Inspection Bungalow, the web series starring Shabareesh Verma in the lead role, released on November 14, 2025 on the OTT platform. Directed by Saiju SS, the 7-episode series is touted as the first Malayalam horror-comedy.
If you are planning to watch the series this weekend, here is the Pinkvilla review.
plot
Inspection Bungalow is set in the fictional village of Aravangarh. It is based on the life of Sub-Inspector Vishnu, an ambitious and timid officer who is afraid of even the smallest things. When his police station falls into disrepair, Vishnu and his team are forced to shift their operations to the village’s notorious haunted building, the Inspection Bungalow.
As they begin their work from the bungalow, ghostly occurrences and supernatural occurrences emerge, leading to strange turmoil within the team. How the timid officer, with the help of an extraordinary researcher, uncovers the reason behind these horrifying incidents and the mysteries surrounding the bungalow through a humorous narrative is the central theme of the show.
Good
As the first Malayalam horror-comedy series, Inspection Bangla marks an impressive new direction for regional storytelling. Its simple narrative, which blends sitcom humor with horror elements, works quite well and may appeal to fans of Malayalam television of the early to mid 2000s.
While the plot isn’t particularly fresh or deeply compelling, the compact structure, only seven episodes, each lasting about 20 minutes, makes it a perfect and effortless two-watch, supported by a decent cast.
The humor in the script partially works and manages to generate some laughs. However, in the long run, it fails to stand out, even though the underlying potential is obvious.
bad
Unfortunately, Inspection Bangla is a clear example of written content that shows promise but falters in execution. The series starts with a dull premise and consists of lackluster visual effects and unintentional comedy.
The laziness in the execution becomes almost obvious, especially when moments that were meant to be comedic or horrifying end up feeling cartoonish and outlandish.
Even when it seems like the show might be picking up momentum, it ultimately becomes another frustrating situation that fails to evoke any real emotion. The formulaic and stale revenge story feels so saturated that every key moment can be predicted from a mile away.
Although the show never seems to drag, its repeated use of the same old wit, humor, and slapstick comedy makes one wonder why anyone should watch it when other movies have done the same thing better years ago.
Apart from the average editing, the technical aspects of the show also leave little to be desired. The forgettable cinematography, coupled with a dull soundtrack, evokes nothing and often feels like an Instagram reel that you just want to end.
Display
Shabarish Verma, Senthil Krishna Rajamani, Shaju Sridhar and the rest of the cast managed to show some promise with their performances. However, they remain simply adequate and fail to leave a lasting impact.
Although this applies to most of the show, the most notable issue is Aadhya Prasad’s amateurish and exaggerated performance. The character she plays seems over-the-top and dramatic, but the execution falls short, resulting in many cringeworthy moments.
Watch the trailer of Inspection Bungalows
Decision
Inspection Bangla is an average attempt at exploring the horror-comedy genre. Although the show doesn’t offer much, it’s still worth an easy, one-time watch.
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of Pinkvilla. Any statements made in this article are not intended to defame, harm, or discredit any person or entity.
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