D/o Prasad Rao: Kanabadutaledu is a Telugu language crime-thriller web series streaming from February 27, 2026 on ZEE5.
Directed by Krishna Poluru, the series stars Rajeev Kanakala as a father, Vasanthika as daughter (Swathi), co-starring Udaya Bhanu.
Story:
The story opens in a small town Sullurpeta, Tirupati District, where a simple family lives— Mr. Prasad Rao (Rajeev Kanakala) as father who runs a small kirana shop called Swathi Kirana, a mother who is a home-maker, and their daughter Swathi, a B.Tech graduate.
Swathi gets a job in Hyderabad, but her orthodox father Prasad Rao is afraid to send his only daughter to another city alone. After a lot of convincing and support from relatives, he finally agrees.
After reaching Hyderabad, Prasad Rao accompanies Swathi until she finishes her office joining process and helps her finding a women’s PG close to her workplace. There is a hostel named ‘Bhavani Women’s PG’ nearby and they checked it out, finds-out there is only one bed available in a four-sharing room, yet she agrees to stay there, as it is nearby to her work place. She was unaware that her three roommates are troublemakers who torture anyone new until they leave the room. They start troubling Swati too, and when she complains, the warden asks her to adjust for a few days until another room is free.
Even with all this stress, a month passes, Swati does very well at work, impressed everyone at her office and is very happy that she will receive her very first salary on that day. But on the same night, she suddenly goes missing after returning to the PG, leaving her phone and belongings behind in her room. When she cannot be reached over phone, Prasad Rao in extreme worry inspite of heavy cyclone in Sullurpeta travels overnight to reach Hyderabad.
Meanwhile, The warden informs the police about the missing girl, checks the CCTV cameras, and finds-out that Swati entered the hostel but have never left-out that night. Meanwhile, Prasad Rao arrives at the hostel and learns about his daughter have gone missing from the police. After few hours, police have found the girl lying dead behind the water tank. Now, the case has became sensation all over news, and the police started the investigation right from her colleagues, three roommates, PG watchman, the warden, and others to solve the mystery behind her death. How the police solves the case, how all the dots connect to Swati’s death and how Prasad Rao takes his revenge for his daughter’s death forms the rest of the story, filled with many twists.
What about On-Screen Performances?
Rajeev Kanakala delivers a convincing and emotionally grounded performance as the father, bringing depth and realism to a role that demands quiet strength and inner turmoil. His portrayal adds weight to the narrative, making the audience feel the pain, fear and determination of a parent searching for answers.
Vasanthika, who plays his daughter Swathi, leaves a strong impression despite limited screen time, effectively conveying innocence and vulnerability that becomes the emotional core of the series.
Udaya Bhanu, appearing as a police officer, handles her role with confidence and restraint, lending credibility to the investigation angle without over-dramatization.
What about Off-Screen Talents?
Director Krishna Poluru presents the series in an engaging manner with a tight and well-paced screenplay that keeps the suspense intact across episodes. While the central storyline may not be entirely new to the thriller genre, his execution, scene design and narrative grip make the series watchable and engaging. He maintains a steady rhythm, balancing emotional moments with investigative tension, which helps sustain interest and prevents the narrative from feeling repetitive. The director’s handling of key turning points and reveals adds to the curiosity factor, keeping viewers invested till the end.
Music director Sriram’s background score plays an important role in elevating the suspense and emotional impact of the series. The BGM is subtle yet effective, enhancing tension during crucial moments and adding emotional depth to sensitive scenes.
The cinematography by K. Mahesh Kumar is well-suited to the tone of the web series, capturing the tense mood and emotional moments with effective framing and lighting. The camera work supports the storytelling without distraction, making the thriller elements feel more intense and immersive.
What’s Hot?
Gripping Screenplay.
Good and apt background music.
Message at the end.
Performance of the lead actors.
Connecting the dots from the direction department is very pleasing.
What’s Not?
The story doesn’t feel fresh.
Some Rountine scenes
Few unwanted fillers here and there.
Verdict:
D/o Prasad Rao: Kanabadutaledu works mainly because of its emotional core and sincere performances rather than the novelty of its story. The series handles a sensitive subject with seriousness and keeps the tension alive through a tight screenplay, effective background score and engaging direction. Rajeev Kanakala’s performance as a helpless father stands out and adds emotional weight to the narrative, while the investigation portions keep the curiosity alive. Although the plot follows a familiar crime-thriller template and a few routine scenes slow down the pace, the overall presentation remains engaging. The emotional payoff and the message in the final stretch leave an impact, making this web series a decent one time watch for fans of crime thrillers and emotional dramas on OTT.
Telugubulletin.Com Rating: 2.75/5