A suspense thriller set around Christmas. A family drama revolving around Durga Puja. The first big-screen adaptation of a pulp-fiction detective. An actioner set in the pre-Independence era. These are on offer at cinemas on the second Friday of 2024. Here’s a look.

Merry Christmas (Hindi)

Directed by: Sriram Raghavan

Cast: Katrina Kaif, Vijay Sethupathi, Sanjay Kapoor, Vinay Pathak, Pratima Kannan and Tinnu Anand

After his 2018 hit Andhadhun, Sriram Raghavan has come up with his movie Merry Christmas that promises to twist the holiday spirit into something sinister. Vijay Sethupathi and Katrina Kaif play two loners crossing paths for the first time on Christmas Eve, setting off a series of intense events that plunge them into significant trouble.

Shri Swapankumarer Badami Hyenar Kobole (Bengali)

Directed by: Debaloy Bhattacharya

Cast: Abir Chatterjee, Shruti Das, Paran Banerjee and Pratik Dutta.

Debaloy Bhattacharya’s Shri Swapankumarer Badami Hyenar Kobole is the first-ever big-screen offering from Hoichoi Studios. Abir Chatterjee stars as detective Deepak Chatterjee whose arch-nemesis Badami Hyena unleashes a reign of terror in Kolkata. In a meta-narrative, Paran Bandyopadhyay portrays Swapankumar, the writer of the pulp thriller from which the film is adapted, while Shruti Das and Pratik Dutta also play key roles.

Bijoyar Pore (Bengali)

Directed by: Abhijit Sridas

Cast: Mamata Shankar, Deepankar De, Swastika Mukherjee, Mir Afsar Ali and Rwitobrata Mukherjee

Bijoya Pore revolves around an elderly couple Ananda (Deepankar De) and Alokananda (Mamata Shankar) who are eagerly awaiting their family's annual gathering for Durga Puja. The year also marks the first visit of their daughter, Mrinmoyee (Swastika Mukherjee), since her separation from the family. Unfortunately, tragedy strikes on Bijoya Dashami when Ananda passes away before their arrival. Alokananda, in an attempt to keep the family united, conceals the news, creating an illusion of Ananda's presence.

Hanu-Man (Telugu)

Directed by: Prasanth Varma

Cast: Teja Sajja, Varalaxmi Sarathkumar, Amritha Aiyer and Vinay Rai

Teja Sajja plays an underdog who gains superpowers and must save the world in Prasanth Varma’s Hanu-Man. Set in the fictional world of Anjanadri, the movie illustrates how Teja’s character gains superpowers from a submerged entity. The new superhero must protect his people from a villain who dons a powerful suit and wreaks havoc in Anjanadri after arriving there in his pursuit of supremacy.

Captain Miller (Tamil)

Directed by: Arun Matheswaran

Cast: Dhanush, Priyanka Mohan, Shiva Rajkumar, Sundeep Kishan, Vinoth Kishan, Nassar and Edward Sonnenblick

Set in the pre-Independence period, Captain Miller sees Dhanush as a local rebel leader opposing the colonisation of his village. His village harbours a valuable treasure protected by the locals, coveted by the British for plunder. Now Dhanush’s Easa must protect that treasure and save his people from oppression by declaring war against the invaders.