A scene from ‘Marigallu’. , Photo Credit: ZEE5/Youtube
All India success of Kantara The franchise has started a trend in the Indian film industry. Rajinikanth’s release in 2022 Dad After the success of the film directed by Rishabh Shetty, it was re-released. At that time, the fantasy genre was beginning to flourish Brahmastra And Kartikeya Making money at the box office.
This Marathi film was a blockbuster this year dashavatar Shows that the belief systems and folk traditions of the indigenous people living in the mysterious forests are gradually becoming the flavor of the industry. ZEE5 Kannada Web Series Marigallu Adopts a similar theme but suffers from severe hangovers Kantara.
Marigallu (Kannada)
Director: Devraj Pujari
Mould: Gopalkrishna Deshpande, Rangayan Raghu, Praveen Tej, Prashant Siddi
Episode: 7
Order: 15-20 minutes
Story: Vardha, a bedara vesha artiste, is trying to arrange money for her sister’s wedding. His life changes when he comes across a Kadamba-era inscription that may hold the key to a treasure.
In a village in Sirsi, a group of locals led by landlord Ashok Sharma (Gopalkrishna Deshpande), Mari Gowda (Rangayana Raghu) and Varada (Praveen Tej) of the archeology department are in search of a lost treasure, which is believed to be buried near the village’s Mari temple.
The film promises a mix of historical facts (about the Kadamba dynasty) and traditional rural lifestyle. Marigallu Ideally it should have taken its audience to a new world. But the seven-episode mini-series is a dull thriller apart from the final twist. After SK Rao’s atmospheric cinematography establishes the setting well, the series directed by Devaraj Pujari turns into a patience-testing ride that is not about the search for treasure, but about the treasure that is found and lost (no major spoilers!).
A scene from the series. , Photo Credit: ZEE5/Youtube
None of the characters have a mind of their own as they suffer from poor writing. It is true that money and greed can expose the dark side of a human being. However, the series takes this idea beyond distrust, as the characters suspect each other without even attempting to think rationally.
Marigallu It would have worked if it had gray shaded characters. Instead, it chooses to add distasteful humor, which bogs down the script. For example, while Rangayana Raghu is seen in his typically exaggerated comic role, it was a great opportunity to see him as an interesting archaeologist.
Also Read: Ajneesh Loknath Interview: An in-depth look at the music of Rishabh Shetty’s ‘Kantara: Chapter 1’
Marigallu This is the third Kannada original web series after ZEE5 Ayyana meansAnd research, except research, The other two web series have failed to be attractive. They give the impression of watching an enhanced version of a television serial, with the producers downplaying the pace and increasing the intensity of the plot.
These are early days in the Kannada web series sector. The sooner the creators understand that one twist is not enough to maintain audience interest levels, the better. The events leading up to the big reveal should be worth the audience’s time, motivating them to come back to the show more than once.
published – November 06, 2025 01:54 PM IST