{{Infobox television | native_name = देवखेळ | image = Devkhel.jpg | caption = | genre = {{ubl|Psychological thriller|Crime|Mystery}} | creator = | writer = {{ubl|Chandrakant Lata Gaikwad|Nikhil Ashok Palande}} | director = Chandrakant Lata Gaikwad | starring = {{ubl|Ankush Chaudhari|Prajakta Mali|Yatin Karyekar|Arun Nalawade|Mangesh Desai|Veena Jamkar}} | country = India | language = Marathi | num_seasons = 1 | num_episodes = | executive_producer = | producer = Cine Masters Production Pvt Ltd | runtime = | network = ZEE5 | first_aired = {{Start date|2026|01|30}} | last_aired = present }}
'''''Devkhel''''' (Marathi: देवखेळ) is a 2026 Indian Marathi-language psychological crime thriller series which premiered on the OTT platform ZEE5 on 30 January 2026.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kulkarni |first=Apurva |date=2026-01-10 |title=पाप करणाऱ्यांचा हिशोब होणार! प्राजक्ताची नवी वेबसीरिज 'देवखेळ' लवकरच येणार प्रेक्षकांच्या भेटीला, नवी पोस्ट चर्चेत |url=https://www.esakal.com/premier/prajakta-mali-announces-new-web-series-devkhel-with-ankush-chaudhari-amk08 |access-date=2026-01-29 |website=Marathi News Esakal |language=mr}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-01-11 |title=Devkhel OTT release: Stunning Mythology Thriller Set to Shake ZEE5 |url=https://punemirror.com/entertainment/devkhel-ott-release-mythology-thriller-zee5/ |access-date=2026-01-29 |language=en-US}}</ref> Directed by Chandrakant Lata Gaikwad, the series is inspired by the regional folklore of the Konkan region and explores the intersection of traditional superstition and modern criminal investigation.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Devkhel OTT release date: Here's when and where you can stream Marathi psychological crime thriller series |url=https://www.ottplay.com/news/devkhel-ott-release-date-when-where-stream-marathi-psychological-crime-thriller-series/468d3ff90a310 |access-date=2026-01-29 |website=OTTPlay |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-01-21 |title=Devkhel Trailer: अंकुश चौधरीची थरारक वेब सिरीज; ‘देवखेळ’चा ट्रेलर रिलीज, 30 जानेवारीला प्रेक्षकांच्या भेटीला |url=https://www.mymahanagar.com/entertainment/devkhel-trailer-ankush-chaudharis-thrilling-web-series-the-trailer-of-devkhel-has-been-released-coming-to-audiences-on-january-30/957077/ |access-date=2026-01-29 |website=My Mahanagar |language=mr}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=हर साल एक मौत… गांव चुप क्यों है? 30 जनवरी को खुलेंगे ‘देवखेल’ के राज |url=https://www.patrika.com/ott-news/devkhel-ott-release-date-confirmed-when-where-to-watch-prajakta-mali-ankush-chaudharys-crime-thriller-marathi-web-series-20284091 |access-date=2026-01-29 |website=Patrika News |language=hi}}</ref>
== Synopsis == The narrative is set in the fictional coastal village of Devtali in the Ratnagiri district of Maharashtra. The story follows a chilling recurring pattern: every year, on the night of ''Holi Pournima'' (during the Shimga festival), a villager dies under mysterious circumstances.
The local community attributes these deaths to Shankasur, a mythical folk figure worshipped as a divine enforcer of justice. According to local belief, these deaths are divine punishments rather than crimes. The series centers on Inspector Vishwas Saranjame, a rationalist law enforcement officer who arrives in the village to investigate the latest death. Saranjame attempts to debunk the supernatural explanations and uncover the human hand behind the serial killings, leading to a central conflict between faith and reason.
== Cast and characters ==
* Ankush Chaudhari as Inspector Vishwas Saranjame * Prajakta Mali as Sarika Nimkar * Yatin Karyekar as Vishwanath Nimkar * Arun Nalawade as Balkrushna Saranjme * Mangesh Desai as SP Rangane * Veena Jamkar as Lakshmi * Sayali Deodhar * Angad Mhaskar * Ambarish Deshpande * Rohan Surve * Onkar Bhojane * Uma Sardeshmukh * Prib Surywanshi as Shankasur Kid (Undrya)
== Release == The official trailer was unveiled by ZEE5 on January 23, 2026.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-01-22 |title=Marathi ZEE5 unveils the trailer of its upcoming original series Devkhel - where myth, crime and justice collide - The Live Nagpur |url=https://thelivenagpur.com/2026/01/22/marathi-zee5-unveils-the-trailer-of-its-upcoming-original-series-devkhel-where-myth-crime-and-justice-collide/ |access-date=2026-01-29 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=पाप करणारा शिमग्याच्या दिवशी शंकासुराच्या हिटलिस्टवर! देवतळी गावची परंपरा की मोकाट सुटलेला सीरियल किलर? |url=https://maharashtratimes.com/entertainment/web-series/devkhel-trailer-release-starring-prajakta-mali-ankush-chaudhari-onkar-bhojane-story-of-shankasur-and-serial-killer-in-devtali/articleshow/127002568.cms |access-date=2026-01-29 |website=Maharashtra Times |language=mr}}</ref> The series premiered on the platform on January 30, 2026.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-01-22 |title=ZEE5 Marathi’s Devkhel Trailer Unleashes A Chilling Mystery Starring Ankush Chaudhari, Prajaktta Mali |url=https://glamsham.com/ott/web-news/zee5-marathi-devkhel-trailer-mystery-ankush-chaudhari-prajaktta-mali/ |access-date=2026-01-29 |website=glamsham.com |language=en-US}}</ref>
== Reception == ''Devkhel'' received mixed reviews from critics following its release.
Writing for ''Scroll.in'', the reviewer noted that while the series is built around an intriguing premise, much of the narrative follows a predictable trajectory. The review highlighted Ankush Chaudhari's performance as Inspector Vishwas Saranjame as a key strength, describing him as a disruptive and engaging presence within an otherwise formulaic plot.<ref>{{cite web |title=Devkhel review: Ankush Chaudhari is a welcome unruly element in a predictable plot|url=https://scroll.in/reel/1090305/devkhel-review-ankush-chaudhari-is-a-welcome-unruly-element-in-a-predictable-plot|website=Scroll.in|access-date=}}</ref>
A review by ''OTTplay'' rated the series 3 out of 5 stars, stating that although ''Devkhel'' shows promise through its themes and performances, it struggles with uneven pacing and familiar tropes. The review observed that several moments with emotional and dramatic potential are undercut by conventional storytelling, resulting in an overall mixed viewing experience.<ref>{{cite web |title=Devkhel review: This Marathi series shows potential but gets lost in translation|url=https://www.ottplay.com/review/devkhel-review-this-marathi-series-shows-potential-but-gets-lost-in-translation/d9a99d2649783|website=OTTplay|access-date=}}</ref>
== References == {{Reflist}}
== External links ==
* {{IMDb title|id=tt39299519}} * ''[https://www.zee5.com/web-series/details/devkhel/0-6-4z5892762 Devkhel]'' on ZEE5
Category:2026 web series debuts Category:Marathi-language television Category:ZEE5 original programming Category:Indian thriller television series Category:Indian crime television series Category:Television shows set in Maharashtra Category:Marathi-language television shows