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Harikatha Web Series Review: A routine, predictable and half-baked thriller

Harikatha Web Series Review: The six-episode series is directed by Maggi and has Srikanth and Rajendra Prasad in lead roles and suffers from a lack of proper thrills. 

2/5rating
Harikatha Web Series Review: A routine, predictable and half-baked thriller

Harikatha

Last Updated: 02.55 PM, Dec 13, 2024

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Harikatha Story

A series of murders take place in a small village, with only the wrongdoers being killed, one after the other. Observing the pattern, the villagers conclude that these killings are acts of divine intervention. However, the murder of an honest cop, played by Ambati Arjun, shakes this belief. To investigate his death, Virat (Srikanth) steps in and begins unraveling the mystery. All clues lead to a drama company headed by Rajendra Prasad. But there’s a twist in the tale. Whether Virat uncovers the real culprit behind the murders forms the crux of the web series, which is now streaming on Disney+ Hotstar.

Harikatha Review

Harikatha was produced by TG Vishwa Prasad and directed by Maggi. During the promotions, Rajendra Prasad and others revealed that the show would stun audiences with its narration. Unfortunately, it does not live up to the hype and ends up being a predictable and half-baked thriller.

Director Maggi narrates the story by unveiling the culprit early and uses a unique screenplay to reveal the story step by step. However, this approach creates some confusion. The first episode is impactful but revolves around a predictable premise involving a mother and son facing caste-based issues. The mother is killed, the son goes rogue, and everything is showcased in a cliched manner.

The story only gains some traction when the son justifies his crimes by invoking a deity, making Harikatha somewhat engaging. The third and fourth episodes depict the police investigation and the truth behind the crimes effectively, but once these revelations occur, the story falls flat, offering nothing new.

Harikatha web series
Harikatha web series

One of the major drawbacks of the series is its underdeveloped characters. The hero Srikanth, the main villain, and others are introduced abruptly without proper backstories or motivations. Only Rajendra Prasad’s character is given depth, and the emotional pain behind his story is portrayed well.

The series lacks compelling drama, and the director fails to create sequences that could have made the narrative more gripping. Many scenes feel routine and have already been explored in earlier films and series. The emotional arc of Srikanth’s character lacks proper development, and his motivation to uncover the truth feels rushed and unconvincing.

The performances are a mixed bag. Rajendra Prasad, as expected, excels in his role as a drama company owner and theater artist, though his character occasionally feels over-the-top. Pujitha Ponnada is adequate in her small role, while Divi (of Bigg Boss fame) has a role with little substance. Srikanth gives his best, but the weak handling of his character limits his impact. The actor portraying the "God" character is miscast and delivers an over-the-top performance.

Harikatha
Harikatha

On the technical front, Suresh Bobbilli’s background score is effective and elevates the drama. The production values are decent, the camerawork is commendable, and the action design is adequate. The mythological angle used in the story is decent but it should have been elevated more.

However, the screenplay is a major letdown, starting confusingly and failing to present anything new by the end. Harikatha has a strong premise that could have been executed with more thrills, but its dull screenplay, lack of twists, and rushed ending make it a disappointing watch.

Harikatha Verdict

On the whole, Harikatha is a half-baked thriller that is rushed, lacks engaging thrills, and suffers from poor characterization. Only Rajendra Prasad’s performance stands out in this series, which has a predictable premise and little to offer in terms of novelty.

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