Cast: Anjali, Ananya Nagalla, Chaitanya Sagiraju, Ravindra Vijay, Shanmukh, Mahaboob Basha, Sri Tej, Baby Chaitra, Sammeta Gandhi, and others.
Directed by: Mukesh Prajapati
Cinematography: Prasanna S. Kumar
Music by: Siddharth Sadashivuni
Editing: Raviteja Girijala
Producer: Prashant Malishetti
OTT Platform: ZEE5
Release Date: July 19, 2024
Renowned actress Anjali stars as a prostitute in the series ‘Bahishkarana,’ a rural revenge action drama directed by Mukesh Prajapati. The series also features significant roles by Ravindra Vijay, Ananya Nagalla, Sri Tej, Shanmukh, Mahaboob Basha, and Chaitanya Sagiraju. Promotional materials have already heightened expectations for this series, which premiered on ZEE5 on July 19, consisting of six episodes. Let’s delve into the review to see how this web series fares.
Plot
Set in the 1990s in Peddapalli, a village in Guntur district, the story centers around Shivayya (Ravindra Vijay), the authoritarian village president whose influence manipulates the lives of the villagers, especially women. Among them is Pushpa (Anjali), who lives under his control as his concubine. Darshi (Sri Tej), an employee of Shivayya, falls in love with Pushpa and they plan to marry. However, Shivayya, feigning agreement, strategically sabotages their plans and instead marries Darshi to his niece, Lakshmi (Ananya Nagalla). Amidst this chaos, Darshi finds himself wrongly embroiled in a legal case. The unfolding drama explores who framed Darshi, his confrontation with Shivayya, the repercussions he faces, and how Pushpa, with the aid of Lakshmi, seeks revenge against Shivayya. The series delves into these compelling dynamics.
Performances
Anjali is captivating in the role of a prostitute. With her dialogues and mannerisms, she mesmerized the audience. She beautifully portrays the variations of a woman forced into a life she dislikes and struggling for her lover’s affection. Anjali also shines in action sequences, particularly impressing in the climax. Sri Tej as Darshi delivers a compelling performance, embodying a young man from the lower strata who cannot tolerate injustice. Ananya Nagalla as Lakshmi offers a natural performance, while Ravindra Vijay as the villainous Shivayya delivers a solid performance, appearing powerful through his dialogues and looks. The rest of the cast adequately fulfill their roles.
Direction
Director Mukesh Prajapati crafts this series as a period revenge action drama. He brings to life the struggle of a prostitute fighting against the injustices done to her lover. The series vividly portrays how caste discriminations dominated rural areas in the past, showing how the upper classes oppressed the lower castes and particularly women. The series touches on delicate issues like caste and untouchability, giving importance to drama and emotions. However, despite a promising concept, the presentation feels routine and the series progresses flatly without significant twists. While the backdrop of prostitution offers a fresh element, the rest of the storyline recalls plots from older films. Some disturbing scenes aside, ‘Bahishkarana’ consistently entertains.
Technically
On the technical front, cinematographer Prasanna S. Kumar does an excellent job. His camera work effectively transports the audience back to the 1990s. Siddharth Sadashivuni’s background score is a significant plus, elevating the action sequences to a higher level. The production values are also notably high.
Plus Points
– Anjali’s performance
– Periodic revenge drama
– Background music
Minus Points
– Lack of twists
– Some boring scenes
