‘Mothevari Love Story’ web series review: Anil Geela leads a slice-of-life drama set in rural Telangana

Life in rural Telangana is often portrayed in Telugu cinema as laidback and unpretentious, with its residents adding quiet character to the setting. Mothevari Love Story, now streaming on ZEE5, draws from this familiar image to tell a gentle tale of romance, sibling friction, and family ties. The series stars Anil Geela, best known for My Village Showon YouTube, in a role that nudges viewers to reflect on familial bonds.

Set in Lambadipalli village, the story centres on brothers Sattaiah (Muralidhar Goud) and Narsing Yadav (RS Nandha), nicknamed Ram and Lakshman for their close bond and reputation for settling disputes at the local panchayat. But beneath the harmony, the series hints at tensions: of ego, inheritance, and simmering rivalry.

Things shift when the brothers learn that their father has willed five acres of land to a woman they have never met — Anumavva (Vijaya Lakshmi Balagam). Meanwhile, Anumavva’s grandson Parshi (Anil Geela) and Sattaiah’s daughter Anitha (Varshini Junnuthula) are hatching a plan to elope. Anitha, though, seems more caught up in making Reels than deciding on her future — mirroring the growing grip of social media in rural India.

Though the prologue hints at an emotional undercurrent, writer-director Shiva Krishna Burra begins Mothevari Love Story on a breezy note, reflecting the rhythms of daily life in the village. One particularly entertaining episode features a cameo by Gangavva, who sends the village into chaos when her jewellery goes missing.

As the series unfolds, the lighthearted tone is interrupted by a story of love and longing from the past, offering a contrast to the playful dynamic between Parshi and Anitha. A pair of gold bangles, a deceased man’s will, and a disputed property serve as narrative pivots, gradually unearthing layers of selfishness, silence, and generational friction. The title, Mothevari, referring to the wealthy man at the heart of it all, gains significance as questions of inheritance and entitlement surface.

Across its seven episodes, the series keeps things straightforward, perhaps in deference to the YouTube audience that first embraced Anil Geela’s work. It is Muralidhar Goud and Vijaya Lakshmi Balagam who anchor the emotional core, drawing on their craft to bring depth to their roles. Anil and Varshini, while initially light in tone, eventually lend more weight to their characters. The rest of the ensemble is underutilised, often fading into the background.

The soundtrack, though well-intentioned, feels mismatched and slows the pace.

In a digital space increasingly filled with dark, layered storytelling, Mothevari Love Story opts for a more conventional route — a low-stakes, watchable family drama that stays within its comfort zone.

(The series streams on Zee5)