Varam Review: ★★½☆☆ (2.5/5)
After two episodes, Varam is an easy, watchable fantasy comedy with good acting and a grounded feel. But it follows the original story so closely that it is hard to see why it was made.
Rating: ★★½☆☆ (2.5/5)
Platform: JioHotstar
Genre: Fantasy Comedy Drama
Language: Telugu
Cast: Vishwadev Rachakonda, Shivathmika Rajashekar
A new Telugu show on JioHotstar called Varam, and you may have seen it before. It is a remake of Taaza Khabar, the show that starred Bhuvan Bam and was also made by the same platform. For some viewers, that makes it a cheap move. For others, it is a fine chance to enjoy a familiar story in a new language.
The story follows Raju, played by Vishwadev Rachakonda, a young man living in poverty who works at a public toilet. His life is full of small humiliations. On his birthday, his mother tries to steal money to buy him a shirt and gets caught.
Raju has one bright spot, a woman named Satya, played by Shivathmika Rajashekar, who is a sex worker. One of her regular customers is a local politician who harasses both Satya and Raju. Then, out of the blue, Raju helps a strange woman and gets a boon. It lets him see big news before it happens, and he decides to use it to change his life.
If that sounds familiar, you are right. One critic who watched the first two episodes says the remake follows the original scene by scene and even dialogue by dialogue. Even small details match, like the amount of money the mother steals.
The makers also present it as a web serial, blending content from the first two seasons of Taaza Khabar into one story. That reviewer is frustrated, asking why JioHotstar would recycle its own content when the original was already available in several languages, and suggests that viewers should simply watch Taaza Khabar instead.
Another reviewer takes a gentler view, giving it 5/10. This critic also notes that platforms often remake their own shows, which costs originality, since the same budget could fund fresh stories. But after watching, the critic calls Varam an entertaining, watchable series that mixes magic realism with comedy.
The biggest difference, they say, is the treatment. Instead of a bright, glamorous look, the show feels grounded and real, and for a story that comes from poverty, that is a welcome change. You can believe that these things are happening to a poor man in Hyderabad.
The performances are a clear strength. Vishwadev Rachakonda looks and acts like a man worn down by daily insults and frustration, and you can see it in his body language and voice. Shivathmika Rajashekar is described as more convincing as Satya than the original portrayal, and the rest of the cast fits their short roles well. The casting is one of the show’s best parts.
Technically, the series is sound. The music is nice but does not demand attention, while the costumes, sets and editing do their jobs. Parents should know there is some strong language, but no nudity.
So, who should watch it? If you have never seen Taaza Khabar and want a Telugu fantasy comedy with a good cast and a real look, Varam is a decent timepass show you can play while having dinner. If you already know the original, you will find little new, and it is fair to feel that you are being served the same dish twice. Since only two episodes are out, with the rest coming weekly, it is too early to say more.
If you want more to watch, our review of Nobody Wants This Season 3 covers a funny, warm season of a hit comedy. For a thoughtful family drama, our review of The Mothers of Penguins Season 2 looks at Netflix’s honest Polish parenting series, and our Varam release guide has the details on when and where to watch.
Varam is now streaming on JioHotstar, with new episodes weekly.