On Tuesday, the streaming platform ZEE5 announced a new Malayalam horror comedy series titled Inspection Bungalow, set to premiere on November 14. The show, headlined by actor-lyricist Shabareesh Varma, is billed as "a chilling yet heartwarming ride." Scripted by Suneesh Varanadu, it is directed by Saiju S S, who previously made his feature directorial debut in 2018 with the Unni Mukundan-Gokul Suresh starrer Ira.
The makers of Inspection Bungalow also unveiled its trailer on Tuesday. The show also features Aadhiya Prasad, Senthil Krishna, Shaju Sreedhar, Jayan Cherthala, Sreejith Ravi, Balaji Sharma and Manohari Joy, among others. Produced by Veena Nair under her namesake banner, it has cinematography by Sudheer Surendran, editing by Akhil Das Harippadu and music by Denson Domnic, who is credited as the creator of Inspection Bungalow.
As per a press release, the upcoming show unravels in the village of Aravangad, where Sub-Inspector Vishnu (Shabareesh), a reluctant cop with a shadowed past, is assigned to shift his police station to an abandoned government property, one local’s call ‘Inspection Bungalow.’ What starts as a routine transfer spirals into a terrifying investigation involving unexplained deaths, ghostly apparitions, and a hidden truth buried for decades. As Vishnu is forced to confront his deepest fears, he partners with Mythili, a brilliant paranormal researcher, only to uncover secrets more sinister than the spirits themselves.
Speaking about the show, director Saiju said, "Inspection Bungalow isn’t just about fear, it’s about finding laughter and meaning in the middle of it. This series explores how the unseen often mirrors our own truths, and how humour sometimes becomes our only way to face darkness. Every frame is designed to make the viewer feel something deeper, whether it’s tension, amusement, or reflection. As Kerala’s first-ever horror-comedy web series, we wanted to break away from formulas and build an experience where fear and fun coexist naturally.”
Elaborating on his portrayal of the central character, Shabareesh stated, "Playing Vishnu was unlike any role I’ve done before. He’s a simple man caught between fear, absurdity, and the humour that life sometimes throws at us. That mix of emotion and dark comedy really challenged me as an actor." He added that the show’s tone goes beyond conventional horror. “Inspection Bungalow isn’t a straight horror story; it’s layered with irony, emotion, and moments that make you laugh even when you least expect it.”
ZEE5 recently made their foray into Malayalam originals with the Sudev Nair-starrer show Kammattam.
