“Touch Me Not” web series review: A psychological-supernatural thriller that dares to feel

Helmed by Ramana Teja, the six-episode series centers around an original concept—psychometry—which serves as the foundation for a murder investigation layered with past trauma, moral complexity, and emotional depth.

Hyderabad: The Telugu streaming space continues to experiment with genre and format, and Touch Me Not, a recent release on JioCinema/Hotstar, is one such effort that tries to blend psychological thriller with supernatural elements. Directed by Ramana Teja and consisting of six tightly packaged episodes, the series builds itself around an inventive premise: psychometry and uses it as the cornerstone of a murder investigation laced with past trauma, moral ambiguity, and emotional reckoning.

The series revolves around Rishi (Dheekshith Shetty), a young man with the mysterious ability to perceive the past of any person or object he touches. This “gift,” developed after surviving a traumatic fire in childhood, remains a closely guarded secret. Rishi lives with SP Raghav Rao (Navdeep), a high-ranking police officer who took him in years ago after losing his own mother in the same fire. The bond between the two is somewhere between father and son and yet haunted by a silence that speaks louder than words.

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Their relatively stable world is shaken when a fire at a local hospital mirrors the very tragedy that changed their lives years ago. Raghav is tasked with leading the investigation, and Rishi, unable to ignore the eerie similarities, decides to use his hidden ability to uncover the truth. Megha (Komalee Prasad), a spirited young woman with ties to Rishi’s past, joins the mix as a confidante, though her own motivations remain shrouded in uncertainty for much of the series.

The biggest strength of Touch Me Not is its novel concept. The use of psychometry as a narrative tool is fresh for Telugu audiences, and the storytelling mostly treats the theme with seriousness. Rather than sensationalizing it, the series attempts to ground Rishi’s ability in emotional realism, exploring how such power can become a burden rather than a blessing. There’s a conscious effort to balance the thriller mechanics with quieter moments of introspection, which makes the show more than just a mystery-solving exercise.

Dheekshith Shetty offers a sincere performance as Rishi. He does not overplay the trauma of the character, but his silences are telling. There’s a restraint in his expressions, a maturity that holds the show together. Navdeep, as Raghav Rao, gives perhaps the most controlled performance in the series. His character is complex—a man of the law, a reluctant father figure, and someone carrying the guilt of unresolved tragedies. Their relationship is the emotional pivot of the narrative, and thankfully, the writing does not rush to define it with clichés.

Komalee Prasad brings energy to the role of Megha, though her arc feels underwritten in parts. She is positioned as a potential love interest, a moral compass, and a mystery unto herself, but the script seems uncertain about which version of her it wants to pursue. Nevertheless, she brings a convincing mix of warmth and tenacity.

Technically, the series is executed with competence. The cinematography by Gokul Bharathi adopts a dark, moody palette that suits the psychological terrain the story occupies. Most of the series is shot in closed spaces abandoned hospitals, old apartments, interrogation rooms—and the tight framing adds a sense of claustrophobia, reinforcing the show’s themes of entrapment and emotional confinement.

The background score by Mahati Swara Sagar is subtle and restrained. It is used sparingly, allowing silence to punctuate tense scenes. This is a welcome departure from the over-scored thrillers that flood the streaming ecosystem. Editing by Anwar Ali could have been sharper, particularly in the mid-episodes where the narrative meanders, but overall the series maintains a coherent pace.

One of the more commendable aspects of Touch Me Not is that it doesn’t try to offer easy moral answers. The antagonist is not purely evil, and the victims are not purely innocent. Everyone is carrying scars, and the series seems more interested in unpacking how people live with their trauma rather than erasing it.

The mystery at the center is not about “whodunit,” but rather “why done it” a more emotionally engaging question.

However, the show is not without flaws. Certain flashback sequences feel repetitive, and some of the minor characters are sketchily written. The final episode leaves a few narrative threads dangling, presumably in the hope of a second season, but without offering enough resolution to be fully satisfying.

Still, Touch Me Not deserves credit for attempting something original. In an industry where formulaic storytelling is the default setting, this series breaks the mold if not entirely, then at least meaningfully. It offers a story that respects its audience’s intelligence and delivers a thriller that is more internal than external.