Vadhuvu Web Series Review: This thriller has its moments

Directed by Poluru Krishna, Vadhuvu presents a compelling story accompanied by mysterious characters driven by different motives. Despite these intriguing elements, the director fails to completely captivate the audience.

For those unfamiliar with the source material, Vadhuvu takes its inspiration from the Bengali show ‘The Hindu’. As I have not seen the original, this review stands alone and offers insights based solely on Vadhuvu’s independent experience.

story

Anjuri Indu’s (Avika Gore) wedding is abruptly interrupted when her younger sister elopes with her groom. This deeply affects Hindu and his family on a psychological level. A year later, Indu finally finds another match and marries Anand (Nandu), but the journey is far from smooth sailing.

Upon entering Anand’s house, Indu encounters a series of mysterious situations. The disturbing behavior of Anand’s family raises questions, and the lingering mystery of why she ran away with Indu and her intended groom complicates the ongoing narrative.

The rest of the story revolves around figuring out the answers to these intriguing questions as the characters delve into the mystery surrounding Anaand’s family and the circumstances that lead Indu’s sister to make a drastic decision.

performances

The trio of Avika Gori, Ali Reza and Nandu bear the brunt of the responsibility in the field of performances. Avika Gore skillfully captures the inner turmoil of Hindu and portrays it believably.

Ali Reza, who portrays Indu’s brother Arya, commands a significant amount of screen time and deftly brings out the nuanced, gray shades of her character.

Nandu, as Indu’s husband Anand, gives a delightful performance, effectively conveying the character’s frustration and questionable behavior.

Unfortunately, the remaining members of the cast fail to make a significant impact. A major drawback of Vadhuvu lies in its repetitive sequences and sluggish pace. Some scenes are redundant and could easily be omitted by the director.

In addition, the web show ends with more questions than answers, introducing a number of cliffhangers that can detract from the audience’s overall enjoyment. This unresolved aspect becomes a significant obstacle to a satisfying viewing experience.

Analysis

Vadhuvu enjoys the short duration of its episodes, each lasting over 20 minutes. This brevity prevents the viewer from becoming restless even during moments of stagnation within the plot.

As mentioned earlier, the mysterious nature of Vadhuvu’s characters is effective, at least initially. Viewers know that something unusual is happening, which creates a sense of intrigue as they are engaged in uncovering the reasons behind the unfolding events.

From a technical standpoint, the background score deserves notable praise. Its appropriately creepy tones contribute to the series’ overall tense atmosphere.

Given the predominantly indoor environment, the operator does not have much space to present his work. Still, the cinematography is commendable, adding a visually appealing layer to the series.

Streaming is enabled: Disney+Hotstar