People have been talking about ZEE5's new Kannada web series, Shodha, ever since the trailer came out. The psychological thriller stars Pawan Kumar, Siri Ravikumar, and Anusha Ranganath. It is about mystery, identity, and the fine border between truth and delusion.
The narrative is about a lawyer named Rohit (Pawan Kumar) whose wife Meera goes missing. Rohit has a small accident just as he starts looking for anything. When he wakes up, his wife is suddenly there again, but he is sure that the lady who says she is Meera (Siri Ravikumar) is not who she says she is. But nobody believes him. Meera's sister Aditi (Anusha Ranganath) and Rohit's daughter Tara both say that he is confused because of his brain injury. The issue still stands: has Rohit lost touch with reality, or is there a bigger plot going on?
It's interesting that Shodha is based on the Hindi show Khoj Parchaiyo Ke Uss Paar on ZEE5. The original, which starred Sharib Hashmi, took six slow episodes to solve the main mystery. The Kannada version, on the other hand, is smarter. The writing is crisper, with fewer flaws and a more interesting flow, thanks to Pawan Kumar's work as a "script doctor."
Rohit's job as a lawyer is used in a smart way to give his character depth and power. Anusha Ranganath's part also gets a big boost from the original, and she becomes a key element of the story. Siri Ravikumar does a great job in the parts where it's unclear if her character is or isn't, but her character falls apart when the truth comes out—more because of the screenplay than her acting. Arun Sagar, who plays the investigating police officer, adds weight to the story but isn't used enough. Saptami Gowda's track doesn't seem to add anything.
Even with these small flaws, Shodha manages to be both interesting and fun, which is a big step up from the source material. ZEE5 Kannada is making progress, although it's still early in the process of making good unique content after Ayyana Mane. Pawan Kumar and his crew show with Shodha that local adaptations may work if they are handled with care, concentration, and originality.
Verdict: Shodha isn't perfect, but it's a good start for Kannada web series entertainment that makes you want to see more.
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