As fans wait eagerly to find out whether Paul Atreides and his army of Fremen are successful in overthrowing the Empire in Dune: Part Two, a host of other movies will be hitting the cinemas this Friday. Here’s everything you need to know about this week’s theatrical releases.

Dune: Part Two (English)

Directed by: Denis Villeneuve

Cast: Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Rebecca Ferguson, Josh Brolin, Austin Butler, Florence Pugh, Christopher Walken, and Léa Seydoux

Dune: Part Two is the second instalment of Villeneuve’s adaptation of Frank Herbert's 1965 novel Dune. The plot centres around Paul Atreides, who, in alliance with the Fremen inhabitants of the desert planet Arrakis, engages in a conflict against House Harkonnen. Throughout this segment Paul adopts Fremen customs, forges a connection with Chani (Zendaya) and earns their admiration. Concurrently, his mother Jessica (Rebecca Ferguson) adept at transforming poison, inherits ancestral memories and is expecting a child. When the Southern Fremen express their desire for him to lead, Paul affirms his messianic destiny, challenging the Emperor and setting out for a sacred war.

May December (English)

Directed by: Todd Haynes

Cast: Natalie Portman, Julianne Moore, Charles Melton

May December, loosely influenced by the Mary Kay Letourneau scandal, features Natalie Portman as an actress embarking on a journey to explore and understand the life of the controversial figure (Julianne Moore) she is portraying in a film. This woman gained notoriety for her 23-year-long relationship with her husband (Charles Melton), which began when he was just 13 years old. The movie earned praise from critics and garnered multiple accolades, including four nominations at the 81st Golden Globe Awards and a Best Original Screenplay nomination at the 96th Academy Awards.

The Zone of Interest (German)

Directed by: Jonathan Glazer

Cast: Christian Friedel, Sandra Hüller, Johann Karthaus, Luis Noah Witte, Nele Ahrensmeier

The Zone of Interest is a historical drama film by Jonathan Glazer, adapting Martin Amis’s eponymous novel. Set during World War II, it stars Christian Friedel and Sandra Hüller as Nazi commandant Rudolf Höss and his wife, attempting to create a dream life right next to the Auschwitz concentration camp. Premiering at Cannes, it won the Grand Prix and FIPRESCI Prize. The film won BAFTAs and earned Academy Award and Golden Globe nominations.

Dange (Hindi)

Directed by: Bejoy Nambiar

Cast: Harshvardhan Rane, Ehan Bhat, TJ Bhanu, Nikita Dutta

Helmed by Bejoy Nambiar, Dange delves into the complexities of friendship within the backdrop of a lively college festival. The narrative unfolds around two friends — portrayed by Harshvardhan Rane and Ehan Bhat — whose bond is tested as they turn into competitors in the face of unforeseen events.

Laapataa Ladies (Hindi)

Directed by: Kiran Rao

Cast: Nitanshi Goel, Chhaya Kadam, Ravi Kishan, Pratibha Ratna, Sparsh Shrivastav

Two young brides — Phool Kumari (Nitanshi Goel) and Pushpa (Pratibha Ratna) — inadvertently switch places during a train journey, leading to a massive confusion. Deepak Kumar (Sparsh Shrivastav), Phool’s distressed husband, turns to the assistance of a corrupt police officer named Shyam Manohar (Ravi Kishan), further intensifying the situation in Kiran Rao’s second directorial venture.

Operation Valentine (Hindi)

Directed by: Shakti Pratap Singh Hada

Cast: Varun Tej, Manushi Chhillar, Navdeep and Mir Sarwar

Operation Valentine is an action thriller that draws inspiration from the 2019 Pulwama attack by Pakistan on India and the subsequent Balakot Air Strikes carried out by the Indian Air Force. This film serves as a patriotic homage to the soldiers involved in these events. Making his Bollywood debut, Telugu star Varun Tej portrays the character of a courageous and exceptionally skilled fighter pilot haunted by past traumas.

Kaagaz 2 (Hindi)

Directed by: VK Prakash

Cast: Satish Kaushik, Anupam Kher, Anang Desai, Darshan Kumar

After the success of Kaagaz (2021) featuring Pankaj Tripathi, its sequel chronicles a father’s (Satish Kaushik) struggle for justice following the tragic death of his daughter. Kaushik’s character takes up the challenge to advocate against political rallies, road blockades and protests. His adversary is a politician played by Anang Desai, whose political rally was responsible for the untimely demise of Kaushik’s daughter. Anupam Kher assumes the character of Satish's lawyer, aiding him in the pursuit of justice. Kaagaz 2 is the last film Satish Kaushik could complete before his demise.

Kusum Ka Biyaah (Hindi)

Directed by: Suvendu Raj Ghosh

Cast: Lovekansh Garg, Sujana Darjee, Pradip Chopra, Raja Sarkar, Suhani Biswas, and Panya Darshan Gupta

Based on actual events from the pandemic lockdown, Kusum Ka Biyaah revolves around Sunil's (Lovekansh Garg) marriage, which faces turmoil due to a nationwide lockdown. Stranded on a bamboo bridge between Bihar and Jharkhand, Sunil and his wedding guests confront the challenges brought by unforeseen circumstances. Sujana Darjee takes on the role of the reserved new bride in this drama.

Daroga Mamur Kirti (Bengali)

Directed by: Nehal Dutta

Cast: Ranjit Mallick, Laboni Sarkar, Kharaj Mukherjee and Sumit Ganguly

Ranjit Mallick takes on the role of a cop in Nehal Dutta’s Daroga Mamur Kirti. Mallick’s character, Lokkhibabu, is given the charge of Kalikapur in north Bengal, following a rise in the number of cases of theft. It falls on Lokkhibabu’s shoulders to bring these thieves to justice. Kharaj Mukherjee plays a ‘bohurupi’ in this film.