ZEE5’s ‘ATM’: Heist drama offers the right ingredients

Web series, by its very nature, lets the writer/director explore multiple threads. The narration can be detailed because the run-time exceeds 4 hours in a number of cases. Star director Harish Shankar became the showrunner of ‘ATM’, currently streaming on ZEE5, precisely in order to tell a story that cinema wouldn’t have let him tell for different reasons. He is this 8-episode series’ story writer and is joined by screenplay writer and director C Chandra Mohan. Dil Raju Productions ensures good production values.

Jagan, Karthik, Abhay and Harsha (played by VJ Sunny, Krishna, Raviraj and Roiel Shree) come from economically poor backgrounds. Their slum lives are made worse by financial, health-related and other issues. Jagan harbours big dreams, unlike his humble father who is beholden to a selfish politician Gajendra (Prudhvi).

One fateful day, when the four underdogs get embroiled in a missing set of diamonds (whose value runs into several crores), they have to move heaven and earth to earn Rs 10 Cr in just 10 days. They hatch an elaborate conspiracy to lay their hands on a chest of currency carried by an ATM van.

What begins as an underdog drama turns into a heist thriller and an investigative procedural with the entry of Subbaraju’s cop character. This cop is given some quirks. CI Uma Devi (Divya Vani) adds to the comic relief.

‘ATM’ plays out its ideas without much fuss. The first four episodes are easy on the viewer. The viewer’s undivided interest is what the second set of episodes demand. The screenplay becomes racy, the situational comedy takes a backseat, and the investigation track holds our interest in the final three episodes. The 8th episode ties up the loose ends and gives a complete picture.

Divi as a lover girl is realistic. Harshini plays another lover girl whose love is unconditional. Dayanandh Reddy as Jagan’s father and Shafi as a philosopher-style vagabond are well-written characters.

It would have been better had the characters been given better idiosyncracies.  The first two episodes should have done the world-building in a better way.

On balance, if you can overlook minor flaws, ‘ATM’ makes for an engaging watch. Prashanth R Vihari’s music is attuned to today’s trends. The cinematography, the art direction, and the choice of locations are authentic.

CLICK HERE!! to stream “ATM” on ZEE5 Telugu.

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