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Sirai OTT Review

OTT Review: Sirai – Telugu-Dubbed Tamil Movie Streaming on ZEE5

by 123telugu

Sirai OTT Review

Movie Name :  Sirai
Streaming Date : Jan 23, 2026
Streaming Platform : ZEE5
123telugu.com Rating : 3.25/5
Starring : Vikram Prabhu, LK Akshay Kumar, Anishma Anilkumar, Ananda Thambirajah
Director : Suresh Rajakumari
Producer : SS Lalit Kumar
Music Director : Justin Prabhakaran
Cinematographer  : Madhesh Manickam
Editor : Philomin Raj

Related Links : Trailer

Sirai marks the 25th film of actor Vikram Prabhu. The Tamil movie was released on Christmas Eve and went on to score hit status at the box office. It has now arrived on OTT with a Telugu dub, and here is our review of the crime drama.

Story:

Set in 2003 in Guntur, Srinivas (Vikram Prabhu) is a head constable in the Armed Reserve (AR). During an escort duty, a prisoner attempts to escape, forcing Srinivas to shoot him dead, which puts him under scrutiny by higher authorities. While the enquiry is still ongoing, Srinivas is assigned another escort duty to transport Abdul Rauf (L. K. Akshay Kumar), a murder convict, from a central prison to Kurnool. During the journey, Srinivas senses something amiss, and the situation worsens when Abdul goes missing. With the prisoner required to be produced in court the very next day, the tension escalates. What happens next? Does Srinivas and his team manage to trace Abdul? Who is Abdul, and what is his backstory? The rest of the film unfolds the answers.

Plus Points:

The film touches upon a different and rarely explored aspect of police life. Unlike most films that focus on senior officers and portray them heroically, Sirai revolves around a head constable from the Armed Reserve. Srinivas is shown as a grounded human being rather than a larger-than-life policeman, which makes the approach refreshing.

Vikram Prabhu delivers a neat performance, but the actor who truly stands out is L. K. Akshay Kumar. He effectively portrays the dilemma, pain, and hope of a prisoner, and his performance becomes a major driving force of the film.

The flashback narrated from Abdul’s point of view is emotional and engaging. Along with the emotional depth, the suspense maintained in certain scenes, especially during the escape sequence and the pre-climax and climax portions, works well.

The police station episode after the escape, the emotional scenes in the final 30 minutes, including the courtroom portions, and the suspense-filled climax are well executed and keep the viewer engaged.

Anishma Anilkumar, as Kalavathi, delivers a neat performance. The remaining cast members perform adequately.

Minus Points:

There is limited scope to point out major drawbacks. Some viewers may find the initial portions slightly routine, but the narrative picks up as the film progresses.

Though Vikram Prabhu is the lead, his role offers limited scope for performance. While he gets sufficient screen time, the character does not demand much in terms of expressions. His personal life angle is underdeveloped, and the character of his wife adds little value to the story. In the flashback portions, the love story and conflict scenes could have been explored in more detail.

Technical Aspects:

Despite this being his debut, director Suresh Rajakumari impresses with his screenplay and execution, giving the film the feel of an experienced filmmaker’s work.

Justin Prabhakaran’s background score is one of the film’s highlights and plays a key role in maintaining suspense and enhancing emotional moments. Madhesh Manickam’s cinematography is neat and serves the narrative well.

Editing by Philomin Raj is effective, keeping the film crisp within its two-hour runtime. The production values are decent, and the Telugu dubbing is clean and well done.

Verdict:

On the whole, Sirai is an engaging crime drama backed by a solid screenplay and effective execution. Vikram Prabhu is decent, but L. K. Akshay Kumar steals the show. The police station episode, flashback portions, emotional moments, and suspenseful climax make it a film worth watching. Though the narration feels slightly slow in the beginning, it does not last long. On the whole, Sirai is definitely worth a watch for its content, execution, empathy, and humanity.

123telugu.com Rating: 3.25/5
Reviewed by 123telugu Team 

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Cheekatilo

OTT Review: Sobhita Dhulipala’s Cheekatilo – Telugu Web Film on Amazon Prime Video

by 123telugu

Cheekatilo

Movie Name :  Cheekatilo
Streaming Date : Jan 23, 2026
Streaming Platform : Amazon Prime Video
123telugu.com Rating : 2.75/5
Starring : Sobhita Dhulipala, Viswadev Rachakonda, Chaitanya Visalakshmi, Esha Chawla, Jhansi, Aamani, Vadlamani Srinivas, Ravindra Vijay
Director : Sharan Koppisetty
Producer : D. Suresh Babu
Music Director : Sricharan Pakala
Cinematographer  : Mallikarjun
Editor : KSN

Related Links : Trailer

After a long gap, actress Sobhita Dhulipala has returned to Telugu cinema with Cheekatilo, a web original that marks her debut in the Telugu OTT space. The series is directed by Sharan Koppishetty. Cheekatilo was released today in Telugu, Hindi, and Tamil, on Amazon Prime Video and here is our take on how it fares.

Story:

Sandhya (Sobhita Dhulipala), a journalist who quits her job over TRP-driven ethics, starts her own podcast. When her colleague Bobby (Aditi Myakal) and Bobby’s boyfriend are murdered, Sandhya uncovers a pattern linking multiple similar killings. Determined to expose the truth, she investigates the case and shares details through her podcast Cheekatilo, with support from Amar (Vishwadev Rachakonda). Who is behind the murders and why forms the core of the story.

Plus Points:

Sobhita Dhulipala takes on a role that is relatively new for her and handles it with ease. She convincingly portrays the inner pain of a woman haunted by unresolved truths. Vishwadev Rachakonda has limited screen time, but he makes good use of the scope given and leaves an impression.

While crime thrillers often reveal the antagonist early, Cheekatilo keeps the culprit hidden until the pre-climax. However, although the mystery is preserved, the film does not generate the tension required to make that reveal truly gripping.

Director Sharan Koppishetty attempts to explore the idea of unknowingly suppressing trauma through a few scenes, and the narrative from pre-climax to the climax works reasonably well. Aamani, despite limited screen presence, performs effectively. Vadlamani Srinivas gets a neat role, and seeing him in a different shade is refreshing.

Minus Points:

The core issue with Cheekatilo lies not in its concept but in its execution. In serial crime thrillers, sustained tension is crucial to keep viewers engaged. While the story offers ample scope for suspense, the narrative unfolds in a largely flat manner.

Because of this approach, the sense of urgency, what happens next and who could be the next target, rarely comes through. Scenes follow one another, but very few moments create genuine anticipation.

The police investigation, in particular, lacks seriousness and feels artificial, reducing its impact on the narrative. Similarly, the film does not convincingly establish how Sandhya’s podcast gains massive popularity in such a short span, making certain developments feel rushed and overly cinematic.

Several supporting characters, including those played by Ravindra Vijay, Jhansi, Suresh, and Vishwadev, are underwritten, limiting the emotional depth the story could have achieved. At certain points, repetitive scenes make the narrative feel stagnant, as though the film is reluctant to move forward.

Technical Aspects:

While Srikanth Pakala’s background score attempts to create a tense atmosphere, the flat writing prevents those moments from fully landing. Editing by KSN is passable, though trimming a few portions could have improved the pacing. Mallikarjun’s cinematography is adequate and suits the mood of the film. Production values are decent.

Director Sharan Koppishetty, along with co-writer Chandra Pemmaraju, presents a familiar story in a different setup. However, inconsistent execution and the lack of engaging narrative beats make the final result feel routine.

Verdict:

On the whole, Cheekatilo is a crime thriller that works in parts. Sobhita Dhulipala delivers a sincere performance, and the underlying message is clear and well conveyed. However, weak execution in a few portions, a lack of sustained tension at places, and some repetitive moments prevent the film from becoming a compelling thriller. If you enjoy thrillers, you may give it a try, but keep your expectations in check.

123telugu.com Rating: 2.75/5
Reviewed by 123telugu Team 

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Kalamkaval

OTT Review: Mammootty’s Kalamkaval – Telugu dubbed Malayalam movie on Sony LIV

by 123telugu

Kalamkaval

Movie Name :  Kalamkaval
Streaming Date : Jan 16, 2026
Streaming Platform : Sony LIV
123telugu.com Rating : 3/5
Starring : Mammootty, Vinayakan, Rajisha Vijayan, Malavika Menon, and others
Director : Jithin K. Jose
Producer : Mammootty
Music Director : Mujeeb Majeed
Cinematographer  : Faisal Ali
Editor : Praveen Prabhakar

Related Links : Trailer

Malayalam cinema has earned a strong reputation as they consistently deliver quality thrillers. One such crime thriller to come out recently from the industry is Kalamkaval. Starring Malayalam Megastar Mammootty in the lead role, the film has now also been released in Telugu on Sony LIV. Let’s see how the film fares.

Story:

Between 2005 and 2012, several middle-aged, unmarried, divorced, and those living alone go missing in several parts of Kerala and Tamil Nadu. With no clues or traces to explain their disappearance, the case becomes a major headache for the Kerala Police.

In this context, Crime Branch officer Jayakrishna (Vinayakan), nicknamed Gudlaguba (owl), takes charge of the investigation. At the same time, how a decent family man named Stanley Das (Mammootty) becomes involved in these serial crimes forms the crux of the story. Who is behind these murders? What’s the motive? Did the police finally catch the killer or not? To find answers, one must watch the film.

Plus Points:

A Hindi series based on a similar concept already exists. Those who have watched it may find certain elements familiar. However, for viewers who haven’t seen it, Kalamkaval offers an intriguing and engaging thriller experience. People looking for an interesting investigative thriller can definitely add this film to their watchlist.

The biggest strength of the film is that it is inspired by real-life incidents. The narration makes us glued to the screens without any room for boredom. It constantly makes us curious about what happens next. The investigation unfolds with solid, thrilling moments, for which the director deserves special appreciation.

Some twists work effectively, enhanced by a strong background score. Another major asset of the film is Mammootty’s presence and performance. It is surprising to see him choose such a dark role, but he excels in it. The legendary actor does full justice to Stanley Das’ character with his settled, understated performance with negative shades.

Vinayakan also gets a strong role as the investigating officer and fits the bill perfectly. The rest of the cast delivers natural performances. Even for those who have watched the Hindi series, the narration feels gripping and better executed, with certain changes working well.

Minus Points:

As mentioned earlier, viewers who have already seen the Hindi web show Dahaad, starring Sonakshi Sinha and Vijay Varma, might feel slightly disappointed if they expect the content to be entirely new. As the core concept is known in advance, the movie may feel predictable.

Although the story is based on real incidents, it feels illogical that, over so many years of investigation, not even a single clue, trace, or body is found. Also, the pacing dips in the mid portions

Technical Aspects:

The production values are good, with Mammootty himself backing the film. Mujeeb Majeed’s music works well, especially the sound design and background score, which enhance the impact of many scenes. Faisal Ali’s cinematography is decent, and Praveen Prabhakar’s editing is mostly effective.

Director Jithin K. Jose neatly handles a familiar concept that has been explored in multiple films and series. While comparisons with Dahaad are inevitable, his execution is impressive. The narration offers good thrills for first-time viewers, and even those who have seen similar content may find this version gripping.

Verdict:

On the whole, Mammootty’s Kalamkaval offers decent thrills for viewers who go in without prior knowledge of the concept and are looking for a crime investigation thriller. Mammootty impresses with a solid performance, and the engaging narration keeps the audience invested. While it may not feel entirely new for those who have already watched Dahaad, for others, it makes for a satisfying OTT watch.

123telugu.com Rating: 3/5
Reviewed by 123telugu Team 

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