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The Malayalam series Kerala Crime Files 2 : The Search for Cpo Ambili Raju on Jio Hotstar is a tough nut to crack. Normally our main grouse against webseries is that they take too long to get to the point.

The slowburn syndrome doesn’t really singe the storytelling in this painstakingly constructed series. The problem is elsewhere. Kerala Crime Files just doesn’t have an interesting enough story to tell. That is not such a bad thing, if you consider the fact that true crime is often exaggerated beyond all decency in films and serials. Here there is no patience for overdoing things.

So yes, it does feel real. But it doesn’t hold our attention in any rewarding way. It all begins when a senior Cpo Ambili Raju (The ever-dependable Indrans) goes missing. Ambili’s introduction sequence in a bus is well constructed. It whets our appetite for more...

There aren’t many movies or shows that can stir up warm feelings in me when it comes to cops or criminals, but the second season of JioCinema and Hotstar’s crime thriller Kerala Crime Files somehow manages to tap into a well of empathy I didn’t know I had. The narrative begins as a grounded, slow-burn procedural and gradually evolves into a gripping crime-solving saga in the final two episodes, without the usual glitz and glamor that often butchers authenticity in this genre. The dark and moody cinematography is backed by a tense atmospheric score, and I can confidently say this is one of the most compelling storylines Indian television has delivered this year. So, without further ado, let’s dive into the story the show explores.

Spoilers Ahead

What happens in the show?

Kerala Crime Files season 2 starts in the coastal city of Ernakulam, where a massive museum heist has taken place.

The much-anticipated second season of Kerala Crime Files has finally hit the screens, and fans are buzzing with excitement. After the Ott release of this new season of Kerala Files, viewers have taken to social media platforms to share their thoughts, reactions, and more. Check what netizens say here:

Sneak Peek into the Kerala Crime Files 2

This gripping Malayalam crime drama, which has turned out to be much-loved and popular, began its journey on June 23, 2025. Now, the second season of Kerala Crime Files—The Search for Cpo Ambili Raju has made appearances on the Ott platform only yesterday.

Talking about the plot of the second season, it revolves around the unexplained disappearance of a policeman from his own police station. This incident has left behind puzzling circumstances, and to resolve the case and unravel the truth behind the incident, a team of officers has been tasked.

Ott Verdict of Second...

Should You Watch Kerala Crime Files Season 2? Comparison with Season 1 ( Photo Credit – Jio Hotstar )

Does Kerala Crime Files Season 2 live up to the expectations set by Season 1? That’s a simple question, but the answer is a bit nuanced. Like the first season, this too is a mystery thriller, but there’s a key difference. In Season 1, it was clear from the beginning that it was a murder mystery. In Season 2, however, the question remains: Is it even a murder mystery? To find out, you’ll have to watch the series.

In this article, we’ll explore various aspects of the new season and compare them with the first, looking at elements like runtime, performances, and character development. All of this will help you decide whether it’s worth investing your time in Season 2.

The Villains Of Kerala Crime Files

In Season 1, most episodes introduced a new suspect, giving the...

Comedy Icon Jagathy Faces Criticism from Lal(Photo Credit –Instagram)

We all know veteran actor Jagathy Sreekumar, known for his improvisation skills, often performed without informing his co-actors or even the director. He has received a lot of praise for this from various colleagues. However, one person has now opposed this notion, believing that this trait is not praiseworthy.

Who Holds A Different View?

Actor, scriptwriter, producer, and director Lal expressed the opinion that spontaneously changing dialogues or actions during a shoot, without informing others, should not be encouraged. According to him, such unpredictability can negatively affect the performance of co-actors who are expecting something else. While a section of social media has turned against Lal for this statement, watching the full interview makes it clear that he wasn’t trying to attack the comedy icon personally. The topic of Jagathy came up only in the context of a broader...

Check Out The Latest Ott Releases This Week! (Photo Credit – Instagram)

Not sure what to watch this week? We’ve got you covered! Here are the standout new releases from various streaming platforms we handpicked. Jio Hotstar is bringing back the second seasons of two hit series, one in English and the other in Malayalam. Over on Prime Video, there’s a gripping psychological thriller and a patriotic film. Curious to know the titles, plot summaries, and trailers? Scroll down for all the details.

Netflix The Waterfront (English) June 19, 2025

The Waterfront is about a family business empire on the verge of collapse. To overcome these choppy waters, the family turns to the drug trade.

The Great Indian Kapil Show Season 03 Episode 01 (Hindi) June 21, 2025

After a short break, The Great Indian Kapil Show returns with its third season featuring Kapil Sharma, Navjot Singh Sidhu, Archana Puran Singh, Sunil Grover, Krushna Abhishek,...

Controversy Surrounds Thudarum: Was the Script Copied? (Photo Credit – Wikipedia/Instagram)

After a successful theatrical run, Thudarum, starring Mohanlal and directed by Tharun Moorthy, who collaborated with K. P. Sunil for the script, is currently available on Jio Hotstar. However, allegations of plagiarism have now emerged from the controversial and once critically acclaimed director Sanal Kumar Sasidharan.

He made this claim via social media. According to him, he had created a script in 2020 for a film titled Theeyattam, and Thudarum bears a resemblance to the core plot and structure of Theeyattam. However, the makers of Thudarum did not offer any credit or acknowledgment to Sanal or his work, which he claims was the inspiration for Thudarum.

As per the post, Theeyattam’s protagonist was named Ambi, and just like Benz in Thudarum, who drives an Ambassador taxi, Ambi was an auto-rickshaw driver. In Theeyattam, the innocent protagonist is accused...

The Raja Saab Teaser Review (Photo Credit – Instagram)

The makers of Prabhas’ upcoming Telugu horror-fantasy film, The Raja Saab released the teaser of the same after a lot of anticipation. The movie remains one of the most anticipated films in the superstar’s lineup for this year. Here is taking a look at our teaser review for the same.

The Raja Saab Teaser Review

I wish I could have said that, “Finally, my wait is over and I’m absolutely seated for this one” after watching the teaser. But the Prabhas starrer’s first glimpse screamed disappointing from everywhere. Let’s begin with the horror-fantasy element.

The VFX and the visuals look extremely shoddy for a film that is touted to be mounted at a budget of 300 to 450 crore. Sanjay Dutt’s appearance as the main antagonist looks laughable at its peak. Neither the horror nor the fantasy elements land,...

Kerala Crime Files Season 2: Indrans-Led Crime Saga(Photo Credit –Jio Hotstar)

The highly popular Malayalam web series Kerala Crime Files is finally getting a second season. Jio Hotstar has confirmed that the series will begin streaming from June 20, 2025. The first season aired on June 23, 2023, so the second season will arrive nearly two years later, precisely 1 year, 11 months, and 28 days after the original release. So, what can we expect from this season?

Plot of Kerala Crime Files Season 2

Season 2 of Kerala Crime Files, titled The Hunt for Cpo Ambili, follows a tense police investigation into the mysterious disappearance of Civil Police Officer Ambili Raju, played by veteran actor Indrans. When a blood-stained phone is found in a drainage ditch, suspicion quickly points toward Ambili, who has vanished without a trace.

As questions mount and public pressure builds, a special investigation team is assembled, led by Si Noble, to uncover the truth.

Banner showcasing 6 must-watch Malayalam web series (Photo Credit – Zee5/Sony Liv)

Malayalam movies are well-known both in India and abroad, but have you ever watched a Malayalam web series? If you’re not a Malayali, the answer is probably no, and you’re missing out. We’ve handpicked six fantastic web series for you to enjoy, four of which come from the House of Mouse. So, let’s dive right in and explore these gems without wasting time.

Manorathangal

Available on: Zee5

Manorathangal is an anthology series based on nine short stories by M.T. Vasudevan Nair, spread across nine episodes. Each episode features significant actors, with stars like Mohanlal, Mammootty, Indrajith Sukumaran, Asif Ali, Biju Menon, Fahadh Faasil, and others taking turns in the spotlight. The quality of each episode varies, making it a mixed bag, like what Forrest Gump’s momma said about a box of chocolates.

Jai Mahendran...

1000 Babies, the 2024 Malayalam-language investigation drama, is another addition to the crime thriller lineup on Disney+ Hotstar that circles around a confession letter left by an elderly nurse just before she died. The 2023 series, Kerala Crime Files, that investigated a number of different crimes throughout its runtime, had created quite the hype at the time of its release, and this year Disney+ Hotstar once again brings forward a similar investigation story that is indeed going to leave its viewers puzzled. So, without any further ado, let’s explore everything that took place in 1000 Babies through a detailed recap of the series.

Spoilers Ahead

Who was Sarah?

1000 Babies began with an elderly woman named Sarah living with her son Bibin in rural Kerala. Bibin worked as a lab technician and was close to his mother. Even though he was a brilliant student growing up, Sarah never allowed her son to go away from her.

There is no dearth of television shows and web series that have been released this year. Many were brilliant at the subject they chose to tackle, while others were good only on paper. Many might have had good performances, while others relied only on the premise because the rest of the aspects were not very engaging. There were a handful of shows that were interesting and kept the audience hooked. Here is a list compiled by us for your perusal and interest.

The Night Manager (Hindi)

Disney+ Hotstar finally forayed into official remakes of popular shows from the West. There was plenty of apprehension regarding the Hindi adaptation of The Night Manager, mainly due to the popularity of the original British show that features the amazing Olivia Coleman and Tom Hiddleston. Thankfully, Sandeep Modi and Shridhar Raghavan delivered a faithful adaptation by giving it a subcontinental flavor. The best part...

Disney+ Hotstar, the leading streaming platform in India, is all set to launch its second Malayalam web series after the success of Kerala Crime Files. The new web series, titled Pharma, will feature Nivin Pauly, Sruthi Ramachandran, Rajit Kapur, Veena Nandakumar, and Narain in pivotal roles.

The series is directed by PR Arun, who helmed the critically acclaimed film Finals, and produced by Krishnan Sethukumar, who has backed films like Unda, Ivide, and James And Alice.

Ferrari Furst Look

According to reports, The series promises to be a potent mix of drama, suspense, and action that will keep the viewers hooked till the end. The series also boasts of a talented technical crew that includes cinematographer Abhinandan Ramanujam, music composer Jakes Bejoy, and editor Sreejith Sarang.

Pharma will be released on Disney+ Hotstar as part of its Hotstar Specials banner. The release date and trailer of the series are yet to be announced.

Disney+ Hotstar, the leading streaming platform in India, has announced a slate of new Malayalam web series that will be available for its subscribers soon. The platform has already made a mark in the Malayalam Ott space with its crime thriller series Kerala Crime Files, which features real-life cases from the state. Now, it is ready to offer more variety and entertainment to the Malayalam audience with its upcoming web series.

One of the most anticipated web series is an untitled, which stars Aju Varghese and Neeraj Madhav in the lead roles. The series is directed by Vishnu Raghav of Vaashi Fame.

Another web series that will be available on Disney+ Hotstar is Madhavithu, which is a horror-comedy that stars Kanu Kuruthi and Suraj Venjaramudu and is directed by Nithin Renji Panicker, who has directed Kasaba. The series is about a couple who moves into a haunted house and faces various paranormal incidents.

There is no dearth of specials coming out of Disney+ Hotstar. Kerala Crime Files, Criminal Justice, Grahan, Shaitan, and Mathagam are just some of the dramas that revolve around police investigations in a big way. Aakhri Sach is yet another investigative drama from this Ott space, directed by Robbie Grewal and written by Saurav Dey, which takes us through a peculiar case of murder or suicide involving a family of eleven.

Spoilers Ahead

The Murders

Aakhri Sach Episode 1 titled ‘Breaking News: Ek Saaya,’ begins with a neighbor and a local milkman discovering the bodies of ten members (initially) of one family who have died by apparent suicide. It is understood from the first scene that the show is inspired by the Burari murders of 2018, which shook the nation. The entire scene is set up as per the description given by the media to the public. The most recent memory of...

Within 24 hours of its release, Kohrra has become one of the most riveting murder mysteries in the Ott space. A Netflix original that takes the audience through rural Punjab, which is ravaged by drug menace, the constant divide between the rich and the poor, corruption, homophobia, and inherent patriarchy. All this forms a headless monster that becomes too difficult to fight. Kohrra touches upon all these topics in a manner that would disconcert the audience.

Many shows in the past few years have forayed into the murder investigative genre because it gives a perspective on how real-life murder investigations are carried out and what factors influence them. Stories in this genre also let the audience understand society in general and how they perceive things around them. Below are some of the web series in the murder investigation genre that could draw parallels to what we’ve seen in Kohrra.

Kerala Crime Files...

We all must admit that well-made murder investigation stories will always blow your mind. If packaged and delivered properly, it is an ideal way to spend an afternoon understanding the nuances of a case and what goes on behind the scenes. Lately, there have been plenty of tales in this genre from various regions of the country, which helps the audience understand the local police and the native culture in depth. We have had Disney’s Kerala Crime Files and Shaitan, Amazon’s Suzhal: The Vortex, and Netflix’s Delhi Crime take the audience down roads that were seldom chosen by filmmakers in the past. The new Netflix original Kohrra, created by Gunjit Chopra and Diggi Sisodia and co-created by Sudip Sharma of Paatal Lok fame, brings you the story of a murder that shakes up a small town, putting the police under constant pressure ever since to catch the culprit.

Disney+ Hotstar’s venture into a full-fledged web series in the Malayalam language would pave the way for many more shows that would be language-specific if given the opportunity. Kerala Crime Files had the makers jump straight into the investigative police drama entirely focused on catching the culprit. There has been an announcement from the makers of the show regarding the team developing a story for the second season. Here we speculate on what could be the subject of the investigation in the next installment.

The entire show had a feel of Delhi Crime, and when the investigation team Kerala Crime Files finally arrested the culprit, there was a walk-through done by the man to understand why he committed the crime, explaining his motive. As I have noticed in many shows in the past about crimes against women, the motive always ends up being a male showcasing a superiority complex,...

The Ott space in India right now is littered with murder investigation dramas. Crime has been the running theme for a while, and jumping on the bandwagon is the brand-new Disney+ Hotstar special, Kerala Crime Files, directed by Ahammed Khabeer and written by Ashiq Aimar. This half-mediocre, half-interesting murder investigation drama takes the viewer on the quest for finding a killer where solving the case takes a back seat, and finding out the entire history of the man takes precedence.

Spoilers Ahead

A Crime Has Been Committed

Set in 2011, the show begins with Sharath, a receptionist working at a shady lodge in the city of Cochin, finding the dead body of a woman in a room, and the man with her is absconding. Sharath is shaken for it is not every day one sees the dead body of a woman and is okay after that. The police arrive at the...

Ever since various Ott platforms waltzed into our lives, the Indian cinema space has been booming, for it has given viewers a plethora of options to choose from. With access to foreign content, the demand for gritty storytelling coupled with drama suddenly increased. This led to Indian makers jumping into this genre, which gave us shows like Sacred Games, Delhi Crime, Mirzapur, and Paatal Lok, to name a few. Just last week, Disney+ Hotstar forayed into the Telugu language web series with Shaitan, and Prime Video in 2022 gave us Suzhal: The Vortex, a Tamil language murder investigation story. With regional cinema, especially from the south, being the talk of the town, Disney+ Hotstar’s brand new Malayalam language police investigation thriller Kerala Crime Files is here for you to understand how a murder case turns into a chase to catch the culprit.

The plot of Kerala Crime Files revolves around...

Disney+ Hotstar is all set to release its first-ever Malayalam web series called “Kerala Crime Files – Shiju, Parayil Veedu, Neendakara” as part of its Hotstar Specials on the 23rd of June, 2023. The show features an engaging crime story set in the picturesque backdrop of Kerala, providing viewers with a fresh and exciting viewing experience.

Disney+ Hotstar Specials ‘Kerala Crime Files Shiju, Parayil Veedu, Neendakara’ will feature the talented actors Lal and Aju Varghese in lead roles, bringing their acting prowess to the forefront. As the plot unfolds, viewers will be taken on an intense journey of crime and investigation, leaving them at the edge of their seats. The series will be available in multiple languages including Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Hindi, Kannada, Bengali and Marathi.

‘Kerala Crime Files Shiju, Parayil Veedu, Neendakara’ produced by Rahul Riji Nair under the banner of First Print Studios and directed by the talented and promising director Ahammed Khabeer,...