Heroine Nani's sister Deepti Ganta has turned director and is ready with her debut web series Meet Cute. The anthology series consists of five episodes and is currently streaming on Sony Live. Let's see how it is.
Story
The first episode is called "Meet the Boy" and is about a young independent woman who meets a stranger for a marriage alliance. Starring Varsha Bollama and Ashwin Kumar. The second story is called "Old Man is Gold" and is about a wife who meets an older man and discusses his marital issues. Starring Ruhani Sharma and Satyaraj. The third story is called In L(ove)aw and is about a woman who spies on her son's girlfriend. Starring Rohini, Akanksha Singh and Deekshith Shetty. The fourth story is called "Struck by a Star" and tells the story of a doctor's chance meeting with a huge movie star. Adah Sharma and Siva Kandukuri played the lead roles. Finally, the last story is Ex-Girlfriend and is about a woman who meets her husband's ex-boyfriend. Starring Sunaina, Sanchita Poonacha and Govind Padmasoorya.
Extra Points
Meet cute is based on what happens when strangers meet and discuss life problems. Each story has a point of conflict and is shown in a very emotional way. Debutant director Deepthi Ganta must be appreciated for her top-notch writing. It shows his prowess as a director to create a suitable point of conflict and end the stories with a proper justification. Deepthi's characters, behavior, dress and emotional issues are very good and grab the audience's attention.
Another major asset of the web series is the surprising emotions that are very well balanced without being melodramatic. Each story has fun, drama and a moral to it that keeps you on your toes despite the slow pace. The best of the lot is In L(ove)aw starring Rohini and Akanksha Singh. How an orthodox mother deals with her son's choice of marriage is beautifully showcased and Rohini and Akanksha's performance is amazing.
The best part about these stories is that they are less than thirty minutes long and will not bore you anywhere. Varsha Bollama, Adah Sharma and Siva Kandukuri play their roles with utmost honesty. The final episode has a very good twist as Sunaina and Sanchita Poonacha deliver good performances. Each story has its own charm and it is the story of Satyaraj and Ruhani Sharma that will move you. The understanding between the adult husband and wife and how it affects Rouhani's character is quite high.
Meet Cute is all about conversations, and they're beautiful. The stressful aspects of life are discussed in a simple way and that's what makes this series click. Stories don't have forced emotions and are easy to absorb. Dialogues deserve special mention as they are everyday life conversations and yet leave an impact. Ultimately, each actor inhabits their character and does their best, and the casting and performances are exquisite.
Negative Points
The makers have made this web series for the OTT audience. Therefore, the use of English is common. Although not a problem, a partition can make it a bit more difficult. The story of Star Struck seems weak because it lacks the right emotion. The concept of a star dating a stranger looks great on paper, but is not executed properly.
As stated earlier, the pacing is a bit slow in a few episodes. The series suits the sensibilities of lovers of soothing romance and drama. Hence, entertainment seekers may be a little disappointed as the series has different sensibilities.
Technical Aspects
Meet Cute is mostly watchable for its beautiful production values. Although it doesn't cost much, each selected location is beautifully showcased by the operator. The costumes are classy and Vijay Bulgan's music is superb. Little bits of song are soothing and leave you wanting more.
Coming to director Deepthi Ganta, she makes a lovely debut and earns coffee points for her story. For a first-timer, he is very good and has the sensibility to make good films in the future. There is a natural wit in his writing and depth in his characters. His subtle comedy and subtle evocation of emotions shows that he still has a long way to go as a director.
Verdict
Overall, Meet Cute is, as the name suggests, a simple yet breezy web series full of cute emotions and stellar performances. The casting, runtime, and cute moments all grab your attention. Nani must be really proud of his sister as she makes a grand debut as a director and tells a story full of simple life lessons. Although the pace is slow at places, each story has its own charm and fits the mood neatly for perfect OTT viewing and is definitely watchable with the whole family.