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Directed by Sharan Kopishetty, the Prime Original follows a true-crime podcaster whose investigation into a personal tragedy uncovers a web of violence in Hyderabad.
Prime Video has announced a January 23 global release for Cheekatilo, its latest Telugu-language original film, positioning the crime suspense drama as a key addition to its growing slate of South Indian originals.
Directed by Sharan Kopishetty and produced by veteran filmmaker D. Suresh Babu under the Suresh Productions banner, Cheekatilo is set in Hyderabad and centres on Sandhya, a true-crime podcaster played by Sobhita Dhulipala. The story follows Sandhya’s investigation into the mysterious death of her intern, an inquiry that gradually exposes a network of violent crimes and long-buried secrets within the city.
The screenplay has been written by Chandra Pemmaraju and Kopishetty, with Viswadev Rachakonda co-starring alongside Dhulipala. The supporting cast includes Chaitanya Visalakshmi, Esha Chawla, Jhansi, Aamani and Vadlamani Srinivas.
While crime thrillers have become a familiar presence on streaming platforms, Cheekatilo attempts to frame its narrative through contemporary storytelling devices, most notably the rise of true-crime podcasts as both investigative tools and cultural phenomena. The film places particular emphasis on the emotional cost of pursuing truth, as well as themes of resilience and moral accountability.
Nikhil Madhok, director and head of Originals at Prime Video India, said the platform was keen to back regionally rooted stories that balance genre storytelling with emotional complexity. He pointed to the success of earlier Telugu originals such as Dhootha as evidence of audience appetite for darker, character-driven narratives.
Producer D. Suresh Babu described Cheekatilo as an exploration of confronting uncomfortable truths, adding that the project continues his long-standing collaboration with Prime Video. He noted that the film’s focus on courage and justice was central to its appeal.
Cheekatilo will stream exclusively on Prime Video in India and more than 240 countries and territories worldwide when it premieres later this month. Dhulipala had featured in the Prime Video Series Made in Heaven.