A scene from the episode Zero (Zero), part of the Kannada web series ‘Ekam’ | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Sandeep P.S. and Sumant Bhat are storytellers with conviction and clarity. EkamIn the seven-episode web series co-produced by Rakshith Shetty’s Paramvaah Studios, the duo leaves you in no doubt about what to expect when you dive into their debut work.
In the animated Munnudi (Preface) In the series, the show’s creators reinforce their commitment to stories; stories you may have heard, ones you may have never imagined, ones lived and inherited. So different, yet so similar. So many emotions and situations, all contained in the same human experience.
It is this universality of experience that drives the series, with the Karavali or coastal Karnataka region providing a rich backdrop of diverse communities and languages amid which the myriad characters are set.
Ekam Season 1 (Kannada)
Producer: Sandeep P.S. and Sumant Bhat
Episodes: 7
Duration: Around 35 minutes for each episode
Cast: Prakash Raj, Raj B Shetty, Prakash Thumminad, Manasa Sudhir, Shine Shetty, Basuma Kodagu
Narrative: Seven distinct stories set in the culturally vibrant coastal Karnataka region celebrate a world where all the stories reflect the unique human experience; from teenage romance to anguish, from a writer’s dilemma to a hunter’s helplessness, from the dangers of following tradition to the dreams of living a simple life
The series begins as a simple, almost straightforward romantic comedy and grows in complexity, culminating in a spiritual exploration of what it means to be a writer.
In loses Directed by Shankar Gangadharan and Vivek Vinod (Flight), it features a love-union between Manjula and Thomas, who have to grapple with religious differences and patriarchy before their love blossoms.
Zero Shot in Tulu, (Void) traces the journey of Guruva (a fine Basuma Kodagu) from being a skilled hunter to a human scarecrow. His transformation from a wanted tribal hunter with exceptional skills – who can spot wild boars from a distance using his keen senses – to a mad, old man, armed with a powerful rifle and running through the forest in desperation, makes for a terrifying scene.
Whereas Dombarata (Masquerade) is buoyed by actor Raj B. Shetty’s humble performance as Dhanraja, a naïve man who returns to his hometown from Dubai with the hope of setting up a dairy farm. Misconception (illusion) concerns a young girl’s accidental discovery that she may be adopted.
A scene from the episode precept (Parampara), Part of Kannada web series ‘Ekam’ | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
In Svattu (Legacy), an aging movie star’s revelation of his sexual exploits in his autobiography rocks the life of a fan-boy and his maid. The short opens with the young fan singing a song with her favorite actor. “I’m like your shadow, I’ll follow you to the end of the world,” it says aloud, setting the stage for the episode’s creepy conclusion.
“What is a funeral like without the dead person?” asks precept (Tradition), starring Prakash Raj and Ujjawal UV in the lead, “Can there be a worse omen than death?” It seems there might be, if a living person – who is presumed dead by chance – has to walk to the funeral pyre himself, and he chooses tradition and family prestige over the will to live.
What happens to the untold story? Does it die quietly or does it lie in wait, rotting inside you, until it becomes one with your memories and identity? Asmite (Identity), a Malayalam short film, sees an aging writer grapple with these questions with an unexpected visitor.
Episodes 2 to 5 are directed by Sumant Bhatt, and seem more real and relatable, while the last two episodes, which address deeper existential questions, are directed by Sanal Aman and Swaroop Elamon.
A scene from the episode Asmite (Identified), Part of Kannada web series ‘Ekam’ | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Ekam An attempt has been made to bring seven different stories to life by experimenting with style and language. Without being tied down to any one theme, the show places the lush, idyllic Karavali region centre-stage as a constant character, relying on its moods, customs, dialects and soundscapes to support the writing. Much of the show’s pace mimics the languid way of life in coastal Karnataka, and this doesn’t always help the narration.
in keeping with the tradition of Bhuta-worship in the field (of worship of the soul), Divine Providence Divine spirits like Panjurli, Koragajja and Guliga are woven into the script. Yet, like most compilations, some episodes are weaker than others Ekam,
The series released on July 13 and can be watched on the TVOD (transactional video-on-demand) platform ekamtheseries.com. The show along with several bonus content can be rented for ₹149.
