‘Ayyana Mane 2’ series review: A promising murder mystery undone by uneven writing

Ayyana Mane, the Kannada web series that dropped on ZEE5 last year, was about a series of mysterious deaths. And now, the second season that has dropped on the streamer cuts down on the deaths and dials up the drama. The result isn’t perfect, but it might work for those who enjoyed the first season.

Jaji (Kushee Ravi), who helplessly witnessed the family’s previous daughters-in-law dying mysteriously in the first season, becomes the matriarch of Ayyana Mane, the ancestral estate known for its multi-generational family.

Unlike Nagalambika (Manasi Sudhir), the previous matriarch who carried an elegant yet eerie presence, Jaji is calm and graceful, even as problems begin to surface. Despite its old-school treatment of the drama, it was impressive to see female characters not being judged openly.

Jaji is constantly targeted by her sister-in-law, Poorni, accusing her of concealing a major secret and disrupting the peace of the household. In a setting like this, you expect Jaji’s husband to also suspect her, but Dushyanth (Akshay Nayak) trusts his wife and stands by her.

Even Poorni’s psychological disorder is viewed with empathy, though director Ramesh Indira doesn’t delve deeply into the conflict. This is one of the major issues of Ayyana Mane 2. None of the plot points gain momentum after being introduced, and the Poorni-Jaji issue is stretched more than necessary.

Ayyana Mane 2 repeats the features that shaped the original story, including the deity Kondayya, the black magic angle, and the whodunit mystery. However, given the short-series format, with each episode running no longer than 20 minutes, little is explored until the final few episodes, when the major reveals finally connect the dots.

The dialogues, performances, and melodrama are tailor-made for people who regularly consume daily soaps. That said, compared to the first season, the writing seems to have improved to accommodate multiple twists and interesting backstories.

The serial-like skeleton of Ayyana Mane 2 might distance viewers looking for a web series with deep character study and in-depth exploration of the themes. Despite its traditional setting, one wonders whether the series could have been more gripping, with sharper dialogues and compelling scenes.

The performances are fine; however, Anirudh Acharya’s exaggerated act, even if warranted for the character, comes across as a tad over the top. Rahul Roy’s cinematography maintains the series’ haunting mood while it captures the story’s beautiful landscape.

Ayyana Mane Season 2 is currently streaming on ZEE5 Kannada cinema / Indian cinema / entertainment (general)