Category: Telugu Webseries Reviews

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Brinda: A gripping police procedural which examines the side effects of extremism both religious and otherwise

Writer and director Surya Manoj Vangala does an effective job in exploring multiple societal aspects

  • Starcast: Trisha, Ravindra Vijay, Aamani, Indrajith Sukumaran, Anand Sami and others
  • Writer and director: Surya Manoj Vangala
  • Screenplay: Jay Krishna and Padmavathi Malladi
  • Producer: Kolla Ashish
  • Production Company: Adding Advertising LLP
  • Cinematography: Dinesh K Babu
  • Music: Shakti Kanth Karthik
  • No of episodes: 8
  • Streaming site: Sony LIV

Tense investigative dramas are always a treat to watch provided audiences are on tenterhooks. Trisha’s OTT debut not only ticks the required boxes of a suspense thriller/drama, but it also ventures into topics that are tricky in nature. Thankfully Suraj Manoj Vangala along with the screenplay writers do a good job.

Brinda begins with a prologue that is hugely disturbing. A young girl in mid-1990’s becomes a scapegoat in satisfying a goddess, the goddess is said to be very angry with the villagers. This girl wails loudly seeking for help but they fall on deaf ears. No one in the village including the mother and brother question this ritual murder. Brinda web series is peppered with numerous scenes showcasing how even in contemporary society these acts continue in the name of god.

The main plot of Brinda focuses on a newly appointed sub inspector. Trisha’s character is mostly confined to desk related work, she is a victim of casual sexism. Fellow cop Sarathi (Ravindra Vijay) is the only one who treats her with some respect. Later on, they form an unlikely bond that develops into a strong friendship. Brinda is a brooding police officer suffering from anxiety issues, constantly taking pills. Things take a turn when Brinda goes against her superiors when they try to close a murder case as suicide. She starts digging deeper with some help from Sarathi. Soon multiple murders start taking place. The rest of the story is about who is behind these murders while blending the personal and professional lives of Brinda and Sarathi.

Trisha as a newly appointed sub inspector
Ravindra Vijay as Sarathi

A strong aspect of Brinda is its world building. Although Trisha is the central pivot most of the other characters too have been written with lot of care. A very good example of this is the roles played by Anandasami and Ravindra Vijay. Sarathi is someone who is desperately waiting for a better turn in both his professional and personal life. In spite of a brewing inner turmoil Sarathi never loses his humanness. A scene deserving particular mention is Ravindra Vijay’s breakdown, this happens when Sarathi’s personal life takes a crucial turn. The writing coupled with the actor’s performance is simply terrific. Anand Sami as Thakur also chews the scenery with a spine-chilling act. His back story is very touching and in spite of him being an evil person the viewers feel sympathy. In the title role Trisha successfully sheds her glamorous image delivering a nuanced performance. She is successful in portraying both the vulnerabilities and resilience of Brinda.

Indrajith Sukumaran also excels in portraying the charming and calculative nature Dr. Satya/prof. Kabir Anand. The track of sibling’s rivalry though sticks out like a sore thumb. The teenage rebellion of Brinda’s sister Chutki feels like more of an unnecessary add on. Also, the process of an important character stealing someone else’s identity is not so convincing. However, these are just minor blips.

Indrajith Sukumaran excels in portraying the charming and calculative nature

As mentioned previously Brinda is a web series that tackles multiple societal aspects. For example, there is the track of gender discrimination. How Brinda is looked upon in a condescending manner is touched upon in a subtle yet impactful way. The series also highlights the importance of child care in juvenile prisons.

The power of religion in shaping lives and the dangers of blind faith is also an integral aspect of Brinda. These are just some of the numerous themes that the series examines. Surya Manoj Vangala along with the screenplay writers deserve distinction marks for the treatment.

There isn’t much scope for music in a story like Brinda, but Shakthi Kanth Karthick delivers a powerful opening song.

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Paruvu: An engrossing social thriller encompassing different elements

Siddarth Naidu and Rajasekhar Vadlapati do a wonderful job in merging the various tracks keeping the viewers thoroughly intrigued

  • Starcast: Naresh Agastya, Nivetha Pethuraj, Naga Babu, Praneetha Patnaik and others
  • Directors: Siddarth Naidu and Rajasekhar Vadlapati
  • Writer: Siddarth Naidu
  • Music: Shravan Bhardwaj
  • Cinematography: Vidya Sagar Chinta
  • Producers: L.S Vishnu Prasad and Sushmita Konidela
  • Production Company: Gold Box Entertainment
  • Streaming site: Zee5
  • No of episodes: 8

The topic of honor killing is something that has seen many onscreen depictions. But it never gets old, the hierarchy between upper and lower caste will always remain in some form or other however much the society evolves. The core of Paruvu is honor killing but what makes the show gripping is the intermingling of caste, greed and communal harmony in a thriller format. The world of Paruvu takes a little while getting used to but soon enough the audiences become engrossed.

The world of Paruvu takes a little while getting used to but soon enough the audiences become engrossed

Paruvu begins off with Dolly aka Pallavi (Nivetha Thomas) and her husband Sudheer (Naresh Agastya). Dolly had married Sudheer against her family wishes, they still haven’t forgiven her. Dolly and Sudheer are headed to Guntur to pay last respects for the dead uncle. Driving them home is Dolly’s cousin Chandrasekhar aka Chandu (Sunil Komisetty). There is an exchange of heated words. Dolly is pregnant but that in no way softens Chandu. As the journey progresses Dolly becomes extremely suspicious and firmly believes that Chandu has come to bump them off. Things take a huge turn with an unexpected death; further complications arise upon reaching Guntur. Naga Babu plays Ramayya; he represents the caste-based politics. This is the story in brief

Naga babu as Ramayya; He represents the caste-based politics

A major plus of Paruvu are the strongly written characters. All of them come with shades of grey. For example, there is a scene where a major character laments about coming up the hard way but at the same time, he is responsible for another man’s death. In her fight for survival a woman resorts to kidnapping. On certain occasions both Sudheer and Pallavi come across as opportunists who would do anything to save their skin.

What also makes Paruvu engrossing is the funeral background. Key characters are introduced, there is an underlying tension keeping the viewers hooked. The scenes at the funeral also work as a social satire. For example, relatives insult each other in the process of settling old scores. The viewers have the impression of nobody caring for the departed soul.

Among the supporting characters Naga Babu and Praneetha Patnaik deserve a special mention. Naga Babu’s Ramayya wants to become a major politician and uses others as pawns. Praneetha Patnaik’s Swathi on the other hand is the fiancé of a dead man. Swathi is desperate to find where her fiancé has disappeared. She does her own investigation irking Ramayya with her stubbornness. These two subplots give the show some of its best moments.

The role of caste-based politics and how they impact the intertiors of Andhra has also been showcased in a gripping manner. The political set up and the various mechanisams involved have an earthy feel.

Shravan Bardhwaj’s background music is impactful enhancing the drama. Chinta Vidya Sagar’s cinematography is also of a good standard particularly in the scenes which have tension.

Paruvu also benefits from its super talented cast headed by Nivetha Thomas and Naresh Agastya. Nivetha Pethuraj as the pregnant woman is simply splendid. She does a wonderful job in portraying the various moods of Dolly. Naresh Agastya delivers a performance which is subtle yet very impactful. Naga Babu as MLA Ramayya surprises big time with his wonderful performance. He portrays the negative shades with finesse never resorting to over-the-top theatrics. Praneetha Patnaik nails the desperation of Swathi delivering an intense act.

Paruvu is a binge worthy web show for fans of multi layered storytelling. The first-rate performances are an icing on the cake.

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Bahishkarana: A gripping rural drama which successfully transports the viewers back to the period of feudalistic landlords

Director Mukesh Prajapathi takes a leaf out of Sukumar’s Rangasthalam and also other village based social dramas however he does show his individual stamp

  • Starcast: Anjali, Ravindra Vijay, Sritej, Ananya Nagalla etc
  • Direction and screenplay: Mukesh Prajapathi
  • Dialogues: Shaymu Chennu
  • Music: Siddharth Sadasivuni
  • Cinematography: Prasanna Kumar
  • Production Company: Pixel Pictures Pvt LTD
  • No of episodes: 6
  • OTT platform: Zee 5

Mukesh Prajapathi takes the viewers back to the times of caste discrimination and landlords exploiting young girls of lower social strata. The strange thing is that these upper-class men do not want them in their houses but have no qualms about enjoying them in bed. The story of Bahishkarana isn’t particularly new. The village president Shivaya (Ravindra Vijay) is revered by the villagers of Peddapalli and also the surrounding ones. Darshi (Sritej) is Shivaya’s right-hand man; he reveres Shivaya like the rest. However not surprisingly Shivaya is not what he appears to be, there is an unknown dark side.

To this the director has added the angle of a mysterious woman who pops up in Peddapalli. Pushpa (Anjali) is the personal mistress of Shivaya and is kept far away from the village. Darshi is given the responsibility of looking after Pushpa instead he ends up falling in love with her and she too reciprocates his feelings. But Shivaya obviously isn’t pleased with this development and gets Darshi married to someone else in a cunning manner. As the plot thickens the story takes many turns and deals with different threads. For example, how the villagers come to know about the reality of Shivaya among others.

Darshi and Pushpa falling in love

An aspect which captures the viewer’s attention while watching the show is the period set up. The production design and the cinematography deserve a particular mention. Prasanna Kumar needs to be praised for how he has captured the rustic terrain of Peddapalli through his lens. His cinematography adds immensely in creating the right atmosphere.

Siddarth Sadasivuni’s songs perfectly gel with the nature of the story. My favorite song of the album is Kalaa Nijam, a melodious tune that establishes Darshi and Pushpa falling for each other. He has also delivered an impactful background score particularly in the scenes of tension.

The love story between Darshi and Pushpa has also been well developed. The process of them falling in love is filled with some adorable moments. As viewers you wish they had a happy ending.

Darshi as Shivaya’s right-hand man

Dialogues by Shayam are another asset. His dialogues are power packed with some impactful social commentary on the exploitation of the poor. There are also some powerful scenes showcasing how the society looks at the likes of Pushpa.

What hampers the series somewhat though is the hangover of some village based social dramas particularly those that have featured the legendary actor Rao Gopal Rao. Apart from this the show could have also done with more attention-grabbing twists. The plot mostly runs on a single thread, and this does get monotonous at places.

The performances of the three principal actors elevate the drawbacks in a significant way. Anjali shines bright with her bold performance. Her portrayal of Shivaya’s concubine and also Darshi’s lover deserves distinction marks. Ravindra Vijay also does a splendid job in portraying a quiet menace. Shivaya is someone who portrays himself as a do- gooder from outside but he is actually a womanizer. The actor brings out the subtle variations in a wonderful manner. Sritej also gets into the skin of Darshi. The rugged look coupled with his performance in the emotional scenes deserves distinction marks. Ananya Nagalla is pretty good in her limited screen time.

Anjali shines with her bold performance

Bahishkarana is a must watch for those who like gritty dramas with village background.

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Yakshini: A not so satisfying blend of fantasy, thrills, and romance

The performances of Vedhika and Ajay save the series from being a complete washout
  • Starcast: Vedhika, Ajay, Rahul Vijay, Manchu Lakshmi and others
  • Director: Teja Marni
  • Producers: Shobu Yarlagadda and Prasad Devineni
  • Production house: Arka Media Works
  • Music director: Priyadarshan Balasubramaniam
  • Cinematography: Jagadeesh Cheekati
  • No of episodes: 6
  • Streaming site: Disney+Hotstar

On paper Yakshini directed by Teja Marni has an interesting storyline which could have made for a good concoction of fantasy, thrills and romance but the not so impressive direction coupled with some lackluster CGI make it a tedious watch for most part.

Maya (Vedhika) is a Yakshini/Nymph who has been cursed by Kubera the king of Yakshinis in the mythical land of Alkapuri. Maya falls in love with Mahakal (Ajay). Mahakal deceives her by pretending to be in deep love with her for a particular purpose. Soon the reality of Mahakal comes out leaving Maya heartbroken. Maya is denied re entry into Alkapuri by Kubera. Upon pleading Kubera puts a condition saying that Maya can come back to Alkapuri after killing 100 bramhacharis. She kills 99 but things get complicated as she falls in genuine love with an innocent bachelor Krishna (Rahul Vijay). There is also another Nymph called Jwala Mukhi (Manchu Lakshmi). Jwalamukhi has her own personal agenda against Maya while pretending to be a friend. The rest of the story moves along multiple lines. Mahakal’s enmity with Maya and how he desperately wants to make her his slave, whether Krishna come to know about Maya’s plan and is Maya is able to return to Alkapuri etc

One of the very few redeeming features of Yakshini are the performances of Vedhika and Ajay. As the beautiful and dangerous Maya Vedhika delivers a compelling performance. She is suitably sensuous when required but also makes a big impact in the portions where the character takes a ferocious turn. In the few emotional bits, she effectively conveys the vulnerability of the role. Ajay as the antagonist is effective in bringing the required menace making the viewers hate him. The dynamics between Mahakal and Maya are far more interesting than the tepid love story between Maya and Krishna.

A major problem with the web series Yakshini is the poor handling of the love story. The romance feels mostly labored, adding to the annoyance further is the family of Krishna. This track makes the show look more like a tv serial and less of a web series. Lakshmi Manchu’s Jwala Mukhi begins with promise but beyond a point it doesn’t add much.

The back story of Maya and the Yakshini clan is also severely underdeveloped. More time needed to be spent on that. The VFX and the cinematography isn’t bad but compared to the Baahubali movies the quality is definitely a big letdown. The less said about the music the better.

Yakshini is a very much avoidable even for those who are hardcore fans of fantasy shows.

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Save The Tigers 2: Deeply Explores Marital Problems With The Right Mix Of Humour And Drama

In spite of some hitches, this Arun Kothapally’s directorial is a good follow-up to Season 1 (‘Save The Tigers’).
  • Main Cast: Priyadarshi, Abhinav Gomatam, Chaitanya Krishna, Jordar Sujatha, Pavani Gangi Reddy, Deviyani Sharma, Gangavva, Seerat Kapoor, Darshana Banik, Venu Yaldandi, Satya Krishnan, Rohini, and Aarthi Ganeshkar
  • Director: Arun Kothapally
  • Producer: Mahi V Raghav and Chinna Vasudeva Reddy
  • Music Director: Ajay Arasada
  • Cinematography: SV Vishweshwar
  • Genre: Comedy Drama
  • Rating: 3.5/5
  • Episodes: 7
  • Published in: Southfirst

Director Teja Kakumanu’s web series Save The Tigers (2023) was a hilarious show about three frustrated married men — Ghanta Ravi (Priyadarshi), Rahul (Abhinav Gomatam), and Vikram (Krishna Chaitanya).

There is nothing common among them in terms of backgrounds. But still, there is a connecting factor that binds them.

In spite of the obvious similarities with Anil Ravipudi’s F2 (2019), the first season was very much its own beast. The director was successful in creating conflicts that have substance.

For example, Vikram’s wife is an activist-cum-lawyer. Their daughter is the emotional anchor just like many other children.

The first season also subtly touched upon important topics like workplace harassment. Not surprisingly, Save The Tigers become a huge success. It was easily one of the most loved shows of last year.

Save The Tigers 2

A still from the Telugu web series ‘Save The Tigers 2’. (X)

Now, we have Save The Tigers 2 with a new director Arun Kothapally. Coming to Season 2, Arun Kothapally adds new flavours by going deeper into marital problems but at the same time maintaining the entertainment quotient.

Season 1 ended up with Ghanta Ravi, Rahul, and Vikram being detained by the police on the suspicion of having a hand in the disappearance of actress Hamsalekha (Seerat Kapoor).

The trio indeed meet Hamsalekha, though unintentionally, on the particular drunken night. But the fact is they had nothing to do with her disappearance.

Fortunately, for the trio, Hamsalekha comes to their aid and the three are released from jail. Hamsalekha also ends up forming a bond with them, particularly Ghanta Ravi. This doesn’t go well with Ghanta Ravi’s wife Hymavathi (Jordar Sujatha).

The wives are fed up with the antics of their respective husbands and seek help from a psychiatrist (Sathya Krishnan). The rest of the story is about the three men navigating marriage while facing new problems.

Additionally, you also have individual journeys. For example, Ghanta Ravi has ambitions of becoming a corporator.

On the other hand, Rahul is penning a script for Hamsalekha.

An underlying theme of Season 2 is how people easily believe the gossip spread by news channels, particularly news about actresses and come to a negative judgment about them. This comes out strongly in the track of Priyadarshi and Seerat Kapoor.

There is gossip about Ghanta Ravi and Hamsalekha having an affair even though there is not an ounce of reality in it.

Analysis

Pavani Gangi Reddy, Jordar Sujatha, and Deviyani Sharma in ‘Save The Tigers 2’. (Screengrab)

The web series makes some strong points on how people are easily influenced by rumours and come to a conclusion without having the patience to verify.

Among the marital problems explored, there are the themes of “seven-year itch” and “seeking the easy way out”. For instance, Vikram is working on a new project with Harika (Darshna Banik).

It starts as a purely professional one but they end up getting attracted to each other. Fortunately, better sense prevails as Vikram realises the need to understand his wife better.

Director Arun Kothpally also takes some jibes at the advertisement industry on how they sell lies beautifully.

Talking about the comic sequences, the portions of Abhinav Gomatam and the house help played by Rohini are a major highlight. Their scenes bring the house down much like the first season.

A special mention must be made of the conversation where Rohini’s character talks about her business aspirations with Rahul. She asks him about what captions can be written on an autorickshaw, it is simply hilarious.

There are a couple of things which bog down Save The Tigers 2. One of them is an episode involving how the system of marriage came about. There is nothing wrong with the humour per se in these portions but the brief subplot comes across as an unwanted guest breaking the flow.

Also, the portions involving the allowance of pets in an apartment feel patchy.

Performances

Chaitanya Krishna, Priyadarshi, and Abhinav Gomatam in ‘Save The Tigers 2’. (X)

Talking about the performances,  Priyadarshi  leads from the front once again. His character has an arc that showcases both his comic and dramatic skills.

The emotional sequences of Ghanta Ravi with the daughter have come out brilliantly. There is a heart-touching scene when the daughter opens up about how she was earlier ashamed about her father being a dairy farm owner, but now that has changed.

Abhinav Gomatam continues to leave the viewers in splits with his comic timing. His delivery of the liners in particular deserves a special mention.

Krishna Chaitanya provides able support although he doesn’t have as much scope as the other two.

Among the female leads, Jordar Sujatha leaves the biggest impact with her strong act. There are occasions when she may come across as too loud for some but still her no-holds-barred manner is a delight to watch.

Additionally, she also shares a good chemistry with Priyadarshi. Her emotional scenes with Priyadarshi give the show some of its best moments.

Deviyani Sharma’s role is softer in comparison to the first season. But still, the actress has done a fairly decent job.

Pavani Gangi Reddy as the doctor-wife does her part well.

Final take

Keeping aside the small niggles, Save The Tigers 2 is very much bingeworthy.

https://thesouthfirst.com/entertainment/telugu/save-the-tigers-2-telugu-web-series-review/

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Miss Perfect Web Series Review: A Farfetched Plot But A Breezy Watch

The show is about how love happens between Lavanya and Rohit and the multiple subplots taking place simultaneously.
Miss Perfect (Telugu)

Main Cast: Lavanya Tripathi, Abijeet Duddala, Abhignya Vuthaluru, Jhansi, Harsha Vardhan, Mahesh Vitta, and Harsh Roshan
Director: Vishvak Khanderao
Producer: Supriya Yarlagadda
Music Director: Prashant R Vihari
Cinematography: Aditya Javvadi
Rating: 2.5/5
Published in: SOUTH FIRST

Certain people are obsessed with perfection. They cannot even bear a slight bit of messiness. Not just common people but even big stars have admitted to having OCD (Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder). Director Vishvak Kandero takes this topic in Miss Perfect and mixes elements of the then COVID-19 pandemic.

Lavanya Rao (Lavanya Tripathi) is a HR consultant. She has an obsessive-compulsive disorder for cleanliness and perfection. Lavanya comes to Hyderabad as she has joined a new job. At that time, lockdown is announced, and Lavanya is stuck in her apartment like others. Her maid Jyothi (Abhignya Vuthaluru) stops coming to work.

Rohit (Abijeet Duddala) is Lavanya’s neighbour. He lives in the apartment block opposite her. He is as messy as she is clean. Jyothi also works as a maid for Rohit. She requests Lavanya to inform him that she won’t be coming to work for a while.

Lavanya visits Rohit to inform the same but is shocked at the messiness in his flat. She ends up cleaning his house. In a rather weird turn of events, Lavanya ends up being a maid for Rohit.

Adding to the already chaotic situation, Lavanya’s father Gokul (Harshvardhan) is in a relationship with the apartment president Rajalakshmi (Jhansi). Lavanya has no idea about it. In simple terms, the story is about how love happens between Lavanya and Rohit and the multiple subplots simultaneously.

Analysis

As mentioned in the heading, Miss Perfect has a farfetched plot which takes some time to digest. Lavanya acting as a maid for Rohit is not only over the top but does not make any logical sense either.

Agree that Lavanya has a passion for cleanliness, but a highly qualified management professional becoming a maid for her neighbour just does not sit well.

Apart from the unbelievable nature of the story, another problem with Miss Perfect is that Lavanya’s OCD is merely used as a plot device for the leads to meet. It does not add much significance to the overall scheme of things.

But once you get past the bizarre nature of the plot, there is a quite bit to enjoy — the love story between Lavanya and Rohit has some cute moments. However, the biggest USP of Miss Perfect is the character of Jyothi and the subplot of her wanting to be a singer. There are many shades to her role, and the actress does a good job.

Performances

Abhignya Vuthaluru also shines in the comic bits. Her portions with Harsh Rohan, an aspiring YouTube influencer, leave the viewers in splits. Harshvardhan and Jhansi also have interesting roles, and the actors share a good chemistry. Their interactions bring a smile to the viewer’s face.

Gokul’s dilemma in revealing the relationship to his daughter is well-etched. Lavanya Tripathi as Lavanya does well in pulling off the eccentricities of her role. She skillfully portrays the internal struggle of her character. The actor somehow manages to make the viewers care in spite of the farfetched narrative. Abijeet Duddula is charming as Rohit.

Final take

Miss Perfect is a perfect watch if you are looking for clean entertainment. It is not a web series that would linger in your memory for a long time. But there is enough for fans of light-hearted shows.

(Views expressed here are personal.)

https://thesouthfirst.com/entertainment/miss-perfect-web-series-review-a-farfetched-plot-but-a-breezy-watch/

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Vadhuvu: This Thriller Has Its Moments But Director Poluru Krishna Fails In Sustaining The Audience’s Interest Throughout

One of the things that work for ‘Vadhuvu’ is the short duration of its episodes. Each episode is a little above 20 minutes.

A watchable fare!

Vadhuvu (Telugu)

  • Cast: Avika Gor, Nandu Vijay Krishna, and Ali Reza
  • Director: Poluri Krishna
  • Producers: Abhishek Dogra and Shrikant Mohta
  • Music: Sriram Maddury
  • No. of episodes: 7
  • OTT platform: Disney+ Hotstar

Thrillers are one of the most tough genres to execute for any director.

Engaging the audience in the guessing game and making them feel a sense of high throughout is not an easy job.

Vadhuvu, directed by Poluru Krishna, has an interesting storyline and mysterious characters who come with a set of motivations. However, the director is not entirely successful in keeping the audience hooked.

For those who are not aware, Vadhuvu is based on a Bengali show titled “Indu“. Since I have not seen that, this will be a standalone review.

Synopsis

Poluru Krishna directorial Vadhuvu
Poluru Krishna’s directorial ‘Vadhuvu’. (X)

Anjuri Indu’s (Avika Gor) wedding gets cancelled when her younger sister runs away with her groom.

This affects Indu and her family psychologically. After a year, Indu finally gets another match. She is married to Anand (Nandu), but even this doesn’t happen smoothly.

After entering Anand’s house, Indu comes across some mysterious scenarios.

What are the reasons behind Anand’s family behaving suspiciously? Why did Indu’s sister run away with the groom that Indu was supposed to marry?

The rest of the plot is about unravelling answers to these questions.

Analysis

One of the things that work for Vadhuvu is the short duration of its episodes. Each episode is a little over 20 minutes. As a result, the viewers don’t feel restlessness even when things stagnate.

As mentioned above, the characters in Vadhuvu are mysterious, and this works for the series, at least initially. As viewers, you know something weird is happening, and this keeps you hooked on what might be the reasons behind it.

In the technical department, the background score deserves a definite mention. It is suitably eerie and adds to the tense atmosphere.

There isn’t much scope for the cameraman to showcase his work here since the series has an indoor setting. Nevertheless, the cinematography is quite good.

Performances

Avika Gor in Vadhuvu
Avika Gor in ‘Vadhuvu’. (X)

As far as acting is concerned, the trio of Avika Gor, Ali Reza, and Nandu do most of the heavy lifting. Avika Gor does a good job of depicting the turmoil of Indu.

Ali Reza gets a good amount of screen time as Indu’s brother-in-law Arya. He successfully showcases the grey shades of his role.

Nandu, as Iindu’s husband, is a delight to watch in the way he skillfully conveys the frustration and suspicious nature of Anand.

The rest of the actors leave little to no impact.

A major issue with Vadhuvu is certain repetitiveness in the proceedings and the slow pacing. There are some redundant scenes which the director could have easily done away with.

Also, the web show leaves you with more questions than answers. There are too many cliffhangers that come across as a major deterrent in the way of the audience’s enjoyment.

Final take

Vadhuvu is a web series that is just about watchable.

The mysterious characters and the performances of the central trio leave an impact. It is not a solid thriller though.

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Dhootha: This Riveting Paranormal Saga Makes Compelling Points About Politics And Journalism

‘Dhootha’ focuses on how Sagar (Naga Chaitanya) is related to the invisible forces and races against time to connect the dots.

An intriguing web show!

Dhootha (Telugu)

  • Cast: Naga Chaitanya, Priya Bhavani Shankar, and Parvathy Thiruthovu
  • Director: Vikram K Kumar
  • Producer: Sharrath Marar
  • Music: Ishaan Chhabra
  • No. of episodes: 8
  • OTT platform: Amazon Prime Video

Filmmaker Vikram K Kumar is not new to the genre of paranormal thrillers.

For example, the director made a horror film in Tamil titled Yavarum Nalam (2009). The same was dubbed into Telugu as 13 B.

13 B was a gritty thriller where a TV set becomes a character in the story.

After making a series of romantic and science fiction movies, the filmmaker is back with a paranormal thriller and this time, the focus is on journalism and politics.

Synopsis

Naga Chaitanya Vikram K Kumar
Actor Naga Chaitanya and director Vikram K Kumar on the sets of ‘Dhootha’. (X)

Sagar (Naga Chaitanya) and Priya (Priya Bhavani Shankar) are successful investigative journalists. They both are in a happy space, professionally and personally.

Priya is on maternity leave. But thankfully, director Vikram K Kumar doesn’t regulate her to just a one-note character.

Sagar is promoted as the chief editor of a newspaper called “Samachar“.

But the happiness doesn’t last long. A tragic accident claims the life of Sagar’s pet dog. Right before the tragedy, Sagar comes across a newspaper clipping which foretells what would happen.

The incident marks the beginning of many ominous messages foretelling future events and an external force targeting corrupt journalists.

Parvathy Thiruvothu plays an investigating officer named Kranti Shenoy.

In a nutshell, Dhootha focuses on how Sagar is related to these invisible forces and how he races against time to connect the dots.

Analysis

Naga Chaitanya in a still from Dhootha
Naga Chaitanya in a still from ‘Dhootha’. (X)

Vikram Kumar engrosses the viewers from the first frame. He does a brilliant job of balancing the suspense and supernatural elements.

A major strength of the Dhootha web series is how the director designs the character of Sagar.

Initially, the viewers see Sagar as an ideal husband and a righteous media person. He is an inspiration to many aspiring journalists.

But soon enough, layers upon layers come out. Sagar is a departure from the on-screen characters that Naga Chaitanya has portrayed thus far, and the actor more than rises to the occasion.

He does a splendid job, particularly when Sagar has mental and emotional breakdowns.

Backstory shines

Working still from Dhootha
A working still from ‘Dhootha’. (X)

The backstory of the newspaper involving Pasupathy and Tharun Bhascker also gives the web show some of its best moments.

There is a lot of impactful socio-political commentary.

For example, there are hard-hitting dialogues about how intersecting politics and journalism are dangerous for society. The web series also predicts that nothing good will come out of politicians running newspapers.

Apart from Pasupathy and Tharun Bhascker, Dhootha has many small characters. For example, Prachi Desai is Sagar’s PA, and Rohini is the mother. These characters have been neatly integrated into the main storyline by Vikram K Kumar.

For any thriller, it is necessary that the dots are connected, and the director has done a great job of connecting all the pieces of the jigsaw puzzle.

Like the television set in 13 B, the newspaper cuttings play a pivotal role in the web series. As soon as a newspaper cutting appears, the viewers feel tense about what will happen next.

Performances

Parvathy Thiruvothu doesn’t need an introduction. She has always been a solid actor. Here too, she makes a huge impact as the no-nonsense police officer.

Priya Bhavani Shankar Sagar, as spouse, is in good form. Her character comes with its grey shades.

Technically, the Dhootha web series is a solid product with top-notch cinematography and special effects.

However, one slight problem is the middle part where the parallel investigation of Kranthi feels a bit bloated.

Also, the closing episode could have been more impactful. However, these are just minor quibbles in an otherwise gripping show.

Verdict

In a nutshell, the Dhootha web series is a gripping paranormal saga that makes some pertinent points about politics and journalism.

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Mansion 24: An Unimaginative Horror Flick With Clichéd Jump Scares

Mansion 24 (Telugu)

  • Cast: Varalakshmi Sarathkumar, Satya Raj, Rao Ramesh, Tulasi, Nandu, and Avika Gor
  • Director: Ohmkar
  • Producer: Ashwin Babu and Kalyan Chakravarthy
  • Music: Vikas Badisha
  • No. of episodes: 6
  • OTT platform: Disney+ Hotstar

After carving a niche for himself in television, Ohmkar made his directorial debut with the film Genius (2012) which didn’t live up to the title and ended up being a dud.

But the filmmaker found success with Raju Gari Gadhi released in 2015. It was a mix of comedy, horror, and family emotions culminating with a message.

The movie was a success at the box office and this led to two more films made with the same title.

However, the subsequent films Raju Gari Gadhi 2 (2017) and Raju Gari Gadhi 3 (2019) weren’t financially successful.

Now, the director has made his web series debut with Mansion 24 where the story is heavily reminiscent of his previous work. The only difference in Mansion 24 is that you don’t have any comedy track to ease the tension-filled atmosphere.

Synopsis

Kalidas (Satya Raj) is one of the most revered archaeologists in this country. In the middle of a particular excavation, he disappears without any trace. Not surprisingly, he is labelled as a traitor.

Amrutha (Varalakshmi Sarathkumar) is an investigative journalist and daughter of Kalidas. She takes it upon herself to trace his whereabouts and clear her father’s name.

In this quest, she heads to a mansion that is both abandoned and haunted.

Seetharam (Rao Ramesh), the supposed watchman, tells Amrutha about the various paranormal activities that have happened in the mansion.

In a nutshell, the story is about the various challenges that Amrutha faces in her journey to find out about the alleged betrayal of her father.

Mini-stories fall flat

To give credit where it is due, director Ohmkar is initially successful in creating a strong emotional foundation, the viewers do want Amrutha to succeed.

Also, through the mini-stories, Ohmkar touches upon some societal issues by talking about the ghosts within us.

However, the problem with these mini-stories is the lazy writing. Most of the characters have been poorly etched. As a result, the viewers don’t enjoy these mini-stories as much as they should.

The only segment which has some meat is the one involving Nandu and Bindu Madhavi. Nandu plays a ruthless conman with the right amount of scariness.

The viewers feel afraid of Nandu whenever he appears on the screen.

Bindu Madhavi brings an emotional gravitas to her part of a woman, who has a personal score to settle with Nandu’s character.

Another big problem with Mansion 24 is the characterisations of Satya Raj and Tulasi. Tulasi plays the mother of Amrutha. Neither of them has been fleshed out sufficiently.

Adding to the woes is a melodramatic scene where the mother suddenly recovers from a severe health issue.

Varalaxmi Sarathkumar is effective in portraying the different nuances of Amrutha. The actress manages to rise above the sketchy writing, the viewers wish that she had chosen a much better story.

Characters hear strange sounds, there is a man with a long beard who mouths Sanskrit slokas, and all the ghosts wear white clothes among others. The bankruptcy of ideas is clearly visible.

The cinematography and the production design are in tune with the show’s nature, but there is no element that particularly stands out. The tried and tested horror elements are all there.

Final take

To sum it up, it is high time that Ohmkar let go of the horror genre and did something different.

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Kumari Srimathi Season 1: A Heartwarming Tale About A Female Entrepreneur

Director Gomtesh Upadhye presents an enjoyable story with relatable characters

Kumari Srimathi web series season 1 (Telugu)          

Starcast: Nitya Menon, Gautami, Talluri Rameshwari, Prem Sagar Rajulapati and others guest appearance (Nani )

Direction: Gomtesh Upadhye

Writers: Uday Aghamarshan, Jayanth Tadinada and others

Creator and screenplay: Srinivas Avasarala

Producers: Priyanka Dutt and Swapna Dutt

Production Company: Early Monsoon Tales

Genre: Drama/comedy

No of episodes: 7

Streaming site: Amazon Prime

Contrary to the title of the web series Kumari Srimathi (Nitya Menon) is an unmarried 30 year old woman. The setting of this story is Ramarajulanka. Kumari Srimathi and her younger sister were brought up almost single handedly by their mother Devika (Gautami) and also grandmother Seshamma (Talluri Rameshwari). Keshava Rao (Prem Sagar Rajulapati) is the uncle of Srimathi. Srimathi is fighting a court case regarding an ancestral property that her uncle wants for himself.

In a turn of events the court gives Srimathi the option of buying her uncle’s share of property for 38 lakhs. But that is easier said than done. Srimathi who did hotel management course was working as a floor manager. At this point she decides to set up her own restaurant cum bar in her native village.  Devika is already vexed with her daughter’s adamant nature who refuses to get married and this decision only angers her further. The rest of the story is about the challenges that Srimathi faces in her endeavor of becoming a businesswoman and also whether she is able to win the court case.

Stories of family feud is a beaten to death genre but still Gomtesh Upadhye manages to bring a freshness. The newness comes from how he depicts the journey of Srimathi in establishing her restaurant cum bar. He makes a subtle point about how the society differentiates between man and woman while doing the same business.

The director talks about these things in a non preachy manner. Gomtesh Upadhye also deserves credit for his portrayal of Gautami’s character. She is not particularly happy with her daughter’s decisions. Still she comes around and becomes a strong pillar of support at a crucial juncture.

Kumari Srimathi also boasts of some chuckle worthy sequences. One of these include Gautami day dreaming about the consequences of her daughter’s actions. Prem Sagar playing the semi villain has some hilarious punches as well. For example there are moments where he is confused between his twin sons Mani and Phani. What also brings the house down is his understanding of the word ‘nincompoop’.

There is also a love triangle where Thiruveer’s Abhinav and Nirupam’s Sriram compete for Srimathi’s affections. But this track feels out of place in an almost perfect tale.

Nitya Menon’s character is a huge fan of Nani. Nani has a special appearance at a most unexpected juncture. Nani’s presence is only for a few seconds but as viewers we feel a touch of nostalgia on seeing the Ala Modalaindi Jodi again.

Gautami

Cinematographer Mohan Krishna does a good job of capturing Ramarajulanka through his lens. Music directors Staccato & Kamran do a fine job with both songs and background score.

Nitya Menon effortlessly gets into the skin of her character. She portrays the courage and vulnerability of Srimathi in an arresting manner. Gautami and Rameshwari also provide solid support. The three of them together are such a delight to watch.

To sum it up Kumari Srimathi is a well made feministic tale that deserves your time.