Shodha

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Shodha
GenreSuspense crime thriller, murder mystery.
Written bySuhas Navarathna
Directed bySunil Mysuru
Starring
ComposerArjun Ramu
Country of originIndia
Original languageKannada
Production
ProducersKarthik
Yogi G Raj
CinematographyRahul Roy
EditorAnil Anirudh
Production companyKRG Studios
Original release
NetworkZEE5
Release29 August 2025 (2025-08-29)

Shodha is an Indian Kannada-language suspense crime thriller web series directed by Sunil Mysuru and written by Suhas Navarathna.[1][2] Pawan Kumar stars as a rule-bending lawyer[3] opposite Siri Ravikumar.[4][5][6][7] Produced by KRG Studios, the six-episode series premiered on ZEE5 on 29 August 2025.[8][9]

Premise

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Rohit, a sharp but ethically flexible lawyer, files a missing person report for his wife while she stands beside him. The case spirals into questions of memory and identity as Rohit insists the woman is an impostor. Pre-release coverage notes references to Kodava folklore and a psychological tone.

Cast

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Production and release

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KRG Studios, headed by Karthik Gowda and Yogi G. Raj, produced the series for ZEE5 as part of its line-up of Kannada originals.[11]

Shodha was initially slated to premiere on 22 August 2025,[12][13] but the release was pushed to 29 August 2025.[14][15]

Episodes

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No.TitleDirected byOriginal release date
1"Meera Missing"Sunil Mysuru29 August 2025 (2025-08-29)
At his birthday gathering, Rohith finds Meera missing and senses something is wrong.
2"Who is She?"Sunil Mysuru29 August 2025 (2025-08-29)
Rohith tests the woman claiming to be Meera, alarming those around him as his search only deepens the uncertainty.
3"Drama"Sunil Mysuru29 August 2025 (2025-08-29)
As Tara prepares for a play, tensions at home escalate and Rohith’s plan is upended by a disturbing discovery.
4"The Mask Man"Sunil Mysuru29 August 2025 (2025-08-29)
A family round of “two truths and a lie” turns deadly as buried secrets begin to unravel.
5"The Confession"Sunil Mysuru29 August 2025 (2025-08-29)
With police closing in, a confession changes the case while Rohith and Bhairava play a costly game.
6"Not The End"Sunil Mysuru29 August 2025 (2025-08-29)
The truth behind Meera’s disappearance emerges; time brings some healing but leaves questions unresolved.

Reception

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Prathibha Joy of OTT Play gave the series a rating of 3/5, noting that "Shodha takes inspiration from the 2024 Hindi series, but has been redone nicely by fixing the plot holes of the original."[16] Chaithra Chidananda M of The Times of India rated it 4/5, writing that "Shodha is not just another suspense thriller, it’s a cleverly adapted story brought alive with powerful performances, emotional depth, and a gripping screenplay. For those who enjoy edge-of-the-seat narratives laced with sentiment and surprise, this original Kannada web series is an absolute must-watch."[17]

Nandini Ramnath of Scroll.in observed that "Shodha feels like a movie chopped up into instalments. This device strings out the suspense a bit longer and helps savour the twists that start piling up in later episodes. The biggest spoiler is that there isn’t a spoiler, except that the show’s makers do a decent job but could have tried harder."[18]

References

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  1. ^ "'Shodha': Pawan Kumar to play the lead in ZEE5 original Kannada series". The Hindu. 7 August 2025. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
  2. ^ "Shodha: Lucia-fame Pawan Kumar leads new 6-episode Kannada suspense thriller series". Hindustan Times. 9 August 2025. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
  3. ^ Sharadhaa, A. (14 August 2025). "Pawan Kumar plays a rule-bending lawyer in Shodha". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
  4. ^ ""Shodha gave me the scope to go intense and truly perform," says, Pawan Kumar". The Times of India. 20 August 2025. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
  5. ^ "Interview | Pawan Kumar on 'Shodha': 'It Gave Me A High I Hadn't Experienced In Two Years'". The Hollywood Reporter India. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
  6. ^ N, Vivek M. V. & Ravichandran (19 August 2025). "Pawan Kumar interview | On Kannada web series 'Shodha', 'Dhoomam' setback and returning to direction". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
  7. ^ Sharadhaa, A. (7 August 2025). "KRG Studios and Zee5 back Kannada web series Shodha, starring Pawan Kumar in the lead". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
  8. ^ "Shodha on OTT: Pawan Kumar-led Kannada suspense thriller gets new streaming date". HindustanTimes.
  9. ^ Sharadhaa, A. (19 August 2025). "ZEE5 Kannada to premiere Shodha, a psychological crime thriller, on Aug 29". Cinema Express. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
  10. ^ "Shodha actor Anusha Ranganath: It's rare to get a strong and meaningful character". OTTPlay. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
  11. ^ Sharadhaa, A. (7 August 2025). "KRG Studios and ZEE5 back Kannada web series Shodha, starring Pawan Kumar in the lead". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 27 August 2025.
  12. ^ "'Shodha' trailer: In Kannada thriller series, a man is unable to recognise his wife". Scroll.in. 15 August 2025. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
  13. ^ "'Shodha' OTT Release: Find out when and where to watch filmmaker Pawan Kumar's starrer". The Times of India. 13 August 2025. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
  14. ^ Joy, Prathibha (19 August 2025). "Pawan Kumar on Shodha: I was drawn to the mind-games and manipulations the character, Rohit, offered". OTTplay. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
  15. ^ Sharadhaa, A. (19 August 2025). "ZEE5 Kannada to premiere Shodha, a psychological crime thriller, on Aug 29". Cinema Express. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
  16. ^ "Shodha series review: Khoj remake is a superior thriller with engaging narrative". OTTPlay. Retrieved 29 August 2025.
  17. ^ "Shodha Review: A perfect blend of suspense, sentiment, and cinematic flair". The Times of India. 29 August 2025. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 29 August 2025.
  18. ^ Ramnath, Nandini (29 August 2025). "'Shodha' review: A predictable thriller about a lawyer who refuses to accept his wife". Scroll.in. Retrieved 29 August 2025.
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