LIK – Dude Scenario for Karuppu – Suriya 46?

 In recent times, the timing of movie releases has become less predictable. Some films that were supposed to come out first are being delayed, while others that were planned to come later are coming out earlier. This has happened with some of Pradeep Ranganathan's films. His movie LIK (Love Insurance Kompany) was originally set for an August 2025 release, and Dude was supposed to come out in October 2025. However, by December, Dude had already come out as planned, while LIK is now expected to come out in February 2026.

Although the exact reasons aren’t officially shared, it’s believed that delays in post-production and a slowdown in digital deals are playing a big role.

 These deals are not as profitable as they used to be. When the offers aren’t good enough, producers tend to wait for better options. Once they get a deal, it’s usually the OTT platform that decides the theatrical release date, because they plan their schedules a long time in advance. This has made it harder to predict when movies will come out. This situation seems to apply to both LIK and Dude, and now Suriya’s films are also facing a similar challenge.

After finishing Kanguva, Suriya started shooting for Karuppu, which stars Trisha and is directed by RJ Balaji, who made his directorial debut with Mookuthi Amman (Ammoru Thalli in Telugu).

 While making Karuppu, Suriya also joined a straight Telugu film directed by Venky Atluri, which is tentatively titled Suriya 46. He recently completed shooting for Suriya 46.

Karuppu was originally planned for a Diwali 2025 release but has been delayed because the producers couldn’t find an OTT partner at the price they wanted.

 With the movie almost finished, the team is now considering a summer release. However, there's a twist. Suriya 46 has already been completed, and the makers are planning a summer 2026 release. Netflix has acquired the digital rights for Suriya 46, following the success of Venky Atluri’s previous film, Lucky Baskhar, on the platform. The deal for Suriya 46 is said to be smooth and historic in terms of success.

It is now reported that the Karuppu team has reached out to the makers of Suriya 46 to adjust their release plans, as both are aiming for a summer release.

 However, it doesn’t seem like things are looking favorable for Karuppu. It seems likely that Suriya 46 will go ahead with its release first. If this happens, Karuppu might have to come out in early 2026 without further delays in its theatrical release. It’s still unclear which film will hit the theaters first—Suriya 46 or Karuppu.

Karuppu stars Suriya, Trisha, and others.

 It is directed by RJ Balaji and produced by S R Prakash Babu and S R Prabhu under Dream Warrior Pictures, with music by Sai Abhyankkar. Suriya 46 is likely to be titled Vishwanathan and Sons. The film stars Suriya, Mamitha Baiju, Raveena Tandon, and others. It is directed by Venky Atluri and produced by Naga Vamsi under Sithara Entertainments, with music by GV Prakash.