'Baththa' to 'Valatty': South Indian films to watch with kids

Children’s Day 2026 OTT watchlist.

Children’s Day is celebrated across India on November 14 to mark the birth anniversary of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the country’s first Prime Minister. The occasion is a good opportunity for parents to introduce children to films that combine entertainment with meaningful themes.

From a fantasy adventure featuring Fahadh Faasil to a school drama about equality, here are four titles families can add to their watchlist.

‘Don’t Trouble the Trouble’

Presented by S.S. Rajamouli and directed by Shashank Yeleti, the 2026 Telugu fantasy-adventure film ‘Don’t Trouble the Trouble’ brings together comedy, mystery and supernatural elements. Fahadh Faasil plays Suri, a small-time criminal who also works as an ambulance driver. His troubles begin after a clash with a local gang leaves him desperate for money.Suri then kidnaps Divya, played by Ssara Palekar, hoping to collect a ransom. However, he soon discovers that the young girl possesses supernatural abilities. Divya believes Suri is a magician who can help her locate her missing parents. The film also features Saurabh Sachdeva as Pratap and Mahesh Manjrekar as Mohammed Singh Aslam. It marks Fahadh Faasil's solo lead debut in Telugu cinema.The makers reportedly described the film as a "kids' film for grown-ups", as reported by The Indian Express.

It received a UA 13+ certificate from the Central Board of Film Certification. The film is available on Netflix.

‘Baththa’: Vijay Sethupathi's unusual friendship with a schoolboy

Balaji Tharaneetharan's 2026 Tamil comedy-drama ‘Baththa’ features Vijay Sethupathi and child actor Sai Prithviraj. Set in 1986 Madras, the story follows Sabari, an eight-year-old boy whose accidental actions lead to an unexpected friendship.Sabari inadvertently locks a feared gangster named Baththa inside an abandoned school washroom.

The criminal remains trapped for several days, struggling to cope with hunger and isolation. Rather than leaving him without help, the young boy secretly brings him food. Their interactions gradually develop into an unlikely friendship.Although not specifically made for children, the film explores empathy, innocence and personal transformation. It carries a UA 13+ certificate and streams on Netflix. Parents should consider its mature themes and mild elements of violence before choosing it for younger viewers.

‘Valatty: Tale of Tails’

Devan Jayakumar made his directorial debut with the 2023 Malayalam film ‘Valatty: Tale of Tails’. The adventure comedy features real domesticated dogs in its lead roles, making it a distinctive addition to Indian cinema.The story revolves around Tomy, a Golden Retriever, and Amalu, a Cocker Spaniel. Their owners disapprove of their relationship, prompting the two dogs to leave home after Amalu becomes pregnant.

During their journey, they receive help from a kind man and befriend a street dog named Karidas.Their adventure becomes more dangerous when Amalu is captured by an illegal animal testing facility. Tomy and his companions then attempt to rescue her. The film carries a U/A 13+ certificate and is available on JioHotstar.

‘Sthanarthi Sreekuttan’

Directed by Vinesh Viswanath, the 2024 Malayalam coming-of-age comedy-drama ‘Sthanarthi Sreekuttan’, also known as ‘Candidate Sreekuttan’, takes place at KR Narayanan Memorial Upper Primary School.

Its central story revolves around the students of Class VII C.Sreekuttan, played by Sreerang Shine, is a mischievous backbencher who frequently clashes with his teacher, CP. Following an incident of humiliation, he decides to contest the classroom leader election. His rival is Ambadi, played by Abhinav S, a frontbencher who enjoys the teacher's favor.The election brings several humorous situations while exploring democracy, equality and friendship. Aju Varghese plays the strict teacher Chakrapani, while the supporting cast includes Saiju Kurup, Johny Antony and Anand Manmadhan. The film is available on Saina Play.