Release Date : February 24, 2023
123telugu.com Rating : 2.75/5
Starring: Lavanya Tripathi, Aadi Sai Kumar, Suman, Siri Hanmanth, Raja Chembolu, Mukku Avinash, Sai Srinivas, Goparaju Ramana, Spandana Palli
Director: Chakravarthy Reddy
Producers: Kona Film Corporation (KFC) & ZEE5
Music Director: Praveen Lakkaraju
Cinematography: Ram K Mahesh
Editor: Chota K Prasad
Related Links : Trailer
OTT platform ZEE5 has now come up with a crime thriller series Puli Meka, starring Lavanya Tripathi and Aadi Sai Kumar in the lead roles. The series is currently streaming on the digital platform, and let’s find out how it is.
Story:
A serial killer keeps killing Police officers one after another in the city of Hyderabad. This becomes a big headache for the entire Police department. Kiran Prabha (Lavanya Tripathi), an IPS officer who has an excellent track record in nabbing criminals, is given the task of catching the killer. She, along with her team, starts the investigation process. Prabhakar Sharma (Aadi Sai Kumar), an expert Forensic head, assists Kiran Prabha in the investigation. Who is the killer? Why is he targeting the Police department? What is his motive behind the killings? Did Kiran Prabha and her team capture the criminal? Watch the show to know the answers.
Plus Points:
The series marks the OTT debut for the lead actors Lavanya Tripathi and Aadi Sai Kumar. Lavanya Tripathi as the IPS officer, performed with aplomb. She was very much convincing as a cop, and her stunt sequences were amazing. Her character had a good scope to showcase a wide variety of emotions, and Lavanya just grabbed the opportunity with both hands. It is undoubtedly Lavanya’s best role to date.
It’s very nice to see Aadi Sai Kumar in a different role after a long time. Though he is seen less in the first few episodes, his character graph strengthens as the show progresses. Aadi gave a very sincere performance and did precisely what the character demanded without going overboard. It would be great if Aadi gives more preference to such characters.
The surprise package in the series is BiggBoss fame Siri Hanmanth. She got a very pivotal role in the show, and the actress made very nice use of it. The show picks up the pace with the entry of Siri Hanmanth, and the actress was very good at portraying emotions. Her characterization is nicely written, and Siri did justice to Pallavi’s character.
Raja Chembolu, who played another crucial role, was fine. It was great to see a seasoned artist like Suman playing a significant role, and the senior actor did a commendable job. The main twist and the flashback portions are the main trump cards of the show.
Minus Points:
What otherwise could have been a very good thriller is marred by the issues in writing at a few junctures. The first four episodes are very slow-paced, and nothing noteworthy happens during these episodes that excite the viewers. The investigation angle lacks any novelty and is very generic. The scenes that come in this regard aren’t engaging at all.
Crime thrillers shouldn’t be having logical errors, but sadly Puli Meka suffers from this. To name one, a key character gets involved in a drug case and will be all over the news. Everyone gets to know this except the parents of the accused, living in the same city strangely.
The unnecessary family drama doesn’t make any sense, and this part doesn’t hold any relevance to the show’s main storyline. Extreme usage of cuss words in many sequences irritates one and might also hinder the show’s reach. The length could have been taken care of.
Technical Aspects:
Many big names have worked on the series, which is reflected in the show’s quality. Brahma kadali’s artwork is impressive and is in tune with the show’s theme. Praveen Lakkaraju’s background score is good, and in a few places, the impact was enhanced through his work. The cinematography by Ram K Mahesh is fair. Makers spent what was required for the show. The editing could have been better, though.
The plot written by Kona Venkat and Venkatesh Kilaru is decent. Though the flashback portions are not something out of the box, they still make sense, and the emotional aspect works. Coming to director Chakravarthy, he did an okay job with the series. The way the initial episodes were handled lacks the punch, and the pacing is one more issue here.
Verdict:
On the whole, Puli Meka is a mystery crime thriller that works to an extent. The lead cast, Lavanya Tripathi and Aadhi Sai Kumar, were solid in their roles, and the rest of the cast also was good. The twists that unfold from the mid portions and proceedings thereafter are interesting. But to enjoy the show, one has to go through a few unexciting episodes. Nevertheless, you can still give Puli Meka a try this weekend.
123telugu.com Rating: 2.75/5
Reviewed by 123telugu Team