BOTTOM LINE
Tv-Serial-Style Rural Thriller
PLATFORM
ZEE5
RUNTIME
2 hours (6 episodes)
What Is the Show About?
Jaaji gets married to Dushyanta, the youngest son in a joint family that’s guarding a mystery, in return for a 5-acre property. Right on the day she enters her in-laws’ house, her father-in-law is found dead. Her brother-in-law Mahesha has strange visions about his ex-wife Pushpavati. Over time, Jaaji realises that the house harbours secrets that could destroy her peace.
Performances
The show largely rests on Kushee Ravi’s steady shoulders. She carries the drama with a convincing performance as a confused daughter-in-law trying to uncover the secrets of a strange and eerie family. It’s clear she has grown as an actor since her Dia days, and it’s heartening to see a new side to her talent. Manasi Sudhir also stands out, bringing strength and a strong screen presence to her role.
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Analysis
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Ayyana Mane is a murder mystery wrapped in the guise of a family drama, with a few mystical elements. This rural-centric tale centres on the newlywed Jaaji, who slowly uncovers unsettling secrets about her husband Dushyanta’s family—one in which several people have died under strange circumstances. Lured by the promise of a 5-acre property, Jaaji’s parents choose not to question the alliance deeply, leaving their daughter to deal with the consequences.
At a plot level, the show seems partly inspired by the Hoichoi series Indu (which was later remade for Hotstar with Avika Gor as Vadhuvu), also dealing with a girl who steps into a creepy haveli hiding undiscovered secrets. While the premise is thematically similar, the inner workings of Ayyana Mane remain original and stay true to the cultural ethos of the Kannada audience.
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The six-episode series has a reasonably fast-paced (though at times helter-skelter) screenplay, unfolding in just under two hours. Director Ramesh Indira unveils one sinister secret after another, leaving a few puzzles for the viewer to decode, eventually connecting the dots in an emphatic finale. The show leans more on shock value than on a tightly structured plot, but the proceedings remain engaging.
Given Ramesh Indira’s vast television experience, the treatment of the show is rather conservative, with a woman’s scope largely limited to her home, husband, and domestic responsibilities. On discovering the strange deaths in the family, Jaaji is understandably shaken, but she stays on, reassured by her husband and mother-in-law’s repeated promises of normalcy.
Each character in the show has clearly defined traits, and the director deliberately holds back some cards. All the siblings in the household—from her husband Dushyanta to Mahesha, Shiva Swamy, and Poorni—have sharply contrasting destinies. However, the show tends to rush from one major event or revelation to the next, not giving the story enough time to settle or grow on the viewer.
A supernatural undercurrent runs through the narrative, with talk of an evil force threatening to tear the family apart. There are references to the local god Kondayya, a past mass suicide in the house, and superstitions specific to the village. This adds some intrigue, but the reliance on outdated tropes holds the show back from reaching its full potential.
Ayyana Mane could’ve worked better if the director had taken more care to build a haunting atmosphere and explore the characters’ psychology, rather than relying on quick shocks. Though the story isn’t entirely new, it would’ve benefited from a fresher perspective—one where characters aren’t reduced to simple binaries and suspense is built more gradually.
While the show does carry the feel of a TV soap and doesn’t offer much novelty to the thriller genre, it stays tolerable thanks to its performances, multiple layers, and a steady stream of twists.
Performances by Others Actors
That said, most characters in the show aren’t developed deeply enough to allow for truly layered performances. Even so, actors like Akshay Nayak, Vijay Shobaraj Pavoor, and Anirudh Acharya do a good job with what they’re given. They’re well supported by Kushi Chandrashekar, Vanishree Kulkarni, Natana Manju, Archana Kottige, Amritha KP, and others, who help keep the show grounded.
Music and Other Departments?
Perhaps due to its fast pacing and constant twists, the background score by LV Muthu-Ganesh, though functional, lacks lasting impact. However, Rahul Roy’s earthy and elegant cinematography gives the show a distinct visual identity. A slower, more atmospheric approach could’ve elevated the experience further, but the crisp 20-minute episodes don’t leave much room for that.
Highlights?
Good performances
Timely twists
Crisp episodes
Drawbacks?
Erratic writing relying on shock value
Poor character development
Surface level in terms of depth/mystery
Did I Enjoy It?
In parts
Will You Recommend It?
If you don’t mind a basic yet tolerable rural suspense thriller
Ayyana Mane Web Series Review by M9
