Created by Deva Katta, known for Prasthanam and Vennela, Mayasabha from SonyLiv follows the rise of two fictional leaders — Krishnama Naidu (played by Aadhi Pinisetty) and Rami Reddy (played by Chaitanya Rao Madadi) — and how they grow from students to state leaders. The show also stars Sai Kumar as RCR, Divya Dutta as Prime Minister Iravathi Basu, Ravindra Vijay as Pothineni Ramesh, and Tanya Ravichandran as actress Anu Harika. Here is my detailed Mayasabha Review.
But let’s not kid ourselves. This isn’t fiction.
Based on True Political Events in Andhra Pradesh
Who are the real characters in Mayasabha? If you know Andhra Pradesh politics, you’ll spot the references instantly:
- RCR (Sai Kumar) is clearly inspired by NTR.
- Krishnama Naidu mirrors Chandrababu Naidu.
- Rami Reddy is the show’s take on YS Rajasekhar Reddy.
- Iravathi Basu and her son Sandeep Basu resemble Indira Gandhi and Sanjay Gandhi.
- Anu Harika’s arc feels like a nod to actress Jayaprada, including her early dance career and political ties. When she was a teenager, she performed a dance at her school’s annual function. A film director in the audience offered her a three-minute dance number in the Telugu film Bhoomi Kosam (1974).
The series ends with an event which exactly resembles the Viceroy Hotel episode , where slippers were thrown at Lakshmi Parvathi and NTR was ousted from his own party, are recreated almost frame by frame — though names are changed.
Mayasabha Plot: The Rise of Naidu and Rami Reddy
The story begins with Krishnama Naidu, a PhD student from Narsipalli, helping farmers in his hometown by threatening middlemen — in a diplomatic way, of course. Meanwhile, Rami Reddy, the son of faction leader Shiva Reddy, is disgusted by his father’s violent politics and leaves Pulicherla to study in Bellary.
From there, we follow:
- Student politics, where Krishnama plans to contest elections using strategic caste alliances — and a cabaret dance show (yes, really).
- Rami Reddy’s fan wars in college, defending Telugu film stars, leading to cow dung being thrown on posters and eventual expulsion.
- Emergency declared in India, vasectomy drives led by Sandeep Basu, and public resistance led by Rami Reddy.
- The alliance between Krishnama and Rami Reddy, their entry into politics under Sandeep Basu’s mentorship.
- Friendship turning into rivalry, when Rami Reddy feels sidelined for being a goon’s son.
The series ends with the rise of RCR as a mass leader, his friction with Iravathi Basu, the betrayal by Krishnama Naidu, and the political fallout. The final few episodes closely resemble TDP’s internal war, NTR’s downfall, and the power shift to Chandrababu Naidu.
Performances & Technical Aspects
- Aadhi Pinisetty as Krishnama Naidu brings seriousness and political sharpness.
- Chaitanya Rao delivers an emotional and intense Rami Reddy.
- Divya Dutta shines as Iravathi Basu — probably the most believable character in the whole show. Her screen presence is 5/5
- Sai Kumar as RCR fits the larger-than-life image but gets limited screen time.
- The music by Shakthikanth Karthick is decent — helps set the mood without being intrusive.
- The cinematography and period detailing (1975–1995) look polished.
- Tanya Ravichandran did her part well with a song and some scenes here and there.
But Here’s the Problem: Everyone’s a Saint
The writing is where Mayasabha falls flat. For example, at one point, the hero tries to win a college election with a cabaret dance by heroine—because in Mayasabha, that’s peak political strategy. Democracy in Mayasabha runs on item numbers and glorifying scenes.
There’s a scene where the heroine says, “People value entertainment more than content. To sell content, the cover page is important.” I’m convinced Deva Katta believes in this too.
For a political series, it lacks grey characters. Krishnama Naidu is always clever and selfless. Rami Reddy is kind-hearted and community-driven. Every major character on the “hero” side acts like a noble soul who’s doing politics only for the people.
This kind of whitewashing feels awkward — especially in a show that clearly draws from real-life political betrayals, caste alignments, and power games.
Let’s be real: In politics, no one climbs the ladder without ambition. But Mayasabha shows its main men as idealists, while anyone who opposes them is either corrupt, emotional, or forgotten.
Final Verdict: Mayasabha(2025) Review
If you’re watching Mayasabha as a fictional drama, it may keep you engaged for a while. But if you know Telugu politics, you’ll likely find it one-sided, preachy, and borderline fan service. It looks like a fictional retelling, but walks and talks like a strategically polished biopic series.
Mayasabha Review Verdict: 2.5 out of 5
Watch it for the performances — but skip it if you’re expecting sharp, realistic political writing. At the end of the day, even great acting can’t save a story that refuses to show humans as humans — especially in politics, where no one’s a saint.
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