Sivakarthikeyan’s ‘Seyon’ teaser, Prathyusha death case verdict, Madras High Court denies Vishal’s plea: Top 5 South stories of the day

February 17 was packed with news from the southern film industry, ranging from key judgments and shocking developments to a major investigation. A birthday celebration created a buzz online, while a long-running case finally reached its conclusion. With trade updates and mounting legal pressure, the day kept fans and industry circles fully engaged.

Joby George faces first loss as ‘Valathuvashathe Kallan’ fails at the box office

Producer Joby George revealed that ‘Valathuvashathe Kallan’ has become his first loss-making venture, despite only handling its distribution. The film went to theatres with a total spend of Rs 16 crore, including his Rs 6.5 crore advance and additional financial support. He stepped in purely to help during a financial crisis and even reduced the distributor’s share to 5%. However, the film failed to perform at the box office, resulting in a major financial setback.

Sivakarthikeyan’s ‘Seyon’ teaser creates buzz

The makers of Sivakarthikeyan’s ‘Seyon’ released a special teaser to celebrate the actor’s birthday. The glimpse showcases an intense rural backdrop linked to the Maasi Kalari festival and a powerful conflict set inside a police station. It concludes with Sivakarthikeyan appearing in a fierce, trance-like rural avatar, further heightening fan excitement. The film is slated for a grand release in October 2026.

Supreme Court restores 5-year sentence in Prathyusha death case

The Supreme Court of India restored the original five-year rigorous imprisonment in the Prathyusha death case, rejecting Siddharth Reddy’s plea. The court set aside the reduced sentence and upheld the trial court’s conviction for abetment of suicide. It directed him to surrender within four weeks, bringing an end to the 24-year legal battle. The verdict followed a sustained appeal by Prathyusha’s mother, who had been seeking justice for over two decades.

Jayaram appears before Enforcement Directorate in Sabarimala gold probe

Actor Jayaram appeared before the Enforcement Directorate in Kochi for questioning in connection with the Sabarimala gold money-laundering probe. He was interrogated regarding financial transactions and possible links to other accused individuals in the case. Jayaram attended the inquiry following an official summons from the central agency. Before entering the office, he told the media that the truth must emerge through the investigation. Jayaram's recent outing 'Ashakal Aayiram' is doing a good box office business.

Madras High Court denies more time to Vishal in Lyca loan case

The Madras High Court refused to grant Vishal additional time to deposit Rs 10 crore in the loan dispute involving Lyca Productions. The court observed that sufficient time had already been given and dismissed his plea seeking a six-week extension. The deposit was a mandatory condition to continue the interim stay on the earlier repayment order. With the request rejected, legal pressure mounts on the actor to comply with the court’s directive.Get the latest entertainment updates from the Times of India, along with the latest Hindi movies, upcoming Hindi movies in 2026 , and Telugu movies.”