{ "id": "epzzdmpkbj", "slug": "viraatapalem", "title": "Viraatapalem", "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_unscripted", "label": "Unscripted, reality, and web-native series", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.series.series_unscripted" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.series.series_web_native", "label": "Web-native and streaming-original series", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.series.series_web_native" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.series.series_web_native.indian_southasian_webseries", "label": "Indian and South Asian web series", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.series.series_web_native.indian_southasian_webseries" } ], "geo": [ { "id": "geo.ind.t2021.culture.performance.screen.series.series_web_native", "label": "India · 2021 and later: Web-native and streaming-original series", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t2021.culture.performance.screen.series.series_web_native", "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_unscripted", "label": "Unscripted, reality, and web-native series", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t2021.culture.performance.screen.series.series_unscripted" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t2021.culture.performance.screen.series.series_web_native", "label": "Web-native and streaming-original series", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t2021.culture.performance.screen.series.series_web_native" } ] } ], "excerpt": "Viraatapalem (విరాటపాలెం) is the fictional cursed village in Viraatapalem: PC Meena Reporting, a 2025 Telugu ZEE5 mystery thriller directed by Poluru Krishna, starring Abhignya Vuthaluru as constable Meena investigating bride deaths.", "snippet": "Viraatapalem (విరాటపాలెం) is the fictional cursed village in Viraatapalem: PC Meena Reporting, a 2025 Telugu ZEE5 mystery thriller directed by Poluru Krishna, starring Abhignya Vuthaluru as constable Meena investigating bride deaths.", "node": "culture.performance.screen.series.series_web_native.indian_southasian_webseries", "markdown": "# Viraatapalem\n\n**Viraatapalem** is the fictional village at the center of *Viraatapalem: PC Meena Reporting* (Telugu: విరాటపాలెం : PC మీనా రిపోర్టింగ్), a 2025 Telugu-language mystery thriller web series in which a young police constable investigates the deaths of brides in a village that believes itself cursed. The series was directed by Poluru Krishna, produced by K. V. Sriram under the South Indian Screens banner, and released on the streaming platform ZEE5.[1](https://www.zee5.com/web-series/details/viraatapalem-pc-meena-reporting/0-6-4z5774357)\n\n| Key fact | Detail |\n|---|---|\n| Genre and rating | Mystery thriller, rated U/A 16+, in Telugu with English and Telugu subtitles[1](https://www.zee5.com/web-series/details/viraatapalem-pc-meena-reporting/0-6-4z5774357) |\n| Release | ZEE5 lists 26 June 2025; several outlets report a 27 June 2025 premiere[1](https://www.zee5.com/web-series/details/viraatapalem-pc-meena-reporting/0-6-4z5774357) • [2](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/telugu/news/2025/Jun/18/viraatapalem-pc-meena-reporting-to-premiere-on-ott-on-this-date) |\n| Length | One season; ZEE5 and JioTV list 7 episodes of roughly 18 to 23 minutes, while JustWatch lists 8[1](https://www.zee5.com/web-series/details/viraatapalem-pc-meena-reporting/0-6-4z5774357) • [3](https://www.jiotv.com/tv-shows/viraatapalem--pc-meena-reporting/16fdae85f51a5fd3a7200c0742e50bb8) • [4](https://www.justwatch.com/in/tv-show/viraatapalem) |\n| Lead cast | Abhignya Vuthaluru as constable Meena (Meenakshi); Charan Lakkaraju as Kittu[1](https://www.zee5.com/web-series/details/viraatapalem-pc-meena-reporting/0-6-4z5774357) |\n| Writing | Story and dialogues by Divya Thejaswi Pera; screenplay by Vikram Kumar Kandimalla[1](https://www.zee5.com/web-series/details/viraatapalem-pc-meena-reporting/0-6-4z5774357) |\n| Setting | The fictional village of Viraatapalem in the 1980s or 1990s, depending on the source[5](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/web-series/web-series-details/telugu/viraatapalem-pc-meena-reporting/season-1/seasonshow/122113746.cms) • [6](https://www.zee5.com/global/blog/viraatapalem-pc-meena-reporting-on-zee5-what-to-expect-from-this-spooky-small-town-thriller) |\n| Reception | 2.5/5 from Cinema Express, 3.0 from The Times of India, 5.8/10 from 107 IMDb users[7](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/telugu/review/2025/Jun/29/viraatapalem-pc-meena-reporting-series-review-a-bland-albeit-occasionally-engaging-social-thriller) • [8](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/web-series/reviews/telugu/viraatapalem-pc-meena-reporting/season-1/seasonreview/122113804.cms) • [9](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt37353853/) |\n\n## Spoilers\n\n### Premise\n\nThe story is set in the fictional village of Viraatapalem, where young brides have died in mysterious circumstances shortly after their weddings. The villagers attribute the deaths to a curse, and as a result marriages within the village have stopped for over a decade; young people who want to marry must leave the village, leaving it populated mainly by children and the elderly.[2](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/telugu/news/2025/Jun/18/viraatapalem-pc-meena-reporting-to-premiere-on-ott-on-this-date) • [6](https://www.zee5.com/global/blog/viraatapalem-pc-meena-reporting-on-zee5-what-to-expect-from-this-spooky-small-town-thriller)\n\n**The investigation.** Police constable Meenakshi, called Meena, is posted to the village and begins to question the superstition. The case becomes personal when a bride dies in front of her in the same unusual manner. With the villagers against her and a list of suspects, she makes a gamble: she agrees to marry within the village to learn what is happening, becoming a potential victim herself.[6](https://www.zee5.com/global/blog/viraatapalem-pc-meena-reporting-on-zee5-what-to-expect-from-this-spooky-small-town-thriller) In the third episode the village president asks Meena to marry his son, and in the fourth she collapses during her own wedding ceremony but recovers and files a case declaring herself a victim.[1](https://www.zee5.com/web-series/details/viraatapalem-pc-meena-reporting/0-6-4z5774357) She is assisted by Kittu, described in some synopses as a reformed convict.[4](https://www.justwatch.com/in/tv-show/viraatapalem)\n\nThe seven episodes listed by ZEE5 are titled The Red Wedding, The Bride and the Curse, Staking It All, Encounter With The Truth, Forever Bride, The Last Straw, and Mystery of Viraatapalem.[1](https://www.zee5.com/web-series/details/viraatapalem-pc-meena-reporting/0-6-4z5774357)\n\n## Cast and crew\n\nAbhignya Vuthaluru, previously known as a YouTuber, plays the lead role of Meena; she described it as her biggest and most challenging role to date.[10](https://www.ottplay.com/news/viraatapalem-pc-meena-reporting-ott-release-date-when-where-to-watch-abhignyas-new-series/36265e4793519) The supporting cast includes Charan Lakkaraju (Kittu), Lavanya Sahukara (Bhramaramba), Ramaraju, Gowtham Raju (head constable), Surabhi Prabhavathi, and Satish.[1](https://www.zee5.com/web-series/details/viraatapalem-pc-meena-reporting/0-6-4z5774357) • [11](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt37353853/fullcredits/)\n\nBehind the camera, Poluru Krishna directed; he had previously directed the ZEE5 crime series Recce, which the same banner, South Indian Screens, produced.[10](https://www.ottplay.com/news/viraatapalem-pc-meena-reporting-ott-release-date-when-where-to-watch-abhignyas-new-series/36265e4793519) Divya Thejaswi Pera wrote the story and dialogues and Vikram Kumar Kandimalla the screenplay; Mahesh K Swaroop handled cinematography, Rohith Kumar composed the music, and editing is credited to Farooq Hundekar or Chandrashekar depending on the source.[1](https://www.zee5.com/web-series/details/viraatapalem-pc-meena-reporting/0-6-4z5774357) • [12](https://filmyfocus.com/web-series/viraatapalem)\n\n## Release and streaming\n\nThe series is a ZEE5 original. ZEE5's own page gives a release date of 26 June 2025, while Cinema Express, The Times of India, JustWatch, and the viewing guide Reelgood report the premiere as 27 June 2025; the two dates appear to reflect the same launch window and the disagreement is not resolved in the available coverage.[1](https://www.zee5.com/web-series/details/viraatapalem-pc-meena-reporting/0-6-4z5774357) • [2](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/telugu/news/2025/Jun/18/viraatapalem-pc-meena-reporting-to-premiere-on-ott-on-this-date) • [4](https://www.justwatch.com/in/tv-show/viraatapalem) All episodes were released at once, and the series can be streamed on ZEE5, including free with ads, and through partner services such as Airtel Xstream Play.[4](https://www.justwatch.com/in/tv-show/viraatapalem) • [13](https://www.airtelxstream.in/tv-shows/viraatapalem-pc-meena-reporting/ZEEFIVE_TVSHOW_0-6-4z5774357)\n\n## Reception\n\n**Critical response.** Cinema Express rated the series 2.5 out of 5, calling it a bland but occasionally engaging social thriller that assembles familiar cliches of the rural investigative genre. The review credited the roughly 20-minute episode length with keeping the pace, praised a surprising mid-series moment in which Meena puts her own life at stake, and noted that Abhignya Vuthaluru carries the show despite a weakly etched character, while finding the village's social world thinly drawn.[7](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/telugu/review/2025/Jun/29/viraatapalem-pc-meena-reporting-series-review-a-bland-albeit-occasionally-engaging-social-thriller) The Times of India gave a critic's rating of 3.0, describing a thriller that is gripping in parts but succumbs to predictability.[8](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/web-series/reviews/telugu/viraatapalem-pc-meena-reporting/season-1/seasonreview/122113804.cms) On IMDb the series holds a user rating of 5.8 out of 10 from 107 votes.[9](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt37353853/)\n\n## References\n\n1. [Viraatapalem: PC Meena Reporting, ZEE5](https://www.zee5.com/web-series/details/viraatapalem-pc-meena-reporting/0-6-4z5774357)\n2. [Viraatapalem: PC Meena Reporting to premiere on ZEE5 on this date, Cinema Express](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/telugu/news/2025/Jun/18/viraatapalem-pc-meena-reporting-to-premiere-on-ott-on-this-date)\n3. [Viraatapalem: PC Meena Reporting, JioTV](https://www.jiotv.com/tv-shows/viraatapalem--pc-meena-reporting/16fdae85f51a5fd3a7200c0742e50bb8)\n4. [Viraatapalem: PC Meena Reporting - streaming online, JustWatch](https://www.justwatch.com/in/tv-show/viraatapalem)\n5. [Viraatapalem: PC Meena Reporting Season 1, Etimes, The Times of India](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/web-series/web-series-details/telugu/viraatapalem-pc-meena-reporting/season-1/seasonshow/122113746.cms)\n6. [Viraatapalem: PC Meena Reporting on ZEE5 - What to Expect, ZEE5 Blog](https://www.zee5.com/global/blog/viraatapalem-pc-meena-reporting-on-zee5-what-to-expect-from-this-spooky-small-town-thriller)\n7. [Viraatapalem PC Meena Reporting Series Review, Cinema Express](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/telugu/review/2025/Jun/29/viraatapalem-pc-meena-reporting-series-review-a-bland-albeit-occasionally-engaging-social-thriller)\n8. [Viraatapalem: PC Meena Reporting Season 1 Review, The Times of India](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/web-series/reviews/telugu/viraatapalem-pc-meena-reporting/season-1/seasonreview/122113804.cms)\n9. [Viraatapalem: PC Meena Reporting (TV Series 2025), IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt37353853/)\n10. [Viraatapalem: PC Meena Reporting OTT release date, OTTplay](https://www.ottplay.com/news/viraatapalem-pc-meena-reporting-ott-release-date-when-where-to-watch-abhignyas-new-series/36265e4793519)\n11. [Viraatapalem: PC Meena Reporting - Full cast & crew, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt37353853/fullcredits/)\n12. [Viraatapalem, Filmy Focus](https://filmyfocus.com/web-series/viraatapalem)\n13. [Viraatapalem: PC Meena Reporting, Airtel Xstream Play](https://www.airtelxstream.in/tv-shows/viraatapalem-pc-meena-reporting/ZEEFIVE_TVSHOW_0-6-4z5774357)\n\n---\n*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Series and fictional screen worlds › Unscripted, reality, and web-native series › Web-native and streaming-original series › Indian and South Asian web series*\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/viraatapalem", "markdown_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/viraatapalem.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": "\"Viraatapalem\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/viraatapalem. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "credit_md": "\"[Viraatapalem](https://www.edgepedia.org/viraatapalem)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), [https://www.edgepedia.org/viraatapalem](https://www.edgepedia.org/viraatapalem). [Edgepedia Community License 1.0](https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license).", "credit_html": "\"Viraatapalem\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/viraatapalem. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "speakable": "Viraatapalem is the fictional cursed village in Viraatapalem: PC Meena Reporting, a 2025 Telugu ZEE5 mystery thriller directed by Poluru Krishna, starring Abhignya Vuthaluru as constable Meena investigating bride deaths." }