As I sat down to watch the latest Telugu web series Sammelanam, streaming on ETV Win from February 20, 2025, I was craving a new romantic comedy experience. Directed by Tarun Mahadev and helmed by Priya Vadlamani and Ganaditya, this six-episode series is a tale of love, friendship and nostalgia. I, who love fights between friends and chaos in love, binge-watched this series. But, after watching the 25-30 minute episodes, I felt a sense of joy and a bit of disappointment at the same time. Let's see why Sammelanam, despite being a decent watch, could not completely win over the hearts!
What is the story?
The story of Sammelanam revolves around Ram (Ganaditya), a writer who becomes a sensation with his debut novel. The novel brings back four of his friends from the past—Arjun (Vigne Abhishek), Rahul (Srikanth Yachamaneni), Shreya (Bindu Nuthakki), and Meghana (Priya Vadlamani)—into his life. The story unfolds in flashbacks, with Shreya recounting the past to her maid Andallu (Jeevanpriya Reddy). Andallu adds to the fun with her gossipy questions. Arjun and Ram—childhood friends—fall in love with Meghana, which entangles their friendship in a love triangle. Past betrayals and emotions resurface. Who did Meghana choose? Why did these friends break up? This is the gist of the story.
My Experience: Heart-touching Moments, but a Disappointing Story
The first episode hooked me. The scene in Shreya and Rahul’s phone call, which hints at their distance from Ram, made me curious to unravel a mystery. The college flashbacks, the scenes where friends make each other cry in the coffee shop, reminded me of my own college days—those moments made me laugh, and gave me a great feeling of nostalgia. Priya Vadlamani as Meghna is amazing! Her entry scene, that confident yet soft look, made me an instant fan of her. In one scene, she describes the summer breeze as “cool, fleeting”—that dialogue touched my heart, I rewound it and watched it again! Saravana Vasudev’s background score made those scenes even more heartwarming. I laughed and even shed a few tears while watching the moments of friendship and unspeakable love.
But, as the episodes progressed, my excitement waned a bit. The love triangle story of two friends competing for a girl is a formula that I have seen many times. The combination couldn’t tell it in a new way. The conflict in the story is very surface-level—why the friends broke up, what their bond was like, it doesn't go into much depth. I was expecting a raw, emotional face-off between Arjun and Ram, but the series skipped those heavy emotions and jumped from one scene to the next. The comedy tried to make me laugh, but most of the jokes felt forced and dull. I was disappointed by the final episode. The climax felt rushed, and I missed that feel-good moment in my heart. It was like ordering spicy biryani and eating plain curry!
Cast: Priya Star, the rest fade
Priya Vadlamani brings the ensemble to life. As Meghna, she played a wonderful mix of strength and softness, and her scenes were impressive despite the weak script. In one scene, she stops short of expressing her feelings—the emotion in her eyes at that moment moved me. Ganaditya didn’t really appeal to me as Ram. His performance felt a bit stiff, and I couldn’t connect with his journey as a writer. Vigne Abhishek (Arjun) and Srikanth Yachamaneni (Rahul) did decent work, but they didn’t have any standout moments. Bindu Nootakki (Shreya) and Jeevanpriya Reddy (Andallu) added fun in the flashbacks, but their roles also felt underdeveloped. This cast has potential, but the writing limits them.
Technical aspects: A good try, but nothing special
Technically, the combination gave a mixed feeling. The cinematography showed the college campuses and coffee shop hangouts in a realistic and relatable way. I liked Saravana Vasudev's music—though the songs were so-so, the background score made the emotional scenes more touching. The production values were clean, and the focus on ETV Win's family-friendly content was clear—no cheap drama, no unnecessary scenes. But the editing could have been tighter—some episodes felt stretched, and the pacing stumbled in between. While Tarun Mahadev's direction showed potential, his vision seemed a bit confused, faltering between romance, comedy, and drama.
What I liked, what I disliked
Liked:
Priya Vadlamani's amazing performance—she's truly a star!
The college scenes, the nostalgia reminded me of my own days.
Poetic dialogues, Saravana's score—goosebumps guaranteed!
Family-friendly vibe, lack of unnecessary drama.
The hook that starts the story with Ram's novel attracted me.
Disliked:
Routine love triangle, nothing new.
Lack of emotional depth—I was waiting for a raw conflict.
The forced comedy, rushed climax disappointed me.
Ganaditya's performance, lack of supporting character development.
Slow pacing, some episodes were boring.
Who can watch it?
Sammelanam is a decent pick for those who like light-hearted romantic comedies and routine stories. For Priya Vadlamani fans, this series is worth watching for her acting alone. With a U/A rating, this series is suitable for the youth and family audience who enjoy college romances and friendship stories. But, it may disappoint those who are expecting a bold, innovative drama or a heart-wrenching story. This is a light watch to watch with snacks and family, but it will not touch your heart.
Rating: 2.5/5
Sammelanam is a heart-warming effort on ETV Win that mixes love, friendship and nostalgia. Priya Vadlamani's acting and some poetic moments won my heart. But, the routine story, lack of emotional depth, and uneven pacing could not satisfy me completely. A series worth watching once for a lazy weekend, but it doesn't stand out among so many options on OTT. Try it on ETV Win for Priya and for nostalgia!
Streaming: ETV Win (from February 20, 2025)
Release date: February 20, 2025 (OTT)
Cast: Priya Vadlamani, Ganaditya, Vigne Abhishek, Bindu Nootakki, Srikanth Yachamaneni
Director: Tarun Mahadev