| Cheekatilo | |
|---|---|
| File:Cheekatilo.jpg Promotional release poster | |
| Directed by | Sharan Koppisetty |
| Produced by | D. Suresh Babu |
| Written by | Chandra Pemmaraju |
| Starring | |
| Music by | Sricharan Pakala |
| Cinematography | Mallikarjun |
| Edited by | KSN |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Amazon MGM Studios (via Prime Video) |
Release date |
|
Running time | 126 minutes |
| Country | India |
| Language | Telugu |
Cheekatilo (transl. In the darkness) is a 2026 Indian Telugu-language crime thriller film directed by Sharan Koppisetty and written by Chandra Pemmaraju.[1][2] Produced by D. Suresh Babu for Suresh Productions, it stars Sobhita Dhulipala and Vishwadev Rachakonda.[3][4]
The film was released on 23 January 2026 on Amazon Prime Video.[5][6]
Plot[edit | edit source]
The film starts with a dancer rani's murder 20 years ago in a peculiar way that Jasmine flower on her head. Her friend went to the police station to complain about this. But the police refused to take the case. In the present Sandhya is working as a journalist on a TV channel. She is in love with amar who is 2 years younger than her. Sandhya is a stubborn character and will not let anything hurt her feelings. One day she found out that her report about a case to the TV channel was changed for the trp. She got upset. And her friend bobby gave her the idea to start a podcast which can give them freedom to investigate and expose true crime. One day Sandhya's family decided to go to amars home for their engagement. When they return from his home she found that her friend was murdered in her flat with her boyfriend in a brutal manner. After Sandhya’s best friend is found dead in a suspicious way, she resigned her job from the channel and she starts investigating the case. She starts her own podcast. Her search for the truth leads her to a dark past and forces her to face her own fears.[7]
Cast[edit | edit source]
- Sobhita Dhulipala as Sandhya Nelluri
- Vishwadev Rachakonda as Amar
- Chaitanya Krishna as Rajeev
- Vadlamani Srinivas as Anand
- Ravindra Vijay as Chinna Babu
- Isha Chawla as Ananditha
- Aamani as Padma
- Jhansi as Sandhya's mother
- Suresh as Rajamani
- Posani Krishna Murali as Nallama Reddy
- Aziz Naser as Irfan
- Ravi Mariya as Buchi Raju
- Pradeep Kondiparthi as Sandhya's father
- Sri Lakshmi as Sandhya's grandma
- Ravi Varma as Ravikanth
- Harsha Chemudu as Murali
- Aditi Myakal as Bobby
- Kranthi Balivada as Vani
- Ramya Ponduri
- Sonakshi Verma
- Harshini
- Swara
Music[edit | edit source]
The background score and songs were composed by Sricharan Pakala.
All lyrics are written by Chetan Prasad.
| No. | Title | Singer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Theme Song" | Sahithi Chaganti, Sricharan Pakala | |
| 2. | "Aigini" | Sindhu Budhavarapu |
Release and reception[edit | edit source]
Cheekatilo was released on 23 January 2026 on Amazon Prime Video.[8]
Sanjana Pulugurtha of The Times of India rated it 3 out of 5 and cited it as a "well-staged thriller despite flaws", referring to the writing.[9] Echoing the same, Sangeetha Devi Dundoo of The Hindu wrote that "Cheekatilo is an engaging, thoughtful drama that finds its strength in empathy rather than spectacle, but it could have benefited from sharper writing".[10] Neeshita Nyayapati of Hindustan Times rated it 2.5 out of 5 felt that a film like this needed more "sensitivity and nuance" citing its subject.[11]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ "Sobhita Dhulipala-starrer Cheekatilo to premiere on OTT on this date". Cinema Express. 8 January 2026. Retrieved 28 January 2026.
- ↑ "Sobhita Dhulipala leads new Telugu crime thriller Cheekatilo. Check release date". India Today. 8 January 2026. Retrieved 28 January 2026.
- ↑ "Producer Suresh Babu On 'Cheekatilo' and Changing Film Landscape: If OTT Platforms Don't Buy The Film Today, You Don't Know What To Do". The Hollywood Reporter India. Retrieved 28 January 2026.
- ↑ "Sobhita Dhulipala's Look As a True Crime Podcaster in Cheekatilo Out, Film to Release on This Date | Filmfare.com". www.filmfare.com. Retrieved 28 January 2026.
- ↑ "Sobhita Dhulipala's Telugu Crime Thriller 'Cheekatilo' Sets Premiere Date". The Hollywood Reporter India. Retrieved 28 January 2026.
- ↑ PTI (8 January 2026). "Sobhita Dhulipala's Cheekatilo: Prime Video Announces Streaming Date". www.deccanchronicle.com. Retrieved 28 January 2026.
- ↑ "Cheekatilo (2026) | Rotten Tomatoes". www.rottentomatoes.com. Retrieved 30 January 2026.
- ↑ "Sobhita Dhulipala Starrer Telugu Crime Drama Cheekatilo Release Date Out". Outlook India. 8 January 2026. Retrieved 28 January 2026.
- ↑ "Cheekatilo Movie Review: A well-staged thriller that holds attention despite flaws". The Times of India. Retrieved 28 January 2026.
- ↑ Dundoo, Sangeetha Devi (23 January 2026). "'Cheekatilo' movie review: Sobhita Dhulipala anchors a crime drama that occasionally thrills". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 28 January 2026.
- ↑ "Cheekatilo movie review: Sobhita Dhulipala film questions society for enabling abuse, but falters in places". Hindustan Times. 23 January 2026. Retrieved 28 January 2026.
External links[edit | edit source]
- Cheekatilo on IMDb