Traditionally, the Diwali festival in Tamil Nadu is dominated by big-ticket films from top stars like Vijay and Ajith. This year, however, the festive window is set for a refreshing change. From October 17, 2025, three budding stars — Dhruv Vikram, Harish Kalyan, and Pradeep Ranganathan — are ready to clash at the box office with their respective films Bison, Diesel, and Dude.

With audiences keen to explore fresh faces and stories, this Diwali promises a cracker of a box-office battle. Here’s a quick look at each film:

Bison

A sports drama directed by Mari Selvaraj, Bison: Kaalamaadan follows the journey of a kabaddi player from the fringes of society. The film stars Dhruv Vikram and Anupama Parameswaran, with Lal, Pasupathy, Kalaiyarasan, Rajisha Vijayan, and Azhagam Perumal in supporting roles. Music is composed by Nivas K. Prasanna.

Diesel

An action-packed mass entertainer, Diesel is directed by Shanmugam Muthusamy and stars Harish Kalyan alongside Athulya Ravi. The film features Vinay Rai, Sai Kumar, Karunaas, Ramesh Thilak, Kaali Venkat, and Vivek Prasanna in key roles. Music is by Dhibu Ninan Thomas.

Dude

A romantic action-drama, Dude is directed by Keerthiswaran and produced by Mythri Movie Makers. It stars Pradeep Ranganathan and Mamitha Baiju in the lead, with R. Sarathkumar and Hridhu Haroon in pivotal roles. The film’s music is composed by Sai Abhyankar.

With three distinct genres — sports drama, mass action, and romantic entertainer — hitting screens on the same day, this Diwali belongs to the young guns of Tamil cinema. The battle for the box office crown begins October 17, and all eyes are on which film will emerge as the festive winner.