There are two strands to Cheekatilo (In the Darkness), the Prime Video original Telugu film directed by Sharan Kopishetty. On the surface, it is a crime drama that attempts to build an edge-of-the-seat whodunnit. At its core, however, it is a social commentary that urges silenced voices to speak, heal and find closure to long-buried wounds. In a film led by Sobhita Dhulipala, this second strand proves far more compelling.
True to its title, cinematographer Mallikarjun cloaks the film in a moody, low-lit palette. The darkness suggests threats lurking in the shadows while doubling as a metaphor for the emotional fog that engulfs survivors of violence. Even daylight scenes are deliberately underlit, reflecting the characters’ inner worlds as they search for a sliver of light.
Sandhya Nelluri (Sobhita) anchors a television crime show and soon finds herself at odds with the channel’s boss over its sensationalist tone. She would rather probe the realities of crime and the emotional toll on victims than chase ratings through lurid storytelling.
Cheekatilo (Telugu)
Director: Sharan Kopishetty
Cast: Sobhita Dhulipala, Vishwadev Rachkonda, Chaitanya Krishna, Jhansi
Runtime: 124 minutes
Storyline: Shocked by the murder of a dear one, a podcaster gets to the bottom of the story. It takes her on a larger, dangerous journey.
Sharan Kopishetty, who shares writing credits with Chandra Pemmaraju, gradually peels back his characters through conversations punctuated by telling silences. Snatches of dialogue reveal that Sandhya studied criminology, while her demeanour underscores a dogged determination to get to the truth. Strained exchanges with her mother (Jhansi Laxmi) hint at unresolved wounds from childhood.
Running parallel to the true-crime narrative is Sandhya’s relationship with Amar (Vishwadev Rachakonda). Where Sobhita plays Sandhya with stoicism, Vishwadev brings an easy warmth to Amar. Their conversations are economical, revealing just enough — his shift from an IT career to entrepreneurship, a café as a passion project — to explain why he stands by Sandhya when she follows her instincts and turns podcaster.
When the film tracks Sandhya’s pursuit of truth after a gruesome incident, the investigative portions could have used more bite. Familiar genre elements surface — patterns in crimes, reopened files, false leads — these sections offer nothing new and hence, stop short of delivering a true edge-of-the-seat experience.
It is the smaller moments that resonate more. An emotional outburst by a victim’s family member forces Sandhya to reflect on her own methods, while a scene in which she reaches out to an older woman (Aamani), who laments the absence of female friendships after marriage, adds tenderness and depth.
The final reveal, however, feels underwhelming. Whodunnits typically either plant clues in plain sight to let the audience connect the dots, or introduce a new subplot to explain motive. Cheekatilo opts for the latter, and despite a compelling backstory, the larger resolution — particularly where a medical condition is invoked — lacks conviction. It is unsettling, but not quite weighty enough.
The film’s strengths lie in its 124-minute runtime and assured performances. Sobhita makes the most of an author-backed role, shedding glamour to inhabit Sandhya as a grounded, girl-next-door presence. Her Telugu dialogue delivery is precise, lending the character emotional heft. Vishwadev delivers a measured, breezy turn, while supporting performances by Ravindra Vijay, Chaitanya Krishna and Aamani are effective within the limited screen time.
Jhansi is particularly striking as a mother who urges silence to avoid shame. In real life, she is among the most vocal members of the Voice of Women support group in Telugu cinema; here, playing the ideological opposite, she convincingly embodies a mindset that prefers to bury discomfort and maintain appearances.
Cheekatilo is an engaging, thoughtful drama that finds its strength in empathy rather than spectacle, but it could have benefited from sharper writing.
(Cheekatilo is streaming on Amazon Prime Video)
