suresh kavirayani
90’s – A Middle Class Biopic, streaming on ETV Win, has emerged as a massive success. Released in January this year, it has become one of the biggest blockbuster Telugu web series in recent years across any OTT platform. The heartfelt performances and nostalgic storytelling transport viewers back to their childhood, striking a strong emotional chord. Featuring Sivaji and Vasuki Anand in the lead roles, the series was directed by Aditya Hasan, with filmmaker Naveen Medaram—considered the driving force behind the project—playing a key role in its making.
Riding on the success of 90’s – A Middle Class Biopic, the same team has now come up with another period drama titled Home Town, which is currently streaming on Aha. This new series features veteran actors Rajeev Kanakala and Jhansi in lead roles and is directed by Srikanth Reddy Palle.
Plot
The story of Home Town is set around 2003 in a small village named Hanumanthulagudem in Telangana. Prasad (Rajeev Kanakala) is a photographer who leads a simple life with his wife (Jhansi), and their children—Jyothi (Annie) and Srikanth (Prajwal Yadham). This middle-class family depends solely on Prasad’s income from his photo studio. He dreams of sending his son abroad after completing his studies, while he assumes his daughter will get married and leave the house, thus focusing more on his son’s future.
However, Srikanth turns out to be a poor student who constantly engages in mischief with his friends. In contrast, Jyothi is a good student and obedient. The web series consists of five episodes, each depicting a slice-of-life moment from this middle-class family and their struggles. The story explores whether Prasad’s dream of sending his son abroad will come true and what significant act Srikanth does for his sister despite being irresponsible in studies. To find out more, viewers will need to watch Home Town on Aha.
Analysis
Director Srikanth Reddy Palle pens a nostalgic story capturing the everyday challenges of a middle-class family in the early 2000s. The series contains five episodes, each named after pop-cultural or emotional themes like Cricket World Cup, Weekly Magazine, Love, Facebook and Fly. The first three episodes are well-written and narrated with a strong sense of nostalgia. Despite a few scenes that feel stretched or silly, these episodes are still enjoyable.
However, the fourth episode titled Facebook feels underwhelming. The portrayal of Megastar Chiranjeevi replying to a kid, followed by the characters traveling to Hyderabad’s Ramanaidu Studios to meet him, appears exaggerated and overly cinematic.
The primary drawback lies in the fact that the makers of Home Town had earlier created the web series 90’s – A Middle Class Biopic, which was a massive success on ETV Win. Unfortunately, Home Town feels like a near replica of that series. For those who have already seen 90’s – A Middle Class Biopic, this new series may evoke a strong sense of déjà vu.
Additionally, there are factual inconsistencies—for instance, kids in 2003 had some technical know-how, yet in this series, they’re portrayed as not even knowing how to use a cricket guard. The Facebook episode particularly drags, while the final episode offers some intrigue but also includes cinematic liberties like memo mark sheets and getting a visa easily. The Love episode fares better with its emotional tone. Much like the earlier series, this one also explores an interfaith angle—shifting from a Hindu-Christian pairing to a Hindu-Muslim one.
Rather than focusing solely on the mischiefs of the three kids, the director could have deepened the emotional core by portraying more of the family’s struggles. He references Chiranjeevi’s Shankar Dada MBBS to mark the timeline, though the film was released in 2004. While the director does succeed in extracting good performances from the cast, more attention to emotional depth would have elevated the series.
Technical Aspects
Suresh Bobbili provides a pleasing musical score that complements the nostalgic tone of the series. The cinematography by Dev Deep Gandhi Kundu successfully captures the early 2000s ambiance, further enhancing the series’ period setting. Although some scenes lean into melodrama and cinematic exaggeration, the technical aspects overall support the storytelling decently.
Performances
Rajeev Kanakala, a seasoned actor, delivers a commendable performance with authentic dialogue delivery. His grasp of the Telangana dialect adds further depth to his portrayal of Prasad. Jhansi, another established performer, matches him step-for-step and gives a solid performance as the family’s matriarch. Their on-screen chemistry and emotional presence are highlights of the series.
Prajwal Yadham, who plays Srikanth, the mischievous son, portrays his character naturally and consistently throughout the series. He shows promise as a young actor with a bright future ahead. Annie, known for her childhood role in Nagarjuna’s Rajanna (2011), convincingly plays the role of the studious daughter and performs her part well.
Sairam stands out with his comic timing and provides several laugh-out-loud moments. Interestingly, he reprises a similar role from 90’s – A Middle Class Biopic. Anirudh Bhaskar, who plays another one of Srikanth’s friends, also does a good job in his supporting role.
Conclusion
Home Town has its moments—particularly for those who enjoy nostalgic tales centered around middle-class family dynamics. Some segments genuinely take viewers back in time, offering heartfelt moments and relatable mischief. However, for those who have already seen 90’s – A Middle Class Biopic, Home Town might come across as repetitive and derivative. Despite this, it still offers enough charm and emotion to make it worth a watch, especially for fans of coming-of-age dramas and slice-of-life storytelling.
Cast: Rajeev Kanakala, Jhansi, Annie, Prajwal Yadham, Sairam, Anirudh Bhaskar and others
Music Director: Suresh Bobbili
Cinematographer: Dev Deep Gandhi Kundu
Producer: Rajasekhar Medaram
Director: Srikanth Reddy Palle
Rating: 2.5/5
