Sammelanam Review: The ETV Win series is a boring and outdated tale of romance and friendship

2/5

Sammelanam Story

Arjun (Vignay Abhishek), Rahul (Srikanth), and Shreya (Bindu Nuthakki) are a close-knit group of friends. One day, an aspiring writer named Ram (Ganaditya) moves into their room, and things take a turn for the better. Meghana (Priya Vadlamani), a pretty girl, falls for Ram, but he steps back upon realizing that his close friend and roommate, Arjun, is also in love with her. The rest of the story follows whom Meghana ultimately chooses in this six-episode web series on ETV Win. 

Sammelanam Review

Sammelanam revolves around four friends and is directed by Tharun Mahadev. His take on friendship and the ego issues that arise in love, friendships, and careers forms the central theme of the show. When making such shows, it is essential to include relatable moments that evoke nostalgia. While Sammelanam has these aspects, the way it is narrated leaves much to be desired.

One of the biggest drawbacks of the series is the lack of seriousness in its execution. This happens because the director lacks a clear vision, moving from one conflict to another without proper clarity. The writing also lacks depth. Despite having ample scope to make the narrative engaging, the haphazard screenplay weakens the entire show.

The primary conflict—two friends falling in love with the same girl—has been explored in numerous shows before, and Sammelanam fails to offer anything new. The dialogue does not sync well with the emotions, and the comedy fails to leave an impact. As a result, there are no standout moments that hold the viewer’s attention.

One of the key selling points of Sammelanam, as suggested by its promos, is the friendship angle. Unfortunately, even this is not well established by the director. The series lacks strong moments that highlight the essence of friendship, making it feel underdeveloped. There are barely any high points that grab the audience’s interest. The scenes flow without much impact, and the characters are not given proper arcs.

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Stories like Sammelanam require strong writing and solid execution, especially since predictability is a major challenge. However, director Tharun Mahadev fails to handle this aspect effectively. While a few scenes involving Priya Vadlamani manage to spark some interest, they are not enough to salvage the series.

Coming to the performances, Priya Vadlamani gets a well-defined role and continues to improve with each project. In Sammelanam, she brings a lot to the table, though her character is not developed to its full potential. Bindu and Jeevan Priya Reddy are adequate in their roles, delivering what is required. Ganaaditya is the weakest of the lot and fails to make a strong impact. Vignya Abhishek and Shivanth are decent in their respective roles.

As Sammelanam is a musical, Yashwanth Nag’s songs are decent and breezy. The production values are adequate, while the cinematography effectively showcases the contemporary setting. However, the overall storytelling remains unimpressive, and the ending further weakens the impact. Despite having the potential to be a lively and entertaining series, Sammelanam is ultimately let down by immature narration.

Sammelanam Verdict

On the whole, Sammelanam is a below-par web series that fails to make an impression. The themes of friendship and romance are underdeveloped, making the viewing experience dull. With nothing fresh to offer, the series falls flat, and viewers would be better off exploring other options on OTT this weekend.

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