Mumbai: Prime Video announced that its latest Telugu Original crime suspense drama, Cheekatilo, has become the most-watched South Original movie on the platform within its first week of release. The film premiered worldwide on January 23 and recorded viewership across 89% of India’s pin codes, while also emerging as one of the top trending titles on Prime Video India during its launch weekend.
The strong performance underscores the growing national appeal of South Indian original content and highlights increasing audience demand for compelling, female-led narratives across languages and regions.
Cheekatilo is directed by Sharan Kopishetty and produced by D. Suresh Babu under the banner of Suresh Productions Pvt. Ltd. The film is written by Chandra Pemmaraju and Sharan Kopishetty. It stars Sobhita Dhulipala in the lead role, alongside Viswadev Rachakonda, with Chaitanya Visalakshmi, Esha Chawla, Jhansi, Aamani, and Vadlamani Srinivas appearing in pivotal roles.
Commenting on the film’s success, Nikhil Madhok, Director & Head of Originals, Prime Video India, said, “The phenomenal response to Cheekatilo underscores the strong momentum of our South Originals slate and the growing appeal of compelling female-led stories among viewers across regions and demographics. The Telugu crime suspense kept audiences riveted from start to finish, it’s a testament to its gripping story, memorable performances, and compelling vision. Cheekatilo exemplifies how rooted stories with real-world settings are establishing Prime Video as the destination for bold, genre-driven narratives that empower creators to bring passion-led stories to life.”
Set in Hyderabad, Cheekatilo adds to Prime Video’s expanding slate of bold, character-driven South Originals, reinforcing the platform’s position as a key destination for regional storytelling with nationwide reach.
