‘Kudi Yedamaithe’ review: Pawan Kumar’s crafty thriller is a welcome addition to the Telugu web series space

Pawan Kumar helms an intriguing time loop thriller that’s bolstered by Amala Paul and Rahul Vijay’s performances

Imagine waking up to realise that you have already lived through this day. You are aware of the perils that lie ahead and try your best to change the turn of events, only to fail. And the day repeats, yet again. Director Pawan Kumar, whose Kannada films Lucia and U-Turn earned him a loyal following, takes up this story written by Ram Vignesh for the Telugu web series Kudi Yedamaithe, streaming on Aha. Caught in this time loop are the protagonists, played by Amala Paul and Rahul Vijay, both battling their inner demons and racing against time. Kudi Yedamaithe (meaning ‘if right becomes left’) owes its title to the song written by Samudrala Raghavacharya and sung by Ghantasala for the 1953 Telugu film Devadasu, starring Akkineni Nageswara Rao. The phrase refers to an unexpected turn of events throwing life out of gear. The series spans eight episodes, each with a duration of 30-35 minutes, and stays focussed on its plot, without giving in to any frills. The story gradually reveals its cards, delineating the web of sub plots and how the two protagonists struggle to rise above events from the past that haunt them.