Prime Video will world premiere “Vadhandhi – The Mystery of Mani” this August, the streamer revealed, bringing back its original Tamil suspense thriller franchise for a second season.

Andrew Louis, who created and wrote the first season, returns to write and direct season 2, with Pushkar and Gayatri overseeing the project as creative producers under their Wallwatcher Films banner. Over the course of eight episodes, M. Sasikumar plays SI Moosa Raza, a law enforcement officer whose search for answers confronts him with political pressure, press attention, and his own weaknesses. Yashwanth, Anagha Maruthora, Aparna Das, Vivek Prasanna, Revathy Sharma and Arjun Nandhakumar complete the cast in pivotal roles.

Set in Madurai, the season weaves its investigative narrative through the culturally rich backdrop of the Jallikattu festival, continuing the franchise’s line of rumor versus reality. The case begins when skeletal remains surface during ceremonies marking the launch of a highway project, a discovery that puts Moosa Raza on the trail of an elusive prisoner named Mani.

The series will stream on Prime Video in Tamil, with Telugu and Hindi dubbing and subtitles in 15 languages, including English, worldwide starting August 7.

“Stories from the South have received immense love and appreciation from audiences around the world, and ‘Vadhandhi’ is a franchise that we are incredibly proud of. The first season created a unique space in the suspense crime drama genre by masterfully blurring the lines between rumors and reality, and we are delighted to bring the second season to audiences around the world. With Andrew Louis at the helm once again, and a gripping narrative set in the vibrant cultural landscape of Madurai, season 2 takes the franchise to new heights. It is a privilege to continue our collaboration with Pushkar and Gayatri, whose ability to create compelling, culturally-rooted stories with universal appeal is unparalleled. We are confident that this season will keep audiences on the edge of their seats,” said Nikhil Madhok, Director and Head of Originals, Prime Video India.

Wallwatcher Films, founded by Pushkar and Gayatri, previously produced both seasons of “Suzhal – The Vortex”, the first season of the franchise, “Vadhandhi – The Fable of Velonie” and the series “Exam” for Prime Video, along with the short film “The Mask” and the Netflix film “Aelay”.

“Season 2 builds on the franchise’s unique blend of suspense, truth and insight while telling a story that is both emotionally compelling and deeply engaging. Andrew Louis has once again brought this vision to life brilliantly, creating a gripping narrative that stays true to the spirit of the franchise while taking it in an exciting new direction. Sasikumar and the entire cast have delivered exceptional performances that add tremendous depth to the story,” said Pushkar and Gayatri, creative producers of the series.

Prime Video is home to Tamil-language titles alongside a broader slate that includes “Mirzapur,” “The Family Man,” “Panchayat,” and “Paatal Lok,” as well as global series including “The Boys” and “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power.”