- Title: Bench Life
- Release Date: September 12, 2024
- Cast: Vaibhav Reddy, Rithika Singh, Aakanksha Singh, Nayan Sarika, Rajendra Prasad, Tulasi
- Director: Manasa Sharma
- Producer: Niharika Konidela
- Music: P K Dandi
- Production: Pink Elephant Pictures
Niharika Konidela is known for her foresight. Her decision to venture into web series early in her career is a testament to this.
She has consistently produced content-driven stories that resonate with youth, and Bench Life is another web series from her banner. This series, streaming with five episodes from September 12, aims to capture the audience’s attention. Let’s take a look at how it fares.
The story revolves around Balu (Vaibhav), Meenakshi (Rithika Singh), and Ravi (Charan Peri), who all work in a software company and are good friends. However, they are all on the “bench” (meaning they are not actively assigned work).
Balu enjoys this situation, as they get paid without the stress of workload, and he considers bench life to be happy. At the same company, Esha (Aakanksha Singh) works in a higher position than Balu. Balu silently admires her and tries to get her attention.
Meenakshi, meanwhile, dreams of directing a film and is working on a script during her time on the bench. Her mother (Tulasi) disapproves of this and urges her to give up her film ambitions and focus on her job. Additionally, her mother is eager to get her married as soon as possible.
Ravi, on the other hand, is married to Gayatri (Nayan Sarika). He feels overwhelmed by her constant affection and, despite being on the bench, goes to the office to avoid household chores.
Ravi dreams of escaping to Goa with his friends, far away from his wife. Since Gayatri is not active on social media, she innocently believes everything Ravi says.
In the midst of this, Prasad (Rajendra Prasad) joins the office. He is Esha’s father, though Esha disapproves of his presence. Despite his attempts to talk to her, she refuses to communicate with him. Balu, unaware of their relationship, shares his thoughts about Esha with Prasad.
How does Prasad react? Why is Esha avoiding her father? Will Esha understand Balu’s feelings? Will Meenakshi realize her dream of becoming a director? What happens when Gayatri discovers that her husband has been lying to her? These questions form the crux of the story.
The series effectively showcases the software work environment, the fears associated with job security, and how some people handle life easily while others burden themselves.
The director skillfully presents these elements with a natural tone, and the series resonates with the audience, especially through the emotions of father-daughter, mother-daughter, husband-wife, and lovers. The balance between humor and emotional depth adds to its charm.
The story isn’t just for the youth familiar with the software lifestyle; it also appeals to family audiences. The way each character is crafted, combined with neat screenplay and good production values, makes this series engaging.
Performances by veteran actors like Rajendra Prasad, Tanikella Bharani, and Tulasi make the series more relatable for families. The cinematography by Dhanush Basha, the music by P K Dandi, and the editing by Pawan Pudi are well executed.
The series conveys several messages, such as the importance of not confining women to traditional roles, not perceiving a wife’s affection as a burden, and the idea that happiness lies in pursuing what one loves, not just in meeting societal expectations. These messages are delivered in an entertaining way, making the series a delightful watch.
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