On February 4, 2025 the Telugu revenge-thriller web series “Kobali” packed with eight episodes was released on Disney+Hotstar. Each episode runs within thirty minutes and the viewers can finish the season in one sitting (if you’re not disturbed by external factors or by the series itself). The director or the maker of the series “Kobali” Revanth Levaka deserves appreciation for curating his vision and his commendable try.
Kobali – Plot
The plot of the eight episodes revolves around the two brothers Srinu played by Ravi Prakash and Ramu played by Tarun Rohit as the leads who vows to take revenge against a ruthless and menacing antagonist Ramana. A tyrannical murder is staged in the beginning of the first episode which takes place during a festival. Then, the narration jumps to a year ago and it introduces the family of Srinu who are living in Rayalaseema region. It further unfurls the backdrop stories of Ramu, and other important characters Venkata Rao, Raju, Gopi, Kirthi and Raghu who are intertwined by the local politics, competitive jealousy, and slyness. Tension arises after the series of blood shedding slaughters and personal losses. The hook to clutch the audience with the series KOBALI is the “unknown tragic event” behind these truculent murders between this family which becomes the driving factor to push further.
“Coffee With a Killer” Movie Review – A forced emotions and one-dimensional characters“Kobali” – Summarized Critique
Revanth Levaka has officially become the director for a long run story after being associated and working behind the screens as editor, AD and director of his short film. The influence of international cinema and the profound knowledge of screenplay with metaphorical references, staging of pivotal scenes purposely at a particular location or camera placement and the lighting are visible in both the movies and web series of Indian cinema. Revanth showcased his excellency throughout the series by executing the well-written in his best way.
The series looks more compelling and engaging with Gowra Hari’s electrifying background music that blends smoothly with the emotions expressed by the characters who appear on the screen. It is important to note that Gowra’s music has majorly contributed to the upliftment of crucial sequences successfully to the audiences. Following that the overall performance of the characters looks decent and good. Among which, the character played by Ravi Prakash as Srinu has ingrained in the mind because he is the one of the characters written well with purpose, character arc and vital sequences to express his commendable acting. Literally, he carried the whole series on his shoulders effortlessly. Though some of the characters have been segmented with both shorter & extended portions in the series, we can pick out the other stellar performers, which includes Bharath Reddy, Syamala, Rocky Singh, Tarun Rohith and Sukku Reddy.
All together, “Kobali” looks decent with the seamless efforts of every department of this creative work and the tail-end finish, it seems like there could be a second season too.
Kobali – Review of “The Hits and the Misses”
Regardless of the good stuff which are visible in the series “Kobali”, the flaws overshadow it predominantly. The trouble begins from the first episode because it seems quite fuzzy to catch up with the story and the motive of the characters who go on a rage of revenge due to its knotted issues between past & present. When the second, third & the fourth episodes look nuanced, the rest of the episodes seem dragging and filled with forced emotions to run the time.
“Too much of anything is good for nothing” and it is quite applicable to ‘Kobali’ too because the cuss words, violence and brutal murders are placed excessively which makes the viewers uncomfortable. But unfortunately those murders and deaths don’t pinch our deep down emotions or even hit us hard. The disconnected string between the audience and the pivotal roles remains till the end of the final episode.
Revenge is the core of the story plot, when the series passes the third episode confusion prevails within us “why Ramana is behind the family of Srinu for revenge?” This is due to the perplexing the screen writing, one-dimensional characters and flat dialogues faltered the essence of “Kobali” in an extreme way. The subsequent sequences after the sixth episode became predictable which looked usual with no surprise & underwhelming. Some of the technical flaws such as the incoherent editing and jarring transition were also found.
Though the story had a powerful potential, the stratified drawbacks with a routine setting pulls back Revanth’s greatest efforts.
Kobali – Final Verdict
Revanth Levaka’s revenge thriller “Kobali” is a reasonably fine story which is good for a single watch but it is strictly watchable for the adults and not for the children. Since, the series is poured abundantly with blood, verbal outbursts and raw violence.
