Kannada Supernatural Thriller 'Maarigallu' Premieres on ZEE5, Blending Kadamba Lore with Digital Tribute

The Kannada supernatural folklore thriller series, 'Maarigallu,' premiered on the ZEE5 streaming service on October 31, 2025. Directed and written by Devraj Poojary, the production was presented under the PRK Productions banner, continuing the company's focus on culturally resonant regional narratives.

The series transports viewers to a remote village near Sirsi, Karnataka, during the 1990s. The plot centers on the discovery of an ancient clue that launches a perilous hunt for a long-lost treasure dating back to the Kadamba era. This pursuit of fortune quickly awakens formidable, unseen forces, escalating the conflict beyond simple human greed and challenging the local community's understanding of reality.

Ashwini Puneeth Rajkumar, representing PRK Productions, stated that 'Maarigallu' fulfills the late Puneeth Rajkumar's vision of showcasing powerful, deeply rooted Karnataka stories to a wider audience. The narrative skillfully intertwines local culture, deep faith, and intense human emotion, drawing its historical foundation from the Kadamba dynasty, Karnataka's first ruling house, which flourished between the 4th and 6th centuries CE with its capital at Banavasi, near the series' setting.

A notable element of the production is a striking digital homage featured in the teaser. AI-generated footage depicted the late Puneeth Rajkumar in the role of Mayura Sharma, the founder of the Kadamba dynasty, serving as a powerful acknowledgment of his lasting impact on the region's arts.

The ensemble cast features several actors making their web series debuts, including Rangayana Raghu, Gopal Krishna Deshpande, and Praveen Tej, alongside Ninaad Hrithsa, Prashanth Siddi, and AS Suraj. Technical contributions include cinematography by S.K. Rao, music by L.V. Muthu and L.V. Ganesh, and sound design by Ravi Hiremat. The convergence of a supernatural plot, a historical quest, and this modern digital tribute positions the series as a work designed to explore the interplay between inherited history and contemporary ambition.