Mayasabha Review: Deva Katta's series is controversial, compelling & unmissable

Mayasabha Review: Deva Katta's series is a slow-burn that delivers political heat. Aadhi Pinisetty and Chaitanya Rao shine in this bold take on Andhra politics. Deva Katta’s makes a strong comeback.

Mayasabha web series review

Mayasabha

Mayasabha Story

Though the makers have not mentioned any names, Mayasabha is based on the legendary politicians Nara Chandra Babu Naidu and YS Rajasekhar Reddy. Krishnama Naidu (Aadhi Pinisetty) comes from a farming background and starts his career in student politics. On the other hand, Rami Reddy (Chaitanya Rao) is a medical college student who comes from a family background. The nine-episode series, now streaming on Sony Liv, is about how these two different individuals, who take the path of politics, become close friends and end up becoming hardcore enemies after taking big posts in Andhra politics in the bygone era. You can also stream Mayasabha on OTTplay Premium.

Mayasabha Review

Mayasabha has been created by popular director Deva Katta, who made the cult classic Prasthanam. After giving a string of flops, he makes a strong comeback with Mayasabha, a very controversial subject based on two very popular chief ministers of Andhra Pradesh, Chandra Babu Naidu and the late YS Rajasekhar Reddy.

Though Deva has termed the show as fictional, he narrates the story of two young leaders who become close friends and end up in opposing parties. Mayasabha will have multiple seasons, and the first deals with the rise of the titans. The subject itself is so interesting that everyone was eager to see how Deva Katta would showcase the lives of Chandra Babu and Rajasekhar Reddy in a fictional tone.

The moment you start watching the show, you get to see that Deva Katta has done a lot of research. Not many from the bygone era would have even known the backstories of both leaders. Deva Katta effectively narrates the story of the politicians right from a young age, why they chose politics, their family background, what insults they faced, and what made them take the big leap. All this is established superbly in the initial three episodes.

Mayasabha does not shy away from showcasing the caste system, which was rampant during the late 80s in Andhra, and how a particular caste dominated the scenario, and how others fought through it. Without taking sides, Deva Katta shocks you with the bold content and his take on how politics was once run by caste-based dominance.

The best part of the series is the casting. Deva Katta and co-director Kiran Kumar are spot on with their casting, and the actors chosen deliver top-notch performances. How the story moves forward creates interest for the most part. The last three episodes are riveting, with the drama reaching its peak level.

The confrontation scenes and the emotional turmoil the characters go through are neatly elevated in the setup. How the first season ends and sets up the tone for the actual masala is showcased in a gripping manner and leaves the audience wanting more. Those who love politics and are aware of the happenings that created history in Andhra will love Mayasabha.

However, there will be a few political analysts who might find issues with the narrative and feel a few incidents have been over-dramatized to make things spicy for the viewers. Having said this, Mayasabha takes its own sweet time to get to the actual political drama. The entry of powerful actors like Nasser, Sai Kumar, and others happens only after the sixth episode.

But once that happens, the actual masala begins, and the show becomes gripping. Mayasabha is a slow-burning political drama that touches upon various historical issues in a very candid and daring manner. Be it the killing of Rami Reddy's dad, the caste system, NTR taking interest in politics, or the likes of Ramoji Rao (played by Nasser) ruling Andhra politics, all this has been showcased in a gripping manner.

Had Deva Katta started these aspects in the fifth episode itself and spent more time on the political drama, things would have been even more amazing. But it looks like this is just a trailer, and the best is yet to come in the upcoming season.

Coming to the performances, Mayasabha has one of the best performances in recent times when it comes to the Telugu OTT space. Aadhi Pinisetty leads from the front, and his transformation from a helpless leader to a mature politician is amazing. Aadhi gets a tough role as his character stammers. This aspect is showcased beautifully by Aadhi, and Mayasabha is undoubtedly his career-best performance.

Also Read: Aadhi Pinisetty Interview: I wanted Mayasabha as a film, but Deva turned it into a power-packed series

On the other hand, Chaitanya Rao comes out of the syllabus and shocks everyone with his mind-blowing performance. When he was cast for the role of YS Rajasekhar Reddy, everyone had doubts as to how a young actor like him would pull off such an intense role. But Chaitanya is just amazing. The way he confidently mouths that Rayalaseema slang, walks the talk, and confronts the likes of Aadhi showcases his talent. He will surely be the one to watch out for in the days to come.

Nasser is a seasoned actor, and the way he portrays the media baron Sivaji Rao brings a lot of depth to the series. His intense eyes speak a thousand words, though he does not have many dialogues. Sai Kumar is a sensation in the series. He is cast superbly in the role of NTR. Be it his voice or the towering presence he brings, Sai Kumar's entry gives a new high to the series.

Srikanth Iyengar and Shankar Mohanty were good in their roles. Divya Dutta gets to play a crucial role, and her screen presence brings a lot of depth to the proceedings. Tanya Ravichandran is also good in her role. The supporting cast was also good in their respective roles.

As the makers have done extensive research, the production designs, artwork, college life, and props used from the bygone era everything is on point. The camerawork enhances the drama big time, and the scenes that showcase the emergence of the two powerful leaders are amazing.

The dialogues need a special mention and have been mouthed to perfection. Though there are a few controversial dialogues about the caste system, they feel organic.

Deva Katta, who is known for his drama in all his films, has been through a rough patch, but with Mayasabha, he returns with a bang and tells the story of two powerful legends in Andhra politics without taking any sides.

The detailing is amazing, and one gets to know the untold truths in a very engaging manner. Mayasabha gets only better with each episode, and with the first season ending on a cliffhanger, the stage is set for a gripping season 2.

Mayasabha Verdict

On the whole, Mayasabha is a riveting political drama that showcases unknown facts about Andhra politics, which was once dominated by two powerful leaders. Though the series takes time to establish the drama, once it does, the amazing performances, solid visuals, and stunning narrative keep you hooked till the end. The icing on the cake is the presence of actors like Sai Kumar, who give this series a cut above the rest. A must-watch.

FAQs:

Q. Is Mayasabha based on real-life politicians?

A. Yes, it is loosely based on Chandra Babu Naidu and YS Rajasekhar Reddy

Q. Where to stream Mayasabha in Tamil and Hindi?

A. You can stream the show on Sony Liv and OTTplay Premium

Q. How many episodes are there in Mayasabha?

A. Mayasabha has nine episodes in total

Q. When is Mayasabha OTT release date?

A. Mayasabha is now streaming on OTTplay Premium. Click here to watch .

Share