Brinda (S1/2024) smartly uses the ideas of gods and organized religions in this thought-provoking crime drama series. Sometimes, blind faith and destructive superstitious belief are associated with the deeply engrained religious ideology among the followers of the religions.
It is worth noting that historically, the competing ideas of different religions among their followers have created many problems and conflicts worldwide. And India is no different. The religious diversity in India is mind-boggling. But then India also has atheists.
‘Brinda’ Is A Thought-Provoking & Tension-Filled Crime Thriller With A Prudent Social Message
Spoiler Free Review: Brinda (S1/2024) Series
The summary/synopsis
This narrative revolves around the struggle between good and evil. The protagonist is Brinda (Trisha Krishnan), a young, socially awkward yet ethically principled Sub-Inspector (SI) cadet. She inadvertently discovers a gruesome murder characterized by a disturbing pattern. Throughout her investigation, she uncovers a series of enigmas confronting deeply entrenched societal norms and traditions. As the villainous perpetrator eludes her efforts, she encounters both personal and institutional challenges, with the most significant obstacle being a moral dilemma that could shape her professional path and ethical beliefs. Will SI Brinda manage to uphold justice, or will she succumb to the turmoil surrounding her?
We loved the complex and layered storyline
In this contemporary tale set in the southern state of Telangana, there are two sets of zealous believers. On one side of the coin are the passionate devotees of the respective organized religions. Then on the other side of the coin are the violent believers who are agnostics. So, what happens when these two sides collide with each other? So, the central theme of this complex and layered storyline is about the different Gods, the various Organized Religions, the Superstitions and the fanatical followers in the context of India. And then it further delves deep into the complicated social issues in India.
We appreciate the fact that the story is thought-provoking. Interestingly, the names of the characters have been smartly chosen, as we have explained in the spoilers shared below. Kudos to the writers Jay Krishna, Padmavathi Malladi, and Surya Manoj Vangala for the bold and slick script. In addition, it has managed to keep the tension and mystery going throughout season 1. The background (and flashback) stories of SI Brinda Krishna (Trisha Krishnan) and Kabir Anand (Indrajith Sukumaran) in the series have been woven into intricate and captivating styles. And it also explains the actions and behaviour of these two in this crime drama. Not to forget, the direction by Surya Manoj Vangala lends authenticity to its complex tale of crime and punishment.
A word of caution:- Because of its focus on religions and religious aspects of the series, some people may not like the theme and the story. And, some may even find its subject-matter controversial. But, its writers have explained their point of views wisely.
Trisha Krishnan plays the heroine ‘Brinda’ with a lot of maturity
SI Brinda is the heroine and the protagonist of this crime drama. We loved her courageous lead character. She is a smart and intelligent police officer. Despite the hostility and discrimination, she emerges as a beacon of hope amidst the pervasive darkness of crime and injustice. Actress Trisha Krishnan plays Brinda with a lot of sensitivity and sophistication. She carries this gripping crime thriller on her slender shoulders. However, she is very well supported by fellow actor Ravindra Vijay (SI Sarathi N), who plays a perfect foil to her detective endeavours. Like his namesake, Sarathi acts as a mature elder brother to Brinda, in the show.
Also, it was intriguing to watch that the main villain (the mysterious antagonist) hides in plain sight. So near, yet so far away from the circle of the suspicious criminal list prepared by the police. The other members of the ensemble cast Anand Sami (Thakur), Aamani (Vasundhara Krishna), Yashna Muthuluri (Naina Krishna), Jaya Prakash (Raghunath Krishna), Kotesh Manava (ACP T. Ramachandra Rao), Anjana (Lekha Sarathi) played their parts very well. It was fascinating to watch all of them. Also, special praise for Anand Sami (Thakur), who played his complex character flawlessly. Lastly, the entire team of the police force and its Special Investigation Team (SIT) have been realistically portrayed in the series. Like the Maharaja movie, this Brinda series is another riveting crime drama from (South) India, that does paint a somewhat of a realistic picture of the Indian cops.
The conclusion
Trisha Krishnan made her debut in the world of the web-series with Brinda and she made her strong presence felt in it.
We loved the bold and brainy female-led shows like ‘Brinda‘ from India. And, we hope to see her back in season 2 in the future. Although, we believe that we are asking for too much, as Trisha Krishnan primarily acts in movies. Still, we are keeping our fingers crossed.
Rating: Brinda (S1/2024) Series
| FM Rating | 4.00/5 |
Poster: Brinda (S1/2024) Series
Key Details: Brinda (S1/2024) Series
| Genre | Crime, Thriller |
| Original Language | Telugu (India) Also dubbed in Hindi, Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada, Marathi & Bengali languages. |
| Season | Season (1) One |
| Episodes | Eight (8) Episodes |
| Writers | Jay Krishna, Padmavathi Malladi, & Surya Manoj Vangala |
| Director | Surya Manoj Vangala |
| Cast | Trisha Krishnan (SI Brinda Krishna), Ravindra Vijay (SI Sarathi N), Anand Sami (Thakur), Aamani (Vasundhara Krishna), Yashna Muthuluri (Naina Krishna), Jaya Prakash (Raghunath Krishna), Indrajith Sukumaran (Kabir Anand/Satya), Kotesh Manava (ACP T. Ramachandra Rao), Anjana (Lekha Sarathi), Rakendu Mouli (Teenaged Satya), Sandeep Sahu (Teenaged Thakur), Moksha (Teenaged Brinda), etc. |
| Network | Sony LIV. |
Trailers: Brinda (S1/2024) Series
Spoiler Alert: Names & Summary of Eight Episodes
Names of the characters in the “Brinda” series have a deeper meaning
| Names | In-depth meaning of the different names |
|---|---|
| Brinda | Brinda means of the Basil (Tulsi) plant. Besides, Brinda is primarily a female name of Indian origin, as it is also the name of the goddess Radha, who is the consort of Krishna. |
| Sarathi | Sarathi means a charioteer or a driver. Moreover, Sarathi is used for Lord Krishna, who was the charioteer for the warrior Arjuna in his fight against the evil forces in the Mahabharata tale. |
| Satya | Satya means truth or essence. Furthermore, Satya also refers to a virtue in Indian religions, referring to being truthful in one’s thoughts, speech and actions. |
| Kabir | Kabir means great, magnificent, powerful and leader. Also, Kabir (Das/1440-1518)) was the name of a famous Indian mystic and poet. He believed in the formless God. Although he criticized both Hinduism and Islam. He is (was) greatly revered by Hindus, Muslims, and Sikhs. |
| Raghunath | Raghunath means Lord of the Raghus. Lord Rama is called Raghunath meaning Lord of descendants of Raghus (or Lord of the Ikshvaku dynasty) clan. Also, Lord Rama is a Hindu deity, who is considered the epitome of moral virtue and royal conduct. |
Summary of the Eight (8) Episodes of the Season (1) One
The Chosen One (S1, E1) | 41 minutes
Police Sub-Inspector (SI) Brinda is a socially awkward but intelligent investigator. She delves into a peculiar case involving a corpse found in a drainage system. Thereby, she gradually unravelled an unconventional criminal methodology and uncovered a bizarre modus operandi.
A Little Deeper (S1, E2) | 39 minutes
SI Brinda finds an unusual object. She is a determined investigator, so, she defies bureaucratic approvals and uncovers a chilling decade-long history behind a seemingly simple case.
Hit and Miss (S1, E3) | 40 minutes
The killer strikes again. A guilt-ridden Sarathi pushes to get SI Brinda into the prestigious SIT team. Is something still missing?
The Bridge in Between (S1, E4) | 38 m
SI Brinda finds a crucial piece of paper and investigates Anand’s past. Meanwhile, the killer is unexpectedly arrested at a police station.
Light at the End of the Tunnel (S1, E5) | 42 minutes
SI Brinda spirals into chaos over her failure to stop a murder. Will she find light at the end of the tunnel?
The Beginning of the End (S1, E6) | 48 minutes
SI Brinda discovers that the serial murders are part of a bigger plan. Will she catch the mastermind and end it all?
The Holy Past (S1, E7) | 41 minutes
SI Brinda and the team think that they’ve cracked and the case is solved. However, she uncovers a shocking revelation about the mastermind. Meanwhile, Satya battles her inner demons and her inner turmoil intensifies.
Home Coming (S1, E8) | 43 minutes
Finally, SI Brinda unravels the truth and knows everything now. Torn between pursuing the mastermind and confronting her past to stop the killings once and for all. Can she chase down the mastermind and confront her past to finally end the killings?
Trisha Krishnan (SI Brinda Krishna) is in the Featured Image.
Poster, Featured and Other Images of the Brinda (S1/2024) Series are credited to Sony LIV.