Latest news with #Viraatapalem
Hindustan Times
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Constable Kanakam: Varsha Bollama's new Telugu series is all about black magic
Constable Kanakam is ETV Win's new Telugu series that made headlines ever since its trailer was launched by megastar Chiranjeevi. As the trailer was cut in a very gripping manner and even impressed Chiranjeevi, there is a lot of hype around this village crime thriller. Varsha Bollama plays the female lead, portraying Constable Kanakam, who is pushed into a deadly investigation where girls go missing in a specific forest region. The series will be available for streaming on ETV Win from August 14, 2025, and can also be streamed via OTTplay Premium Varsha Bollama in and as Constable Kanakam Looking at the trailer, though the story might sound routine, we have exclusively learnt that Constable Kanakam deals with the concept of black magic and how innocent women in villages are targeted through it. Prasanth Kumar Dimmala has directed this six-episode series, which also features seasoned actor Rajeev Kanakala in a key role. A few weeks ago, Constable Kanakam was also in the news when its makers filed a case against the makers of Zee5's Viraatapalem PC Meena Reporting, claiming that the story was copied from Constable Kanakam. Viraatapalem, though, is streaming on Zee5 and OTTplay Premium, and nothing much has come out of the controversy. Makers alter Constable Kanakam's script owing to Viraatapalem controversy The latest update is that the makers of Constable Kanakam made adequate changes to the script, making it even more interesting. This is the first time Varsha Bollama is headlining a Telugu show, and as her last film, Thammudu, now streaming on OTTplay Premium, ended as a huge flop, she has pinned a lot of hopes on this series. The makers held a special screening of the show in Hyderabad, and there has already been a positive response from all those who watched it. Meanwhile, while waiting for Constable Kanakam, if you love suspense thrillers, check out Telugu web series like Paruvu, Vikkatakavi, Bahishkarana, and Newsense, all of which are a must-watch on OTTplay Premium.
The Hindu
28-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
‘Viraatapalem: PC Meena Reporting' series review: Abhignya Vuthaluru-starrer is undone by a bland narrative
On the surface, the premise of Viraatapalem: PC Meena Reporting, the Telugu web series from Zee5, may seem to hold some promise. Meena (Abhignya Vuthaluru), a young female constable who is new to a village, is determined to get to the bottom of the story when she suspects that incidents of crime involving women are conveniently written off as a curse upon the village. For those who do not often tune into the digital space, the story may hold some intrigue. However, the broad storyline is on the lines of similar narratives explored in web series and cinema, of late. Writer-director Surya Vangala's brooding Telugu crime thriller Brinda, starring Trisha, is an example of an intriguing story of crime solving that also lays bare the internal conflicts of the protagonist. Prakash Dantaluri's Telugu film Yevam, led by Chandini Chowdary, is another example of an underdog story of a female cop punching above her weight. Viraatapalem: PC Meena Reporting (Telugu) Director: Krishna Poluru Cast: Abhignya Vuthaluru, Charan Lakkaraju, Surabhi Prabhavathi Storyline: As new brides meet with a tragic end, a village is believed to be cursed. A female police constable gets to the bottom of the mystery. Streaming on: Zee5 Viraatapalem: PC Meena Reporting is in a similar zone. Directed by Krishna Poluru, the series has screenplay by Vikram Kumar Kandimalla and story by Divya Tejaswi Pera. While one does not expect each story to break new ground, a layered narrative helps to hold viewers' interest over several episodes. After all, long-format storytelling is a space that can help writers and directors go beyond the confines of mainstream cinema, without the crutches of having to cater to the box office. This is where Viraatapalem wobbles. The story unfolds in a pre-smartphone era. The seeds for the story are sown through an incident in the early 1980s when a young bride throws up blood and dies soon after her wedding. Similar incidents follow and people believe the village to be cursed. No one gets married in the village. Those who move away to other towns, do not return. The occasional ones who dare to get married in the village or return post marriage meet with a tragic end. Years later, the fear and stigma remain. The series spans seven episodes of 17 to 25-minute duration each. The first two episodes serve to introduce the key characters. No surprises for guessing that the police station is perfunctory, without doing much crime solving. Meena, who comes to the village accompanied by her mother, finds an unlikely ally in the teaseller, Kittu (Charan Lakkaraju). The needle of suspicion points towards a few powerful men and women in the village; the narrative packs in a sub plot about a family torn apart owing to differences that arise when a woman wants to marry a man from a different social strata. Once these characters and their stories are revealed, the intrigue wears off. None of the supporting characters are written with depth. The narrative makes some of the characters appear suspicious and this repetitive narrative tool gets weary. Add to that, none of the other police officers are shown to perform their duties with the required tenacity. This lack of strong characters makes the story insipid. Meena goes about her investigation in a rather straightforward manner with no room for tact. The many shots of her lost in thought while sipping tea at Kittu's stall get repetitive. Her quick turnaround when it comes to marriage is unconvincing. Abhignya tries to shoulder the series but the lack of depth in writing limits her scope. The final episode raises a point about the lack of empathy with which society treats those who go through a crisis and what is considered auspicious or what isn't. However, the argument fails to strike a chord since the story barely explores the mindset of the characters involved. (Viraatapalem: PC Meena Reporting streams on Zee5)
India.com
26-06-2025
- Entertainment
- India.com
New OTT Releases (June 24- June 27): Raid 2, Squid Game Season 3, Panchayat Season 4 And More To Binge On Netflix, ZEE5, Prime Video
photoDetails english 2922588 Updated:Jun 26, 2025, 04:04 PM IST Panchayat Season 4 - Prime Videos 1 / 9 The Verdict - SUN NXT 2 / 9 Ata Thambaycha Naay! - ZEE5 3 / 9 Viraatapalem: PC Meena Reporting - ZEE5 4 / 9 The Bear Season 4 - Jio Hotstar 5 / 9 Azadi - ManoramaMAX 6 / 9 Mistry - JioHotstar 7 / 9 Squid Game Season 3 - Netflix 8 / 9 Raid 2 - Netflix 9 / 9
Pink Villa
26-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
3 Tamil, Telugu OTT releases this week (June 23-29): The Verdict, Viraatapalem and Oka Padhakam Prakaram
South Indian OTT films always strive to deliver something out of the beaten path when it comes to their cinematic ventures. This week, audiences are in for a treat with some exciting Tamil and Telugu movies, which will begin streaming on OTT. If you're on the lookout for the perfect lineup of films for your next binge-watch session, worry not, as we've got you covered. Check out the Tamil and Telugu movies that are releasing this week. 3 Tamil, Telugu OTT releases this week The Verdict Cast: Suhasini Maniratnam, Varalaxmi Sarathkumar, Sruthi Hariharan, Vidyullekha Raman Genre: Courtroom drama Release date: May 30, 2025 Streaming on: Sun NXT The Verdict follows a courtroom drama set in the United States. The case in concern is about a woman named Namrutha who is the prime accused in the murder case of her friend Elsa. However, she is innocent, and someone else is responsible for such a heinous deed. The case is taken up by one of Namrutha's other friends, Maya, who assures that she will do anything in her power to prove the former innocent. Viraatapalem A recent cop drama in the hood, Viraatapalem, revolves around the woman SI, Meena, who is positioned as the head of the police station in a remote village called Viraatapalem. There, she witnesses an unusual case where nearly all the brides of the village die mysteriously on their wedding day. As she takes up the case, a series of deeply buried secrets of the place get unearthed while the culprit is unmasked. Oka Padhakam Prakaram Cast: Sairam Shankar, P Samuthirakani, Ashima Narwal, Shruti Sodhi Genre: Legal thriller Release date: February 7, 2025 Streaming on: Sun NXT The story of the film revolves around the life of a public prosecutor, which is turned upside down after his wife goes missing. To add to the woes, he wrongfully gets entangled in a murder case, which is later revealed to be the task of a serial killer. As the man gradually attempts to strike off his name from all such misdeeds, he ends up uncovering an even larger crime nexus.
Economic Times
25-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Economic Times
From Pariwar and Aap Kaise Ho to The Verdict and Viraatapalem : Latest Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu OTT releases to watch on Netlfix, Prime Video, JioHotstar
Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Viraatapalem: PC Meena Reporting Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Lovely This week's OTT lineup across ZEE5 , Prime Video, ManoramaMAX, and Sun NXT brings a mixed bag of gritty thrillers, heart-warming dramas, and wildly imaginative storytelling. Whether it's a police constable investigating supernatural deaths or a man forming an emotional bond with a fly, these new Indian web series and films are packed with surprises. Here's what's dropping this week:Language: Telugu | Platform: ZEE5 | Release Date: June 27Set in the 1980s, this slow-burn thriller follows police constable Meena as she investigates a chilling pattern—brides dying on their wedding night in a superstitious village. The seven-episode series blends folklore with grounded mystery and stars YouTuber-turned-actress Abhignya Vuthaluru. Directed by Poluru Krishna, it explores themes of misogyny, trauma, and power while peeling back the layers of Viraatapalem's long-held Malayalam | Platform: Prime Video | Release Date: June 24Ailing father. Three sons. One inheritance. In Pariwar, what begins as a heartfelt reunion devolves into a subtle war of selfish motives and strained relationships. Starring Jagadish and Indrans, this Malayalam family drama delivers emotional realism wrapped in quiet humour. Directed by Ulsav Rajeev and Fahad Nandu, the film explores how familial love and greed often share the same Tamil | Platform: Sun NXT | Release Date: June 26In this Tamil courtroom drama set in Texas, an Indian woman is accused of a high-profile murder. With Varalaxmi Sarathkumar and Suhasini Maniratnam in lead roles, The Verdict uses legal drama to unravel a web of betrayal, privilege, and truth. Directed by debutant Krishna Sankar, the film tackles shifting perceptions of justice and guilt, all against the backdrop of an emotionally charged trialLanguage: Malayalam | Platform: ManoramaMAX | Release Date: June 27Inside Kottayam Medical College, a pregnant prisoner, her husband, and a rebellious teen plot a dangerous escape. Azadi, inspired by true events, is a tense Malayalam action thriller exploring rebellion, justice, and emotional resilience. Directed by Jo George and starring Sreenath Bhasi, Lal, and Raveena Ravi, the film's gripping plot unfolds across 24 nerve-wracking hours where past and present collide Malayalam | Platform: Sun NXT | Release Date: June 27A bachelor party spirals into emotional chaos in this situational comedy-drama led by Dhyan Sreenivasan and Aju Varghese. Based on a real incident, Aap Kaise Ho takes a light-hearted look at friendship, ego, and unexpected self-discovery. Directed by Vinay Jose, it cleverly masks emotional depth beneath all the drunken laughter, making it a relatable ride through modern-day friendship and Malayalam | Platform: Prime Video | Now StreamingA young man makes an unlikely best friend—a talking housefly—in Lovely, a surreal fantasy drama by Dileesh Nair. Mathew Thomas stars as Boney, who forms an emotional bond with the insect while in jail. Whimsical, oddly touching, and visually creative, the film explores grief, imagination, and loneliness, proving that healing can come from the most unexpected places—even a buzzing cellmate.
