{ "id": "epr644npmr", "slug": "cherans-journey", "title": "Cheran's Journey", "updated": "2026-11-01", "topic_path": [ { "id": "culture", "label": "Arts and culture", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture" }, { "id": "culture.performance", "label": "Screen and stage", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen", "label": "Film and television", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.series", "label": "Series and fictional screen worlds", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.series" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.series.series_international_serials", "label": "International serial drama and telenovelas", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.series.series_international_serials" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.series.series_int_serials_south_asia", "label": "South and Southeast Asian serials", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.series.series_int_serials_south_asia" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.series.series_int_serials_south_asia.south_asian_web_serials", "label": "South Asian web serials", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.series.series_int_serials_south_asia.south_asian_web_serials" } ], "geo": [ { "id": "geo.ind.t2021.culture.performance.screen.series.series_int_serials_south_asia.south_asian_web_serials", "label": "India · 2021 and later: South Asian web serials", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t2021.culture.performance.screen.series.series_int_serials_south_asia.south_asian_web_serials", "path": [ { "id": "geo.ind", "label": "India", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t2021", "label": "India · 2021 and later", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t2021" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t2021.culture", "label": "Arts and culture", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t2021.culture" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t2021.culture.performance", "label": "Screen and stage", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t2021.culture.performance" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t2021.culture.performance.screen", "label": "Film and television", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t2021.culture.performance.screen" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t2021.culture.performance.screen.series", "label": "Series and fictional screen worlds", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t2021.culture.performance.screen.series" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t2021.culture.performance.screen.series.series_international_serials", "label": "International serial drama and telenovelas", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t2021.culture.performance.screen.series.series_international_serials" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t2021.culture.performance.screen.series.series_int_serials_south_asia.south_asian_web_serials", "label": "South Asian web serials", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t2021.culture.performance.screen.series.series_int_serials_south_asia.south_asian_web_serials" } ] } ], "excerpt": "Cheran's Journey (Journey) is a 2024 Tamil drama web series, director Cheran's OTT debut, streaming on SonyLIV from 12 January 2024 in nine episodes about five candidates competing for one Rs 4-lakh-a-month job.", "snippet": "Cheran's Journey (Journey) is a 2024 Tamil drama web series, director Cheran's OTT debut, streaming on SonyLIV from 12 January 2024 in nine episodes about five candidates competing for one Rs 4-lakh-a-month job.", "node": "culture.performance.screen.series.series_int_serials_south_asia.south_asian_web_serials", "markdown": "# Cheran's Journey\n\n**Cheran's Journey** is a 2024 Indian Tamil-language drama web series directed by Cheran, marking his debut in the OTT (over-the-top: streaming delivered over the internet) space, in which five shortlisted candidates compete for a single well-paying job at an automobile company while their backstories unfold episode by episode. It premiered on SonyLIV on 12 January 2024 with all nine episodes released the same day.[1](https://www.ottplay.com/news/tamil-web-series-cherans-journey-to-stream-on-sonyliv-from-this-date/64fe6a3d10744)\n\n| Key fact | Detail |\n|---|---|\n| Format | Tamil drama web series, 9 episodes of about 60 minutes each[1](https://www.ottplay.com/news/tamil-web-series-cherans-journey-to-stream-on-sonyliv-from-this-date/64fe6a3d10744) • [2](https://d1or4efq32i6bx.cloudfront.net/licensing/catalogue/33_0_43_1.pdf) |\n| Release | 12 January 2024, all episodes on SonyLIV the same day[1](https://www.ottplay.com/news/tamil-web-series-cherans-journey-to-stream-on-sonyliv-from-this-date/64fe6a3d10744) |\n| Creator | Written and directed by Cheran, his first OTT project after the 2019 film *Thirumanam*[1](https://www.ottplay.com/news/tamil-web-series-cherans-journey-to-stream-on-sonyliv-from-this-date/64fe6a3d10744) • [3](https://www.indiatoday.in/entertainment/television/story/journey-review-director-cheran-web-series-is-a-disappointing-watch-2487495-2024-01-12) |\n| Premise | Five candidates compete for one vacancy at an automobile company; the job pays Rs 400,000 (Rs 4 lakh) a month[3](https://www.indiatoday.in/entertainment/television/story/journey-review-director-cheran-web-series-is-a-disappointing-watch-2487495-2024-01-12) |\n| Lead cast | R Sarathkumar, Prasanna, Aari Arujunan, Kalaiyarasan, Divyabharathi, Kashyap Barbhaya, with Jayaprakash, Jasmine Metivier, Ilavarasu, Narain, Anju Kurian, Vela Ramamoorthi, and Bharani in the ensemble[1](https://www.ottplay.com/news/tamil-web-series-cherans-journey-to-stream-on-sonyliv-from-this-date/64fe6a3d10744) |\n| Production | Gunasekar N and Dhakshinamoorthy K for COMPASS 8 Films; music by Sathya C; cinematography by Ekhambaram N K[1](https://www.ottplay.com/news/tamil-web-series-cherans-journey-to-stream-on-sonyliv-from-this-date/64fe6a3d10744) |\n| Languages | Original Tamil; dubbed in Hindi, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, Marathi, and Bengali[4](https://www.gadgets360.com/entertainment/cherans-journey-web-series-123637) |\n\n## Spoilers\n\n### Premise and structure\n\nThe series opens with five candidates waiting to be called for the final round of an interview. Ashok (R Sarathkumar), chairman of one of the country's topmost automobile companies, needs a perfect candidate for an important post; 126 applications arrive and five people are shortlisted.[5](https://nettv4u.com/about/tamil/web-series/cheran-s-journey) • [3](https://www.indiatoday.in/entertainment/television/story/journey-review-director-cheran-web-series-is-a-disappointing-watch-2487495-2024-01-12) The five finalists are Ameer Sulthan ([Kalaiyarasan](https://www.edgepedia.org/kalaiyarasan)), Raghav Isakkimuthu (Prasanna), Nitesh Gupta (Kashyap Barbhaya), S. Pranav (Aari), and Latha Vijayakumar Reddy (Divya Bharathi).[5](https://nettv4u.com/about/tamil/web-series/cheran-s-journey)\n\nEach candidate has a distinct motive for wanting the job, ranging from supporting family to personal ambition, and the series tells each backstory through flashbacks before revealing who gets the job at the end.[6](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/web-series/web-series-details/tamil/cherans-journey/season-1/seasonshow/106673383.cms) The individual stories cover social discrimination, financial hardship, personal setbacks, and ethical dilemmas, with themes of ambition, resilience, and the human spirit.[2](https://d1or4efq32i6bx.cloudfront.net/licensing/catalogue/33_0_43_1.pdf)\n\n**The five storylines.** Nitesh is ousted from his home for a mistake he committed. Latha realizes her potential when a man teaches her agriculture. Pranav is a social activist who takes a leap into politics. Ameer is fighting a case in which he has been falsely accused. Raghav, employed in the United States, is compelled to return to India because of sudden policy changes.[3](https://www.indiatoday.in/entertainment/television/story/journey-review-director-cheran-web-series-is-a-disappointing-watch-2487495-2024-01-12) In an interview before release, Cheran said two portions were shot in English, that Kashyap Barbhaya's portion plays entirely in Hindi, and that Prasanna's portion is set in America.[7](https://www.hindutamil.in/news/ott-platform/ott-news/1179900-cheran-interview-about-journey-web-series.html)\n\n## Production and context\n\nCheran is a Tamil filmmaker known for realistic portrayals of human relationships in films such as *[Autograph](https://www.edgepedia.org/autograph-2004-film)* (2004), which won a National award, and *Thavamai Thavamirunthu*; his last theatrical directorial venture before this series was *Thirumanam* in 2019.[3](https://www.indiatoday.in/entertainment/television/story/journey-review-director-cheran-web-series-is-a-disappointing-watch-2487495-2024-01-12) • [8](https://www.rediff.com/movies/report/cheran/20051013.htm) He described the series as an attempt to break away from the horror, thriller, and suspense stories he said most web series contain, telling SonyLIV he wanted to reflect how a single individual is affected by systems, laws, and impositions through these five characters.[7](https://www.hindutamil.in/news/ott-platform/ott-news/1179900-cheran-interview-about-journey-web-series.html)\n\nThe official trailer was released on 30 December 2023, and the series was positioned as Cheran's OTT debut.[1](https://www.ottplay.com/news/tamil-web-series-cherans-journey-to-stream-on-sonyliv-from-this-date/64fe6a3d10744) Actor Aari Arjunan said working with an ensemble of over 30 artists, and observing Sarathkumar's preparation and dialogue delivery on set, was a learning experience.[9](https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/tamil/2024/jan/02/aari-arjunan-to-star-in-cherans-ott-debut-2646841.html)\n\n## Reception\n\nCritical response was largely negative. India Today gave the series 2 out of 5 stars, calling it a disappointing watch crammed with stale ideas, and singled out as absurd a sequence in which Jayaprakash's character spies on the five candidates like a low-budget [Sherlock Holmes](https://www.edgepedia.org/sherlock-holmes) to analyze their true capabilities.[3](https://www.indiatoday.in/entertainment/television/story/journey-review-director-cheran-web-series-is-a-disappointing-watch-2487495-2024-01-12) The Times of India review noted that the question of who gets the job is answered only at the end, requiring viewers to sit through nine episodes of flashbacks, and concluded that the series feels like a moral science lesson with its preachiness.[6](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/web-series/web-series-details/tamil/cherans-journey/season-1/seasonshow/106673383.cms) The nettv4u review criticized the non-linear storytelling, saying too many flashbacks and amateurish dialogues weigh the series down, though it credited Divya Bharathi, Kalaiyarasan, and Prasanna with strong performances.[5](https://nettv4u.com/about/tamil/web-series/cheran-s-journey) Gadgets360 listed a user rating of 3.5 out of 5.[4](https://www.gadgets360.com/entertainment/cherans-journey-web-series-123637)\n\n## References\n\n1. [Tamil web series Cheran's Journey to stream on SonyLiv from THIS date, OTTplay](https://www.ottplay.com/news/tamil-web-series-cherans-journey-to-stream-on-sonyliv-from-this-date/64fe6a3d10744)\n2. [Cheran's Journey catalogue listing, COMPASS 8 Films licensing catalogue (PDF)](https://d1or4efq32i6bx.cloudfront.net/licensing/catalogue/33_0_43_1.pdf)\n3. ['Journey' Review: Director Cheran's web series is a disappointing watch, India Today](https://www.indiatoday.in/entertainment/television/story/journey-review-director-cheran-web-series-is-a-disappointing-watch-2487495-2024-01-12)\n4. [Cheran's Journey Web Series (2024), Gadgets 360](https://www.gadgets360.com/entertainment/cherans-journey-web-series-123637)\n5. [Tamil Web Series Cheran's Journey, Nettv4u](https://nettv4u.com/about/tamil/web-series/cheran-s-journey)\n6. [Cheran's Journey Season 1: Review, The Times of India / Etimes](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/web-series/web-series-details/tamil/cherans-journey/season-1/seasonshow/106673383.cms)\n7. ['ஜர்னி' வழக்கமான வெப் தொடராக இருக்காது - இயக்குநர் சேரன், Hindu Tamil](https://www.hindutamil.in/news/ott-platform/ott-news/1179900-cheran-interview-about-journey-web-series.html)\n8. [First Look: Cheran's new film, Rediff.com](https://www.rediff.com/movies/report/cheran/20051013.htm)\n9. [Aari Arjunan to star in Cheran's OTT debut, The New Indian Express](https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/tamil/2024/jan/02/aari-arjunan-to-star-in-cherans-ott-debut-2646841.html)\n\n---\n*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Series and fictional screen worlds › International serial drama and telenovelas › South and Southeast Asian serials › South Asian web serials*\n\n*Initially written Oct 3, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026; Nov 1, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*\n\n*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*\n\nLicense: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license\n", "same_as": [], "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/cherans-journey", "markdown_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/cherans-journey.md", "license": { "name": "Edgepedia Community License 1.0", "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license", "summary": "Free with credit, commercial use included. AI training is open to everyone. For other uses, organizations over USD 100M in revenue or 100M monthly users license separately.", "spdx": "LicenseRef-Edgepedia-Community-1.0" }, "credit": "\"Cheran's Journey\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/cherans-journey. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "credit_md": "\"[Cheran's Journey](https://www.edgepedia.org/cherans-journey)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), [https://www.edgepedia.org/cherans-journey](https://www.edgepedia.org/cherans-journey). [Edgepedia Community License 1.0](https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license).", "credit_html": "\"Cheran's Journey\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/cherans-journey. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "speakable": "Cheran's Journey is a 2024 Tamil drama web series, director Cheran's OTT debut, streaming on SonyLIV from 12 January 2024 in nine episodes about five candidates competing for one Rs 4-lakh-a-month job." }