SonyLIV bestowed only one original project in the form of ‘Scam 2003: The Telgi Story – Volume 2’ to its subscribers last month. The rest were licensed entries. Most of the licensed projects turned out well in terms of audience and critical reception. On the other hand, Sathiya Sothanai and Chaaver ended up being complete disappointments. Let’s check them out!
Scam 2003: The Telgi Story – Volume 2 (TV Series) – Hit (Original)
Streaming release: November 3, 2023
The second volume looks way better than the first one, largely due to Gagan Dev Riar’s scintillating performance as Abdul Karim Telgi and a more focused narrative. Riar perfectly copies Telgi’s mannerisms and style of talking. The rest of the cast does a brilliant job, too. In addition, Volume 2 benefits from Stanley Mudda’s amazing cinematography, Kunal Walve’s flawless editing, and Tushar Hiranandani’s seamless direction. Overall, it’s a well-made series.
The Winter King (TV Series) – Hit (Licensed)
Streaming release: November 6, 2023
Created by Ed Whitmore and Kate Brooke, The Winter King serves as a faithful adaptation of Bernard Cornwell’s The Warlord Chronicles. It is an ambitious and action-packed series filled with plenty of entertainment and brilliant performances. Iain De Caestecker looks amazing as Arthur Pendragon, who gets banished amidst the Saxons’ efforts of invasion. The series takes place in Post-Roman Dark Age Britain.
The Killing Kind (TV Series) – Hit (Licensed)
Streaming release: November 17, 2023
Based on Jane Casey’s novel, The Killing Kind is a brilliantly-paced and satisfyingly unpredictable legal thriller series fused with several twists. The series’ musical score and camerawork look amazing as well. But it is the show’s cast that deserves the real applause, led by the duo of Emma Appleton as Ingrid Lewis and Colin Morgan as John Webster. Apart from these two, the series has talents like Elliot Barnes-Worrell, Olivia D’Lima, Kerr Logan, Sara Powell, and more.
Saturday Afternoon (Film) – Hit (Licensed)
Streaming release: November 23, 2023
Taking inspiration from the July 2016 Dhaka attack, Saturday Afternoon (Shonibar Bikel) is an emotionally impactful and visually stunning film directed by Mostofa Sarwar Farooki. He also co-produced the film with Abdul Aziz. It immensely benefits from raw acting performances, breathtaking cinematography, and a heartfelt story. Nusrat Imroz Tisha is the best thing about this film. Her performance keeps the whole film together. Overall, it is a must-watch!
Sathiya Sothanai (Film) – Miss (Licensed)
Streaming release: November 23, 2023
This Suresh Sangaiah flick only works in parts and demands patience viewing from viewers. Apart from impressive performances and good comedy scenes, the film offers nothing new. Many considered it a letdown compared to the director’s last offering, Oru Kidayin Karunai Manu. The biggest flaw of this film is its conventional storyline. It stars Premgi Amaren, Swayam Siddha, Reshma Pasupuleti, K. G. Mohan, and other talents.
Chaaver (Film) – Miss (Licensed)
Streaming release: November 23, 2023
Even the talented trio of Kunchacko Boban, Arjun Ashokan, and Antony Varghese failed to save this poorly written-film. On top of this, Chaaver suffers from a weak script, which may also spoil your watching experience. Though, its technical excellence and camera work are impressive. But they are not enough to save this Tinu Pappachan directional as a whole.
Martin Luther King (Film) – Hit (Licensed)
Streaming release: November 28, 2023
Martin Luther King failed to live up to the standards set by Yogi Babu’s Mandela. Still, it serves as a worthy remake of the latter classic. Sampoornesh Babu’s honest performance in the titular role will win your hearts. Puja Kolluru’s sharp and effective direction makes this film worth watching. It also delivers plenty of humour, drama, and social commentary. The rest of the cast includes Naresh, Sharanya Pradeep, Venkatesh Maha, Goparaju Ramana, and more.
Overall, November 2023 turned out to be a decent month for SonyLIV. It could have been better if the streaming service had more quality original projects under its belt. Focusing more on original entries will allow the platform to secure its position in the Indian OTT market in the long run.
SonyLIV November 2023 Success Score: 71.4%