What Is the Story About?
Born to a humble farmer, Krishnama Naidu is a rebellious son with firm views on society and justice, nursing political ambitions. Rami Reddy, an MBBS student, is trying to outgrow the shadow of his father, a notorious goon. A national emergency is declared by the authoritarian PM Iravati Basu, and as Andhra Pradesh descends into chaos, a change in order seems imminent.
Performances?
Aadhi Pinisetty delivers a fabulous performance as KKN, showcasing his evolution as a tactful leader and as a man of many dimensions. He brings authority to Naidu’s persona while making the character relatable to the viewer. Playing Rami Reddy, an unlikely entrant in politics, Chaitanya Rao Madadi lends enthusiasm and agility to the portrayal.
Analysis
With the rich political history of the Telugu states, it’s surprising why mainstream cinema has failed to capitalise on the dramatic events that have shaped the future of the region to good effect. In the name of political drama, all we get are parodies, flabby biopics, simplistic tales of messiahs and underdog victories as a precursor to the electoral season.
Deva Katta, with Sony LIV’s show Mayasabha, makes a worthy attempt to set the record straight. Beyond binaries like good, bad or otherwise, what it succeeds in is its effort to capture the complexity of the Telugu political landscape, without taking sides. Thematically, it offers a hat-tip to Iruvar, telling the story of two friends-turned-politicians, who are a product of their circumstances.
Mayasabha is a gripping, fictionalised retelling of the events in Andhra Pradesh in the mid-70s and early-80s, where the state’s political trajectory took a new direction. The creative liberties associated with its pivotal characters free directors Deva Katta and Kiran Jay Kumar from the burden of factual correctness, allowing them to focus on reflecting the spirit of the times instead.
What unites Krishnama Naidu (a.k.a. KKN) and Rami Reddy (a.k.a. MSR) is their desire to rise above their modest existence. Naidu is stubborn, frustrated with accepting reality as it is, and won’t budge without a good fight. Reddy’s pursuit of medicine is born from his need to be known as more than a goon’s son. Ultimately, it’s the political bastion where they find all the answers.
While tracing KKN and MSR’s journeys, you get a glimpse of events, setbacks that shaped their decisions, both on a macro and a micro level. KKN stammers, the fate of a student election leaves him with a bitter aftertaste, and he has no luck with love either. As much as MSR detests his father’s ways, he realises the need for power to keep a tab on the law and order situation.
The show rightfully acknowledges how no discussion on their paths would be complete without a mention of caste and substantiates its idea through various threads where ethnicity has a say in one’s fate. The series, in fact, overcooks its premise with too many subplots, like an enthusiastic research student putting together a thesis – the information is welcome, but equally overwhelming.
The caustic wit in Deva Katta’s storytelling is evident while dealing with the dictatorial ways of Iravati Basu and Sandeep Basu, her spoilt brat of a son. The scenes that establish the state’s top leaders becoming puppeteers in their hands, a scenario that KKN and MSR use to their advantage, are engaging. The drama heightens as KKN’s film star father-in-law RCR enters the scene.
The periodic ambience is recreated with good taste, given the details around the events in the show are already available in public domain. Yet, what makes Mayasabha timely is its political critique. It foreshadows the future, effectively hinting at the emergence of dictatorial leaders, the possibility of an undeclared emergency in the country and the rise of caste-based violence at the grassroots.
Unlike Katta’s Republic, that fell prey to its own idealism, Mayasabha resists moral preaching and shows its protagonists with all their vulnerabilities (in addition to their charisma). From a filmmaking tangent, it does get verbose in a handful of occasions, though the smart intercuts, the peppy background score and the vibrant colour palette infuse life into the proceedings.
Mayasabha is a commendable political drama centred on two friends who come of age in the political sphere. It chronicles significant events in Andhra Pradesh’s political history and treats its subject with dignity and objectivity. Though the exhaustive detailing may take a toll on you, it does what you expect from a good story – one that informs, engages and piques your curiosity.
Music and Other Departments?
Shaktikanth Karthick’s score is quite lively, providing impetus to the journeys of the characters, oozing with style and adding depth to the proceedings when necessary. Cinematographers Suresh Ragutu, Gnana Shekar bring vibrancy and a flashiness to the narrative that gives the genre a new appeal. KL Praveen’s editing decisions, alternating between the characters smartly, help the result. The dialogues are rich in flavour and add authenticity to the execution.
Other Artists?
Divya Dutta, as the cold, calculated female leader in a male bastion, embodies Iravati Basu’s arrogance and privilege with ease. Sai Kumar is an apt casting choice for a role loosely modelled on NTR – from the physicality to the dialogue delivery and the histrionics and he does complete justice to it. Srikanth Iyengar exaggerates a little beyond necessity, while Nassar, Shatru, Tanya Ravichandran, Bhavana Vazhapandal, Ravindra Vijay do the needful in their brief roles.
Highlights?
Well-written, respectable storytelling
Apt casting, good performances
Technically impressive
Drawbacks?
Overstuffed with subplots
Not all characters are established well
Gets exhausting at times
Did I Enjoy It?
Yes
Will You Recommend It?
If you enjoy political dramas
MayaSabha Web Series Review by Binged Bureau
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