Best of Tollywood web series 2024: A solid showcase for the evolving OTT space in Telugu

Web shows in Telugu have witnessed a slow yet steady growth both in terms of quality and quantity. The last few years have seen numerous impactful web series.

In 2023, there were two great shows Dhootha and Newsense. Both explored the topic of journalism through a different lens. Vikram Kumar’s Dhootha had a supernatural touch with a newspaper cutting playing a pivotal role. The Naga Chaitanya starrer made some important points on the dangers of intersecting politics and journalism, a relevant issue even today.

Newsense on the other hand directed by Sri Prawin Kumar was an insightful take on the nexus between media and rural politics. The story written by journalist Priyadarshini Ram reflected the lived realities.

2024 too gave us numerous web series, covering important social topics like Surya Manoj Vangala’s Brinda starring Trisha in a non-glamorous role. Using the genre of an investigative drama Surya Manoj Vangala explored the side effects of extremism both religious and otherwise.

Similarly, Paruvu directed by the duo of Siddarth Naidu and Rajesekhar Vadlapati was an engrossing social thriller focusing on different issues like caste, greed and communal harmony. The use of the funeral background also kept the viewers hooked adding to the tension.

Apart from thrillers, the second season of Save The Tigers went deeper into marital problems faced by today’s couples while maintaining the entertainment quotient.

This year also saw Telangana’s first detective web show Vikkatakavi: The Chronicles of Amarigiri led by an excellent Naresh Agastya.

Director Pradeep Maddali immersed the viewers into the world of Amaragiri. The director skilfully blended Telangana folk beliefs with the subplot of a bio-war

Following is the list of the best web shows in Telugu in 2024.

Brinda

Trisha in Brinda
Trisha in ‘Brinda’. (X)

Brinda opens with a disturbing prologue set in the mid-1990s, where a young girl becomes a scapegoat in a ritual to satisfy a goddess. This unsettling start sets the tone for the main plot. The story follows Brinda, a newly appointed sub-inspector, portrayed by Trisha.

Initially confined to desk work, Brinda suffers from anxiety and relies on medication. When a series of murders occur, she defies her superiors, leading to life-altering consequences.

A key strength of Brinda is how Surya Manoj Vangala expands the story beyond Brinda’s character. While Trisha is central, Ravindra Vijay, playing fellow cop Sarathi, also plays an essential role. Sarathi is waiting for a breakthrough in his career and personal life. The evolving dynamic between Brinda and Sarathi creates some of the show’s most compelling moments.

In addition to themes of extremism and blind faith, Brinda also addresses gender discrimination in the workplace and the importance of child care in juvenile prisons. Trisha breaks away from her glamorous image to deliver a nuanced performance. Alongside Ravindra Vijay, Indrajith Sukumaran also stood out as the charming yet calculating Dr Satya/Prof. Kabir Anand.

Save The Tigers Season 2

A poster of the series Save The Tigers Season 2
A poster of the series ‘Save The Tigers Season 2’. (X)

Save The Tigers Season 2 successfully took off from the immensely popular first one. New director Arun Kothapally did a great job maintaining the entertainment value while delving deeper into marital issues.

The theme of the seven-year itch stood out, through the character of Vikram, played by Krishna Chaitanya. Vikram works on a project with Harika (Darshana Banik). What starts as a professional relationship soon turns into mutual attraction. However, Vikram realizes that understanding his wife is more important, and a better sense prevails.

As in Season 1, the interactions between Abhinav Gomatam and the house help were a highlight. A memorable scene occurs when Rohini discusses her business aspirations, joking about what captions to write on an auto rickshaw, leading to some hilarious moments. The director also made some valid points about people who blindly believe gossip spread by news channels, particularly about actresses.

Priyadarshi, as Ghanta Ravi, continued to shine with his impactful performance, excelling in both comedic and emotional scenes. Among the female cast, Jordar Sujatha made the biggest impact.

Vikkatakavi The Chronicles of Amaragiri

Still from the series Vikkatakavi
Still from the series ‘Vikkatakavi’. (X)

Vikkatakavi, directed by Pradeep Maddalli, was a highly engaging detective thriller with a strong Telangana flavour. The story followed Naresh Agastya as Ramakrishna, also known as Vikkatakavi. Apart from being a brilliant student, Ramakrishna is renowned for his exceptional investigative skills. Due to certain circumstances, he embarks on a dangerous mission in the village of Amaragiri.

One of the standout aspects of Vikkatakavi was its world-building. Cinematographer Shoeb Siddiqui’s work was particularly impressive. The rustic village atmosphere, combined with thrilling night sequences, drew viewers in. The series also succeeded due to the constant tussle between superstitions and rationalism.

Naresh Agastya’s performance in the title role further elevated the plot. He brought the right mix of boyish charm and intensity to his character. Among the supporting cast, singer-turned-actor Raghu Kanche also impressed with his remarkable performance. His ability to convey negative traits through subtle expressions was a delight to watch.

Paruvu

A still from the series Paruvu
A still from the series ‘Paruvu’. (X)

Paruvu, directed by Siddarth Naidu and Rajasekhar Vadlapati, is a well-crafted thriller that tackles various social issues. While the core plot revolves around the theme of honour killing, what makes the show gripping is how the directors blend different aspects into the central narrative.

The story centres on Nivetha Pethuraj’s character, Dolly (aka Pallavi), and her husband Sudheer (Naresh Agastya). Dolly had married Sudheer against her family’s wishes and now returns to her native village, Guntur, to pay respects to her deceased uncle. Her cousin, Chandrasekhar (Chandu), picks them up. Dolly is heavily pregnant but this doesn’t soften Chandu. There is an exchange of heated words leading to a big turn of events.

A major strength of Paruvu is its well-written characters, beyond just the leads. Each character has shades of grey, with Sudheer and Pallavi occasionally appearing opportunistic.

The funeral setting adds to the drama, with the relatives insulting each other while settling old scores. At times, it seems like no one cares about the departed soul, enhancing the narrative.

Both Nivetha Pethuraj and Naresh Agastya delivered brilliant performances, fully embodying their characters. In the supporting cast, Naga Babu surprised with his portrayal of MLA Ramayya, bringing out the impact of caste-based politics in rural Andhra. Praneetha Patnaik also gave a noteworthy performance.

Bahishkarana

Anjali in Bahishkarana
Anjali in ‘Bahishkarana’. (X)

Bahishkarana, directed by Mukesh Prajapathi, is an intense rural drama that effectively transports viewers to the era of feudalistic landlords.

Anjali plays the mysterious Pushpa, who arrives in the village of Peddapalli. She then becomes involved with Shivaya (Ravindra Vijay), who assigns his right-hand man, Darshi (Sritej), to look after her. As the story unfolds, Darshi and Pushpa fall in love, with many twists and turns along the way.

A strong aspect of Bahishkarana is its period setting. Cinematographer Prasanna Kumar does an excellent job capturing the rustic landscape of Peddapalli. The love story between Darshi and Pushpa is well-developed, making the viewers hope for a happy ending.

The dialogues, written by Shayam, are perfectly in sync with the story. They offer impactful social commentary on the exploitation of the poor, while also addressing how society views women like Pushpa.

The performances of the three main characters were captivating. Anjali delivered a bold and compelling performance. Ravindra Vijay’s portrayal of Shivaya, with shades of legendary actor Rao Gopal Rao’s roles, was excellent. Shivaya appears to be a do-gooder but is, in fact, a womanizer, and Vijay brought this subtle menace to life. Sritej also impressed with his rugged portrayal of his character.

At times, the show felt reminiscent of Rangasthalam, but overall, it remained engaging.

(Edited by Sumavarsha)

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 Pethuraj) 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.

Kaala: An Overstuffed Thriller That Is Low On Both Drama And Thrills

The biggest problem with ‘Kaala’ is the many back and forths dealing with multiple characters that float in and out.

A black mark in Bejoy Nambiar’s filmography!
Kaala (Hindi)
  • Cast: Rohan Mehra, Taher Shabbir, Avinash Tiwary, and Nivetha Pethuraj
  • Director: Bejoy Nambiar
  • Producers: Bejoy Nambiar, Bhushan Kumar, and Krishan Kumar
  • Music: Gaurav Godkhindi
  • No. of episodes: 8
  • OTT platform: Disney+ Hotstar

The story of Kaala has certain elements inspired by the recent blockbusters Pathaan and Jawan, but the experience here is far from rousing.

Bejoy Nambiar’s Kaala moves along two parallel storylines.

On one hand, you have an IB officer named Ritwik Mukherjee (Avinash Tiwary). This is set in 2018. Ritwik Mukherjee is given the task of investigating a huge case of “reverse hawala” (a transaction where the money is transferred back to the original sender).

This reverse hawala is being run by Naman Arya (Taher Shabbir) in West Bengal. Naman Arya is a business tycoon who uses waste recycling as a front for the money laundering that he does.

As Ritwik gets deeper into the case, he finds a certain link that connects to his past.

Parallel storyline

Running parallel to this plot is the storyline set in 1988. This portion begins with a military truck being blown up on the Indo-Bangladesh border.

Subhendu Mukherjee (Rohan Vinod Mehra) is a solo survivor who somehow manages to escape by jumping into the water.

He is accused of cheating his own battalion by helping the rebel forces use the wartime tunnels as a route for smuggling.

As Kaala progresses, a complicated chain of events happens leading to Ritwik being labeled as a rogue and criminal, much like Subhendu Mukherjee.

But it goes without saying that they both have been falsely implicated. To nobody’s surprise, Subhendu turns out to be Ritwik’s father.

What follows is a familiar tale of a son avenging his father’s insult by gradually coming to know about his father’s courage.

Positives

One of the few positive aspects of Kaala is the portions involving Rohan Vinod Mehra. His scenes have an emotional resonance. As viewers, you feel for the plight of Subhendu Mukherjee.

Taher Shabbir also does well as a cool businessman.

Also, to the credit of Bejoy Nambiar, he doesn’t waste any time in setting up the world of money laundering.

Flaws 

The biggest problem with Kaala is the many back and forths dealing with multiple characters that float in and out. Bejoy Nambiar does a lot of globetrotting, much like the other SRK-starrer Pathaan (2023). But here, the globetrotting doesn’t have any value to the plot.

The series starts with the issue of money laundering in the name of reverse hawala. But soon, that is relegated to the background. It becomes more about Ritwik’s fight for his father, but not in a positive way.

There is also a subplot dealing with homosexuality — involving one of the villains (Jitin Gulati). It is not just poorly placed but has been written with zero nuances.

This is sad because you have had web shows that have portrayed homosexuality in a much more nuanced manner.

A case in point is this year’s Taali, a web show on the transgender activist Gauri Sawant.

There is no denying that Kaala has been stylishly mounted. But the slickness cannot compensate for the overall dullness.

Final take

To sum it up, Kaala is a big black mark in the filmography of Bejoy Nambiar who is capable of doing much better stuff as we have seen in Shaitan (2011) and Wazir (2016).

(Views expressed here are personal.)

Bloody Mary: An Engrossing Thriller With A Formidable Performance From Its Leading Lady

Narratives weaved around the characters of visually impaired isn’t something really new. For example you have had Nayanathara’s Netrikaraan. Director Chandoo Mondeti’s Bloody Mary is an intense thriller with a social cause integrated into it.

Mary (Nivetha Pethuraj) is a nurse in a hospital. She is also an orphan who lives in a small apartment along with her childhood friends Basha and Raju (Kriti Damaraju and Rajkumar Kasireddy). Basha aspires to become an actor although he cannot speak. One day a hospital doctor tries to misbehave with Mary, Mary accidentally kills him.

Parallel to this you have her friend Basha seeing a murder committed by the area circle inspector (Played by Ajay). The rest of the plot is about how Mary will handle the situation? Who is Mary? What is her actual Identity? Among others. Revealing anything more wouldn’t be appropriate given that it is a thriller.

Chandoo Mondeti doesn’t waste any time in setting up the plot. There are no unnecessary diversions here; as a result you are hooked to the narrative. He is also well aided by the technical team. Kala Bhairava’s background music is very much apt for the film’s genre. The photography by Karthik Ghattamaneni is also in perfect sync. The framing and the set up aid immensely in building up the perfect atmospherics.

The runtime is another huge plus for Bloody Mary. It is very much slick.

A major reason why Bloody Mary works is because of the way the title character has been developed. We initially see her as this subdued person but more and more layers are revealed as we go along. The director is successful in making you root for her.

Nivitha Pethuraj gives an arresting performance as a lady with big dreams in life. Her screen presence along with the performance brings depth to the key episodes. She also gets some nice masala moments which are usually reserved for heroes.

The scenes between Nivetha and Ajay are also good to watch. The cat and the mouse between Mary and the cop keeps you engaged. Ajay gets a good amount of screen time and he does his aggressive cop act perfectly.

 The bond that Mary shares with Basha and Raju is also well presented.

Bloody Mary does suffer a bit from impossibility issues. Some of the twists will put you off but these are minor grouses as the film is mostly satisfying.