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The Hindu
25-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
‘Ayyana Mane' series review: Khushee Ravi anchors this passable murder mystery
Ayyana Mane is out on Zee5, the streaming counterpart of ZeeTV, known for popular soap operas. It is directed by Ramesh Indira and produced by his wife, Shruti Naidu. The couple has vast experience in making television content, and this amalgamation has resulted in a web series that tries hard to come out of the hangover of a TV serial. Ayyana Mane is billed as the maiden Kannada web series on Zee5. However, with six episodes, each around 18 minutes, the murder mystery is essentially a mini-series that just about remains watchable. Set in the 90s of Chikkamagaluru, the series begins with Jaaji (Khushi Ravi) marrying Dushyantha (Akshay Nayak) and moving to Ayyana Mane, a large household headed by her mother-in-law Nagalambike (Manasi Sudhir). Ayyana Mane (Kannada) Director: Ramesh Indira Cast: Khushee Ravi, Manasi Sudhir, Anirudh Acharya, Akshay Nayak Runtime: 6 episodes, 18 minutes each Storyline: Jaaji arrives at her marital home on her wedding day, only to witness her father-in-law's sudden death. As she discovers more chilling secrets, Jaaji must find a way to survive in the house Jaaji's marital life begins on a wrong note when her father-in-law passes away the day she arrives at Ayyana Mane. Even as her husband supports her amid suspicion against her, Jaaji realises she is in a cursed house. One by one, daughter-in-laws die at Ayyana Mane under mysterious circumstances, and Jaaji fears her turn could come anytime. The series piques some curiosity by spotlighting multiple people to make us guess the murderer. Is Jaaji's husband, Dushyantha, really a kind-hearted man? Do Dushyantha's brothers have an ulterior motive? Is Nagalambike hiding some secrets? We wonder about these things, but the series doesn't have mind-boggling twists to keep us on the edge. Ayyana Mane doesn't carry the tension familiar with solid murder mysteries. Ayyana Mane will work for those wanting to watch a simple whodunnit. For ardent followers of TV soaps, the series is a better outing, thanks to its straightforwardness, one would expect from a TV serial, minus the zoom-in and zoom-out camera techniques, loud background scores, and caricaturish characters. ALSO READ:'Yuddhakaanda Chapter 2' movie review: Ajai Rao's courtroom drama is a smartly made crowd pleaser Cinematographer Rahul Roy creates an atmosphere suitable for the premise with his low-key lighting and slightly unconventional camera angles. Despite their limited character arcs, the ensemble cast is impressive, with Khushee Ravi and Manasi Sudhir being the standouts. The minor reveals in the few episodes give the series a decent closure, but Ayyana Mane has one too many subplots that could have had better arcs. There's the angle of people fearing the anger of daiva (god), and the plot has a touch of supernatural elements as well. There's a culture clash when an urban woman (Hita Chandrashekar) comes as a daughter-in-law. There's Jaaji's silent fortitude, which makes her unique. The series even tries to understand the psyche of the killer. But all these aspects never get fleshed out to give us a sense of fulfilment. Ayyana Mane is currently streaming on Zee5
Time of India
25-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Ayyana Mane Review: A haunting premise dimmed by weak execution; Ayyana Mane glimmers with promise but fails to ignite in the Kannada OTT space
Set against the lush and misty backdrop of 90s Chikkamagalur, Ayyana Mane brings an eerie, atmospheric tale rooted in one family's dark past. At the center of it is a spine-chilling premise: a house where daughters-in-law mysteriously die, one after the other. When the youngest son, Dushyantha (Akshay Nayak) brings home his new bride, Jaaji (Kushee Ravi), a chain of unsettling events unfolds. Her arrival marks the sudden death of Dushyantha's father, sending Jaaji into a spiral of fear and curiosity as she begins to uncover the secrets of the house. Jaaji's journey is one of quiet strength and subtle investigation. Her fears of being the next victim are palpable, yet she bravely delves into the past, trying to decode the mystery. Is it a family curse, or is something far more sinister at play in Ayyana Mane?The six-episode series, each around 20 minutes, opens with promise and atmospheric tension. However, the narrative loses momentum as it progresses. The screenplay often feels choppy, as if a movie were sliced into episodes without a natural flow. Subplots are introduced but not fully developed, and the transitions between scenes feel abrupt, impacting the overall viewer engagement. One of the series' major strengths lies in its haunting music, composed by L.V. Muthu and Ganesh, sons of the legendary L. Vaidyanathan. Their background score elevates many scenes, wrapping them in a layer of unease and emotional depth. The eerie compositions beautifully align with the setting and tone of the story, becoming one of the standout elements of the series. Performance-wise, Kushee Ravi delivers a strong portrayal of Jaaji, capturing the innocence and growing fear of a new bride trapped in a mystery-laden household. Akshay Nayak, as Dushyantha, complements her well. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Trade Bitcoin & Ethereum – No Wallet Needed! IC Markets Start Now Undo However, it is Mansi Sudheer who truly grabs attention, especially in the series' climax, with her compelling performance that leaves a lasting Vijay Shobraj, Hitha Chandrashekar, Anirudh Acharya, RJ Anoopa, Kushi Chandrashekar, and Archana Kottige all deliver in their roles, but unfortunately, the limited screen time and hurried pacing prevent their characters from making a deeper impact. A bit more screen space for these supporting actors could have added more strength and depth to the narrative. Director Ramesh Indira and producer Shruti Naidu deserve appreciation for attempting something fresh and different in the Kannada OTT space. Ayyana Mane stands out as one of the first original web series in Kannada and shows that the industry is ready to experiment with genre and form. However, the execution leaves much to be desired. A more polished script and cohesive storytelling could have transformed this series into a true milestone. Verdict: Ayyana Mane is a chilling idea with promising performances and haunting music but falls short in storytelling and pacing. It feels more like a film cut into parts than a gripping episodic thriller. While it may serve as a decent one-time watch, the series doesn't quite live up to the hype. A flickering candle of suspense rather than a blazing torch for Kannada's OTT future.
