In a thrilling contest that had South Indian entertainment enthusiasts buzzing with excitement, Naga Chaitanya‘s maiden venture into the world of OTT, ‘Dhootha,’ has claimed the prestigious title of the Best South OTT Show of 2023. The series, a spine-chilling Telugu horror mystery thriller, captured the audience’s attention, earning more than 50% of the votes in a poll conducted by Pinkvilla.
Directed by the talented Vikram K Kumar, known for his previous collaborations with Chay in films like Manam and Thank You, ‘Dhootha’ spins the tale of Sagar Varma Avuduri, a journalist entangled in the enigmatic predictions of a peculiar newspaper that foretells his fate. Streaming exclusively on Amazon Prime Video since December 1, 2023, this eight-episode series has set a new benchmark in the realm of web entertainment.
Apart from Naga Chaitanya’s compelling portrayal, ‘Dhootha’ boasts a stellar ensemble cast, including Parvathy Thiruvothu, Prachi Desai, Tharun Bhascker, and many other talents. With its captivating storyline and commendable performances, the show garnered both critical acclaim and audience appreciation, solidifying Chay’s successful foray into the world of digital entertainment.
Among the contenders vying for the title were notable shows like ‘Modern Love Chennai,’ ‘Kerala Crime Files,’ ‘Kumari Srimathi,’ ‘The Village,’ ‘Masterpiece,’ and ‘Sweet Karam Coffee.’ While each held its charm, ‘Dhootha’ shone bright, even though it was the most recent release among the nominees.
Looking into Naga Chaitanya’s diverse projects, ‘Custody,’ a Tamil-Telugu bilingual period action film, marked his earlier cinematic endeavour in 2023. Directed by Venkat Prabhu, the movie also starred Aravind Swamy and Krithi Shetty in pivotal roles, showcasing Chay’s versatility as an actor.
Presently, Chay is engrossed in the filming of ‘Thandel,’ directed by Chandoo Mondeti, where he shares the screen with Sai Pallavi, his co-star from the acclaimed ‘Love Story.’ Set against the backdrop of real-life incidents from 2018 in Srikakulam, ‘Thandel’ promises to be an extravagant and high-budgeted venture, adding yet another feather to Naga Chaitanya’s illustrious career.