A review of Ayyana Mane
Featuring Kushee Ravi, Manasi Sudhir, Hitha Chandrashekar, Archana Kottige, Ramesh Indira, and Sihi Kahi Chandru
By Shruti Naidu
Check it out on Zee5

Rating: ★★

The OTT landscape has experienced a scarcity of Kannada content, and the new web series Ayyana Mane, directed by television veteran Ramesh Indira and produced by his spouse Shruti Naidu, aims to establish a new trend in this arena. The six-episode series, which was released on Zee5 on April 25, centers on Jaaji (Kushee Ravi), who marries Dushyanth (Akshay Nayak) and relocates to his family residence - Ayyana Mane.

What's Ayyana Mane all about?

As soon as Jaaji arrives at her husband’s ancestral home, Ayyane Mane, her father-in-law suddenly dies. While a terrified Jaaji thinks she is bringing misfortune to the household, her mother-in-law, husband, and brothers-in-law reassure her otherwise. Not only does she encounter strange events within the home, but she also observes that the members of the household behave oddly, leading her to suspect something is amiss. She quickly discovers the enigmatic deaths of the other daughters-in-law, along with the unusual significance of the family deity and specific family traditions. All these factors contribute to Jaaji’s fear that she might be the next victim. Although her husband reassures her that there is no need for fear, Jaaji’s mother-in-law Nagamma (Manasi Sudhir) insists she keeps silent about the strange happenings in the house. What is truly occurring in Ayyana Mane? Who is responsible for these fatalities? Will Jaaji meet the same fate?

Where it falls short

Given that director Ramesh Indira is recognized for his Kannada serials, Ayyana Mane similarly adheres to a soap opera structure rather than an OTT series format. What should be an engaging mystery thriller is sluggish and lacks the chilling atmospheric vibe one would anticipate in such a series. A few red herrings are introduced to cast suspicion on various characters, but they are neither believable nor genuine. Even the justification for the murders being committed is also not persuasive enough.

Themes such as family deities and traditions, along with superstitions in rural areas, are examined in Ayyana Mane, but regrettably, it’s all at a very surface level. Consequently, the screenplay does not progress smoothly, and it becomes tiresome halfway through.

Kannada actor Kushee Ravi anchors the series and portrays the innocent-yet-curious, frightened-yet-brave Jaaji effortlessly. Since Ayyana Mane resembles a typical TV soap, the part would have been an easy task for her. Manasi Sudhir plays a significant role and is believable, while the others perform at an acceptable level.

From a technical standpoint, the cinematography by Rahul Roy is notable, as are the costumes by Shilpa Hegde, particularly the selection of sarees for the women. The background music by LV Muthu Ganesh, son of L Vaidyanathan, enhances the scenes as well.

Overall, Ayyana Mane presents a fascinating premise, but this story of mysterious deaths, superstitions, and deities is hindered by subpar writing.

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