Written and produced by noted director Krish and his friend Rajeev Reddy, a Telugu web show, 9 Hours had a direct-to-OTT release on Disney Plus Hotstar on June 2nd. Let’s see how it goes.
Story:
Set in the 1980s time period, the series opens with a central jail episode where a few prisoners escape with the help of the jailer Vishwanath( role played by Vinod Kumar) and plan a robbery at Koti Imperial Bank in Hyderabad. As the same, the robbery will happen in a few more branches of Imperial Bank in the city. During the money heist at the Koti branch, three prisoners aka a robbery gang will be struck in the bank. What happens when police approach the bank to save the hostages? Will the cops be able to catch the prisoners? What kind of interlinked twists reveal in the proceedings? To know that, you have to watch this 9-episode show.
On-Screen performances:
It is good to see Taraka Ratna on screen after a brief gap. He did his part quite effectively as a cop on a mission to rescue the hostages in the bank. Interesting aspect is that the show marks the digital debut of Taraka Ratna.
Madhu Salini as a journalist did her job quite impressively. Other actors such as Ajay, Vinod Kumar, and a few noted character artists such as Sameer, Lakshmi’s NTR fame Teja, Ravi Varma perfectly fitted in the given roles.
Off-screen Talents:
Director Krish who is good at exploring new concepts based on our Telugu roots had made his digital debut with 9 Hours show that addresses various social issues in the narrative.
The show is an adaptation of writer Malladi Venkata Krishna Murthy’s popular novel Tommidi Gantalu which has all elements to make a good web series. The characters introduced in the show are moulded and blend nicely into the narrative. Adding a crime thrilling elements to the period setup gives altogether a new shape to the show.
The way the cops depend on their own strategies when there is no proper availability of technology has been showcased in a decent manner. The cat and mouse game between the police, criminals and journalists has been showcased with some authentic proceedings.
Artwork registers. The background score is alright and elevates the panic episodes neatly. The cinematography work is good as the setup gives the 1980s feel to the audience.
Positive Points:
- Writing
- Performances
Negative Points:
- Slow-pace in initial episodes
- Lack of proper detailing about the jailer’s financial issues
Verdict:
In an overview, 9 Hours is a watchable crime series that revolves around a bank robbery by jail prisoners. Krish’s writing is nice and the on-paper ideas are executed nicely on the screen. Along with the content, the performances from the lead artists are advantages for this Disney Plus Hotstar show.
TeluguBulletin.com Rating: 3/5