What Is the Story About?
Prime Video India’s first full form Telugu series ‘Dhootha’ centres on ambitious journalist Sagar (Naga Chaitanya Akkineni), who realises that people close to him are dying gruesome deaths, all of which are predicted by newspaper clippings he finds around him. Hard-nosed cop Kranthi (Parvathy Thiruvothu) begins investigating the deaths, even as the body count rises and things get more grim and grisly. Will Sagar be able to stop the killings once and for all?
Dhootha is written and directed by Vikram K Kumar, and produced by Northstar Entertainment.
Performances?
Naga Chaitanya Akkineni is very good as the high-flying journalist Sagar. He suits the role to the T, and delivers a convincing, persuasive performance. Parvathy Thiruvothu is superb as the perceptive, relentless cop, Kranthi Shenoy. Her performance is poised and polished as ever.
Prachi Desai is efficient and engaging as Sagar’s PA Amrutha. Priya Bhavani Shankar is passable as Sagar’s wife Priya. The supporting cast, comprising Pashupathy, Tharun Bhascker, Rohini, among others, lend adequate support.
Analysis
Dhootha is a well-made series that grabs attention from the get-go, and keeps you glued to the edge of your seat till the very end. Though the fundamental premise of the series is a predictable one, the writing and treatment given to the story lend novelty to a premise that is not new nor innovative, but hooks you with its mystery and suspense.
Vikram K Kumar has infused the series with a haunting quality that is hard to define but riveting to watch. The narrative flows beautifully, with mystery, suspense, murders, twists and turns peppered throughout the runtime. Red herrings in the form of a couple of characters never let you guess the suspense until the writers themselves decide to reveal it.
The outstanding element of the storytelling is the way the deaths have been picturised. They’re gruesome, yes; but in a way that you can’t take your eyes off them. Credit goes to production designer Rajeevan and action choreographer Venkat for that. Also, it is the creativity of the writing that lends enigma to each incident with the supernatural.
The central themes of corruption in journalism and the rot in media are depicted well, without resorting to preachy jingoism or boring chest-beating. Naga Chaitanya’s Sagar is introduced to viewers as a distinctly unpleasant and unlikeable character. However, his character arc develops beautifully as the series progresses.
Most significantly, Dhootha boasts top-notch production values. The production design is gorgeous, the background score terrific, and the camerawork is superb. The creators have spent moolah on the making of the series, and it shows.
Of course, not everything is perfect in Dhootha. The runtime is way too long, and often gets quite repetitive. The story could have been told in half the time, had the makers so decided. A few subplots feel contrived and unnecessary. The pace of the storytelling, though brisk overall, drops in segments that seem stretched. The final episode is a bit over-the-top and dramatic in an unrealistic way.
To sum it up, Dhootha proves to be an excellent web series debut for Naga Chaitanya Akkineni. It is gripping, suspenseful, fast-paced, and keeps you invested in the story till the very end. The supernatural premise may be done to death certainly, but the absorbing story and its treatment lure you into overlooking that one flaw.
Music and Other Departments?
Ishaan Chhabra’s background score for Dhootha is brilliant. It hits the right notes between haunting, thrilling and electrifying. Mikolaj Sygula’s camerawork is gorgeous. Often, you have a hard time believing that the show has been shot in India. Navin Nooli’s editing is the only weak element in the otherwise high production values – tighter editing would have elevated the story several notches.
Highlights?
Chaitanya Akkineni’s Performance and Star Charisma
The Absorbing Story and Compelling Drama
Top Notch Production Values
Brilliant Background Score and Cinematography
Drawbacks?
Repetitive Bits
A Tad Long
Flabby Editing
Did I Enjoy It?
Yes
Will You Recommend It?
Yes
Dhootha Web Series Review by Binged Bureau