Gaalivaana (transl. Storm) is a 2022 Indian Telugu-language mystery crime-thriller web series directed by Sharan Koppisetty with the story adapted and written by Chandra Pemmaraju. Produced by BBC Studios in association with Northstar Entertainment, the series has an ensemble cast of Radhika Sarathkumar, Sai Kumar, Chandini Chowdary, Nandini Rai, Chaitanya Krishna, Thagubothu Ramesh, Sharanya Pradeep and Ashritha Vemuganti.

Gaalivaana
GenreMystery
Crime thriller
Created byHarry and Jack Williams
Based onOne of Us
Screenplay byChandra Pemmaraju
Siddharth Hirwe
Riya Poojary
Anuj Rajoria
Story byChandra Pemmaraju (also dialogues)
Directed bySharan Koppisetty
Creative directorSantosh Annaparthi
Starring
Music byHari Gowra
Country of originIndia
Original languageTelugu
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes7
Production
Executive producersDeepali Handa
Neelima S. Marar
Producers
  • Sameer Gogate
  • Sharrath Marar
CinematographySujatha Siddharth
EditorSanthosh Kamireddy
Production companiesBBC Studios
Northstar Entertainment
Original release
NetworkZEE5
Release14 April 2022 (2022-04-14)

Based on BBC's original series One of Us,[1] it premiered on 14 April 2022 on ZEE5.[2] The series was simultaneously dubbed and released in Tamil as Kaarmegam.

Synopsis

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Ajay Varma and Geetha are childhood sweethearts, recently married and have just returned from their honeymoon. They are full of hope for the future-until their young lives are cut short by their brutal murder. Their two families, once split by old rifts, are now forced together in rage and grief. When the man who killed Ajay and Geetha crashes back into their lives, they face a choice that will have dark consequences for all of them. As they stumble down the dangerous path they've chosen, their journey twists and turns towards its devastating end.[3]

Cast

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Episodes

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No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal release date
1"The storm is coming"Sharan KoppisettyChandra Pemmaraju14 April 2022 (2022-04-14)
Childhood sweethearts Ajay Varma and Geetha are brutally murdered on their return from the honeymoon. Soon their devastated families discover the identity of a badly injured stranger who turns up on their doorstep.
2"One of us knows it all"Sharan KoppisettyChandra Pemmaraju14 April 2022 (2022-04-14)
Nandini, a police officer from Vizag to investigate the young couple's murder. The two families have new problem to deal with, as they realise they are not above crime.
3"The buried truth"Sharan KoppisettyChandra Pemmaraju14 April 2022 (2022-04-14)
While both families struggle to hide the crime, someone among them is hiding the truth from everyone. Saraswathi stumbles upon something that either solve it all, or create a big dilemma for her.
4"The knife knows the killer"Sharan KoppisettyChandra Pemmaraju14 April 2022 (2022-04-14)
Savitri blackmails Komarraju to not reveal Srikanth's visit to the cattle barn the night Srinu died. Nandini is terrified to see the news of the young guy's death because of the drugs she supplied. Meanwhile, Ravindra Varma commits suicide, and Marthand gets arrested.
5"Is it right to be wrong"Sharan KoppisettyChandra Pemmaraju14 April 2022 (2022-04-14)
David Raju warns Nandini to help him escape the city. Srikanth leaks a shocking information to the police. Nandini and the police team find the clue they’ve been searching for.
6"A truth greater than confession"Sharan KoppisettyChandra Pemmaraju14 April 2022 (2022-04-14)
The two families are taken into custody. Finally, Marthand confesses to murder. Sravani's world shatters when Shakantulamma reveals the truth to her.
7"An innocent mind knows no boundaries"Sharan KoppisettyChandra Pemmaraju14 April 2022 (2022-04-14)
Shakuntala reveals how overlooking something in the past has now caught up to destroy two families. Saraswathi unleashes a mother's wrath. Tulasi crumbles while Komarraju realises everything that he has been holding on to is false.

Production

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In December 2021, Telangana Today reported that P. Sai Kumar is making his debut in web series. The makers told the media house that "We have already started the shoot of the web series. It's the first time that a European show has been adapted into Telugu. Suitable changes have been made to the original to suit the Telugu nativity,” said the makers. BBC is entering the regional market with the show."[8] The final schedule of filming the series began in Gachibowli, Hyderabad in January 2022 and ended in February 2022.[9]

Reception

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Thadhagath Pathi of The Times of India gave a rating of 2.5 out of 5 and praised the performance of lead actors P. Sai Kumar and Radhika Sarathkumar.[3] Pinkvilla stated that it is "fairly gripping thriller that comes with a shocking twist" and also praised performances of lead actors.[10] Echoing the same, a reviewer of Sakshi felt that mid episodes of the series were slow-paced but worked well.[11] 123Telugu gave a rating of 3 out of 5 and wrote that "On the whole, Gaalivaana is a decent crime thriller that offers stellar performances by Sai Kumar, Radhika Sarathkumar and a couple of other actors. Some scenes in a couple of episodes make you press the forward button. Especially, the climax portion could have been written well to make the series a great thriller."

Nelki Naresh of Hindustan Times appreciated the performances and writing.[12]

References

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  1. ^ Telugu, ntv (11 December 2021). "'గాలివాన'లో సాయికుమార్, రాధిక!". NTV (in Telugu). Retrieved 15 April 2022.
  2. ^ "కొడుకును చంపినవాడే ఇంటికొస్తే.. 'గాలివాన' వెబ్ సిరీస్ రివ్యూ". Sakshi (in Telugu). 15 April 2022. Retrieved 15 April 2022.
  3. ^ a b "Gaalivaana Season 1 Review: An interesting plot let down by subpar narration", The Times of India, retrieved 15 April 2022
  4. ^ a b Telugu, TV9 (1 April 2022). "Gaalivaana: జీ5లో మరో థ్రిల్లింగ్ వెబ్ సిరిస్.. గాలివాన ట్రైలర్ రిలీజ్.. స్ట్రీమింగ్ ఎప్పుడంటే." TV9 Telugu (in Telugu). Retrieved 4 April 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  5. ^ Telangana Today (11 December 2021). "Sai Kumar makes OTT debut with 'Gaalivaana'". Archived from the original on 19 April 2022. Retrieved 19 April 2022.
  6. ^ Telanganatoday (1 April 2022). "Nagarjuna unveils trailer for ZEE5's 'Gaalivaana'". Telangana Today. Retrieved 4 April 2022.
  7. ^ "Nagarjuna unveils trailer of ZEE5's 'Gaalivaana'". TeluguBulletin.com. 31 March 2022. Retrieved 4 April 2022.
  8. ^ Telanganatoday (11 December 2021). "Sai Kumar makes OTT debut with 'Gaalivaana'". Telangana Today. Retrieved 17 April 2022.
  9. ^ "ZEE5 Original 'GAALIVAANA' web series enters the last schedule - Telugu News". IndiaGlitz.com. 1 February 2022. Retrieved 17 April 2022.
  10. ^ "Gaalivaana Review: A fairly gripping thriller that comes with a shocking twist". PINKVILLA. 15 April 2022. Retrieved 17 April 2022.
  11. ^ "కొడుకును చంపినవాడే ఇంటికొస్తే.. 'గాలివాన' వెబ్ సిరీస్ రివ్యూ". Sakshi (in Telugu). 15 April 2022. Retrieved 17 April 2022.
  12. ^ Naresh, Nelki. "Gaali vaana review | గాలివాన వెబ్ సిరీస్ రివ్యూ... డిఫరెంట్ మర్డర్ మిస్టరీ డ్రామా". Hindustantimes Telugu (in Telugu). Retrieved 17 April 2022.
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