Movie name: Cheekatilo
Delivery date: January 23, 2026
Streaming platform: Amazon Prime Video
123telugu.com Rating: 2.75/5
Cast: Sobhita Dhulipala, Vishwadev Rachakonda, Chaitanya Visalakshmi, Esha Chawla, Jhansi, Aamani, Vadramani Srinivas, Ravindra Vijay
director : Sharan Kopisetty
Producer: D. Suresh Babu
Music director: Sricharan Pakala
Director of Photography: Mallikarjun
Editor: KSN
Related links: trailer
After a long gap, actress Sobhita Dhulipala has returned to Telugu cinema with the web original ‘Cheekatilo’ which marks her debut in the Telugu OTT space. The series will be directed by Sharan Kopishetty. Cheekatilo was released today in Telugu, Hindi, and Tamil on Amazon Prime Video. Here’s our take on its reputation:
story:
Sandhya (Sobhita Dhulipala), a journalist who quits her job due to TRP-based ethics, starts her own podcast. When her colleague Bobby (Aditi Myakal) and Bobby’s boyfriend are murdered, Sandhya discovers a pattern linking multiple similar murders. Determined to uncover the truth, she investigates the case and shares details through her podcast ‘Cheekatilo’ with the support of Amar (Vishwadev Rachakonda). The core of the story is who is behind the murder and why it happened.
Plus points:
Sobhita Dhulipala took on a role that was relatively new to her, but she handled it effortlessly. It convincingly depicts the emotional pain of a woman haunted by unresolved truths. Although Vishwadev Rachakonda’s screen time is limited, he makes good use of the scope given to him and leaves an impression.
In crime thrillers, the antagonist is often revealed early on, but Cheekatilo keeps the culprit hidden until before the climax. But while the mystery is maintained, the film doesn’t create the tension needed to make that mystery truly engaging.
Director Sharan Kopishetty tries to explore the idea of unconsciously repressing trauma through several scenes, and the story from pre-climax to climax works pretty well. Aamani performs effectively despite having limited on-screen visibility. Vadramani Srinivas does a decent job in the role and it’s refreshing to see him in a different shade.
Minus points:
Cheekatilo’s central problem lies not in its concept but in its execution. In serial crime thrillers, sustained tension is important to keep the audience’s attention. Although there is plenty of room for suspense in this story, the story unfolds in a mostly flat fashion.
This approach conveys little sense of urgency about what will happen next or who will be the next target. Scene after scene continues, but there are few moments that create genuine anticipation.
The police investigation, in particular, lacks seriousness and feels artificial, reducing its impact on the story. Similarly, the film doesn’t convincingly establish how Sandhya’s podcast gained immense popularity in such a short period of time, and certain developments feel rushed and overly cinematic.
Several supporting characters, including characters played by Ravindra Vijay, Jhansi, Suresh and Vishwadev, are stand-ins, limiting the emotional depth the story can achieve. At certain points, repetitive scenes make the story feel stagnant, as if the film is hesitant to move forward.
Technical aspects:
Srikanth Pakala’s background score attempts to create a tense atmosphere, but the flat writing prevents the moment from being fully expressed. The editing by KSN is decent, but the pacing could have been improved by trimming some parts. Mallikarjun’s cinematography is on point and suits the mood of the film. Production values are so-so.
Director Sharan Kopishetty, along with co-writer Chandra Pemaraju, brings a familiar story to life in a different setting. However, the inconsistent execution and lack of compelling narrative beats make the end result feel formulaic.
verdict:
Overall, Cheekatilo is a crime thriller that partially works. Sobhita Dhulipala gives a sincere performance and the underlying message comes across clearly and well. However, weak direction in some parts, a lack of sustained tension in places, and some repetitive moments prevent the film from being a compelling thriller. If you like thrillers, you might want to give it a try, but keep your expectations in check.
123telugu.com Rating: 2.75/5
Review by 123telugu team