Release Date : September 28, 2023
123telugu.com Rating : 3/5
Starring: Nitya Menen, Gauthami, Thiruveer, Nirupam, Talluri Rameshwari, Praneetha Patnaik, Prem Sagar, Dr. Vijaya Krishna Naresh, Murali Mohan, Usha Shree, Gavi Reddy Srinivas
Director: Gomtesh Upadhye
Producer: Swapna Cinema
Music Directors: Staccato & Kamran
Cinematographer: Mohana Krishna
Editor: Srujana Adusumilli
Related Links : Trailer
Nitya Menen has now come up with a family drama show titled Kumari Srimathi. Directed by Gomtesh Upadhye, the show’s screenplay was penned by Srinivas Avasarala. The show features a solid cast. Let’s see how it is.
Story:
Set in Ramaraju Lanka, the series is about a feud between Srimathi (Nitya Menen) and her uncle Keshava Rao (Prem Sagar) for an ancestral property. Srimathi, during her childhood, promises her grandfather that she will never sell the house. Keshava Rao produces a will deed in the court, which states that his father transferred the property in his name. Keshava Rao enters into a sale deed with another party, but the court doesn’t agree for the same as it is an ancestral property.
Also, the court gives Srimathi a chance to purchase the house and grants her six months time to arrange the funds. But Srimathi is a chef who earns a meager salary. Her neighbor Sriram (Nirupam) advises her to start a business. What Srimathi did next forms part of the rest of the series.
Plus Points:
The concept of family feud for ancestral property has been explored many times in the past, but what makes Kumari Srimathi unique is the way it is packed with clean comedy and family emotions. The main focus was on providing fun throughout, and the makers succeeded fairly in this aspect. Though a few one-liners seem a bit old-fashioned, most of the fun portions work in favor of the show.
The series highlights women empowerment in a subtle manner without hammering the same down our throats. The protagonist commences a bar and restaurant business, and she also faces the wrath of village people who argue that the business is affecting their lives. Later, Nitya Menen comes up with a practical solution for it, and this is an example of good writing. The same gets beautified by a special cameo played by a noted hero.
Nitya Menen is a delight to watch in this comedy drama. She effortlessly gets into the skin of the character, and one starts rooting for her from the word go. Gautami is a terrific actress, and she gave a natural performance in Kumari Srimathi. She, as a protective mother, did a stunning job, leaving us wanting to see more of her.
Talluri Rameshwari, Praneetha Patnaik, and Prem Sagar add depth to the proceedings. The songs composed and the visuals showcased enrich the viewing experience. The show can be watched with the whole family, which is a rare sight in the OTT world.
Minus Points:
The romantic tracks weren’t handled effectively. Though Nirupam and Thiruveer performed well in their respective roles, the impact is missing. Also, it is due to the way their scenes are staged. At times, these tracks hinder the flow of the proceedings.
The momentum goes down in a couple of mid-episodes, but things get back on track once Nitya Menen starts her business. The pacing is a bit slow at times, and the climax seems a bit rushed. A proper ending could have taken the show to the next level.
Technical Aspects:
Staccato & Kamran did an impressive job with the songs and background score. In particular, the song that was shot in the bar was well-composed. Mohana Krishna’s cinematography is neat, and the production values are awesome. The editing is fine for the most part.
Srinivas Avasarala penned the screenplay and dialogues for the show, and he did a decent job. His mark comedy is visible in a few scenes. The direction by Gomtesh Upadhye is neat, and he extracted very good performances from the lead cast. But a few portions needed better execution.
Verdict:
On the whole, Kumari Srimathi is a decent comedy-drama that deals with women empowerment in a subtle manner. The comedy portions work for the most part. Nitya Menen and Gautami delivered solid performances, and there were a decent number of entertaining moments. But as mentioned earlier, a few portions could have been handled better, and the pacing dips at times. Nevertheless, Kumari Srimathi is a watchable show this weekend.
123telugu.com Rating: 3/5
Reviewed by 123telugu Team