Viraatapalem

Viraatapalem
Promotional poster
GenreSupernatural thriller
Written byDivya Thejaswi Pera
Screenplay byVikram Kumar Kandimalla
Directed byPoluru Krishna
Starring
Music byRohith Kumar
Country of originIndia
Original languageTelugu
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes7
Production
ProducerK. V. Sriram
Production locationsAndhra Pradesh, India
CinematographyMahesh K Swaroop
EditorChandrashekar
Production companySouth Indian Screens
Original release
NetworkZEE5
Release26 June 2025 (2025-06-26) –
present

Viraatapalem: PC Meena Reporting is a 2025 Telugu-language supernatural thriller that premiered on ZEE5 on 26 June 2025.[1][2] The series is directed by Poluru Krishna, known for the crime drama Recce, and produced by K. V. Sriram under the South Indian Screens banner.[3] It stars YouTuber-turned-actress Abhignya Vuthaluru in the title role,[4] alongside Charan Lakkaraju.[5][6][7]

Premise

Set in the 1980s in the fictional village of Viraatapalem, the series follows a mysterious curse believed to cause newlywed brides to die on their wedding day. As a result, marriages have been avoided in the village for over a decade. Police constable Meenakshi, known as PC Meena, is transferred to the village and begins investigating the deaths. She is joined by Kittu, a reformed convict, as they explore the village's past and attempt to uncover the truth behind the incidents.

Cast and characters

  • Abhignya Vuthaluru as PC Meenakshi
  • Charan Lakkaraju as Kittu
  • Lavanya Sahukara as Bhramaramba
  • Ramaraju as the village president
  • Gowtham Raju as the head constable

Production

The series is developed by South Indian Screens in collaboration with ZEE5.[8] It was filmed in rural Andhra Pradesh. Poluru Krishna directed the series, while the original story was conceived by Divya Thejaswi Pera and adapted into a screenplay by Vikram Kumar Kandimalla.[8][9]

Release

Viraatapalem: PC Meena Reporting was released on ZEE5 on 26 June 2025.[10][11]

Episodes

No.TitleDirected byOriginal release date
1"The Red Wedding"Krishna Poluru26 June 2025 (2025-06-26)
Residents of Viraatapalem attribute the recent death of a newlywed woman, Durga, to a local curse. Meanwhile, Meena, a young police officer, is assigned to the village to investigate.
2"The Bride and the Curse"Krishna Poluru26 June 2025 (2025-06-26)
Ranga, a villager, marries Malli despite local superstitions surrounding a curse. Shortly afterward, Malli collapses near the temple and dies suddenly, leading the community to attribute her death to the rumored curse.
3"Staking It All"Krishna Poluru26 June 2025 (2025-06-26)
Meena attempts to file a case regarding Malli’s unexplained death, but the process is delayed. During this time, the village president proposes that Meena marry his son, and he is taken aback by her response.
4"Encounter With The Truth"Krishna Poluru26 June 2025 (2025-06-26)
As preparations for Meena’s wedding to the village president’s son commence, villagers grow increasingly anxious that the curse will claim another victim. When Meena collapses during the celebrations, she responds by officially filing a case, identifying herself as a target of the supposed curse.
5"Forever Bride"Krishna Poluru26 June 2025 (2025-06-26)
Meena initiates a thorough investigation to uncover the truth behind the unexplained deaths. As her inquiry progresses, her wedding is suddenly canceled. Her pursuit of the case leads her into increasingly perilous circumstances.
6"The Last Straw"Krishna Poluru26 June 2025 (2025-06-26)
Meena’s investigation is hindered when she receives a transfer order. During a visit to the headquarters, she learns that Narsayya was behind the recommendation for her transfer. Suspecting ulterior motives, Meena begins to investigate Narsayya’s background.
7"Mystery of Viraatapalem"Krishna Poluru26 June 2025 (2025-06-26)
With the village president’s support, Meena assists two villagers in getting married, challenging the widespread fear of the curse. Meanwhile, she races to uncover the true cause of the deaths before anyone else becomes a victim.

Reception

Viraatapalem: PC Meena Reporting received mixed to negative reviews from critics.

Chitrajyothy described the series as a "nail-biting thriller" with a promising storyline but noted inconsistencies in screenplay and pacing that diluted its impact.[12] Deccan Chronicle remarked that "Viraatapalem starts with a promising premise of a cursed village and a determined female constable, but unfortunately, it gets lost in its own underdeveloped plot. Despite flashes of potential in its suspense and commentary on workplace gender dynamics, the series ultimately delivers a predictable and routine narrative."[13]

Siddartha Toleti of M9 News observed that the series "has a decent setup. However, the execution and the writing are so amateurish that it’s impossible to stick through, even for hardcore thriller lovers.".[14] 123Telugu echoed similar sentiments, stating that "Viraatapalem: PC Meena Reporting is a textbook example of how a decent concept can be dragged down by clueless writing, lifeless performances, and carelessly stitched episodes that lead absolutely nowhere."[15]

Scroll.in highlighted the protagonist, a tough cop investigating mysterious deaths.[16] Avad Mohammad of OTTplay rated 2.5 out of 5 stars and stated "The Abhigya Vuthaluru starrer starts on an interesting note but gets botched up and become a forced crime thriller."[17]

References

  1. ^ "ZEE5 drops the intriguing trailer of the Telugu series Viraatapalem- PC Meena Reporting". Mid-day. 2025-06-22. Retrieved 2025-06-23.
  2. ^ "Constable Kanakam makers accuse Zee5's Viraatapalem series of plagiarism". Cinema Express. 2025-06-25. Retrieved 2025-06-26.
  3. ^ "When are where to watch Abhignya Vuthaluru and Charan Lakkaraju's 'Viraatapalem: PC Meena Reporting'". The Times of India. 2025-06-17. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 2025-06-23.
  4. ^ "విరాటపాలెం: PC మీనా రిపోర్టింగ్‌". www.ntnews.com (in Telugu). 2025-06-20. Retrieved 2025-06-23.
  5. ^ "Viraatapalem PC Meena Reporting trailer: Abhignya battles a deadly curse and dark secrets in Zee 5's crime series". OTTPlay. Retrieved 2025-06-23.
  6. ^ Verma, Rohan (2025-06-19). "Viraatapalem: PC Meena Reporting Release Date Update: When & Where To Watch The Telugu Crime Thriller Series?". Koimoi. Retrieved 2025-06-23.
  7. ^ Harsh, B. H. (2025-06-19). "Viraatapalem trailer: A novice constable grapples with a superstition-ridden village". Cinema Express. Retrieved 2025-06-23.
  8. ^ a b Devulapally, Aditya (2025-06-18). "Viraatapalem: PC Meena Reporting to premiere on OTT on this date". Cinema Express. Retrieved 2025-06-23.
  9. ^ "Naveen Chandra Unveils Gripping Trailer of ZEE5's 'Viraatapalem: PC Meena Reporting'". The Hans India. Retrieved 2025-06-23.
  10. ^ "ZEE5 drops gripping trailer of thriller series Viraatapalem: PC Meena Reporting". Telangana Today. 2025-06-19. Retrieved 2025-06-23.
  11. ^ Nill, Saketh (2025-06-19). "'విరాటపాలెం : PC మీనా రిపోర్టింగ్' ట్రైలర్ రిలీజ్.. ఆ ఊళ్ళో పెళ్లి చేసుకున్న ప్రతి అమ్మాయి చనిపోతే." 10TV Telugu (in Telugu). Retrieved 2025-06-23.
  12. ^ "Viraatapalem Thriller Series Review: విరాట పాలెం వెబ్ సీరిస్ రివ్యూ | Nail Biting Thriller Series Viraatapalem PC Meena Reporting Review". Chitrajyothy Telugu News (in Telugu). 2025-06-27. Retrieved 2025-06-28.
  13. ^ "Viraatapalem PC Meena Reporting Review". www.deccanchronicle.com. 2025-06-27. Retrieved 2025-06-28.
  14. ^ Toleti, Siddartha (2025-06-28). "Viraatapalem Review: Amateurish to the Core". M9.news. Retrieved 2025-06-28.
  15. ^ "Viraatapalem Telugu Web Series Review and Rating". 123telugu.com. 2025-06-28. Retrieved 2025-06-28.
  16. ^ "'Viraatapalem: PC Meena Reporting' review: A tough cop investigates the affair of the dying brides". Scroll.in. 2025-06-28. Retrieved 2025-06-28.
  17. ^ "Viraatapalem - PC Meena Reporting Review: A predictable crime drama with no bite". OTTPlay. Retrieved 2025-06-28.
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