(This article is authored by Alar)

Exploring the transformation of a simple villager into India's most notorious bandit, the Zee5 OTT platform's documentary series, Koose Munisamy Veerappan, now made a remarkable view history within a release of a month. The documentary delves into how he managed to evade capture for decades despite being relentlessly pursued by thousands of police and army personnel.

Before his death, Veerappan confessed his crimes and revealed his secrets, raising intriguing questions about his life. The series, released on December 14, 2023, made a remarkable milestone in the documentary released in Tamil, by garnering over 100 million views, earning acclaim for its gripping narration, stunning visuals, and authentic portrayal of Veerappan's tumultuous life and times.

The documentary will also explore the socio-political and environmental implications of his actions and the challenges faced by the authorities in capturing him. The documentary will also feature rare footage and photos of Veerappan, as well as interviews with his relatives, friends, foes, and victims.

Fans and critics alike hail it as the best documentary series in Tamil cinema, shedding light on the complex persona of Veerappan. The series is based on Veerappan’s own words, recorded by veteran journalist Nakkheeran Gopal, who interviewed him several times in the dense forests of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. The series also features interviews with Veerappan’s family, associates, victims, and adversaries, who shed light on his personality, motivations, and actions.

The series is directed by Sharath Jothi and written by a talented team of writers, including Jeyachandra Hashmi, Sharath Jothi, and Vasanth Balakrishnan, who is also the head of research of the series. Thanks to the team for astutely crafting a compelling script that captures the essence of Veerappan’s story. The series also boasts of a brilliant technical crew, with Raj Kumar PM handling the cinematography, Satish Raghunathan composing the music, and Ram Pandian editing the footage.

The documentary features a distinguished cast and crew, including speakers such as “Nakkheeran” Gopal, the veteran journalist who interviewed Veerappan several times, multifaceted actor, director and politician Seeman, who has expressed his admiration for Veerappan, N. Ram, Pa Pa Mohan, Subbu aka Subramanyan, Alexander IPS, Rohini, Jeeva Thangavel, Mohan Kumar, and Dhamayanthi.