Weekend Watch: From Ramayana to Haiwaan, what to watch on OTT and in theatres this Diwali weekend

As Diwali approaches, audiences have a fresh line-up of entertainment options across OTT platforms and cinemas. Netflix brings new releases such as the family drama Dilwali Diwali, spy thriller Black Doves Season 2 and South Korean drama Possible Love. Meanwhile, SonyLIV is set to stream Priyadarshan's crime thriller Haiwaan, while JioHotstar brings Dulquer Salmaan-starrer I'm Game.

The theatrical line-up includes Nitesh Tiwari's mythological spectacle Ramayana: Part One and Martin McDonagh's dark comedy Wild Horse Nine.

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

OTT releases this week

One of the notable releases this festive week is Dilwali Diwali, which began streaming on Netflix on November 5. Directed by Ritesh Menon and written by Ritu Mago, the Hindi family drama stars Mihir Ahuja, Manoj Pahwa, Neelu Kohli and Aurra Bhatnagar. The story follows Ansh Sikka (Ahuja), a young man who returns home for Diwali after several years of working abroad. His arrival brings unresolved family tensions, generational differences and emotional revelations to the surface as the family comes together for the festival. Produced by Terribly Tiny Tales, the film explores the complexities of family relationships and the idea that material comforts cannot necessarily resolve emotional differences.

Another major release is Black Doves Season 2, which premiered on Netflix on November 5. Starring Keira Knightley and Ben Whishaw, the British espionage thriller follows Helen Webb, who continues to juggle her public identity as a politician's wife with her secret life as an operative for the covert Black Doves organisation. With her husband Wallace preparing to become Prime Minister, Helen's double life becomes increasingly difficult to manage. The new season also reunites her with her best friend Sam as a plot against their handler, Mrs Reed, puts the organisation under threat.

For viewers interested in international dramas, Possible Love arrives on Netflix on November 6. Directed by South Korean filmmaker Lee Chang-dong, marking his first feature in eight years, the drama stars Jeon Do-yeon, Sul Kyung-gu, Zo In-sung, Cho Yeo-jeong and Jo Yu-ri. The film follows two married couples leading very different lives whose paths become intertwined. As they spend time together, differences in their values, relationships and personal ambitions emerge, bringing hidden desires and emotional tensions to the surface.

For action and crime thriller enthusiasts, Haiwaan makes its digital debut on SonyLIV on November 6, following its theatrical run. Directed by Priyadarshan, the film stars Saif Ali Khan and Akshay Kumar, with Boman Irani also featuring in the cast. An official remake of the Malayalam film Oppam, Haiwaan follows a visually impaired caretaker, played by Saif Ali Khan, who finds himself caught in a murder investigation after the death of his mentor, a retired judge. As he becomes a suspect, he must use his heightened senses to uncover the truth, prove his innocence and protect the judge's daughter from the real culprit, played by Akshay Kumar in his first out-and-out villainous role.

Another release to watch out for is I'm Game, starring Dulquer Salmaan, which arrives on JioHotstar on November 6. Directed by Nahas Hidayath and also featuring Kayadu Lohar and Antony Varghese, the Malayalam action thriller follows a gambler who relies heavily on luck and fate, only to find himself caught in a real-life gamble that spirals beyond his control. As unexpected events unfold, he must navigate a dangerous situation where luck alone may not be enough to get him out. Dubbed versions are also available.

For viewers looking for fantasy and folklore, The Vvaan: Force of the Forrest makes its digital debut on Amazon Prime Video on November 6, initially through its rental service, after opening in theatres on September 25. Starring Sidharth Malhotra and Tamannaah Bhatia, the fantasy thriller follows a young man who returns to his ancestral village and breaks an ancient seal in a forbidden forest. His actions unleash mysterious forces connected to local folklore and beliefs, drawing him into a supernatural conflict. Directed by Deepak Kumar Mishra, the film also features Maniesh Paul and Sunil Grover.

Another notable release is Last Man in Tower, which begins streaming on ZEE5 on November 6 after its theatrical release in September. Directed by Ben Rekhi and based on Aravind Adiga's 2011 novel, the drama stars Manoj Bajpayee, Divya Dutta and Boman Irani and is set in Mumbai's Vishram Society. A real estate developer offers residents financial buyouts on the condition that every homeowner agrees to sell. However, retired schoolteacher Yogesh Mishra, known to everyone as Masterji, refuses to leave his home because of his emotional attachment to it. His decision puts him at odds with his neighbours, who begin pressuring him to accept the offer.

International titles add to the streaming line-up. Stick Season 2, starring Owen Wilson, Peter Dager and Rhea Seehorn, premiered on Apple TV on November 4. The sports comedy-drama follows former professional golfer Pryce Cahill as he attempts an ambitious comeback, while teenage golf prodigy Santi Wheeler navigates the pressures of professional sport. Seehorn joins the cast as Amanda, Pryce's new coach. Their journeys bring fresh challenges, complicated relationships and second chances into focus.

Meanwhile, The Greatest, a biographical sports drama on Amazon Prime Video, also arrived on November 4. The first authorised scripted series about Muhammad Ali, the eight-episode limited series stars Jaalen Best and charts Cassius Clay's transformation into Ali between 1960 and 1964, beginning with his Olympic gold medal win in Rome. Beyond his achievements in the ring, it explores his religious conversion, personal convictions and the events that shaped his early career.

Other international releases to look out for include Campus Drivers, a six-episode French romantic drama series on Amazon Prime Video, which premiered on November 6, and Anaesthesia, an eight-episode Polish medical drama series on Netflix, which arrived on November 4. The former, adapted from C.S. Quill's bestselling novels, follows heartbroken university student Lois, whose life takes an unexpected turn when she becomes roommates with Lane, the campus's popular boy. The latter centres on a gifted neurosurgeon who leaves a prestigious clinic for a struggling small-town hospital after a high-stakes operation ends in disaster.

In theatres this week

One of the biggest theatrical releases this festive week is Ramayana: Part One, which arrived in cinemas worldwide on November 5. Directed by Nitesh Tiwari, the ambitious adaptation of the Indian epic features Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama, Sai Pallavi as Sita and Yash as Ravana. The ensemble cast also includes Sunny Deol as Hanuman, Ravi Dubey as Lakshmana, Arun Govil as Dashrath and Lara Dutta as Kaikeyi. The first instalment of a planned two-part cinematic adaptation follows Rama's journey, his exile with Sita and Lakshmana, and the events leading to Ravana's abduction of Sita. Produced by Namit Malhotra's Prime Focus Studios, the film features music by AR Rahman and Hans Zimmer. Part Two is slated for Diwali 2027.

Hollywood audiences can look forward to Wild Horse Nine, which arrives in cinemas on November 6. Directed by Martin McDonagh, the dark comedy thriller stars John Malkovich, Sam Rockwell and Steve Buscemi. Set shortly before the 1973 Chilean coup, the film follows two CIA agents, Chris and Lee, who are sent from Santiago to Easter Island by their bureau chief, MJ. As the longtime partners confront buried secrets and present-day conspiracies, Chris forms an unexpected bond with two rebellious students, threatening to send the trip sideways. The film also features Tom Waits, Parker Posey and Mariana di Girolamo.

For K-pop fans, Stray Kids World Tour 'RUN IT' Live Viewing offers a different kind of theatrical experience. On November 7, the group's Tokyo Dome concert will be broadcast live to cinemas around the world, with screenings in some territories time-shifted to suit local time zones. It is the first time Stray Kids has offered a live cinema broadcast of a concert. Featuring Bang Chan, Lee Know, Changbin, Hyunjin, Han, Felix, Seungmin and I.N, the event gives fans an opportunity to experience the group's live performance on the big screen. Check local cinema listings for availability in India.

The bigger picture

With Diwali bringing an extended holiday weekend, audiences have a packed entertainment slate to choose from, whether they are heading to cinemas or catching up on new releases at home. From the spectacle of Ramayana: Part One and the dark humour of Wild Horse Nine on the big screen to streaming premieres such as Dilwali Diwali, Black Doves Season 2 and Haiwaan, this week's line-up spans genres, languages and viewing preferences. Whether it's a family outing, a festive binge-watch or a concert experience with Stray Kids, there is plenty to keep audiences entertained through the long weekend.