Cheekatilo OTT Response: Sobhita Deserved Much Better?

Sobhita Dhulipala’s film Cheekatilo was released on Amazon Prime Video recently, and the response from the OTT audience has been mixed, leaning more toward disappointment than being impressed. While the film managed to grab initial curiosity thanks to Sobhita Dhulipala’s return to Telugu cinema and her first release after her marriage to Naga Chaitanya, the excitement did not fully translate into positive reactions.

Many OTT viewers appreciated the idea of the film more than its execution. Sobhita’s choice of a grounded, saree clad, performance-oriented role was fresh and believable as a crime journalist. Her screen presence and the film’s slick production values turned out to be positives. The makers have spent decent budget for the film despite being released on OTT. The cinematography and night-time visuals received decent praise, especially for creating a dark, urban mood suited to a crime thriller.

However, a large section of the audience felt that the film failed to deliver on thrills. It isn’t gripping enough and even boring at many places. OTT viewers repeatedly pointed out that the investigation felt unconvincing and too easy at times. For a story centered on a serial killer and psychological tension, the suspense never really peaked. Many felt the narrative moved mechanically from one murder to the next without raising stakes or emotional engagement. Sobhita’s performance also lacked the much-needed intensity.

The climax emerged as the biggest disappointment. Viewers felt the motive behind the crimes was weak and confusing, making the final reveal impactless. The film could not decide whether it wanted to blame psychological trauma, personal revenge, or medical issues. This diluted the impact. For OTT audiences who have already watched several crime thrillers, this predictability worked against the film.

Social media reactions summed it up bluntly:
“Okay for a one-time watch,”
“Nothing gripping,”
and “Watchable only if you have nothing else to watch.”

Many described Cheekatilo as a “background-watch thriller,” something to play while eating or relaxing, rather than a show that demands full attention.

Overall, Cheekatilo is a missed opportunity. It had the right lead, the right setting, a popular OTT platform, and a decent premise, but weak writing and a lack of tension, thrills, or chills kept it from becoming the gripping thriller it promised to be.