Dayaa

"Dayaa" is a 2023 Indian Telugu-language crime thriller web series created and directed by Pavan Sadineni. The series features J. D. Chakravarthy in the central role, with Eesha Rebba, Ramya Nambeesan, Babloo Prithiveeraj, Kamal Kamaraju, and Josh Ravi featuring in important roles. Spanning eight intense episodes, the series revolves around the life of an average man trapped in a perilous web of crime, politics, and secrets.

"Dayaa", a simple freezer van driver, lives a plain life in a coastal town. He toils day and night to take care of his heavily pregnant wife, "Alivelu," who is in wait for him to take her to the hospital. But Dayaa's fortunes turn sour when he discovers the dead body of a journalist named "Kavitha" in his van. Frightened at the possibility of being wrongly accused by the police, Dayaa seeks the help of his close friend "Prabha," and they both try desperately to dispose of the dead body without being caught.

As the narrative progresses, audiences discover Kavitha's quest to uncover the atrocities of influential politician Pritam. With her colleague Shabana, Kavitha uncovers a horrific case of rape and murder of a young nurse named Swecha. Their quest for the truth takes them to a corrupt drug company with lethal secrets.

Caught in the midst of all this is Dayaa, who has to navigate how to protect himself and his family while the world around him is crumbling apart.

"Dayaa" manages to create a suspenseful atmosphere, gradually stripping away layers from every character. JD Chakravarthy delivers a good performance, particularly during the action-oriented second half. Nevertheless, with a short length per episode, sometimes the pacing feels lopsided. Nevertheless, the solid emotional core, shocking surprises, and realistic narration make Dayaa a good and compelling crime thriller.