Review: “Rana Naidu” – A Netflix Original Series
Cast:
Starring: Venkatesh Daggubati, Rana Daggubati, Surveen Chawla, Abhishek Banerjee, Priya Banerjee, Sushant Singh, Ashish Vidyarthi, Adithya Menon, Mukul Chadda, Rajesh Jais, Rajesh Kumar, and others.
Director:
Directed by Suparn Verma & Karan Anshuman
Producer:
Produced by Sunder Aaron
Music:
Music Director: John Stewart Eduri
Cinematography:
Cinematography by Jayakrishna Gummadi
Editor:
Edited by Ninad Khanolkar
Netflix India brings forth “Rana Naidu,” a gripping web series marking the debut of Tollywood actor Victory Venkatesh in the OTT space. Co-starring Rana Daggubati, the show serves as the Indian adaptation of the popular American TV series, Ray Donovan. Directed by Suparn Verma & Karan Anshuman, this Hindi series is now available for streaming in various dubbed versions. Let’s delve into the series and see what it offers.
Story:
“Rana Naidu” revolves around Rana Naidu (Rana Daggubati), a go-to problem solver for celebrities in Mumbai. From Bollywood stars to cricketers, Rana Naidu is the go-to person to resolve their issues. However, his life takes a dramatic turn when his father, Naga Naidu (Venkatesh Daggubati), reappears in Mumbai after 15 years of imprisonment. Rana, who harbors deep resentment towards his father, finds himself entangled in a complex web of family dynamics and past grievances. The series unfolds the reasons behind Rana’s animosity towards his father and the repercussions of Naga Naidu’s return.
Highlights:
The series showcases stellar performances, particularly by Rana Daggubati and Venkatesh Daggubati. Rana’s portrayal of Rana Naidu is commendable, capturing the character’s complexities with nuance and intensity. Venkatesh surprises the audience with his portrayal of Naga Naidu, showcasing his versatility as an actor. Surveen Chawla delivers a noteworthy performance as Rana’s wife, adding depth to the narrative. Abhishek Banerjee impresses as Jaffa, Rana’s brother, bringing depth to his character.
The confrontational scenes between Rana and Venkatesh are gripping, adding depth to their strained relationship. The series also features well-crafted subplots and engaging moments in the latter episodes.
Drawbacks:
Despite its promising premise and stellar cast, “Rana Naidu” falls short of expectations. The storyline, while intriguing, suffers from pacing issues and a lack of depth in character development. The screenplay fails to sustain momentum, resulting in a dragging narrative. The series also relies excessively on adult content and foul language, detracting from the overall viewing experience.
Technical Aspects:
The production values are commendable, with solid music and cinematography enhancing the viewing experience. However, the editing could have been tighter to alleviate pacing issues. Directors Suparn Verma & Karan Anshuman deliver a mixed bag, with commendable performances overshadowed by weak writing and direction.
Verdict:
“Rana Naidu” offers moments of brilliance but falls short of its potential due to pacing issues and uneven storytelling. While Venkatesh and Rana’s performances are commendable, the series struggles to maintain engagement throughout its runtime. Despite its flaws, it may still appeal to fans of the lead actors but manage your expectations accordingly.