Naresh Agastya and Nivetha Pethuraj in ‘Paruvu’ | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
paruvu (Samman), the Telugu web series written by Siddharth Naidu which he co-directs with Rajasekhar Vadlapati, is a deep dive into the socio-economic-political fault lines that determine interpersonal relationships. The first season of the series, which streams on Zee5, is packed with characters played by actors Nagababu, Naresh Agastya, Nivetha Pethuraj, Pranitha Patnaik and many others who represent people from different strata of society. When things go wrong one night and an incident of crime becomes a controversial issue, nothing remains the same. Words paruvu It not only hints at honour killings but also attempts to explore what honour means to different people at different stages of their lives. Directed by show director Pavan Sadineni and produced by Gold Box Entertainment, the eight-episode season attempts to capture the ethos of the Guntur-Vijayawada region of Andhra Pradesh and the result is a must-watch series.
Paruvu (Telugu)
Director: Siddharth Naidu and Rajashekar Vadlapati
Cast: Nagababu, Naresh Agasthya, Nivetha Pethuraj, Pranitha Patnaik
Story: When a young couple returns to their roots after a death in the family, they face hostility arising out of caste and class divides. Things get worse when they get embroiled in a crime.
Streaming on: Zee5
The first episode sets the tone for the narrative and the tension defines the behaviour of the lead characters. Dolly aka Pallavi (Nivetha Pethuraj) wants to pay her last respects to her uncle and is leaving for Vijayawada with her husband Sudheer (Naresh Agastya), whom she has married against her family’s wishes. To drop the couple home comes her cousin Chandu aka Chandrasekhar (Sunil Komisetty), who has not forgiven her for ‘dishonouring’ the family. His cruel words and his boiling anger speak volumes about what happened in the past and indicate that things will not be okay at home. The fact that she is pregnant also does not make Chandu soften his stance. This episode exemplifies how the makers build tension through conversations interspersed with uncomfortable silences
The narrative takes a non-linear approach as it goes back and forth to piece together what happened a month ago, a fortnight ago, leading up to this eventful night and the day after the crime. As Siddharth’s writing explores parallel tracks, editor Viplav Nishadam holds them together so that we remain interested in the multiple sub-plots and characters as the story progresses.
Ramayya (Nagababu), a politician who is desperate to win the upcoming elections, Swathi (Pranitha Patnaik) who owns a computer store and provides training sessions to the local police, the mute Krisha (Siddha) who helps Swathi, police Chakravarthy (Rajkumar Kasireddy) and Babji (Moin), Dolly’s sharp-tongued cousin Radha (Bindu Chandramouli) and many others are part of the drama. Often, we see how parallel characters in different social strata react to situations and their plight in the face of adversity. For instance, when a young couple runs away one night, we get a foreboding of what might happen next, in contrast to Pallavi and Sudhir. Then there are police Chakravarthy (Rajkumar Kasireddy) and Babji (Moin) on opposite sides of the social divide.
A crime and a desperate attempt to hide it and escape is a template for a thriller. However, there is enough room for social satire. The scenes that take place at the entrance of the house a few hours before the funeral serve as a meeting place for the relatives, where they talk to each other to settle old scores. Is anyone really mourning the departed soul?
None of these characters can be classified as black or white; most of them are opportunists who can do anything to save their lives. One character is sad about the hardships he has been through and does not want to give up a good life, but can he escape crime? Another woman who dreams of a happy married life gets involved in kidnapping in her fight for survival. Watching the story unfold, it is difficult to take sides. But the series proves to be entertaining, increasing the curiosity to know what is going to happen next. The seriousness of the series also points towards this mirzapur And Hadeswithout relying too heavily on swear words.
In parts, the tension is built up through body language and dialogue alone. Look at the scene between Pallavi and Swathi and later between Swathi and Sudhir. Seemingly normal conversations provide clues and tighten the noose around the neck of the culprits. For a change, none of the women are easily lost. Even those who appear in two or three scenes make their presence felt. The same applies to several male characters played in small roles – a security guard at a guest house, Krishna’s neighbour. colonyOr a tea seller who has a rapport with a police constable. Everyone helps move the story forward.
paruvu This is one of the few best Telugu web series that succeeds on multiple fronts. While the writing and direction serve as the backbone of the narrative, a lot of the momentum comes from the actors. Pranitha Patnaik plays every part of her complex character well and carries it with a lot of courage on her shoulders. ‘Aavesham akkava criticism thakkuva’ (More aggression and less thought), someone comments on his attitude. This line reflects the attitude of some others as well. Nagababu, Nivetha, Naresh Agasthya, Sunil Komisetty, Moin, Rajkumar Kasireddy, Siddh and Bindu Chandramouli and many others leave their mark. The production design, cinematography and music are in sync with what the story requires.
One who seemed out of place – though it is too early to judge – and who could have a bigger role in the second season is the character of Bindu Madhavi. The second season will have to keep up the momentum and present a story that becomes a worthy follow-up to the first season.
