Bengaluru, August 2025 — Kannada ZEE5 is set to expand its slate of original content with the launch of Shodha, a six-episode psychological crime thriller, premiering globally on August 29. Directed by Sunil Mysuru and produced by KRG Studios, the series features an ensemble cast including Pawan Kumar, Siri Ravikumar, Arun Sagar, and Anusha Ranganath.
The story follows Rohit, played by Pawan Kumar, a brilliant yet morally complex lawyer whose life takes a dark turn when he fails to recognize his own wife. Blending suspense with psychological intrigue, the series promises to deliver a gripping narrative that explores themes of memory, identity, and betrayal.
At a press meet in Bengaluru, Kannada ZEE5 Business Head Deepak Sriramulu highlighted the platform’s evolving vision. “Earlier, ZEE5 was a single OTT platform, but now we’ve launched language-specific spaces like Kannada ZEE5. We first experimented with mini-series and micro-series through the Bullet app, and our first original, Ayyana Mane, received an overwhelming response. That success brought us to Shodha. With this project, we’re also collaborating with established production houses like KRG Studios, PRK Productions, and Tarun Sudhir Productions. Shodha is special because it showcases the strength of Kannada storytelling and the opportunities OTT provides for new talent,” he said.
KRG Studios’ Karthik Gowda spoke about the creative journey behind the series. “After Ayyana Mane, director Pradeep suggested doing a web series. We wanted fresh writing, so we brought in Suhas Navarathna, who had worked as a junior writer for The Family Man 2 and 3. Later, director Sunil Mysuru joined, and one by one, the team came together. With so many contributors, the series grew into something powerful. The trailer has already received very good feedback, and we are confident audiences will love it when it streams on August 29.”
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Actor Pawan Kumar expressed excitement about returning to Kannada OTT content. “I had earlier pitched web series ideas in Hindi, but when I suggested them in Kannada, they were often rejected. When ZEE5 started producing Kannada originals, I was thrilled. They approached me to act in Shodha, and after hearing the story, I knew it was an opportunity to experiment with the role. OTT platforms allow us to tell diverse stories, and I hope Kannada ZEE5 Global becomes a strong platform for many directors and writers. Shodha gave me that chance,” he said.
Written by Suhas Navarathna, directed by Sunil Mysuru, and produced by KRG Studios, Shodha brings together a strong cast led by Pawan Kumar, Siri Ravikumar, Arun Sagar, and Anusha Ranganath. With its suspense-driven plot and psychological depth, the series is poised to capture audiences worldwide.
Shodha will be available to stream exclusively on Kannada ZEE5 starting August 29, 2025.