Muthu alias Kaattaan made its digital debut on JioHotstar on March 27, 2026. Created by M. Manikandan, the series is a rural crime thriller that unfolds over 10 episodes.
The story begins with the shocking discovery of a severed head in a village. What makes the case even more disturbing is that the head is found with a smile on its face.
At a time when the local police station is on the verge of shutting down, this strange murder case suddenly brings it back to life as a serious investigation begins.
As the mystery unfolds, the police discover that the severed head belongs to a man named Muthu, played by Vijay Sethupathi.
Once his identity is confirmed, Sub-Inspector Siddharthan (played by Muthukumar) and Thangamudi (played by Singampuli) begin digging into Muthu’s past. But what they uncover is far more puzzling than expected.
Muthu appears to have lived multiple lives.
In one version, he was a mahout who worked with elephants. In another, he repaired watches. Elsewhere, he was said to be running an orphanage or working as a driver for a dance troupe.
Despite these scattered identities, Muthu seemed to have plenty of money, and villagers reportedly believed he often helped people in need by giving them financial support.
As the investigation goes deeper, his connections with Sivendra (played by Milind Soman) and another key character played by Sudev Nair come into focus.
From there, the story shifts into the bigger mystery — who killed Muthu, why was he killed, and what exactly was he hiding?
The series has been appreciated for its intriguing premise, rural atmosphere, and strong performances, especially by Vijay Sethupathi. However, one complaint keeps coming up repeatedly from viewers — the show feels like a slow burner.
Many viewers said the mystery is engaging, but the storytelling moves at a measured pace, and some episode endings do not create enough tension to keep the binge momentum alive.
While audiences have praised the writing and performances, several also felt that the 10-episode runtime could have been tighter.
Still, for those who enjoy slow-paced mystery thrillers with layered storytelling, Kaattaan may be worth a watch.
The series is available in Tamil, Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, Kannada, Marathi, and Bengali.
Streaming on: JioHotstar
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