Web Series Name : Home Town
Release Date : Apr 4, 2025
123telugu.com Rating : 2.5/5
Starring : Rajeev Kanakala, Jhansi, Prajwal Yadham, Annie, Sai Ram, Anirudh Bhaskar, and others
Director : Srikanth Reddy Palle
Producer : Rajasekhar Medaram
Music Director : Suresh Bobbili
Cinematographer : Dev Deep Gandhi Kundu
Editor : Carthik Cuts
Related Links : Trailer
Popular Telugu OTT platform Aha brings you the latest webseries, Home Town, that had its digital premiere today. Rajeev Kanakala and Jhansi played lead roles in the series, while 90s Middle Class Biopic makers created it. Dive into our review to see how the series fared.
Story:
Set in the year 2003, Home Town’s story takes place in a small village named Hanumantulagudem in Telangana. The series follows a middle-class man named Prasad (Rajeev Kanakala), who leads a simple life with his wife (Jhansi) and children Srikanth (Prajwal Yadham) and his sister Jyothi (Annie). A small photo studio is their only source of income. Srikanth is a poor student, while Annie always excels in academics. The story revolves around the drama that unfolds in their lives. Will Prasad’s son go abroad to fulfill his dreams? What decisions does Srikanth make for his and his sister Jyothi’s future? Watch Home Town on Aha to know the rest.
Plus Points:
Several films and web series set against the 90s backdrop have been released of late. 90s kids can relate to Home Town well. Several scenes and emotions in the series offer a nostalgic feeling. The first three episodes unravel decently, with the second episode standing out with its hilarious moments.
Each episode has an emotional ending that is well executed. Young actors Prajwal, Sai Ram, and Anirudh come up with impressive performances. The comedy scenes featuring these three are quite enjoyable. Sai Ram scores the brownie points with his comedic timing.
Prajwal delivers a fine performance, particularly excelling in emotional scenes. Senior character artistes Rajeev Kanakala and Jhansi bring their experience into their roles, especially in portraying the innocent, hardworking middle-class parents concerned about their children’s future. Young actress Annie also performs well in her role. The emotional moments in the scenes stand out, especially in the climax, where she gives a solid performance.
Minus Points:
Since Home Town is set in the early 2000s, audiences who have already seen several 90s-themed movies and series may find this series a bit routine. The series has only five episodes, and though their duration is short, not all episodes feel as effective.
The influence of some of the recently released 90s slice-of-life series and films is clearly evident in Home Town, making it feel a bit formulaic. The last episode might be a bit difficult for family audiences to watch. The fourth episode, which revolves around Facebook, is decent but lags in some parts. The makers could have shortened it to maintain the flow. The logic behind the education system for siblings in the same class isn’t convincing. The emotional conversation between Rajeev Kanakala and Prajwal in the climax could have been executed in a unique way.
Technical Aspects:
The production values in the Home Town series are good. The production design department recreated the 2003 era quite well. Suresh Bobbili’s music is decent, and Dev Deep Gandhi Kundu’s cinematography captures visuals that remind us of the past. The editing by Carthik could have been sharper.
Director Srikant Reddy Palle handled the story well for the most part. While certain aspects of the series feel a bit dull, some scenes seem routine. The director managed to extract good performances from the cast, but more focus should have been on the storytelling.
Verdict:
Home Town is a mixed bag. Those who enjoy nostalgic elements from the 90s may relate to the story. However, the 90s biopic shades are quite apparent. The well-executed comedy scenes will keep us engaged to an extent, but the fourth episode might feel too slow. The climax is acceptable. You may check out this series on Aha over the weekend, but we recommend that you keep your expectations in check.
123telugu.com Rating: 2.5/5
Reviewed by 123telugu Team