Latest news with #RameshIndira
New Indian Express
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- New Indian Express
Ayyana Mane Series Review: A brooding thriller with the familiarity of TV soaps
A haunted house, a newlywed bride, and secrets that whisper through the walls— Ayyana Mane plays like a page straight out of a folklore that is stitched into a sleek six-episode mystery. Directed by Ramesh Indira and produced by Shruti Naidu, this brooding thriller walks a delicate tightrope between the familiar comforts of television and the creative liberties of streaming. Set in the lush, rain-washed 90s of Chikkamagaluru, Ayyana Mane begins with a hopeful newly-married woman Jaaji (Kushee Ravi) who steps into her husband Dushyantha's (Akshay Nayak) ancestral home—an almost too-quiet place shadowed by grief. Moments later, her father-in-law dies, and from that point on, the house seems to simmer with unease. Each creak in the floorboard and each sideways glance hints at something darker. It is at this point that another chilling discovery emerges—a trail of daughter-in-law deaths, stretching through generations. Cast: Kushee Ravi, Manashi Sudhir, Hitha Chandrashekar, Anirudh Acharya, Akshay Nayak, and Ramesh Indira Director: Ramesh Indira Streaming on: Zee5 The story unfolds in approximately 20 minute episodes, designed to hook viewers and not linger—a structural win. Each episode leaves you hanging just enough to hit the next episode button, and it is here that the show quietly flexes its format—a web series that chooses restraint over indulgence, rarely straying into filler or loud melodrama. Interestingly, Ayyana Mane also carries another label—it's Zee5's first original Kannada web series. While that's a notable move for regional content, it's also begs to ask a bold question: Can this series break away from the traditional TV template that has long defined Kannada storytelling? Can it claim the freshness that the OTT space offers? Ramesh Indira builds the mystery using an interesting blend of whodunnit and folk horror. The show taps into the cultural echoes of Daiva worship—a spiritual element that found wide popularity after Kantara. The mysterious Kondarayya, a spirit-like presence, becomes central to the narrative: is he a protector, or is his wrath behind the tragedy? The question lingers throughout, adding a folk-horror sheen to what is otherwise a grounded domestic thriller. Performance-wise, Kushee Ravi does most of the heavy lifting. Her character Jaaji is innocent but observant, fearful but never passive. It is through her eyes that we read many silences in the house— from her mother-in-law Nagalambike (Manasi Sudhir), the disturbed Charulatha, an unsettling cameo by Archana Kottige, and the uneasy Dushyantha, who is an emotionally opaque husband trying to shield secrets under the guise of tradition. Even director Ramesh Indira plays a role in the series. The other cast members—including Hitha Chandrashekar as Pushpavathi, Anirudh Acharya, and Akshay Nayak—bring depth without overplaying it, though some characters could have benefited from more nuanced development. Technically, the show is a quiet win. Rahul Roy's cinematography wraps the story in low-lit tension. There's no overuse of flashy lighting or dramatic music—instead, the mood and atmosphere is lifted through meticulous restraint. Chikkamagaluru isn't glorified either. It feels lived in, slightly cold, almost like the house is breathing along with the story. And yet, for all its craft and effort, Ayyana Mane can't completely shrug off its television roots. The storytelling dips into familiar zones—the overprotective mother, the emotionally distant husband, kitchen scenes loaded with tension, and red herrings that feel a bit too convenient. There's also the case of themes that are touched but not explored— trauma, mental illness, grief, and gender politics—all are hinted at but left underdeveloped. The plot's biggest twists lean toward safety, and while they hold your attention, they don't exactly shake you. What starts as a potentially rich psychological mystery, slowly settles into a more straightforward whodunnit. However, what works in Ayyana Mane is its intention. It doesn't want to be loud. It doesn't want to stretch forever. And even when it plays safe, it's trying to deliver a better product than what Kannada TV viewers have been fed for decades. That in itself deserves some credit. If you're someone used to Kannada television, this might feel like a much-needed upgrade—minus the over-the-top performances, and deafening music. If you're a regular OTT viewer, it's a decent weekend watch — one that brings a whiff of homegrown storytelling, even if it's not entirely pathbreaking. Ayyana Mane is a modestly gripping, atmospherically told series. It doesn't push boundaries, but it doesn't embarrass either. It's a welcome step into original Kannada storytelling. For viewers, it's a reminder that sometimes, even a house full of ghosts can feel strangely familiar.
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.
India Today
25-04-2025
- Entertainment
- India Today
Ayyana Mane review: A streak of suspicious deaths, Dhaiva and a dose of mystery
'Ayyana Mane' is a thriller drama written and directed by Ramesh Indira. Starring Khushi Ravi, of Dia fame, along with an ensemble cast of well-known artists from the Kannada entertainment space, this miniseries is an edge-of-seat thriller with a whole lot of mystery and misdirections, bringing merit to the a traditional demi-god rooted in the regional culture of South India, rose to fame nationwide when Rishab Shetty's 'Kantara' went viral. Known by different names, the devotion towards a territorial 'Dhaiva' and the mystery surrounding it is an intriguing aspect that has triggered several filmmakers to explore them as plot points in films that came after 'Kantara'. This Zee5 original series, 'Ayyana Mane' also builds an interesting mystery thriller, placing Kondarayya's (Dhaiva) anger as its is that it? Not at all. 'Ayyana Mane' is a very smartly constructed miniseries of six episodes. With each episode being only 18 minutes long, the narrative doesn't lag at any point, as the screenplay is as crisp as it gets. While the trailer creates some level of intrigue, each episode excellently places lots of questions, not to mention the impressive cliffhangers that almost certainly make you want to binge. The biggest question of all is: 'Is the Dhaiva a punisher or a protector?' The thriller is most satisfying when all questions are answered by the end, leaving no questions lingering in your head that might turn the experience sour. The makers have ensured a tight ending to the plot with all questions being answered, and subsequently leaving one important message to society: pay attention to the mental wellness of people around you!advertisementWriter-director Ramesh Indira has drafted an excellent narrative that steadily establishes questions and misdirections while introducing characters. The treatment given to these characters may seem like a blend of style between a traditional TV serial and a modern web series. It was a technically written script sticking to the traditional structure of writing thrillers, carrying the good notes of a TV serial, minus the hyper-melodrama and looping dialogues like 'Kya! Kya! Kya!'Performances were the standout factor in this series, as it presented a good mix of realistic and dramatic acting, almost resonating a stage performance, yet managing to look convincing on screen. Khushi Ravi, who plays the lead character Jaji, has done a commendable job as an innocent young woman who gets married into a house full of mystery and terror. Playing the anchor role who is driving the narrative of finding out what's happening in 'Ayyana Mane' (Ayya's House), Khushi uses her charm to bring the audience to her side and makes them feel whatever her character goes through during the course of the supporting cast includes Manasi Sudhir, Akshay Nayak, Hitha Chandrashekar, Anirudh Acharya, Archana Kottige, Shobharaj Pavoor, Khushi Chandrashekar, among others. Every single artiste has pulled off their character effectively, which subsequently heightened the efficiency of the story. A special shout-out to Archana Kottige for her portrayal of Charulatha, a borderline schizophrenic daughter-in-law of the house, whose paranoia induces a spine-tingling feeling, even with her limited screen the story unfolds, the twists start getting predictable and so do the motives in this series, which gradually turns into a whodunnit. While the director has used misdirections effectively to keep the audience guessing, there are several moments where these misdirections seem less organic, leaving behind a taste of outdatedness when you watch it. In what seemed like a desperate attempt to ensure the audience didn't know whom to trust, it turned out to be an extremely basic execution of misplacing terms of technicality, this miniseries had some digestible flaws but also showed moments of expertise. The cinematography was on point, with Rahul Roy consistently bringing an immersive feeling, as if the viewer is a third person witnessing some key moments of the series. At the same time, he also manages to capture the aesthetic beauty of Chikkamagaluru, a district of Karnataka known for its natural beauty. Other technical departments also contributed significantly, but there were moments of flaws every now and 'Ayyana Mane' is no doubt an interesting watch that is quick, crisp and time-friendly as well. For an avid binge-watcher, this miniseries must be a cakewalk to complete. The good thing is, even for someone who isn't a binge-watcher, this series is intriguing enough to make them one.'Ayyana Mane is streaming on Zee5 from April 25.3 stars out of 5 stars for 'Ayyana Mane'.
