Cast: Naresh Agastya, Megha Akash, Shiju Menon, Tarak Ponnappa, Raghu Kunche, Amit Tiwari, Mukhtar Khan, and others
Director: Pradeep Maddali
Music Director: Ajay Arasada
Cinematography: Shoaib Siddiqui
Editor: Sai Babu Talari
Producer: Rajani Talluri
OTT Platform: Zee5
Naresh Agastya, who has become familiar to the Telugu audience through films like ‘Matthu Vadalara‘, ‘Senapathi‘, and ‘Panchatantram‘, now stars in the latest series ‘Vikkatakavi‘ streaming on the OTT platform. Directed by Pradeep Maddali, Megha Akash plays the female lead in this series. Shiju Abdul Rasheed, Raghu Kunche, Amit Tiwari, Mukhtar Khan, and Tarak Ponnappa play key roles in this series that has recently debuted on Zee5. Let’s find out how this series is and whether it captivated the OTT audience in this review.
The Story
The series is set in the 1970s. Ramakrishna (Naresh Agastya) is a renowned detective known for solving complex cases with his intelligence, often assisting the police with pending cases. Meanwhile, people who visit the Hill of Deities in Amargiri village tend to forget their past, believed to be due to a curse by the goddess. A professor, aware of Ramakrishna’s detective skills, challenges him to uncover the mystery of the Hill of Deities. What did Ramakrishna find out when he went to the Hill of Deities? Why did Lakshmi (Megha Akash), the granddaughter of the ruler of the Amargiri estate, go with him? How did their acquaintance occur? What is the curse, and did Ramakrishna resolve it?
Performance Review
Naresh Agastya has impressed as detective Ramakrishna, delivering a settled performance. He has perfected his looks and dialogues, bringing substantial weight to his character with his body language. Megha Akash has played a significant role with finesse, effectively expressing emotions. Raghu Kunche, Shiju Abdul Rasheed, Mukhtar Khan, Ashok Kumar, and Amit Tiwari fit well into their regular roles, with Tarak Ponnappa playing a crucial role. Other cast members have performed to the best of their abilities within their roles.
Direction Review
Director Pradeep Maddali has successfully led the series to maintain intrigue throughout. His screenplay especially thrills the audience, keeping them engaged without deviating from the storyline. Every character in the story serves a purpose, and their design enhances the thrilling element. While the twists are somewhat predictable, they still engage the audience. However, some scenes could have been depicted more robustly, and at times, the narrative seems to slow down. A few elevation shots could have been better executed to take the series to the next level.
Technically Speaking…
The technical departments of the series (Vikkatakavi Web Series Review) have performed well. Given the periodic backdrop, the art department excellently recreated the setups and dressing styles of the era. The cinematography effectively transports the audience back in time, and the background music is appealing. The production values are high.
Plus Points
- Story and narrative
- Naresh Agastya’s acting
- Twists
Minus Points
- Some predictability
- A few dragging scenes
Telugu.yousay.tv Rating: 3/5
TFIDB
People visiting the Hill of Deities in Amargiri village tend to forget their past due to a supposed curse. Detective Ramakrishna steps in to solve this mystery. What did he discover on the Hill of Deities? How did his acquaintance with Lakshmi (Megha Akash) from the Amargiri estate develop? What exactly is the curse on the Hill of Deities? This forms the core of the story.