Sobhita Dhulipala is taking true crime to new heights with ‘Chikatilo,’ Prime Video’s explosive podcast on Andrei Chikatilo, the Rostov Ripper whose 1980s rampage claimed 52+ lives. This isn’t sensationalism—it’s a forensic deep-dive into depravity’s anatomy.
Dhulipala masterfully structures the narrative chronologically, from Chikatilo’s traumatic childhood marked by famine cannibalism tales to his adult atrocities. Listeners traverse crime scenes: woods near rail lines littered with eviscerated bodies, eyes gouged as trophies.
Backed by exhaustive research, episodes feature translated KGB memos, eyewitness sketches, and profiler insights on Chikatilo’s ‘mission-oriented’ pathology. Dhulipala’s emotive voice conveys the investigators’ frustration—years of red herrings, including ritual murder theories—before the 1984 stakeout success.
Unique angles include gender dynamics in Soviet policing and media blackouts that fueled public hysteria. The finale dissects Chikatilo’s 1992 death row rants, linking his acts to repressed sexuality and power fantasies.
With pristine audio engineering and Dhulipala’s captivating style, ‘Chikatilo’ demands attention on Prime Video. It honors victims while warning of evil’s persistence, cementing Sobhita as a true crime force.