Cheekatilo () is a 2026 Indian Telugu-language crime thriller film directed by Sharan Koppisetty and written by Chandra Pemmaraju. Produced by D. Suresh Babu for Suresh Productions, it stars Sobhita Dhulipala and Vishwadev Rachakonda.
The film was released on 23 January 2026 on Amazon Prime Video.
The film starts with a dancer rani's murder 20 years ago in a peculiar way that Jasmine flower on her head. Her friend went to the police station to complain about this. But the police refused to take the case. In present Sandhya is working as journalist in a TV channel. She also in love with amar who is 2 year younger than her. Since sandhya is a stubborn character who will not let anything to hurt her feelings. One day she found that her report about a case to the TV channel was changed for the trp. She got upset. And her friend gave idea to start a podcast which can give them freedom to investigate and expose the criminals without fear. One day Sandhya's family decided to go to amar home for engaging. When they return she found that her friend was murdered in her flat with her boyfriend in a brutal manner. After SandhyaâÂÂs best friend is found dead in a suspicious way, she resigned her job from the channel and she starts investigating the case. She starts her own podcast.Her search for the truth leads her to a dark past and forces her to face her own fears.
The background score and songs were composed by Sricharan Pakala.
Cheekatilo was released on 23 January 2026 on Amazon Prime Video.
Sanjana Pulugurtha of The Times of India rated it 3 out of 5 and cited it as a "well-staged thriller despite flaws", referring to the writing. Echoing the same, Sangeetha Devi Dundoo of The Hindu wrote that "Cheekatilo is an engaging, thoughtful drama that finds its strength in empathy rather than spectacle, but it could have benefited from sharper writing". Neeshita Nyayapati of Hindustan Times rated it 2.5 out of 5 felt that a film like this needed more "sensitivity and nuance" citing its subject.