Review: Vikkatakavi - Honest and Neat

 

Web Series: Vikkatakavi
Rating: 3/5

Cast: Naresh Agastya, Tarak Ponnappa, Megha Akash, Shiju Menon, Raghu Kunche, Mukthar Khan, Amit Tiwari and others

Director: Pradeep Maddali

Produced By: SRT Entertainments

Streaming On: Zee Telugu

Story:

The story of this series takes place in the 1970s and centers on Ramakrishna, a gifted student at Osmania University in Hyderabad who is renowned for his keen investigative abilities. Ramakrishna sets out to find the truth when his professor gives him the mystery of Amaragiri, a place where people unexpectedly lose their memories after visiting the frightening Devathala Gutta. Who and what is behind the mystery of Amaragiri? Is there any divine force acting as the main force? What mysteries surround Ramakrishna's past, and who is he? Will he unravel the secret or become a part of it? The series unravels the mystery.

Performances:

Naresh Agastya performed very well as the Vikkatakavi—Ramakrishna. He never overdoes anything and maintains the same flow throughout the series. Tarak Ponnappa does a commendable job in a crucial role. Megha Akash does not have much scope, while Shiju Menon, Raghu Kunche, Mukthar Khan, Amit Tiwari, and others were apt.

What worked for the series:

Director Pradeep Maddali does a fantastic job adapting an interesting plot into a well-made web series. Vikkatakavi makes its viewers glued to the screen from the first frame with its captivating plot and clear storytelling. Despite a short runtime compared to other web shows, each episode concludes on a strong note. Despite the mismatch of tempo here and there, the narration is engaging. The flashback part, where the hero's connection with Amaragiri is established, comes good and the character of Tarak Ponnappa acts as the main emotional basement of the series. 

What did not work for the series:

The twists in the series are not great. One can expect the people behind the mystery of Amaragiri. The director should have concentrated on more excitement with regard to the characters, like the schoolmaster and his lover. Also, the twist regarding the main villain was good, but the scenes that reveal the person could have been better. The people of the tribal area are introduced with a good buildup, but they were not utilized properly by the director. 

Vikkatakavi Review and Verdict:

Vikkatakavi is a fairly engaging detective series. The interesting plot and likable narration work well, while some predictable parts work against it. The backstory has the right amount of emotion, while the challenges for the protagonist could have been stronger.