Mayasabha - Rise of the Titans

I suppose the first thing you need to know about Mayasabha is that it is an incomplete show—like most shows these days, hungering for your attention to make you watch their second season, they forget to complete the first. So, before you strap on for this nine-episode saga, know there will be nine more. How has this become common practice among the streamers? Imagine being pushed out of a theatre post interval, and being told that this is all we get to see for now—come later, pay again, for more. They have collectively ruined storytelling as an art form, fracturing it into parts that can be sold cheaply at the marketplace for attention. Mayasabha, also like most shows today, is written with a lethargic hand and an unexcited imagination, beginning with a high-stakes, political, livewire moment, only to recede into a long, winding flashback. We will not return to that high-stakes moment in this season—that is for later.

Born to a humble farmer, Krishnama Naidu is a rebellious son with firm views on society and justice, nursing political ambitions. Rami Reddy, an MBBS student, is trying to outgrow the shadow of his father, a notorious goon. A national emergency is declared by the authoritarian PM Iravati Basu, and as Andhra Pradesh descends into chaos, a change in order seems imminent. Aadhi Pinisetty delivers a fabulous performance as KKN, showcasing his evolution as a tactful leader and as a man of many dimensions. He brings authority to Naidu’s persona while making the character relatable to the viewer. Playing Rami Reddy, an unlikely entrant in politics, Chaitanya Rao Madadi lends enthusiasm and agility to the portrayal.

Sony LIV’s new Telugu web series, Mayasabha, opens with a familiar disclaimer: any resemblance to real people is purely coincidental. Yet it does not take long to draw parallels between its characters and the political giants who shaped undivided Andhra Pradesh. Echoes of NT Rama Rao, the actor-turned-leader; YS Rajasekhara Reddy, the doctor-turned-politician; and the current chief minister, N Chandrababu Naidu, and several others ripple throughout the storyline. Titled Rise of the Titans, the show’s first season is a sharp and dramatic commentary on the socio-political fabric of the State. Ambitious in scope and often gripping in execution, the series draws viewers into a world of power struggles, shifting loyalties and behind-the-scenes drama.

Mayasabha follows the story of two friends who have similar goals to serve the people of the country but their change in ideologies sets them apart and turns them into biggest political rivals of 80s and 90s. The show is based on N. Chandrababu Naidu and Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy’s career along with their friendship and personal life, while India is struggling through its own political problems. It is currently streaming on SonyLiv and is led by Aadhi, Chaitanya Rao, Sai Kumar, Divya Dutta among others. The show begins with introduction to each one of the future political leaders, their family and social status years before their career began. Kakarla Krishnama Naidu (based on N. Chandrababu Naidu) is played by Aadhi Pinisetty and is seen being pushed around by people for his ambitions. While his family doesn’t understand his need to continue studying or passion for politics, he finds some solace among his friends and peers when he reaches college for PhD.

Created by Deva Katta, the nine-episode drama series Mayasabha - Rise of the Titans is the origin story of two fictional politicians, Kakarla Krishnama Naidu (Aadhi Pinisetty) and MS Rami Reddy (Chaitanya Rao). The series begins in August 1995 and rewinds back two decades to 1975, where the two protagonists begin to take their first steps towards their grand political careers. While largely set in Andhra Pradesh, Mayasabha also involves the national political scene, which dictates state politics. While compelling, the series is the setup for a larger clash in what looks to be season 2. Krishnama Naidu and Rami Reddy come from humble backgrounds and both have to work their way upwards. Naidu is a son of a farmer that pays his own way to college; there he becomes involved in student politics. Meanwhile, Reddy is studying to be a doctor and wants to leave his gangster father, Shiva Reddy’s, reputation behind. Their progress in life is shown separately until they meet and form a tentative friendship. It grows over time, but politics is a fickle business. One day you’re on top and the next, you’re behind bars. The Telugu series follows their rise and fall, along with that of other politicians in their party.