Trisha makes her OTT debut with the Telugu web series Brinda, directed by Surya Manoj Vangala. Premiering on SonyLIV on August 2, the series has not been promoted enough for reasons unknown. Surprisingly, the show turns out to be a good watch, if not great.
Brinda dives into the world of serial killers, a genre that always manages to attract attention. The series spans eight episodes, each about 40 minutes long.
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Surya Manoj Vangala offers a look into the lives of Brinda, her childhood, Sarathi, Kabir Anand (played by Indrajith Sukumaran), and the killer. All characters are well-developed, which helps keep viewers engaged.
The series tackles the impact of blind faith and superstition on society, a delicate topic given today’s sensitive religious climate. Surya handles this with care, exploring its negative effects while also examining how parenting—or the lack thereof—shapes the characters of the main characters.
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On the flip side, in the serial killer genre, the staging of crimes is crucial for understanding the killer’s psyche. Here, Surya introduces a rare bird as part of the crime scene. While intended to add a macabre touch, this element seems to fizzle out and the CGI bird isn’t very convincing.
The constant addition of twists can also feel overwhelming and distract from the main narrative. The writing could have been tighter.
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Episode 1 reveals the killer’s face which is a bit of disappointment, leaving the remaining episodes to maintain interest.
Personal subplots, such as Brinda’s ‘modern’ sister and Sarathi’s childless marriage, are clichéd and don’t contribute much to character development.
Effective writing should reveal details subtly, without making it too obvious. Brinda touches on cult dynamics but doesn’t delve deeply into them, and it sometimes blurs the line between ordinary emotions and psychopathy.
Despite its flaws, the series is engaging, and the killers’ backstories are compelling, though at times they might seem to justify their actions.
Trisha shines as Brinda, delivering one of her best performances. She, in her role as a dedicated cop, is refreshingly natural without much makeup.
Ravindra Vijay as Sarathi and Anandasami as the killer also deliver strong performances. Though Indrajith Sukumaran has limited screen time, he contributes effectively.
Trisha has been unlucky whenever she attempts a women-oriented subject like Mohini, Raangi, and The Road. But with Brinda, she scores her first success where she is the hero.
Overall, Brinda stands out as one of the better South OTT series.
