Title: Paruvu
Release Date: 2024-06-14
Cast: Nagababu, Niveditha Pethuraj, Naresh Agasthya, Raj Kumar, Bindu Madhavi
Director: Siddharth Nayudu – Rajasekhar
Producer: Susmitha Konidela – Vishnu Prasad
Music: Shravan Bharadwaj
Banner: Gold Box Entertainments
The web series “Paruvu,” streaming on Zee 5, comprises 8 episodes. This series, directed by Siddharth Nayudu and Rajasekhar, and produced by Susmitha Konidela and Vishnu Prasad, features notable actors like Nagababu, Niveditha Pethuraj, and Naresh Agasthya.
Despite its interesting premise, the series suffers from a sluggish narrative, miscast roles, and some weak scenes, though it benefits from strong background scores and cinematography.
The title “Paruvu” hints at the storyline revolving around honor killings. Set in a village near Guntur, the series follows Pallavi (Niveditha Pethuraj), a young woman from a family that values honor above all.
Though she has parents, she is closer to her uncle, who plans to marry her off to her cousin Chandu (Sunil Komishetty). Disliking this arrangement, Pallavi elopes with her lover Sudheer (Naresh Agasthya), angering her family.
The political landscape of the village is dominated by MLA Ramayya (Nagababu), who repeatedly wins elections. Subhash, along with his principled brother Bose, plans to dethrone Ramayya.
The police officers Chakravarthi (Raj Kumar Kasireddy) and Babji take sides, with Chakravarthi supporting Ramayya and Babji backing Subhash’s faction.
Amidst this political turmoil, a love story unfolds between a girl from Ramayya’s faction and a boy from Subhash’s side.
They elope, fearing disapproval from their families, sparking conflict between the factions. Pallavi and Sudheer, who had previously eloped, return to the village two years later following the death of Pallavi’s uncle.
Chandu, now in love with Swathi (Pranitha Patnaik), agrees to bring Pallavi and Sudheer back. Swathi, a courageous woman, is deeply committed to Chandu. Despite Chandu’s lingering anger towards Pallavi for eloping, he agrees to help her.
Pallavi, now pregnant, reluctantly embarks on a journey with Chandu and Sudheer.
During the journey, Chandu’s suspicious behavior, including acquiring a gun, makes Pallavi and Sudheer fear for their lives. In a bid to escape, Sudheer attacks Chandu, resulting in Chandu’s unexpected death.
The couple then struggles to conceal Chandu’s body and navigate the ensuing chaos as the village awaits Chandu’s return, with Swathi calling the police when he doesn’t show up.
The narrative shifts between various perspectives: Pallavi and Sudheer, Chandu and Swathi, and Ramayya’s political life. The storyline touches on themes of love, societal norms, politics, and violence, though it sometimes falters with slow pacing and weak scenes.
Despite a promising start and a compelling final episode, the middle episodes drag. The screenplay lacks the necessary pace and fails to maintain consistent interest.
Many characters, including the lead roles, could have been more powerful, and the hint of an additional villain, Dorababu, adds little value.
Production values are commendable, with Shravan Bharadwaj’s music and Vidya Sagar’s cinematography standing out. However, the series could have benefitted from more robust character development and tighter scripting.
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