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.
Co-created by Deva Katta and Kiran Jay Kumar, Mayasabha benefits from Deva Katta’s deep interest in politics and bureaucracy — recurring themes in his earlier work. The long-form format allows for a more layered and immersive exploration of character and conflict.
The series kicks off in mid-1995, during a political coup. There is panic among party members as MLAs receive phone calls warning them of impending suspension. They begin to gather in a hotel — an episode that recalls, with unmistakable clarity, a real-life coup that is part of Andhra Pradesh’s political lore. For many in the Telugu States, this incident has been passed down not just through news archives but also as oral history.
Adding to the drama is a fictionalised phone call between Kakarla Krishnam Naidu (played by Aadhi Pinisetty) and his friend, Dr MS Rami Reddy (Chaitanya Rao). While it is unlikely we will ever know if such a call happened between Chandrababu Naidu and YSR, this narrative device serves to deepen the tension and blur the lines between fact and fiction.
Mayasabha (Telugu)
Director: Deva Katta
Cast: Aadhi Pinisetty, Chaitanya Rao, Sai Kumar, Nasser
Episodes: 9
Story: Two young men, hailing from Kadapa and Chittoor, rise to become political powers. Will their friendship hold as their political careers take on different paths?
Streaming on: Sony LIV
A brief but loaded exchange between two former friends-turned-political-rivals sets the tone early in Mayasabha. Comparing a political coup to Kurukshetra, the characters plant the seeds for a high-stakes drama, filled with layered characters and thinly veiled nods to political icons of undivided Andhra Pradesh.
“Yuddham nee dharmam (War is your dharma)” — echoes meaningfully across episodes. What seems like an instigating remark early on reappears later with renewed significance, underlining a pivotal shift in the plot and its characters’ motivations.
The series rewinds to the 1970s, tracing the journeys of the two leads — Rami Reddy (Chaitanya Rao) from Pulicherla in Kadapa and Kakarla Krishnam Naidu (Aadhi Pinisetty) from Narsipalli in Chittoor. This is not just a heroic rise-to-power tale. With an episode pointedly titled ‘The Story of India is the Story of Caste’, Mayasabha acknowledges the weight of caste in shaping personal ambition and public life.
Reddy and Naidu begin as idealists hoping to transcend social divisions, but the reality of factional violence, Naxal movements and systemic inequalities forces their hands. One seeks to uplift his community through political strength; the other craves dignity and redemption for his family name. Their differing responses to societal pressure offer a nuanced look at leadership and legacy.
The nine-episode series brings in a vast ensemble — from marginalised voices caught in crossfire to power-hungry ministers clinging to influence. Ravindra Vijay delivers a standout performance as a man desperate to shield his family from violence, embodying a quiet but powerful resistance. Look out for characters that are on the lines of Paritala Ravi and Vangaveeti Mohana Ranga.
Chaitanya Rao’s portrayal of Rami Reddy, clearly modelled after YSR, is charismatic and grounded. The headgear, the gait, the educational pride, all subtly evoke the late politician without veering into imitation. Chaitanya handles the transformation with maturity and grace. Aadhi Pinisetty, meanwhile, delivers a restrained and calculated performance as Naidu, a man underestimated for his appearance but unwavering in his resolve. His arc is built patiently, and his eventual emergence is satisfying to watch.
The early bond between the two leaders is written with emotional intelligence, reflecting camaraderie, mutual respect, and ideological friction. Their disagreements are rarely venomous, offering a refreshing take on political rivalries.
Sai Kumar in the series
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement
Where Mayasabha falters slightly is in its college flashbacks — song-and-dance segments and one-sided romances overstay their welcome in an otherwise taut narrative.
Later episodes shift focus to national politics. Divya Dutta plays a PM who goes through upheavals with a repeated slogan — “India is Ira, Ira is India.” She commands the screen, though the writing ultimately limits the character. Her son is a far less nuanced figure, and some members of her political circle veer into caricature. Still, real-life references, such as the Emergency and forced sterilisation campaigns, add heft with more real life parallels.
Some characters feel designed to highlight Reddy and Naidu as the rightful heirs to the political mantle. Srikanth Iyengar, playing an insecure, power-hungry politician, brings conviction, though his character lacks depth. A memorable assembly scene, in which most MLAs appear to be dozing off, reinforces the idea that strong leadership is in short supply.
There are moments of sharp writing, too. A standout line — “You will give birth to a line of dictators who will use your methods, impose Emergency and not even call it one” — offers a biting critique of unchecked political legacy.
In several sequences, parallels are drawn between Naidu and Reddy react to social conditions. As Mayasabha progresses, it also explores how caste, once resisted by both leads, slowly becomes a necessary political tool.
The large cast includes Shatru, Tanya Ravichandran, Bhavana Vazhapandal and Charitha Varma, all making their mark. Nasser plays a media baron reminiscent of Ramoji Rao, who fuels RCR’s (Sai Kumar) meteoric rise. Scenes showing mass rallies, open-jeep campaigns and calls to Telugu pride mirror the dramatic rise of NTR. Shakthi Kanth Karthick’s music and Praveen KL’s editing are assets to the narrative.
Amid these grand moves are subtle Easter eggs: Naidu’s wardrobe shifting to off-white and yellow, or his symbolic embrace of the cycle as a party symbol.
Ultimately, Mayasabha offers a compelling fictional take on real political history, packed with drama, ambition, and reflection. With Clash of the Titans promised in Season Two, the series sets the stage for even higher stakes ahead.
(Mayasabha: Rise of the Titans streams on Sony LIV)
Published – August 07, 2025 07:01 am IST
