ETV Win’s latest Telugu original series, Gurthukosthunnayi, has made its digital debut today. Featuring Baby fame Viraj Ashwin and marking social media influencer Yashashree Rao’s Telugu debut, the family drama arrived with a nostalgic premise that caught viewers’ attention. Has it lived up to the expectations? Here’s our review.
Story:
After overcoming countless hurdles, Santosh (Viraj Ashwin) finally convinces the strict principal Raghunath (Priyadarshini Ram) to let him marry his daughter, Vaishali (Yashashree Rao). Just when everything seems to fall into place, Santosh heads to Goa for a bachelor party with his childhood friends Bomma Anand (Godavari Gopi), Ganesh (Viva Raghava), and Srikanth (Pavan Siddu). However, an unfortunate accident changes his life completely, leaving him with a condition that allows him to remember only recent events while erasing his past memories. As this unexpected turn threatens the wedding, Santosh and his loved ones are forced into an emotional dilemma. Will the marriage still happen? How do his parents cope with the situation? Does Vaishali’s family discover the truth? The answers unfold in the rest of the series.
Plus Points:
The biggest strength of Gurthukosthunnayi is the way it evokes nostalgia. Built around a simple premise, the series beautifully recreates moments that instantly transport viewers back to their childhood. From copying during exams and pulling harmless pranks on teachers to impressing a school crush, making lifelong friends, and cherishing precious moments with grandparents, every situation feels authentic and relatable. Rather than using these moments merely as emotional triggers, the series organically integrates them into the narrative, making them resonate on a deeply personal level.
The seven-episode format largely works in the series’ favour, ensuring the narrative remains engaging without overstaying its welcome. One of the most enjoyable stretches comes when Santosh’s friends recreate incidents from their school days in an attempt to help him reconnect with his forgotten past. Their friendship feels genuine, while the clean, situational humour that emerges from these interactions keeps the narrative consistently entertaining without becoming loud or repetitive.
The emotional portions are equally compelling. The fifth episode emerges as the emotional backbone of the series, exploring one of Santosh’s most cherished relationships with remarkable sensitivity. The finale provides a touching conclusion that brings the protagonist’s journey full circle with warmth and sincerity. The flashback portions are executed with remarkable honesty, allowing the emotional beats to land effectively.
Viraj Ashwin delivers a sincere and restrained performance, relying more on subtle expressions than lengthy dialogue to convey Santosh’s emotional journey. Priyadarshini Ram is excellent as the strict yet caring father, convincingly portraying the concern and vulnerability of a parent preparing to marry off his daughter. Rohini Hattangadi delivers one of the finest performances in the series, particularly in the fifth and final episodes. Viva Raghava once again proves his versatility by excelling in both comedy and emotional scenes, while Godavari Gopi, Pavan Siddu, and Shiva Narayana Naripeddi provide dependable support and make the friendship and family portions even more enjoyable.
The flashback sequences receive additional strength from the child actors, who convincingly portray the younger versions of the lead characters. Their natural performances add authenticity to every nostalgic moment and significantly enhance the emotional impact. Suhas’s songs blend seamlessly into the narrative, enriching the storytelling without interrupting its flow.
Minus Points:
The storyline itself is fairly simple and predictable. Although the execution remains engaging, the narrative doesn’t offer many surprises. A few portions in the middle episodes briefly lose momentum before the narrative regains its grip soon after.
Yashashree Rao looks charming on screen, but her character is underwritten and offers limited scope to showcase her acting abilities. As a result, she doesn’t leave as strong an impression as the rest of the principal cast.
Technical Aspects:
Director Winod Gali deserves appreciation for proving that a simple story can leave a lasting impact when backed by honest and grounded storytelling. He ensures every nostalgic moment feels organic without allowing the sentiment to overshadow the narrative. Writer Rajashekar Reddy Baddam complements this vision with a screenplay that strikes a neat balance between humour, friendship, romance, and family drama.
Suhas’s songs blend effortlessly into the narrative, while Ajay Arsada’s background score elevates several key moments with remarkable effectiveness. Rehan Shaik’s cinematography complements the mood with pleasing visuals, and the editing by Sreedhar Sompally and Venkatesh Chunduru maintains a neat pace despite a couple of minor slow stretches. Shiva Kumar Macha’s production design convincingly recreates the different phases of the story, and the overall production values remain impressive throughout.
Verdict:
On the whole, Gurthukosthunnayi is a delightful seven-episode series that beautifully celebrates childhood, friendship, and family bonds. While the storyline follows a predictable path and the middle portions lose some steam, its honest storytelling, convincing performances, and impressive music make it a thoroughly satisfying family entertainer. It stands out as one of the finest Telugu web series in recent times and is a perfect choice for a family binge-watch over the weekend. By the end, it leaves viewers with a heart full of cherished memories and a smile that lingers long after it ends.