Blending crime, mystery and emotional drama, Panchanama is set to take Telugu audiences into a gripping investigation where every death raises new questions. The Telugu ZEE5 Original held its first-episode screening and press meet at Prasad Labs in Hyderabad on September 9, ahead of its September 11 premiere. Directed by Mohan Srivatsa, the investigative thriller stars Bharath Srinivasan as Jai Ram, alongside Medha Reddy, Shivaji Raja, Surya Srinivas, Srija, Radhika Preethi, Charan Babu and Shiva Karthik Danda. Following the screening, the cast and crew interacted with the media, sharing insights into the story, characters and experience of bringing Panchanama to life. Speaking about the writing process, dialogue writer Nagendra Pilla said, “I sincerely thank Udaya Bhanu ma’am for trusting my work and encouraging my suggestions throughout the project. My thanks also go to producers Udaya Bhanu and Vijay sir, ZEE5, our director Mohan Srivatsa, and the entire technical team. Everyone worked extremely hard, especially the art, music, editing and DOP teams, to bring this project to life in a short span. I am also grateful to the entire cast, including Bharath garu and Surya, for their support. My heartfelt thanks to everyone who contributed to making “Panchanama” a reality.” Speaking about his first role as a cop, Shiva Karthik Danda said, “This is my first time playing a cop, and I portray Sub-Inspector Arun. I sincerely thank Udaya Bhanu garu, director Mohan sir and the entire team for this opportunity. Working with Bharath bhaiya was a wonderful experience. “Panchanama” is a highly engaging and gripping series, and the excitement continues beyond the first two episodes. I request everyone to watch the series, support our talented cast and bless the entire team. My thanks to ZEE5 for their support.” Speaking about her OTT debut, actress Srija said, “After watching the first two episodes, I was impressed by the emotional depth and suspense of “Panchanama”. I play a mysterious character, and this project is very special as my OTT debut. I am grateful to Udaya Bhanu garu, Bharath garu and director Mohan garu, who guided and supported me throughout the journey. It was a wonderful learning experience, and I request everyone to watch and support this exciting series.” Speaking about his role as Hari, actor Surya Srinivas said, “I was immediately drawn to the character of Hari after Udaya Bhanu garu narrated the story to me. I was impressed by her passion and hands-on involvement as a producer. My thanks to Udaya Bhanu garu, director Mohan Srivatsa, writer Nagendra, the ZEE5 team and the entire cast and crew. The team worked with great dedication to deliver excellent quality in a short span. “Panchanama” is a gripping and cinematic experience, and I request everyone to watch it on ZEE5 from September 11.” Speaking about her debut, heroine Medha Reddy said, “I feel extremely lucky to make my debut with such experienced actors and a wonderful team. I am especially grateful to Udaya Bhanu garu for her dedication and passion as a producer, and to Bharath garu for making me feel comfortable throughout the shoot. Director Mohan sir patiently guided me through every scene and was a great mentor. I also thank the entire technical team, my co-stars and the ZEE5 team for their support. Working on “Panchanama” has been a wonderful learning experience, and I am proud to be part of this project.” Speaking about the trust placed in the team by ZEE5 and the demanding production schedule, producer Vijayendra Mouli said, “I sincerely thank ZEE5, Anuradha ma’am, Hiranmayi garu, Harsha garu and the entire ZEE5 creative and central teams for trusting us with this project. Completing “Panchanama” within a tight schedule was a great learning experience, and the entire team worked tirelessly and cooperatively, often shooting from early morning until late at night. Their dedication and support helped us deliver the final product with confidence. I sincerely thank everyone who contributed to “Panchanama” and look forward to working together again.” Speaking about the non-linear screenplay and the team’s collective effort, director Mohan Srivatsa said, “I sincerely thank Udaya Bhanu garu and Vijay sir for trusting me with a challenging non-linear screenplay and supporting me throughout the project. Udaya Bhanu garu was present on set every day and worked tirelessly alongside the entire team, while Vijay sir ensured we had everything needed despite the demanding schedule. Bharath sir, Medha, Srija, Surya and the entire cast delivered wonderful performances, while writer Nagendra, DOP Sandeep, editor Srinu, music director Naresh and the technical teams worked incredibly hard to maintain high quality within a short timeframe. ZEE5 gave us a great opportunity, and the collective dedication of everyone involved made “Panchanama” a beautiful experience. Completing such a complex screenplay under a tight schedule gave me immense confidence. My heartfelt thanks to the entire team and the media for their support.” Speaking about his long association with ZEE5, his return to Telugu audiences and “Panchanama”, hero Bharath Srinivasan said, “ZEE5 has played a significant role in my career, and I am grateful to the entire team for bringing “Panchanama” to Telugu audiences. This has been one of the fastest projects I have completed in my 24-year career, yet director Mohan Srivatsa’s clarity and dedication made the process smooth. Working with the entire cast and crew was a wonderful experience. I especially appreciate producers Udaya Bhanu garu and Vijay sir for their passion and commitment to the project. “Panchanama” has all the elements of a gripping crime thriller, and I strongly believe that content is king today. I hope to continue working on more Telugu films and content-driven web series in the future.” Speaking about her 15-year journey towards becoming a producer, the trust placed in her by ZEE5 and the making of “Panchanama”, producer Udaya Bhanu said, ““Panchanama” is the realization of a dream I have carried for nearly 15 years. I am deeply grateful to ZEE5 and Anu ma’am for trusting me with this project and giving me the opportunity to step into production. Our entire team worked with tremendous passion and dedication to deliver a high-quality series within a very tight schedule. We retained the core elements of the original story while creating a fresh narrative, supported by writer Nagendra, director Mohan Srivatsa, DOP Sandeep and our entire technical and creative team. Every member of the cast and crew gave their best, and their collective effort brought the project to life. I strongly believe that when a door closes, we must create our own path. “Panchanama” is only the beginning for Udaya Bhanu Productions, and I hope to continue producing great stories and supporting new talent. “Panchanama” premieres on ZEE5 on September 11, and I request everyone to watch and support us.” Following the speeches, the team engaged with the media on Udaya Bhanu’s journey, the making of Panchanama, its crime-thriller and emotional elements, the tight production schedule, the fresh narrative approach, the actors’ choices, and their experience with OTT storytelling. Q: Udaya Bhanu ma’am, why have you become more emotional in recent years? Udaya Bhanu: “I believe being emotional is a strength. In today’s world, sensitivity has become rare, and I am happy to remain the way I am. While thanking ZEE5 for this opportunity, memories of my 15-year journey, struggles and the many stories I carried with me came rushing back, making me emotional.” Q: Do you feel you’ve been carrying a burden over the past few years? Udaya Bhanu: “My only burden is my desire to produce two or three more films quickly and create opportunities for many talented people. That is the only pressure I carry.” Q: How challenging was it to produce a web series within ZEE5’s corporate structure and tight schedule? Udaya Bhanu: “When you work with passion, nothing is difficult. This project was a great learning experience, and delivering such quality in just 22–24 days has given me the confidence to take on bigger projects. With 40–45 days, I believe we can achieve even better results.” Q: What is the fundamental difference between producing a web series and a feature film? Udaya Bhanu: “Films involve larger sets, multiple locations, songs and coordinating many artists, which takes more time. In a web series, everything depends on precise planning and scheduling. Every minute matters, so thorough preparation helps us complete the project efficiently and meet our targets.” Q: Did you enter production because of declining anchoring opportunities, or was it always your passion? Udaya Bhanu: “Producing has always been my passion. I wanted to enter the film space and create fresh, different content rather than follow conventional formats. Over the years, I have collected many stories that I hope to produce one after another. I never wanted to limit myself to just one role.” Q: What is the key difference between producing a web series and a feature film? Udaya Bhanu: “Films involve larger sets, multiple locations, songs and coordinating artists’ dates, which takes more time. For a web series, precise planning is everything. Every minute matters, so detailed preparation and scheduling help us avoid delays and complete the project efficiently.” Q: Why have you been away from Telugu cinema after Spyder? Bharath: “I was busy with Tamil projects, and I didn’t receive interesting Telugu scripts. I have reached a stage in my career where I choose roles that satisfy me creatively, so I’m waiting for the right opportunity in Telugu.” Q: If you were to do a multi-starrer, which Telugu hero would you choose? Bharath: “Definitely Allu Arjun. He is one of India’s biggest stars, and I would love to work with him—especially in a great dance sequence. I’m open to any role, including a villain or antagonist.” Q: Why did you choose Panchanama as your first production? Udaya Bhanu: “We initially pitched three original stories to ZEE5, but they suggested starting with a remake. With their creative freedom, we developed a completely fresh narrative, retaining only the core murder mystery and fingerprint elements. The initial proposal came from ZEE5.” Q: The first two episodes seemed quite violent. How intense will the remaining episodes be? Udaya Bhanu: “The series reflects situations we see around us, including betrayal and manipulation. However, it is primarily an emotional story, with every character having a strong backstory and a reason behind their actions.” Q: When can we expect the next project from Udaya Bhanu Productions? Udaya Bhanu: “The next project will be a film, immediately after Panchanama.” Q: How do you balance love, action, feature films and OTT projects? Bharath: “Pure love stories are rare today, so films need a mix of emotions, including love and action. I don’t see feature films and OTT as separate. Feature films remain my priority, but I’m happy to take up interesting OTT projects with strong content.” Q: Are you currently giving more importance to OTT projects in Tamil or Telugu? Bharath: “This was the only Telugu project that came my way, and I found the story very interesting. It also suited my dates, so I was happy to take it up. I’m glad to be part of Panchanama.” Q: What made you choose the cop role in Panchanama? Bharath: “I chose Panchanama because of its tightly woven crime-thriller screenplay and strong binge-watch appeal. I also saw it as an opportunity to reconnect with Telugu audiences. My character Jai Ram is different from my earlier cop roles—he is realistic, emotional and deeply connected to his family and the story.” Q: What are your promotional plans for Panchanama? Mohan: “I believe the content will speak for itself. Udaya Bhanu garu gave me the opportunity to handle this challenging non-linear screenplay and supported me throughout. Good content will always reach audiences, regardless of the hero’s stature.” Q: What is the common emotional thread between the “closed doors” and “syndicate” experiences you mentioned? Udaya Bhanu: “Building a career without any backing is extremely difficult, especially for a woman. I faced many setbacks, but I never stopped trying. Whenever doors closed or opportunities were delayed, I kept moving forward instead of waiting. My perseverance and determination brought me to where I am today.” Q: Why did you choose a supporting role in Panchanama despite concerns about being stereotyped? Surya Srinivas: “The character offered strong scope for performance, which attracted me immediately. I want to establish myself as a good actor and choose roles that give me a fresh image. The vision narrated to me translated beautifully on screen, and I’m happy with the result.” Q: What are the major challenges you faced as a producer? Udaya Bhanu: “Every day was a challenge, especially with unpredictable weather, 36 locations and constantly changing or reconstructed sets. With a tight schedule, completing each day’s shoot on time felt like a race.” Q: How confident are you that audiences will connect with the emotional story of Panchanama? Udaya Bhanu: “I am 100% confident. The first two episodes are just the beginning, with the main story unfolding from the third episode. I believe good, emotional content will always connect with audiences, regardless of the platform.” Q: What are your current priorities between feature films and OTT? Bharath: “Feature films remain my primary focus, but I don’t see films and OTT as separate. I prefer projects with strong content and a mix of emotions, including love and action. If an interesting OTT opportunity comes along, I’m happy to take it.” Q: Are you currently giving more importance to OTT projects in Tamil or Telugu? Bharath: “I wasn’t specifically focusing on OTT in Telugu. Panchanama was the only Telugu project that came my way, and I chose it because the story was interesting and suited my dates. I’m very happy to be part of the series.” Q: What is the fundamental difference between producing a web series and a feature film? Udaya Bhanu: “Films require larger sets, multiple locations, songs and coordinating artists’ dates, which takes more time. In a web series, precise planning and scheduling are crucial. Every minute matters, and thorough preparation helps avoid delays and complete the project within the target schedule.” Q: Why does a web series take less time to shoot than a feature film despite having more footage? Udaya Bhanu: “Films involve larger sets, multiple locations, songs and coordinating several artists, which takes more time. A web series depends heavily on precise planning and scheduling. With thorough preparation and efficient time management, we can complete the shoot within the target schedule.” Q: If you were to do a multi-starrer, which hero would you like to work with? Bharath: “Definitely Allu Arjun. He is one of India’s biggest stars, and I would love to work with him. I’m open to any role, including a villain or antagonist.” Q: When can we expect the next project from Udaya Bhanu Productions? Udaya Bhanu: “The next project will be a film, immediately after Panchanama.” Q: What are the major challenges you faced during production? Udaya Bhanu: “Every day was a challenge, especially with unpredictable weather, 36 locations and constantly changing or reconstructed locations. With a tight schedule, completing each day’s shoot on time felt like a race.”   Q: How is Panchanama different from other crime thrillers on OTT? Mohan: “The screenplay is highly unpredictable, with suspense in every moment and strong emotions woven into the crime story. Unlike typical thrillers that focus mainly on the twist, Panchanama adds a deep emotional layer, offering audiences a fresh narrative experience.” Panchanama is a six-episode Telugu investigative thriller blending crime, mystery and emotional drama. The story follows police officer Jai Ram, played by Bharath Srinivasan, as he investigates his younger brother’s death, initially dismissed as an accident, and uncovers a deeper criminal network linked to a series of mysterious deaths. The series also features Shivaji Raja, Medha Reddy, Charan Babu, Rupa Lakshmi, Radhika Preethi, Surya Srinivas, Srija and Shiva Karthik Danda in key roles. Directed by Mohan Srivatsa, with screenplay and dialogues by Nagendra Pilla, cinematography by Sandeep Kanth.N, editing by Srinivas Bainaboyina, and music by Naresh Kumaran, the series is produced by Midde Vijayendra Mouli and Udaya Bhanu under Udaya Bhanu Productions. Panchanama premieres exclusively on Telugu ZEE5 on September 11, 2026. Disclaimer: The news article is written based on information shared by various sources. The organisation is not responsible for the factual nature of them. While we do try to do thorough research at times people could misguide. So, we would encourage viewers' discretion before reacting to them. 

Suriya has made a big blockbuster comeback with Karuppu and Vishwanth & Sons, this year. Now, he is ready to make it hattrick with Scene. Suriya47 is titled as Scene and writer-director Jithu Madhavan has written a completely fun character for Suriya which he did not try in recent times.  In an ultra-casual attire, Suriya wearing a T-shirt, shorts looks very unserious and jovial. Without making him into a buffoon or joker of sorts, Jithu is able to retain an edgy seriousness to the theme yet bring his style of quirky fun. Him wearing cooling glasses and humming his own tune makes it even more trendy and interesting. Nazriya Nazim and Naslen are playing prominent roles in the film but makers did not reveal their roles yet. With crime Scene sitting perfectly for the film's theme, the makers seem to have locked Scene as title. They have also locked the release date, 6th November for Diwali festival.    Sushin Shyam, who composed music for Aavesham is composing music and Jyotika – Suriya, Jaishree Damodaran are producing the film on Zhagaram Studios and 2D Entertainment. More details yet to be announced by the makers.    Disclaimer: The news article is written based on information shared by various sources. The organisation is not responsible for the factual nature of them. While we do try to do thorough research at times people could misguide. So, we would encourage viewers' discretion before reacting to them.