Tag: SonyLIV

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Mayasabha (Rise of the Titans): A gripping socio-political drama

Aadi Pinishetty and Chaitanya Rao in roles inspired from Chandrababu Naidu and late YS Rajasekhara Reddy

Prasthanam director Deva Katta does a good job in engrossing the viewers, he successfully recreates the socio-political fabric with authenticity. The web series doesn’t shy away from wearing its politics on sleeves. The dialogues carry a lot of punch specifically those related to caste disparities

Starcast: Aadi Pinishetty, Chaitanya Rao, Divya Dutt, Sai Kumar, Srikanth Iyengar and others

Genre: Political drama

Creator: Deva Katta

Screenplay and direction: Deva Katta and Kiran Jay Kumar

Producers: Vijay Krishna Lingamaneni and Sree Harsha

Production Companies: Hitmen&Proodos, Productions LLP

Cinematography: Suresh Ragutu and Gnana Shekar V. S

Music: Shaktikanth Karthick

No of episodes: 9

Streaming site: SonyLIV

Pulling off a political drama and that too on real life personalities isn’t an easy task given how easily people can get offended. However, Deva Katta does an excellent job in not just capturing the political atmosphere but he along with Kiran Jay Kumar also pack in some strong social commentary. The web series doesn’t shy away from dwelling into thorny topics like caste, the longer format of a web show also helps Mayasabha given the journey of the primary characters. Mayasabha begins with the usual disclaimer: any resemblance to real people is purely coincidental, however it doesn’t take long for the viewers to understand from whom the primary and also the secondary characters have been inspired.

In simple terms the plot of Mayasabha focuses on Karakala Krishnam Naidu (Aadi Pinisetty) and Dr MS Rami Reddy (Chaitanya Rao). How the paths of these two intertwine from former friends to political rivals forms the basic premise of Mayasabha.

A strong aspect of Mayasabha is undoubtedly the dynamics between the two principal characters. The journey of the two leads are intermingled with both of them starting off as idealists. They want to transcend the social divisions and create a new kind of society however its easier said than done. The inequalities in social systems coupled with faction violence prove to be a major deterrent.

Their differing responses to societal pressures have been written and enacted with nuance. Mention must also be made of how Deva Katta and Kiran Jay Kumar have depicted the ideological disagreements between the two. It never borders on being venomous offering a fresh take on political rivalaries.

The two directors also deserve huge credit for bringing the voice of marginalized. People often caught in a major crossfire to power hungry politicians. Ravindra Vijay as the man wanting to shield his family from violence does an excellent job in representing this.

The emergency period through the characters of Divya Dutta and others also comes out in an impactful manner. Divya Dutta has a commanding presence perfectly embodying the attitude of the role. There is an important line by an official regarding the emergency, it goes like this. “You will give birth to a line of dictators who will use your methods, impose emergency and not even call it one”. This sentence offers a scathing critique of how the present dictators have taken inspiration from this.

Sai Kumar has a late entry playing a role moddled on the legendary NT Rama Rao. The veteran actor as expected shines with his voice modulation and strong presence. Srikant Iyengar too as the power hungry and insecure politician also does a fine job delivering an entertaining performance.

Ultimately Mayasabha belongs to its two leads. Aadi Pinishetty and Chaitanya Rao get into the skin of their respective roles passing with flying colors. The talented Aadi Pinishetty finally gets a part to showcase his acting range, and he doesn’t disappoint. He does a first-rate job in portraying the different facets whether it’s the stammering part or the later stages he doesn’t miss a beat. Chaitanya Rao also provides good support in convincingly portraying the ideological shifts.

The cinematography of Suresh Ragutu and Gnana Shekhar V. S is extremely commendable. They successfully bring alive the period of 1970’s and 1990’s transporting the viewers back to those times. The musical score of Shaktikanth Karthick is also of a good order, the tunes uplift the scenes without proving to be a distraction.

Coming to the flaws the romantic portions and the college days needed better writing and also a tighter edit.

Final word: Keeping aside the minor flaws Mayasabha is a must watch for political buffs.

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The Hunt: The Rajiv Gandhi Assassination Case: A gripping manhunt

Amit Sial, Sahil Vaid and co

The best thing about this Nagesh Kukunoor directed web series is the multiple perspectives. This includes both the special investigative team and also the perpetrators behind the assassination of late Rajiv Gandhi. The quote of “One man’s terrorist is another man’s freedom fighter,” has been explored well

Starcast: Amit Sial, Sahil Vaid, Bhagavati Perumal, Girish Sharma, Shafeeq Mustafa and others

Genre: Crime thriller

Director: Nagesh Kukunoor

Story: Rohit G. Banawilkar, Nagesh Kukunoor and Sriram Rajan

Based on: Ninety Days: The True story of the Hunt For Rajeev Gandhi Assassins

Producers: Nagesh Kukunoor and Sameer Nair

Production Companies: Applause Entertainment and Kukunoor movies

Cinematography: Sangram Giri

No of episodes: 7

Streaming site: SonyLIV

2025 has been a fantastic year for Applause Entertainment with consecutive hit web shows starting from Black Warrant and Criminal Justice Season 4, now their latest web show The Hunt: The Rajiv Gandhi Assassination Case has opened to rave reviews. The Hunt truly deserves all the praise that has come its way. The broad storyline of this Nagesh Kukunoor directorial has shades of Shoojit Sircar’s Madras Cafe also based on the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi, however the tone and also the timeline varies significantly. Madras Cafe was about the events leading up to the assassination of Rajeev Gandhi due to India’s intervention in SriLankan’s Civil War. This web series though focuses on the manhunt following the assassination. Apart from being an investigative thriller Nagesh Kukunoor and his writers have also dwelt into the political tensions.

Madras Cafe directed by Shoojit Sircar

A major strength of The Hunt web series is the depiction of numerous challenges faced by the CBI team. How the squad gradually assembles all the pieces to track down the LTTE operatives in a terrain where the LTTE has widespread sympathy has been wonderfully written and enacted. The constant game of wits between the two sides plays out in a gripping fashion keeping the viewers thoroughly engrossed about the outcome.

Nagesh Kukunoor also deserves praise for the balance of intense moments with the personal side. There is a portion of the feared Sivarasan and the aid Suba (Gouri Padamkumar) enjoying a Rajinikanth movie like any normal couple. Similarly, there is a scene of Subha painting her nail while guarding the hideout with a rifle. These moments are lovely to watch. On the other hand, you have two investigators exchanging their views on the food in North versus South, this is just before meeting an informant. This juxtaposition of the professional investigation and some carefree moments makes the show very enjoyable.

Through the track of LTTE supporters Nagesh Kukunoor along with his writer’s dwell into how the armed rebels are considered heroes by the local population. This is where the theme of one person’s hero being another person’s terrorist comes. The viewers also see the officers doing certain things that don’t align with their personal beliefs. The web series at no point takes sides leaving the viewers to make their own judgments.

Mention must also be made of Sangram Giri’s cinematography. He does a very fine job in capturing the atmospherics of 1990’s Tamil Naidu. There is in a lived-in feel. Specific mention must be made of his work in the tension filled last moments.

The mixture of characters conversing in Hindi and Tamil also doesn’t get jarring due to the fluent pronunciation. Sahil Vaid in a breakthrough act nails his Tamil dialogues, breaking out of hero’s best friend mold Sahil gives a very good account of himself. Amit Sial as DR Kartikeyan too brings in the both the required gravitas and authority as per the requirement. Bhagavati Perumal is also good however the two actors who stand out the most in the supporting roles are Shafeeq Mustafa and Gouri Padmakumar. They play their roles to absolute perfection capturing the various nuances.

Sahil Vaid in a breakthrough act

Shafeeq Mustafa and Gouri Padamkumar

While gripping for most part The Hunt could have benefitted with more contextual set up about IPKF (Indian Peace Keeping Force). Also, Rajiv Gandhi’s involvement for those not aware needed a little more detailing. The last episodes also somewhat drag making you wish Nagesh Kukunoor had wrapped things more crisply.

Final word: The Hunt: The Rajeev Gandhi Assassination Case is a binge worthy watch for fans of layered thrillers featuring psychological warfare

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Waking of a Nation: A slow burn but an engaging watch particularly for history buffs

The web series suffers somewhat from the constant back and forth and also the theatrical nature of the courtroom proceedings still the series is worth watching. Apart from exploring the events leading up to the Jallianwala Bagh massacre the series also gives an underlying message on the importance of unity
  • Starcast: Taaruk Raina, Sahil Mehta, Nikita Dutt, Carl Wharton and others
  • Director and creator: Ram Madhvani
  • Writers: Shantanu Srivastava and Shatrujeeth Nath
  • Genre: Historical Drama
  • No of episodes: 6
  • Streaming site: Sonyliv
  • Cinematography: Kavya Sharma
  • Music: Sameer Uddin
  • Producers: Ram Madhvani and Amita Madhvani

The Jallianwala Bagh massacre is easily one of the most gut wrenching chapters in Indian history. The blood bath which took place on the peaceful protesters that day can never be forgotten. The Jallianwala Bagh episode has already been explored with gut wrenching affect by director Shoojit Sarcar in the moving biopic of Sardar Udham Singh portrayed masterfully by Vicky Kaushal. The 2006 movie Rang De Basanti also featured a crucial subplot related to the Jallianwala Bagh massacre. Ram Madhvani’s latest directorial is more about the events which trigged the massive bloodbath through the character of Kantilal Sahani (Taaruk Raina).

Director Ram Madhvani on the set of the web series Waking of a Nation

Kantilal Sahani is a member of the Hunter commission . Kantilal Sahani is a young lawyer newly returned from London. He is a beneficiary of western education. This makes him an outsider amongst the friends group something which he is always reminded about. This character of Kantilal Sahani is supposedly inspired from Sri Chamanlal Harilal Setalvad. A man known for cross examining General Dyer. Through the turbulent journey of Kantilal Sahani the web series explores the ideological struggles of the times between various aspects like reform and revolution etc. The close knit friends of Kantilal Sahani include Ali Allahbaksh (Sahil Mehta) and Poonam Aulakh (Nikita Dutta) among others. The friends represent different perspectives of the Indian freedom movement embodying the diversity of India both religious and ideological.

An image from Waking Of a Nation

A strong aspect of the web series is how Ram Madhvani along with his writers dwell into the political environment leading up to the bloody massacre. Ram Madhvani and the writers are particularly successful in shedding light on the controversial Rowlett act. This Rowlett act gave Britishers complete freedom to imprison individuals without any trial.

A major portion of the web series is about the aftermath specifically the hunter commission inquiry meant to investigate the massacre. The courtroom drama though bordering on theatrics offers a fresh lens.

A very interesting aspect of the web series is also how Ram Madhavani depicts the massacre. He avoids the explicit route instead the reliance is more on sound design and the panic stricken reactions of the people present there along with the not visible carnage makes for a haunting experience.

He allows the viewers to interpret and fill in the gaps using their own imagination. This method leaves a much more impact than the use of graphic method.

The friendship angle and the creeping ideological differences between Kantilal Sahani and his friends has also come out well. The journey of Kantilal Sahani both internally and externally has been well written and brilliantly performed by Taaruk Raina. There is a very poignant moment where Kantilal Sahani imagines his group of friends whom he has lost along the way. The audiences see Kantilal pouring out his anguish on how he has been left behind with so many families looking at him as a beacon of hope. In the same portion there is a key revelation acting as a layer of guilt. This acts as a major trigger point for the case Kantilal is fighting. Previously the viewers see that Kantilal has major ambitions of going to London. While he is fighting the case an unofficial offer is made to him but Kantilal refuses.

These events show the growth of Kantilal. There is another equally poignant bit where he reads out the names of the people who have lost lives in the massacre. The pain in the eyes of Kantilal perfectly reflects emotions which others in the room are also undergoing.

The web series also subtly touches upon the aspect of racial discrimination followed not just by the British but Indians too along with the tendency of discrimination on the basis of religion and caste. The underlying message of how we need to be united irrespective of which religion and caste we come holds a lot of relevance to today’s political environment.

Waking Of a Nation is very non linear in style with multiple timelines. This for a section of people can prove to be a major hindrance. Also the web series can feel sluggish for some given the deliberate slow pace.

The cinematography of Kavya Sharma is also of a very high order. He brings the colonial times to life with his fantastic cinematography. His camerawork deserves a special mention too in the recreation of 1919 Amritsar along with the massacre. The soundtrack of Sameer Uddin is haunting as well perfectly capturing the emotional turmoil.

Apart from Taaruk Raina Sahil Mehta also deserves major appreciation for his striking performance in the role of Allahbaksh. Allahbaksh is often assertive with his ideology and acts as a major foundation for the change in Kantilal.

The British characters thankfully don’t speak in broken Hindi. Among the foreign actors Carl Wharton is top notch as the head of human rights commission. Alexander West as General Dyer is also successful in making the viewers hate him. Paul Mcewan as Michael O’ Dyyer is understated yet highly effective as a man who is extremely calculative.

Alexander West as General Dyer

Final Word: Waking of a Nation is a searing take, a must watch for fans of detailed history lessons.

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Maharani Season 3: A Gripping Tale Of Politics And Revenge

Just like the previous two seasons, the web show shines the brightest when it focuses on the politics of Bihar.
  • Main Cast: Huma Qureshi, Sohum Shah, Amit Sial, and Dibyendu Bhattacharya
  • Director: Saurabh Bhave
  • Producer: Naren Kumar and Dimple Kharbanda
  • Music Director: Rohit Sharma
  • Cinematography: Anup Singh
  • Genre: Political Drama
  • Episodes: 8
  • Rating: 3.5/5
  • Published in: Southfirst

For those who haven’t seen the first two seasons, Maharani—created and written by Subhash Kapoor, is loosely inspired by the incidents in the 1990s Bihar.

It was when seasoned politician Lalu Prasad Yadav declared and made his homemaker-wife Rabri Devi his successor.

Season 1

The first season of Maharani was set from 1995 to 1999 and had characters inspired by Naxal and left-wing militants.

Rani Bharati (Huma Quereshi) is the wife of Bihar CM Bheema Bharti (Sohum Shah). In unforeseen circumstances, Bheema Bharti gets severely wounded and appoints his wife Rani as a technical CM until he recovers.

Rani Bharti is a simple woman who is happy with her domestic life. But now, she has to deal with government files, corruption and the caste massacres happening within the state.

In addition, she is not a literate woman.

Initially, Rani Bharti feels like a fish out of the water and wants to return to her simple life. But, eventually, she becomes a firm administrator and wins admirers.

As she grows more confident the inevitable clashes with her husband happen. Season 1 ended with Bheema Bharti going to jail on charges of corruption.

Season 2

In Season 2, Bheema runs a proxy government from jail. Bharti is facing opposition from her husband and the rival politician Naveen Kumar (Amit Sial).

Naveen and Bheema used to be friends. But now, they are big-time foes.

The issues dealt with this backdrop were the demand for a separate Jharkhand state along with the chilling death of Shilpi Jain and Gautam Singh that sent shock waves for both Rani and the state of Bihar.

In this scenario, some of Rani’s decisions don’t go well with her party members. Season 2 ended with Rani Bharti going to jail for a crime she did not commit, and the death of her husband Bheema.

Season 3

Now, you have Season 3, after a gap of one and a half years.

Maharani Season 3 begins with the life of Rani Bharti in prison. She utilises her time in jail to complete her education, which she left midway because of her father.

Rani Bharti also makes moves to strike back against her opponents. In simple terms, Season 3 focuses on how Rani Bharti proves her innocence and comes out of the complex web orchestrated by the cunning Navin Kumar.

The series plays out like an intense game of chess after a point.

Analysis

Huma Qureshi in ‘Maharani Season 3’. (X)

A strong point of Maharani Season 3 is the socio-political commentary.

Director Saurabh Bhave touches upon the illegal sale of liquor despite an alcohol ban in the state. He presents an authentic picture of how this illegal sale leads to the flourishing of illicit crimes.

Apart from the illegal sale of liquor the show also dwells on unauthorized dealings and the brutal electoral tactics.

Saurabh Bhave has also done a good job of showcasing the effect of power struggles and how nasty the political landscape can be. The cutthroat world of politics keeps the viewers thoroughly engaged even when the proceedings become predictable and slightly tedious.

The clinical way Rani Bharati goes about her revenge and completes her education has been well presented.

On the flipside, some twists suffer from weak writing and the middle portions could have done with more thrills.

Huma Quereshi steals the show

Huma Quereshi successfully takes off from where she left off in the first two seasons. She nails the accent and portrays the inner strength of a woman who has come a long way from being called a misfit.

Amit Sial continues to be wickedly charming showcasing the shrewd demeanour of Naveen Kumar perfectly.

The other supporting characters played by Vineet Kumar and Dibyendu Bhattacharya are also in fine form.

Rohit Sharma’s music and Mangesh Dhadke’s background score add another layer to the show.

The song “Kaun Bola Ban Hai” particularly deserves a mention for its satirical tone about the supposed alcohol ban.

Verdict

Maharani Season 3 is a must-watch for those who like political thrillers.

It is streaming on Sony Liv.

https://thesouthfirst.com/entertainment/maharani-season-3-web-series-review-a-gripping-tale-of-politics-and-revenge/

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Cubicles Season 3: An Engaging Slice-Of-Life Drama That Perfectly Captures The Drudgery Of Corporate Life

A breezy watch! 3.5

Cubicles Season 3 (Hindi)

  • Cast: Abhishek Chauhan, Naveen Shetty, Badri Chavan, and Niketan Sharma
  • Director: Divyanshu Malhotra
  • Producers: Shreyansh Pandey, Vijay Koshy, and Chaitanya Kumbhakonum
  • Music: Arabinda Neog
  • OTT platform: Sonyliv
  • No of episodes: 5

From the outside, the life of a corporate employee appears to be very envious with the high salary and the glossy office. However, these jobs come with a lot of stress.

There are inevitable office politics and situations where your equations with colleagues are severely affected.

One way to narrate a story like this is to glamorise things; the other way is to present a show that villainises everyone and everything.

Cubicles web series falls under the third category, where you have a balanced and realistic outlook.

Synopsis

Cubicles Season 3 is based on office politics of a corporate job
‘Cubicles Season 3’ is based on the office politics of a corporate job. (X)

For those who have not seen the first two seasons, the plot primarily revolves around the life of Piyush Prajapati (Abhishek Chauhan). The first two seasons were about his journey in Synnotech Innovations.

The first two seasons portray the highs and lows of his professional career and how he navigates the different aspects of life — related to both work and personal friendships.

The web show struck a chord with the audience, particularly the IT employees.

Naturally, there are certain expectations from Cubicles Season 3 and director Divyanshu Malhotra does meet those expectations.

In Cubicles Season 3, Piyush Prajapati is promoted as a team leader. He now has the task of leading a team comprising his close friends. These include Suniana (Ayushi Gupta), Gautam (Badri Chavan), and Naveen Shetty (Niketan Sharma).

In simple terms, Cubicles Season 3 showcases the struggles of Piyush in nurturing personal connections and meeting the demands of his elevated position.

Characterisation

A big plus for Cubicles Season 3 is how the director maintains the entertainment quotient while, at the same time, giving a deep insight into the power struggles and politics that inevitably come with these high-profile jobs.

In the five episodes, Divyanshu Malhotra touches upon some important themes, including work-life balance, career aspirations and the importance of human connection in this fast-paced and competitive world.

These themes never come across as heavy-handed, thanks to the focused direction.

The director also deserves credit for how he has designed the characters of his colleagues. They have their own stories that run parallel to Piyush.

For example, Niketan Sharma’s Naveen Shetty has embraced parenthood in Cubicles Season 3, and often, the viewers see him doing a juggling act that leaves him frustrated.

Additionally, he is also not very happy with the salary. As a result, there are scenes of him taking a half-day leave in search of a job in another organisation.

Performances

The chemistry between the four friends is wonderful and will remind many working professionals of their colleagues.

Badri Chavan’s Gautam is mostly used for comic effect. He reminds you of those colleagues who crack jokes to uplift the team’s spirits. The humour does not always land, but still, he is fun to watch.

Abhishek Chauhan, as the team leader, plays his part to perfection. There is a certain relatability in the way the character has been designed.

There is a visible frustration in the scenes where Piyush makes sure his friends take him seriously and the actor does not miss a single beat.

Niketan Sharma does a brilliant job of portraying the different shades of his character.

The one actor who sticks out like a sore thumb is Nidhi Bhist. She played an important part in the first two seasons. But here, she is severely underutilised.

There is no major scope for cinematography here. But still, the office design along with the cubicles is good to watch.

The web series has also been well-edited with a crisp running time.

Final take

Cubicles Season 3 is a breezy watch that should be on your watch list irrespective of whether or not you have been a part of a corporate job.