Sobhita Dhulipala plays the lead role in Chikatilo, a crime thriller that has premiered directly on Prime Video. The film is now streaming in Telugu, Tamil, and Hindi. Following her marriage to Naga Chaitanya, there has been growing interest in Sobhita’s projects, making Chikatilo her first Telugu OTT film. Interestingly, the film is produced by D. Suresh Babu, Naga Chaitanya’s maternal uncle, while Chaitanya’s recent web series Dootha also streamed on the same platform.

The story revolves around Sandhya (Sobhita Dhulipala), a crime show anchor who hosts a program titled Idi Ghoram. She quits her job and launches a true-crime podcast named Darkness. At the same time, Sandhya is in a relationship with Amar (Vishwadev Rachakonda), and the couple is preparing for marriage. Her colleague Bobby (Aditi McCall), who encourages her podcast venture, is shockingly murdered by her boyfriend. This tragic incident becomes the starting point of Sandhya’s investigation.

The case is handled by CI Rajiv (Chaitanya Krishna), with Sandhya actively assisting the probe. During her investigation, she discovers similarities between Bobby’s murder and a series of killings that occurred in the Godavari districts nearly three decades ago. As Sandhya digs deeper and interviews victims’ families, she realizes that the crimes point towards a classic serial killer pattern. When the killer becomes aware of her podcast, he openly challenges her to reveal his identity.

As the investigation stalls, Special Investigative Officer Anandita (Isha Chawla) is brought into the case, giving Sandhya an opportunity to work with a larger team. Whether the killer is finally caught, why the murders resumed after decades, and how the culprit hides in plain sight form the crux of the narrative.

Director Sharan Koppisetty wastes no time in setting up the plot, and the nearly two-hour film moves directly into the investigation. While the concept of a crime journalist using her criminology knowledge is engaging, the film focuses more on the emotional aftermath of the murders rather than the procedural depth of the investigation. However, the motivation behind the antagonist and the psychological angle remain underdeveloped, making the climax less impactful. The pacing is slow at times, and the narrative follows a familiar pattern, which may disappoint viewers expecting a sharper thriller.

Performance-wise, Sobhita Dhulipala delivers a convincing portrayal of a determined crime journalist. Vishwadev Rachakonda lends solid support as her partner, while Chaitanya Krishna stands out with a comparatively stronger role as the investigating officer. Isha Chawla makes a comeback as a Special Investigation Officer. The ensemble cast includes Amani, Suresh, Pradeep, Jhansi, Srilakshmi, Ravindra Vijay, Aziz Nasser, and Vadlamani Sai Srinivas, though many characters feel underutilized.

Sricharan’s background score enhances the mood, and the dialogues carry meaningful undertones, especially the message that fear should never empower the darkness. Chikatilo may appeal to viewers who enjoy crime and investigative dramas, but it is best watched with moderate expectations.

Rating: 2.5 / 5

Tagline: In the dark… what really happened?