"Rakshasa is not a story that reveals itself easily."
Kannada ZEE5 has unveiled the gripping trailer for its upcoming original series Rakshasa, setting the stage for a chilling crime thriller rooted in rural Karnataka.
The seven-episode series premieres on February 20, 2026 and promises a haunting exploration of belief, violence and buried truths.
Set along the misty banks of the Malaprabha River in North Karnataka, Rakshasa unfolds in a landscape where fear travels quietly through tight-knit communities.
Nothing is quite what it seems as folklore begins to blur with reality in the shadow of the revered Yellamma temple in Savadatti.
The trailer introduces Sub Inspector Hanmappa, who is pulled into investigating a string of alleged crocodile attacks near the temple.
When bloodied remains surface, whispers of divine wrath and superstition quickly grip the village.
As public belief hardens, Hanmappa finds himself navigating not just a criminal investigation but a psychological labyrinth shaped by faith and fear.
The deeper he digs, the more he questions whether the true danger lies in the river or in the minds of the people.
Rakshasa is written by Suhan Prasad and Apoorva, with Prasad also directing the series.
It is produced by Tharunsudheer Productions and led by National Award-winning actor Vijay Raghavendra.
He is joined by Mayuri, Avinash, Malavika, Appanna and Abhijith, who collectively anchor a narrative driven by emotional tension and moral conflict.
Speaking about the trailer, Vijay Raghavendra said: “Rakshasa is not a story that reveals itself easily.
“What excited me was the silence in the narrative, the pauses, the unanswered questions, and the emotional weight carried by the character.
“Hanmappa is a man torn between duty and belief, and the trailer gives a glimpse of that conflict without giving anything away.”
Producer Tharun Sudheer emphasised the series’s grounded tone and regional authenticity.
He said, “From the very beginning, we wanted Rakshasa to feel rooted and unsettling rather than loud.
“The setting of North Karnataka, the folklore, and the psychological depth of the story make it unique.”
“The trailer captures the mood of the series, where fear isn’t created by spectacle, but by what people choose to believe.”
With atmospheric visuals and restrained storytelling, Rakshasa avoids sensationalism in favour of slow-burning tension.
The premise deliberately blurs the line between myth and murder, reflecting how faith can shape narratives within many South Asian communities.
For viewers drawn to layered crime dramas with cultural depth, the series offers a story that lingers long after the mystery begins.
Rakshasa premieres exclusively on Kannada ZEE5 on February 20, 2026.
ZEE5 remains Bharat’s largest homegrown streaming platform, offering thousands of films, television shows and originals across 12 languages.
With a vast on-demand library and hyper-local subscription packs, it continues to expand its reach among global South Asian audiences seeking diverse storytelling.
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