🌑 Cheekatilo (2026) – A chilling thriller of hidden truths, crime, and the tremors of female consciousness
🎬 Introduction
Some films don‘t thrive in the light. They are born in darkness, breathe in silence, and penetrate the viewer’s psyche, leaving them unsettled. ‘Cheekatilo’ (2026) is one such film — a crime thriller that views crime not as a source of excitement, but as a mental and social disease.
Female-centric thrillers are still an exception in Telugu cinema, and when they do appear, they are often either watered down or overly symbolic. Cheekatilo doesn’t choose this safe path. This film neither comforts you nor offers easy answers. It takes you into the darkness — the darkness where crime is not just committed, but hidden, normalized, and endured.
Releasing on January 23, 2026, this film is made in Telugu and will be dubbed in Hindi and Tamil. With an 18+ certificate, Cheekatilo clearly indicates that this film is not delicate — it is harsh, honest, and at times, uncomfortable. Led by Sobhita Dhulipala, the film relies more on its tone than on its star power.
🎥 Director’s Vision
Director Sharan Koppisetty’s vision sets this film apart from traditional thrillers. He views crime not as an ‘event,’ but as a circumstance — a circumstance that deepens over time.
In Cheekatilo, his camera is always close to the victim’s shoulder, not behind the perpetrator. This is a crucial creative decision. The film repeatedly reminds us that this story is not about solving a crime, but about the compulsion to live with the consequences of crime. Sharan Koppisetty doesn’t fill every scene with sensationalism. He builds fear slowly, subtly. For him, suspense isn’t about noise, but about that moment when the audience realizes something is terribly wrong — and there’s no one to stop it.
📊 Technical Details (Technical Details Table)
| Category | Information |
|---|---|
| Film Title | Cheekatilo |
| Release Date | January 23, 2026 |
| Language | Telugu |
| Dubbed Languages | Hindi, Tamil |
| Genre | Crime, Thriller |
| Running Time | 2 hours 6 minutes |
| Director | Sharan Koppisetty |
| Writer | Chandra Pemmaraju |
| Cinematography | Mallikarjun |
| Music | Sricharan Pakala |
| Cast | Sobhita Dhulipala, Aamani, Eesha Chawla, Jhansi, Vishwadev Rachakonda, Vadlamani Srinivas, Ravindra Vijay, Chaitanya Vishalakshmi |
| Producer | Suresh Babu |
| Production House | Suresh Productions Pvt. Ltd. |
| Certificate | 18+ |
🧭 Story (Plot Summary – No Spoilers)
The story of Cheekatilo doesn’t begin with a single crime, but with a feeling — that something is not right. The film centers on an area where the nights are long and the silence hides many secrets.
Sobhita Dhulipala’s character is a woman in this world who appears strong, but is constantly vigilant. She’s not part of any investigative agency, nor a superhero — she’s simply a human being who cannot ignore injustice.
The characters of Aamani, Jhansi, and Eesha Chawla represent the collective female experience that society often dismisses as “normal fear.” Here, fear is not normal, but an everyday reality. As the story unfolds, it becomes clear that this film is not about catching the culprit, but about exposing the system’s complicity. At every turn, the question arises: Is the darkness only outside, or does it reside within us as well?
🎞️ Trailer Reaction
The trailer for Chikatilo is completely different from traditional thriller trailers. It doesn’t have fast cuts, but rather long, unsettling shots. The camera often lingers on empty streets, closed doors, and expressionless faces.
Sobhita Dhulipala’s eyes show less fear and more vigilance — as if she knows the danger isn’t in front of her, but all around her. On social media, the trailer has been described as “unsettling,” “darkly honest,” and a “noiseless thriller.”
🎵 Music and Sound Design
Sricharan Pakala’s music in Chikatilo exists not as songs, but as an extension of silence. The background score doesn’t try to scare you, but leaves you alone — and that’s what’s truly terrifying.
In many scenes, the music is completely absent, relying only on the sound of breathing, footsteps, and some unknown sound from a distance. This sound design becomes the soul of the film.
🎭 Acting and Direction
Sobhita Dhulipala is the anchor of this film. Her acting is not theatrical, but reactive. She doesn’t show fear, but lives it. Her body language, eye movements, and silence — everything makes the character feel real.
Experienced actors like Aamani and Jhansi lend credibility to the film. Their performances become the voice of a generation that has seen much but said little.
Director Sharan Koppisetti’s control is impressive. He never steers the film towards exploitation or sensationalism. Violence is shown, but not sold.
Mallikarjun’s cinematography presents darkness not just as a lack of light, but as an emotion. The frames are narrow, there’s little room to breathe — and this amplifies the film’s unease. —
🌍 Potential Audience and Critics’ Response
It’s clear that Chikatilo is not for everyone. It’s not a mass entertainer, but rather an unsettling experience.
Critics are viewing it as a “female-centric crime thriller that shows intelligence.” The film will generate discussion—perhaps even controversy—but it won’t be ignored.
⚔️ Strengths and Weaknesses of the Film
Strengths
- Sobhita Dhulipala’s controlled and powerful performance
- Sensitive yet bold treatment
- Powerful sound design
- A crime story told from a female perspective
Weaknesses
- Slow pace
- Limited commercial elements
- Heavy subject matter
🎬 Conclusion
Chikatilo is a film that stays with you long after it’s over. It reminds us that the most dangerous thing isn’t the darkness itself, but the habit of darkness.
If you consider cinema not just entertainment, but a form of dialogue—then Chikatilo is for you.
⭐ Estimated Rating: 4/5
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