South Queen Trisha Krishnan makes her OTT debut with the Telugu web series Brinda, directed by Surya Manoj Vangala. Premied on SonyLIV on August 2, the series has received minimal promotion despite its standout qualities. In a crowded landscape of web series across various platforms, Brinda distinguishes itself and truly deserves more attention.

Brinda (Trisha Krishnan) is a newly appointed sub-inspector who faces skepticism and unequal treatment at her police station. Despite her moody demeanor and struggles with sleep, she is highly intelligent. When her superiors, including Sarathi (Ravindra Vijay), attempt to close a murder case as a suicide, Brinda astutely identifies it as a murder. This insight gets her into trouble as her boss, who resents her for being a woman, consistently tries to undermine her. However, Brinda is not one to back down and teaches him a lesson.

Proving her point, Brinda ventures alone into forests, rivers, and remote areas to gather evidence supporting her theory. While Sarathi is the only one who takes her seriously, Brinda, along with her Special Investigation Team (SIT), pursues the true murderer. Along the way, the case reveals multiple secrets and helps Brinda uncover answers to unresolved questions about her own life.

Across eight episodes, each running nearly 40 minutes, director Surya Manoj Vangala offers an insightful look into the lives of Brinda, her childhood, Sarathi, Kabir Anand (Indrajith Sukumaran), and the killer (Anandsami). Each character has a well-developed arc that enhances their performance and keeps the audience engaged. The series begins with black-and-white flashbacks of their childhood, gradually revealing how their pasts shaped their present selves.

Surya tackles the complex theme of blind faith and the impact of superstitious practices on individuals, a sensitive topic in today’s climate. He handles it with care, highlighting its detrimental effects on society while also exploring how inadequate parenting influences Brinda, Kabir Anand, and the killer (Anandasami).

While Brinda has some minor flaws, they don’t significantly detract from the overall experience. A few convenient coincidences and moments where the killers' actions might seem overly justified by their backstories are present, but these do not overshadow the series' strengths.

Trisha delivers one of her finest performances as Brinda, capturing the audience’s interest from the very first episode. Ravindra Vijay excels as Sarathi, providing a compelling performance with a well-rounded character arc. Anandasami portrays the killer with menace, and his backstory delves into the absurdities driven by superstition. Indrajith Sukumaran's role is relatively limited, but he makes a strong impression with his performance.

Brinda delivers the perfect blend of thrill, with most of its twists and turns landing effectively. The series’ ability to avoid predictability is a significant strength. The director and cast shine, but it's also the technical team’s contributions that enhance the show's appeal.