Starring: Karthik Rathnam, Hebah Patel, Sampath Raj, Kamna Jetmalani, Sukrutha Wagle, Shivani, Sujith Kumar, Raja Ashok, Guru Raj
Director: Anand Ranga
Producer: Pattabi R Chilukuri
Music Director: Naresh Kumaran
ZEE5 has recently launched a web series called “Vyavastha,” directed by Anand Ranga, featuring Karthik Rathnam, Hebah Patel, and Sampath Raj in prominent roles. The series revolves around a legal drama, and here’s what we think of it.
Plot: Yamini (played by Hebah Patel) gets arrested on her wedding night, accused of murdering her husband. She approaches Chakraborty (Sampath Kumar), the head of the law firm Chak Mate, to handle her case. However, Yamini doesn’t trust Chakraborty and hires a new lawyer, Vamsi (Karthik Rathnam), who had previously been in love with her. The series explores the challenges Vamsi faces due to Chakraborty’s interference and the ultimate outcome of the case.
Pros: Karthik Rathnam delivers a sincere and impressive performance in Vyavastha, following his acclaimed performances in “C/o Kancherapalem” and “Narappa.” Sampath Raj steals the show as a renowned lawyer willing to do anything to gain more wealth and power. The series begins on a high note, introducing the characters smoothly, and showcases how Sampath Raj establishes a monopoly in the legal system. Kamna Jetmalani delivers a decent performance, and her character touches on a shocking and unknown aspect. The dialogues are well-written, making the show engaging at times.
Cons: After the first episode, it becomes difficult to understand the direction of the series. Several subplots and characters that are not related to the main plot are introduced, and many repetitive scenes follow, deviating from the central point. The editing is confusing, with no connection between most sequences. Additionally, as Hebah Patel’s character goes missing for a significant amount of time, the makers’ intentions become unclear. The series is also very lengthy, requiring a lot of patience to complete. While the idea of highlighting corruption in the legal system is promising, the execution is not appealing. Furthermore, despite being a legal courtroom drama, the series lacks sufficient courtroom scenes, and the ending is highly unsatisfactory.
Verdict: On the whole, Vyavastha is a lengthy legal drama that loses momentum after a promising start. The basic premise is excellent, but the focus on subplots undermines the primary point. While the performances of Sampath Raj and Karthik Rathnam are noteworthy, and some moments are interesting, the series, as a whole, is a tedious watch.