
Some stories don’t wait for you to get comfortable — they grab you by the collar and drop you straight into the shadows. That’s Kammattam, the Malayalam crime thriller web series streaming on ZEE5 from 4 September 2025.
It’s a first for ZEE5 in Malayalam originals, and it’s not just another thriller thrown together for binge-watchers. Directed by Shan Thulasidharan and headlined by Sudev Nair as Inspector Antonio George, the six-episode series draws from a real financial scam in Thrissur. That little detail alone gives it more grit than most OTT thrillers — because when you know something close to this really happened, the tension sticks differently.
The tale begins with what appears to be a tragic crash scene. A planter named Samuel Umman is found dead, necklace missing, case seemingly closed. But Inspector Antonio George isn’t satisfied. There’s something about the way it all adds up that doesn’t sit right.
What follows is Antonio’s dogged investigation, one that leads him into Thrissur’s murkier corners: workers who know too much, financiers who look too clean, friends who may not be friends at all. And here’s the thing — every answer he uncovers only raises new questions.
Kammattam, at its heart, shows crooked systems that crush the common poor man. Greed and power spread and trap anyone who steps toward them, and leave scars that mark towns and homes for years. A cop keeps digging as the soil turns dark with each spadeful.
The casting is sharp, every role feels chosen for impact rather than star value.
Sudev Nair as Inspector Antonio George – restrained but compelling. He’s not the shouty, action-hero cop. He’s the one who watches, calculates, and then corners you when you least expect it.
Jeo Baby, Vivya Santh, Akhil Kavalayoor, Sreerekha, Arun Sol, Jordy Poonjaa, Ajay Vaasudev, Jins Bhaskar – each character adds complexity to Antonio’s journey.
Behind the camera:
Creator/Director: Shan Thulasidharan
Producer: Arjun Ravindran (23 FEET Entertainment)
Here’s a jaw-dropper: the entire series was shot in just 11 days. No, that’s not a typo. Six episodes, full cast, complex locations — all done in less than two weeks.
That urgency seeps into the storytelling. Scenes feel raw, as if there was no time to polish the edges. That turn gives Kammattam strength and makes its world feel real. Life spills, rules break, and the city looks one breath from collapse, like a heavy chest that holds many loads.
This isn’t a glossy whodunit with stylish villains sipping wine. It’s about sweat, betrayal, and the quiet corruption that runs through small towns.
Greed & Exploitation – how money tricks people into silence.
Law & Morality – Antonio’s fight isn’t just against criminals but against a society that looks away.
Atmosphere – Thrissur’s backdrops, shot in moody frames, give the show a sense of lived-in truth. It’s the kind of thriller that creeps rather than sprints.
Based on True Events – inspired by a Thrissur scam, so the fiction bites harder.
Compact & Sharp – six episodes, no filler, just pure story.
Authentic Malayalam Crime Drama – finally, a homegrown series that doesn’t mimic Hindi thrillers.
Strong Lead Performance – Sudev Nair gives Antonio George weight and humanity.
Exclusivity – streaming only on ZEE5, available worldwide with subtitles.
Ans: A Malayalam crime thriller about Inspector Antonio George investigating the suspicious death of a planter, leading him into a scam rooted in Thrissur.
Ans: Sudev Nair headlines as Antonio George, joined by Jeo Baby, Vivya Santh, Akhil Kavalayoor, Sreerekha, Arun Sol, Jordy Poonjaa, Ajay Vaasudev, and Jins Bhaskar.
Ans: 4 September 2025 on ZEE5 OTT, timed with Onam.
Ans: Six episodes run for 35–45 minutes.
Ans: Yes, it’s inspired by a real financial scam in Thrissur.
Web-series Released Date | 4 Sep 2025 |
Total Episodes | 6 |
Audio Langauges |
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Genres | Crime Thriller Mystery |