Chennai

Streaming platform ZEE5 on Thursday announced its new Tamil original series Thadayam, starring actors Samuthirakani and Sshivada in lead roles.

‘Thadayam’, which translates to “clue” in English, is a gripping crime thriller inspired by true events that occurred along the Tamil Nadu–Andhra Pradesh border in 1999.

The series is written and directed by Navinkumar Palanivel. Samuthirakani plays the role of Sub-Inspector Adhiyaman, while Sshivada essays Inspector Lakshmi.

According to the official logline, a string of brutal midnight murders shakes a cluster of rural villages, with each crime scene appearing eerily similar and leaving behind no clear leads. The only disturbing common thread is that the killer steals sacred symbols of marriage from the victims.

As fear gradually turns into folklore and suspicion spreads across the villages, a newly transferred police officer begins to detect a ritualistic pattern behind the violence. What follows is a tense, night-bound investigation where every answer deepens the mystery, and the truth lies buried in the darkest corners of belief and obsession.

Speaking about the series, Palanivel said ‘Thadayam’ delves into fear, faith and fixation within a close-knit rural society.

“What fascinated me most about this true story was how the crimes targeted something deeply emotional and sacred. I wanted to tell this story with honesty, restraint and an unsettling realism that lingers with the viewer long after the screen fades to black,” the director said.

READ MORE: Ramzan and Lent begin the same day signaling unity of religions

The series marks another addition to ZEE5’s growing slate of Tamil original content rooted in real-life narratives.