Kannada ZEE5 has announced its upcoming fantasy comedy thriller called JERAX. The show is being produced by Dhananjaya, popularly known as Daali, under his production house Daali Pictures. This project is an important step for him as a producer because it marks his entry into the OTT space with a story that mixes imagination with a strong Kannada cultural touch. The series is directed and written by Srinidhi Bengaluru, whose first film Blink had already gained attention for its unique storytelling and emotional connection to Kannada roots. With JERAX, he is making his OTT debut, bringing his style of dark humour, raw storytelling and suspense together to create something fresh and different for Kannada audiences.
With this announcement, ZEE5 is also showing its continued focus on supporting local Kannada stories and creators who bring authenticity to their work. Over the past year, the platform has been building a lineup of content inspired by Karnataka’s towns, language and culture, giving new filmmakers a chance to explore stories beyond the usual formats.
Talking about the project, Dhananjaya said that he had been wanting to explore OTT for a long time but was waiting for the right story and the right platform. He shared that what attracted him to ZEE5 was their intention to support content that stays true to its local roots without being diluted. He added that he has always believed in giving opportunities to new filmmakers, and JERAX felt like the perfect project. He also mentioned that the OTT format allows more freedom to experiment with genres in ways that cinema often cannot, and he is excited to bring this kind of Kannada storytelling to a wider audience.
Srinidhi Bengaluru said that JERAX gave him the chance to explore dark humour, fantasy and suspense while keeping the story deeply connected to Karnataka. He shared that ZEE5 supported his vision of telling stories that reflect local language, culture and surroundings, which gave him the confidence to shape the narrative the way he wanted. He also said that working with Daali Pictures for his OTT debut has been special because they genuinely encourage new ideas and fresh talent.