KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 28 — Within a week of its debut, Cela has made a major impact.
The psychological thriller and dark romance series climbed to No. 1 on Viu following its August 20 debut, generating nearly 50 million views across social media platforms.
The strong early response puts the Malaysian production firmly in the spotlight, with its combination of obsession, forbidden emotions, family tragedy and revenge appearing to strike a chord with audiences.
The series has also moved ahead of several Korean titles on the platform, including Dream To You, Running Man (2026) and The Affair Was Just The Beginning.
Starring Nabila Huda and Hun Haqeem, alongside Zarif Ghazzi, Datuk Seri Eizlan Yusof, Lisdawati among others, Cela centres on Kaer, a high-school student whose life is shattered after the death of his father.
Kaer and his grieving mother are taken in by affluent couple Datuk Arshad (Eizlan Yusof) and Datuk Anees (Nabila Huda).
In the aftermath of his loss, Kaer finds comfort in Anees and develops an intense emotional attachment to her.
But the relationship takes a darker turn when Kaer discovers Anees is connected to the tragedy that destroyed his family.
Caught between his feelings, betrayal and a desire for revenge, Kaer is forced to confront the secrets surrounding his family and the consequences of his choices.
Directed by filmmaker Feroz Kader and produced by Global Film Station Sdn Bhd, the 12-episode series is currently airing on Viu, with its fourth episode now available.
The rapid rise of Cela comes as another Malaysian Viu production, Cinta Dalam Sekam, continues to draw audiences.
Starring Siti Khadijah Halim and Amir Ahnaf, Cinta Dalam Sekam has recorded 101.5 million views across social media platforms and is currently ranked No. 2 on Viu.
With Cela now taking the top spot, Malaysian dramas are occupying both the No. 1 and No. 2 positions on the platform — a strong showing for locally produced stories in an increasingly competitive streaming landscape.
For Cela, however, its early momentum is only the beginning, with the remaining episodes set to unravel more of the secrets behind Kaer’s family tragedy.