Polimera 3 glimpse: Arjun Sarja enters the horror franchise as Viraavi

Arjun Sarja has joined the Polimera horror series, and the makers have introduced him through the Polimera 3 glimpse, a 92-second video that holds back his face until the final stretch. Vamsi Nandipati Entertainments released the Telugu version, titled Viraavi after his character, on its YouTube channel on the evening of Monday, 9 November. By Wednesday morning, 11 November, it had crossed 5.2 lakh views.

For most of its first minute there is no actor on screen. An eclipsed sun, a dark disc ringed with fire, hangs over a temple tower as a flock of birds scatters past it. Statues with many arms stand against storm clouds, lightning cracks near a trident, and lamps burn around a giant reclining idol. Then a bare-chested man sits with his eyes shut inside a circle of oil lamps.

Viraavi arrives last. Long, matted hair frames a face marked with a red streak across the forehead, and he stares straight into the lens. He walks out of the mist with a blade in his hand before the title, Polimera 3, slams onto the screen. The thumbnail carries the Telugu words “Viraavi Aagamanam”, the arrival of Viraavi.

Same director, new producers

The upload calls the film the third instalment of the horror thriller franchise. Dr. Anil Vishwanath, who wrote and directed the first two parts, is again credited with story, screenplay and direction. The money now comes from elsewhere. Vamsi Nandipati produces under his VN Entertainments banner with Bharat Narang of Sree Venkateswara Cinemas LLP, part of the Asian Group. S. Krishna Prasad composes the music, taking over from Gyaani, who scored both earlier films. Siddharth SJ is the cinematographer and Sree Varaprasad the editor.

Most of the old cast is back. Satyam Rajesh, Baladitya, Kamakshi Bhaskarla, Getup Srinu and Rakendu Mouli are named in the credits, and Rakendu Mouli also writes the dialogue. In the earlier films, Satyam Rajesh played the auto driver Komaraiah and Kamakshi Bhaskarla his wife, Lachimi.

From a streaming release to theatres

The series started small. Maa Oori Polimera, a 98-minute village thriller built around rumours of black magic, went straight to Disney+ Hotstar on 10 December 2021. Its sequel, Maa Oori Polimera 2, opened in theatres on 3 November 2023. Arjun, billed in the upload as Action King, comes to the third part after two Tamil releases in 2025, Vidaamuyarchi and Aghathiyaa.

The video description lists publicity contacts for Tamil, Malayalam and Kannada as well as Telugu. It does not give a release date.