Weekend Watch: From Akka to Meethe Mein Kya Hai, what to watch on OTT and in theatres this week

As October draws to a close, audiences have a fresh line-up of entertainment options across OTT platforms and theatres. Netflix brings several new releases, including the period crime drama Akka, Hindi family drama Meethe Mein Kya Hai and the documentary The One About Matthew Perry. Meanwhile, JioHotstar is set to stream the supernatural horror film Obsession, while Amazon Prime Video brings the extended cut of Mirzapur The Movie.

The theatrical line-up includes Vinod Kapri's Pyre, the fantasy romance Wicker and the period romantic drama Sense and Sensibility.

Whether you're looking for a big-screen outing or a weekend binge, here's what to watch this week.

OTT releases this week

One of the major OTT releases this week is Akka, which begins streaming on Netflix on October 30. Headlined by Keerthy Suresh and Radhika Apte, the period crime drama is set in the fictional town of Pernuru in the 1980s, where a powerful sisterhood controls the criminal underworld. The story follows Bhavani and Rudra, two rivals whose fight for control threatens to destabilise the established order. Directed by Dharmaraj Shetty, the series also features Tanvi Azmi, Mahesh Manjrekar and Anshuman Pushkar.

Another Netflix release to watch is Meethe Mein Kya Hai, arriving on October 30. Starring Ritwik Bhowmik, Rohini Hattangadi and Ayesha Raza Mishra, the Hindi family drama unfolds during a Diwali gathering. An extended family comes together for the festivities, but generational differences, buried disagreements and an unexpected marriage announcement bring underlying tensions to the surface.

For viewers interested in psychological thrillers, A Couple of Lies premieres on Netflix on October 30. The four-part Swedish thriller follows two couples who agree to exchange homes for a holiday. However, what begins as a relaxing getaway soon turns into a disturbing experience as hidden secrets, betrayals and manipulation emerge. The series stars Emma Appleton and Fares Fares.

Netflix also brings The One About Matthew Perry, a three-part documentary that premiered on October 27. The documentary looks beyond the late actor's iconic portrayal of Chandler Bing in Friends, drawing on previously unseen personal footage, photographs, family memories and accounts from lifelong friends. It explores Perry's rise to fame, his personal struggles and his efforts to help others facing addiction.

For horror enthusiasts, Obsession: The Original Uncut Version arrives on JioHotstar on October 30. Starring Michael Johnston and Inde Navarrette, the supernatural horror film follows Bear, a young man who uses a mysterious object called the One Wish Willow to make his crush Nikki fall in love with him. However, his wish takes a disturbing turn when Nikki develops an obsessive attachment, unleashing a series of dangerous consequences.

Another release on Netflix is How to Ruin Diwali: Meet the Parents, arriving on October 30. Starring Rosemary Zimu and Kyle Clark, the South African comedy follows a family gathering that spirals into chaos when the protagonists meet each other's parents during Diwali. Cultural differences, awkward encounters and family secrets add to the complications.

Meanwhile, Mirzapur The Movie (extended cut) arrives on Amazon Prime Video on October 30. Featuring Pankaj Tripathi, Ali Fazal and Divyenndu, the film centres on the power struggle for Mirzapur's throne, with a new claimant, Babban 'Babua' from Jaisalmer, entering the fray. The extended cut brings the crime drama to streaming audiences following its theatrical run.

Amazon Prime Video brings Apocalypse Z: New World on October 30. The post-apocalyptic thriller follows Manel as he navigates a world transformed by a rabies-like infection that turns people into aggressive predators. With the Canary Islands emerging as one of Europe's last refuges, a mission to the mainland for essential supplies turns into a fight for survival.

Netflix also adds Dhindora, Bhuvan Bam's comedy series about a middle-class family whose life changes after an unexpected lottery win, on October 28. Meanwhile, Telugu investigative thriller Rudravanam PS, starring Naresh Agastya, premieres on ZEE5 on October 30.

Other titles arriving on streaming platforms include Drive: The Pretenders, a romantic drama on Amazon Prime Video (October 28), You, Me, Us, an Italian relationship drama on Netflix (October 29), Collision Course, a Spanish crime thriller on Netflix (October 30), and Dead-End Job, a South Korean horror series on Netflix (October 30).

In theatres this week

One of the notable theatrical releases this week is Pyre, arriving in cinemas on October 30. Directed by National Award-winning filmmaker Vinod Kapri, the Himalayan love story follows an elderly couple, played by Padam Singh Kapri and Heera Devi, who continue waiting for their son to return home. Set against the backdrop of mountain villages, the film explores ageing, loneliness, migration and the emotional consequences of families being separated.

Another theatrical release is Wicker, a fantasy romance hitting cinemas on October 30. Starring Olivia Colman and Alexander Skarsgård, the film is directed by Alex Huston Fischer and Eleanor Wilson. Set in a conservative medieval coastal village, the story follows a fisherwoman who commissions a local basket maker to weave her a husband out of wicker. When the creation unexpectedly comes to life, its devotion sets off jealousy and chaos in the village. The film also features Elizabeth Debicki, Peter Dinklage and Richard E. Grant.

For viewers interested in period romantic dramas, Sense and Sensibility releases in theatres on October 30. Based on Jane Austen's novel, the film stars Daisy Edgar-Jones, Esmé Creed-Miles, Caitríona Balfe and Frank Dillane. The story follows sisters Elinor and Marianne Dashwood as they navigate love, heartbreak and societal expectations in 18th-century England after their father's death leaves them facing financial and social uncertainty.

For viewers looking for a horror thriller, The Influencer Project also releases in theatres on October 30. The film follows an influencer who travels to Copenhagen to make a documentary about her online fame. However, when an obsessive stalker begins tracking her movements, she is forced to confront the threat and fight to regain control.

The bigger picture

This week's entertainment line-up spans family dramas, period crime stories, psychological thrillers, supernatural horror, romantic comedies and documentaries. While Netflix dominates the OTT slate with a mix of Indian and international releases, JioHotstar and Amazon Prime Video add horror and crime titles to the weekend watchlist. The theatrical line-up, meanwhile, offers everything from Vinod Kapri's intimate Himalayan drama Pyre to the unconventional fantasy romance Wicker and the period drama Sense and Sensibility.

With several releases arriving, audiences have plenty of options to choose from as October gives way to November.