Save The Tigers on Disney+ Hotstar is a timely, funnier upgrade to the Kshemanga Velli Labhanga Randi universe

When a show revolves around three men bonding over booze, discussing their marital woes, cribbing about their wives, there’s every reason to be sceptical about its intentions. However, while you begin watching Disney+ Hotstar’s latest Telugu show Save The Tigers and expect it to sail in the same boat as F2 and Kshemanga Velli Labhanga Randi, it springs a pleasant surprise.

Marking the directorial debut of actor, theatreperson Teja Kakumanu, the show-co-created by Mahi V Raghav and Pradeep Advaitham brings together a good mix of familiar and new faces including Priyadarshi, Chaitanya Krishna, Abhinav Gomatam, Sujatha, Pavani Gangireddy, Devayani, Gangavva, Harshavardhan, Venu Tillu (Yeldandi), Rohini, Saddam and Sunaina.

Also read: Save The Tigers creator Mahi V Raghav on his love for OTT-form storytelling, plans for his banner Three Autumn Leaves | Exclusive 

In times when gender equations in relationships have changed considerably, it’s always interesting to revisit done-to-death tropes and give it a modern-day spin. When most comedies centred on married men conveniently resort to male chauvinism, insensitive sexist parodies, Save The Tigers relies on situational humour and is a lighthearted jibe at how men and women contrastingly approach relationships.

Every character has a distinct identity and no one is a sidekick. Ravi Ganta takes pride in running a diary farm, Goutham isn’t insecure about leaving a cushy job and staying at home to try his hand at writing. Vikram juggles between his work and being a good hands-on parent. The women in their lives too are ambitious, independent and don’t pick on the men without a reason. Save The Tigers doesn’t arrive at sweeping generalisations on genders.

The protagonists constantly land in awkward situations and it’s their instinctive reactions that invite fun into the mix. The characters are wacky, behave hysterically but they do so in good jest. Save The Tigers doesn’t take itself seriously and it’s a relief. Beyond the humour, there’s depth in the interpersonal relationships and every second situation isn’t milked for laughs.

Save The Tigers is a textbook example of how one could deal with a familiar template and still be very today in their treatment. At times, the brand of humour is on the lines of a Kshemanga Velli Labhanga Randi-meets-The Hangover. The laughs slightly dry up in the later episodes though it’s a jolly good show to binge-watch with family and friends this weekend. There’s every reason to name it the Jathi Ratnalu of the OTT world.

Also read: Save the Tigers OTT release date: When and where to watch Priyadarshi, Abhinav Gomatam, Chaitanya Krishna’s show