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Detective Karthik is a sharp, suspenseful thriller that dives deep into the underbelly of urban crime while exploring the fragile line between genius and obsession. Directed by Anil Varma, the film introduces us to a detective who is equal parts brilliant and broken - and makes us question whether the case he's solving might just destroy him too.

The story revolves around Karthik Iyer (played with absolute finesse by Dulquer Salmaan), an unconventional private detective in Bangalore who has gained fame for solving impossible cases. Karthik is not your classic trench-coat detective. He's young, messy, socially awkward, and haunted by his own demons - mainly his estranged father, once a police officer disgraced for corruption.

When the city is rocked by a series of bizarre murders - each victim left with cryptic messages and a chess piece in their mouth - the police have no choice but to rope in Karthik. What begins as a straightforward hunt for a serial killer soon turns into a twisted game where Karthik realizes he might be the one being played.

Dulquer Salmaan is outstanding as Karthik. He brings charm and subtlety to a character who is equal parts annoying and endearing. His nervous ticks, sarcastic one-liners, sudden bursts of rage - all make Karthik feel real and unpredictable. There's a scene where Karthik is alone in his cluttered office, talking to the photos on his evidence wall as if they can talk back - Dulquer nails it with ease.

Ritika Singh plays Ananya Rao, an investigative journalist who unwillingly becomes Karthik's partner in the case. Ritika brings fire and wit to her role. Her banter with Karthik provides some much-needed levity in an otherwise dark narrative. Anupam Kher appears as ACP Prakash Verma, a grizzled cop who once knew Karthik's father. His scenes with Karthik add emotional weight to the story.

Lorry Chapter is a raw, atmospheric road drama that takes you deep into India's underbelly, riding on the back of a battered old truck carrying more secrets than cargo. Directed by debutant filmmaker Rohan Kulkarni, this film is a haunting look at the invisible lives that move along the country's endless highways - and the moral choices that weigh them down.

The story follows Ganga (played by Fahadh Faasil), a lorry driver who has spent two decades on the road, transporting goods and living a life between petrol pumps, shady dhabas, and check posts. To him, his lorry is home - an old rusty machine that rumbles through the night like a loyal companion. Ganga's life is simple, lonely, and numb - until one night he is forced to transport something that shakes his moral compass forever.

Without giving away too much, Lorry Chapter uses its simple premise to deliver a layered, slow-burn thriller. Ganga picks up an unmarked crate from the outskirts of Mumbai, under pressure from a local transport mafia kingpin (played chillingly by Pankaj Tripathi). As his journey unfolds, so does the truth about what's inside the crate - and the film turns into a tense moral struggle on wheels.

Fahadh Faasil once again proves why he's among the best. He barely speaks in the film, but his eyes tell the whole story - the fatigue of years on the road, the guilt, the fear, the tiny flickers of hope. There's a scene where Ganga, stranded in the rain with a broken-down lorry, talks to his old truck like it's his only friend. It's heartbreaking and beautiful.

Yagna is a gripping, layered drama that dares to ask uncomfortable questions about faith, sacrifice, and the price we pay for collective beliefs. Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Prakash Varma, this film explores the thin line between ritual and obsession, devotion and destruction.

Set in a remote village surrounded by dense forests, Yagna opens with a chilling prologue: an ancient ritual that demands an annual sacrifice to appease the village deity, believed to guard the land from drought and disease. The story jumps to the present day, where the village, though outwardly modernizing, still clings to its centuries-old fear.

The protagonist, Devdatta (played by Manoj Bajpayee), is a rational-minded school principal who returns to his native village after decades. He comes back to care for his ailing mother and soon finds himself drawn into the village's biggest secret - the Yagna. What begins as curiosity turns into a battle of conscience as Devdatta tries to stop the ritual that he believes has no place in the modern world.

Manoj Bajpayee is outstanding as Devdatta. His performance is a masterclass in subtlety - the conflict in his eyes as he faces the village elders, the helplessness as he tries to reason with superstition, and the raw anger when he realizes the cost of silence. His scenes with his mother (brilliantly portrayed by Surekha Sikri in her final screen role) are heart-wrenching and give the story its emotional anchor.

The supporting cast is equally strong. Vineet Kumar Singh plays Bhairav, the stoic village priest torn between duty and doubt. His restrained performance adds layers to what could have been a stereotypical character. Radhika Madan, as Devdatta's niece, brings youthful defiance and innocence to a grim world.