Kobali Review: Only Ravi Prakash shines in this underwhelming faction drama

Kobali Review: Ravi Prakash is amazing this faction drama which has a tried and tested formula. Too much gore and foul language make things difficult after a point.
February 4, 2025
Kobali
Kobali web series review

Kobali Story

The series is set in the faction-rich region of Rayalaseema and follows two brothers, Ramu (Tarun Rohith) and Srinu (Ravi Prakash), who seek revenge against the powerful Ramana (Rocky Singh), the cause of their rivalry. As tensions rise between the brothers and the local political forces, one incident leads to another, triggering a bloodbath. A killing spree follows, and tensions spiral out of control between the two families. But what started these faction wars, and how many innocent lives will be lost? Find out when you stream the eight-episode series on Disney+ Hotstar.

Kobali Review

Kobali is created and directed by Revanth Levaka, who uses the familiar faction-based drama formula and sets it in the Rayalaseema region. Telugu cinema has had many stories with similar backdrops, and Kobali isn’t anything new. However, Revanth adapts the storytelling to suit OTT platforms, which works well.

The series has eight episodes, each under 30 minutes, which is a plus. However, the middle portions of the series lose focus due to subplots that feel tedious. Shows like Kobali have been made before in Telugu cinema, and to keep the audience engaged, the emotional depth needs to be stronger. Unfortunately, the focus here is more on the bloodbath rather than the emotional turmoil the characters face.

Another drawback of the series is the overuse of foul language by the main characters. While it’s meant to add authenticity, the verbal abuses become tiring after a while. Additionally, while Revanth creates interesting characters, he doesn’t give them proper development, as the focus is more on action and violence.

There are too many feuds happening one after another, making it hard to keep track of them all. Instead of cramming in multiple conflicts, the narrative would have been more effective if it had focused on one or two key issues. That said, the internal politics are handled well by Revanth. The series effectively shows the struggles families face when they get involved in faction wars and how their lives are affected.

However, after a point, the screenplay feels stale. Many scenes in the third and fourth episodes feel repetitive, resembling scenes from past films, with action sequences that seem unnecessary. Rather than focusing on action and shock value, the makers choose realistic fights and drama, which eventually become monotonous.

Regarding performances, Ravi Prakash, known for his character roles, delivers an excellent performance. His personality, body language, and dialogue delivery fit the mood of the series. Tarun Rohith gets a major role and performs well within his limits, though he sometimes overdoes the action and intense emotional scenes.

Rocky Singh is decent, but his character is portrayed as unnecessarily loud and over-the-top. Popular anchor Syamala shines in a well-written role, adding depth to the series. It’s refreshing to see her in such a role. However, the rest of the cast is underwhelming, and the presence of more well-known actors could have elevated the show.

Gowra Hari’s music and background score are impressive, enhancing even the average scenes and adding impact in key moments. Rohit Bachu’s cinematography captures the faction-filled regions effectively. The production design is good, but the dialogues could have been better—they feel exaggerated and seem designed only for shock value. Editing is a weak point, and trimming at least one episode’s runtime would have improved the pacing.

Revanth Levaka tells a predictable story with a routine setting. While the premise has potential, the screenplay struggles to hold attention. The family drama had strong potential, but the overemphasis on gore rather than emotions makes Kobali an underwhelming watch.

Kobali Verdict

Overall, Kobali is a rustic faction drama with a decent backdrop and some thrills. But the rest of the series is loud, uses foul language, and forces emotions that become boring after a while. Watch it only if you like faction dramas, but there’s nothing new to see here.

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