center back row for the sub bass moments that make people squeal and laugh.
Festival collisions and screen math
2 October this year sees Gandhi Jayanti and Dussehra land on the same date which is rare and super helpful for exhibitors building extended matinee blocks across the day for both SSKTK and Kantara Chapter 1 in tier one and tier two cities. Expect premium show splits in plexes that keep the romcom on big social slots early evening and the myth action on late night thunder zones with the loudest screens.
Diwali week around 21 October should hand Thamma a favorable show count plus a late night specialty run for horror comedy fans who prefer crowd energy while leaving enough early evening slots for family groups who avoid post 9 pm.
Sequels in the middle of the month will fight for screen time but can thrive on Saturday spikes and Sunday evenings if early reviews land as chill and fun which is exactly what those films position for by design.
Advance bookings and trailer cadence
SSKTK opened advances late September and rode a trailer drop that emphasized wedding grandeur and Varun Dhawan dance energy while seeding meme friendly lines for short videos to push weekend plans. Kantara Chapter 1 used a folklore heavy trailer cadence and region led influencer cuts that traveled north after the first weekend of chatter set a tone around rituals and action scale. Thamma followed a universe branding playbook with cast reveals music teases and a Diwali countdown that highlights a friendly spooky mood rather than harsh horror so families stay in the funnel.
Quick calendar snapshot
Thursday 2 Oct: Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari and Kantara Chapter 1 hit the big screens together offering two very different experiences that can both win on a double holiday.
Mid October: Go Goa Gone 2 on 15 Oct and Soulmates on 17 Oct offer counter programming choices before a Diwali wave resets the deck.
Tuesday 21 Oct: Thamma aims to own the festive corridor with a crowd pleasing genre that runs well on repeat viewings and holiday half days.
Late month: No Entry 2 on 26 Oct and The Taj Story on 31 Oct keep the slate busy as long as holdovers remain healthy and word of mouth stays positive.
Box office watch
Early chatter pegs Kantara Chapter 1 as a strong opener with regional dominance and quick national pickup aided by the holiday and the brand memory of the first film’s run which started slow and then ran long across languages last time.
Trade takes on Thamma suggests a possible 20 crore Indian day one which would mark a new opening bar for Ayushmann Khurrana if it sticks and that milestone is the headline number to track on Diwali week.
SSKTK looks built for steady family footfalls especially in North and West circles where wedding romcoms play well in festive mood and the Thursday opening is a cheat code this year because of the rare date collision.
Audience guide quick picks
For a glam night out pick Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari for a big album and a theater full of groups who clap and sing along.
For a visceral big screen trip pick Kantara Chapter 1 on the loudest screen available with a late show for the full drum and chant experience.
For a festive group plan with cousins, pick Thamma on Diwali week and go to early shows for kids or late shows for teens and twenties who want jump laughs and cameos.
For a nostalgia comedy pick Go Goa Gone 2 and No Entry 2 on a light weekend where easy laughs beat heavy plots and snacks are the agenda.
Surprising details that add spice
The Gandhi Jayanti and Dussehra same day alignment is a crowd amplifier that exhibitors love because it compresses demand into fewer dates that over index on occupancy which drives social energy and FOMO for both day one movies.
Thamma is officially the fifth film in the Maddock Horror Comedy Universe which means it carries the weight of a user taught myth all the earlier entries are rewatch fuel on streaming and meme starter packs on social so this one has an instant fandom loop on arrival.
SSKTK pushed dates twice before landing on 2 October which often helps polish and music rollout pacing and the final placement was picked for maximum festive swing rather than an ordinary Friday which is a confidence tell.
Programming strategy for multiplex crews
Suggest SSKTK four evening shows on day one to maximize social groups and couples then stack Kantara Chapter 1 late night on the biggest auditorium for sonic impact and repeat business from word of mouth.
On Diwali week front load Thamma in holiday afternoons for families then expand late shows for college groups as the week progresses and office schedules loosen for long weekend bridges.
Keep one smaller screen for Soulmates or Taj Story to cultivate reviews based growth and holdover curves that sometimes surprise in week two if trending lands.
Music and trailer notes
SSKTK doubles down on wedding anthems and sangeet friendly beats designed for reels which in 2025 is not optional it is the oxygen line to weekend ticketing for romcoms.
Kantara Chapter 1 leans on percussive motifs that work on small speakers and explode in hall subwoofers, a two track approach that turns casual listeners into theater goers when they want the full body experience.
Thamma will likely ride a spooky cute hook song and a whistling motif that kids can imitate in lobbies and that is a small but real driver for family rewatch choices in festival windows.
Travel and city watch
Bengaluru Chennai and Hyderabad went loud for Kantara first time and will do it again for the prequel while Mumbai and Pune grow fast on holiday weekends when friends book late shows after dinners and garba nights.
Delhi NCR and Jaipur learn romcom on a holiday Thursday with SSKTK then swing to myth action on Saturday night when larger friend circles can coordinate travel and parking easier.
Pan India skews toward Thamma on Diwali because horror comedy plays democratic across cities where a laugh and a jump sell faster than heavy drama in a party week.
Plan the perfect October watchlist
2 Oct morning show SSKTK with family or dates then a night show of Kantara Chapter 1 with the gang for a day that covers both color and thunder in one go.
15 to 17 Oct a chill comedy or indie pick for a breezy weekend that resets the mood before the big Diwali anchor lands.
21 Oct Thamma as the Diwali group plans with snacks early and photos later because this is a corridor that forgives noise and loves selfies and that is fine.
26 to 31 Oct grab a sequel or a talky drama for variety then end the month calm with a small gem that benefits from quieter halls.
Calls to action worth trying today
Share this with a friend who loves fashion and ask which wedding song from SSKTK becomes the sangeet closer this season then add it to a party list right now for fun.
Do not miss out, try this trend before everyone else and book a post 9 pm Kantara Chapter 1 show with a big sound because that is how the drums make sense and the heart does the thing.
Tag the Diwali squad for Thamma tickets and lock a row today because the best seats go fast when families plan around holidays and sweets and cousins are in town.
October is built for theaters this year with a dual holiday opener, two comfort sequels and a Diwali anchor that knows exactly how to entertain across ages so line up the days and make it a month of movies not just one weekend because this calendar was made for repeat fun and easy joy with friends, family and the big screen. When the credits roll leave a comment with the top pick and a reel idea from the songs and do not forget to share this guide with someone planning the next movie night because that person just got their job ten times easier in three minutes flat.
