Director Sharan Koppisetty’sCheekatiloventures into familiar murder-mystery territory with a notable twist—a female protagonist leading the investigation. Sobhita Dhulipala plays Sandhya Nelluri, a television journalist and criminology graduate frustrated by sensationalist media practices that prioritise shock value over ethical storytelling. After quitting her job, Sandhya plans to pursue her passion through a true-crime podcast.
Her plans are abruptly derailed when her close friend Bobby and his partner are brutally murdered. Determined to uncover the truth, Sandhya joins forces with the police, slowly piecing together a pattern linked to a masked serial killer. The investigation becomes deeply personal, forcing her to confront unresolved trauma from her childhood while searching for justice.
The film’s strongest element is its layered portrayal of Sandhya—a woman who appears to have an ideal life but carries emotional scars that shape her resilience. Sobhita delivers a restrained yet powerful performance, particularly in the climax, where her monologue advocating empathy for survivors of harassment and assault stands out.
However,Cheekatilostruggles to rise above genre clichés. The mystery relies on predictable misdirection, and the final reveal lacks the impact needed to elevate the narrative. Set against the backdrop of Godavari, the film also revisits themes of sexual violence, but its repeated depiction of assault scenes feels excessive and could have been handled with greater sensitivity.
WhileCheekatilosucceeds in addressing trauma and patriarchy with sincerity, its conventional storytelling limits its overall impact, resulting in a mixed but watchable thriller.
