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Hindustan Times
27-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Ayyana Mane review: A tale of mysterious deaths, superstitions, and gods let down by poor writing
The OTT space has seen a paucity of Kannada content and the new web series Ayyana Mane, helmed by television veteran Ramesh Indira and produced by his wife Shruti Naidu, is an attempt to set a new trend in this space. The six-episode series, which dropped on Zee5 on April 25, revolves around Jaaji (Kushee Ravi), who gets married to Dushyanth (Akshay Nayak) and moves to his family home- Ayyana Mane. As soon as Jaaji sets foot into her husband's ancestral home, Ayyane Mane, her father-in-law drops dead. While a frightened Jaaji believes she is bringing bad luck to the house, her mother-in-law, husband and brothers-in-law convince her otherwise. Not only does she find strange occurrences in the house, but she also finds that the people in the household also act strangely, arousing her suspicion that all is not well. She soon learns of the mysterious deaths of the other daughters-in-law along with the odd significance of the family deity and certain family beliefs. All these push Jaaji to fear that she could be next in line. Though her husband tells her that she doesn't need to be frightened, Jaaji's mother-in-law Nagamma (Manasi Sudhir) compels her to remain quiet about the goings-on in the house. What is really happening in Ayyana Mane? Who is behind these deaths? Will Jaaji be killed? Given that director Ramesh Indira is known for his Kannada serials, Ayyana Mane also follows a similar soap opera template and not an OTT series format. What is supposed to be a gripping mystery thriller is slow and lacks the sinister atmospheric theme one would expect in such a series. There are a few red herrings thrown to put numerous people under suspicion, but they are neither convincing nor authentic. Even the reasons as to why the killings are being committed are also not compelling enough. Themes like family gods and rituals, and superstitions in rural areas have been explored in Ayyana Mane, but it's all at a very superficial level, unfortunately. Thus, the screenplay doesn't flow smoothly, and it becomes tedious midway. Kannada actor Kushee Ravi anchors the series and essays the innocent-yet-curious, frightened-yet-courageous Jaaji with ease. Since Ayyana Mane is like a regular TV soap, the role would have been a cakewalk for her. Manasi Sudhir has an important role and is convincing while the others are par for the course. Technically, the cinematography by Rahul Roy stands out as do the costumes by Shilpa Hegde, especially the choice of sarees for the women. The BGM by LV Muthu Ganesh, son of L Vaidyanathan, elevates the scenes as well. On the whole, Ayyana Mane has an interesting premise but this tale of mysterious deaths, superstitions and gods is let down by poor writing.
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.
Scroll.in
25-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Scroll.in
‘Ayyana Mane' review: A feeble attack on superstition
In the Kannada series Ayyana Mane on ZEE5, a wealthy family in Chikmagalur is plagued by a series of mysterious deaths. One death takes place on the day Jaaji (Kushee Ravi) enters the clan as the bride of Dushyantha (Akshay Nayak). Her father-in-law collapses, never to rise again. Is the family deity demanding sacrifices? Is there a curse on Dushyantha's sister and the other daughters-in-law, who are all perishing one by one? Adding to Jaaji's woes is the insistence of her mother-in-law Nagamma (Manasi Sudhir) that Jaaji keep her opinions to herself. Whatever happens in the household stays in the household, Nagamma insists. Written and directed by Ramesh Indira, Ayyana Mane feels like a television serial or a film that has been split into six episodes. The initial intrigue eventually dissipates because of the absence of atmospherics and the sense of dread that is usually found in a house of horrors. Also missed is the opportunity to question superstitious beliefs. The ultimate reason for the series of deaths is feeble and barely plausible, given that all the victims are found in or around the house. Kushee Ravi makes for a decently convincing heroine trying to hold on to her sanity. Manasi Sudhir has a suitably authoritative presence in a family that is falling apart. Costume designer Shilpa Hegde deserves a shout-out for picking a gorgeous range of saris. One of the garments is even written into the plot. Play
