Viraatapalem
Viraatapalem: PC Meena Reporting is a 2025 Telugu-language supernatural thriller that premiered on ZEE5 on 26 June 2025. 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. It stars YouTuber-turned-actress Abhignya Vuthaluru in the title role, alongside Charan Lakkaraju.
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. 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.Release
Viraatapalem: PC Meena Reporting was released on ZEE5 on 26 June 2025.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. 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."
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.". 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."
Scroll.in highlighted the protagonist, a tough cop investigating mysterious deaths. 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."