Dhootha Telugu Web Series Review: Naga Chaitanya has made his OTT debut with the supernatural thriller web series 'Dhootha', streaming on Prime Video. The series focuses on a corrupt journalist Sagar, whose life takes a dark turn after he starts seeing newspaper cuttings predicting heartwrenching tragedies. He has to race against time to save his loved ones and solve the mystery behind the murders as he becomes the prime suspect. Created by Vikram K Kumar, 'Dhootha' also stars Prachi Desai, Parvathy Thiruvothu and Sathyapriya Bhavani Shankar.
Review:
What Works For The Series
'Dhootha' starts on a strong note and sets the dark tone for the series from the very first scene. The story has been told intriguingly as it manages to keep the audience captivated since the beginning. The 8-episode series perfectly blends the supernatural and suspense elements which hold the narrative together till the end.
The background score adds more tension to the scenes and complements the atmospheric tone perfectly. It moves the story forward as the characters go through different dilemmas. 'Dhootha' does not hold back in showcasing the brutality in deaths which makes those scenes more realistic but can be hard to watch for some people. Some scenes are beautifully shot and are visually pleasing despite the presence of bloodshed throughout the show.
'Dhootha' will make you question the ideologies and ethics of noble professions that have been corrupted due to greed and selfishness. Vikram K Kumar is well known for merging suspense and thrill with horror and fantasy and 'Dhootha' will remind you of his previous projects like '13B' and '24'.
What Does Not Work
The suspense and unpredictability built up throughout the series feel disappointing in the finale. The flashback scenes, which are one of the most important parts of the plot, lack better execution, are stretched and have less impact than they should have.
Performances:
The performance by each and every actor is absolutely brilliant as they can make you gradually love and hate their characters. Naga Chaitanya carries the series on his shoulder and is a treat to watch in every episode. He shows his versatility as an actor by displaying various range of emotions and convincingly transforms from a confident journalist to a helpless and scared man.
Parvathy Thiruvothu impresses as Kranthi, investigating the mysterious deaths and comes forward as a strong and confident character. Priya Bhavani Shankar and Prachi Desai put forth stellar performances and impeccably display shades of grey in their roles. Ravindra Vijay as Inspector Ajay Ghosh makes you hate his nefarious and greedy character but leaves a lasting impact due to his terrible performance.
Final Thoughts:
'Dhootha' is an impressive series to invest your time in if you love a good crime thriller with a supernatural twist to it. The enthralling plot and performances are the highlight of this web series but can let you down due to its predictable ending.