Save the Tigers is an Indian Telugu-language comedy drama thriller television series created by Pradeep Advaitham and Mahi V Raghav and directed by Teja Kakumanu and Arun Kothapally. The series produced by Mahi V Raghav and Chinna Vasudeva Reddy under Three Autumn Leaves.[3] It stars Priyadarshi Pulikonda, Abhinav Gomatam, Krishna Chaitanya,Deviyani Sharma, Pavani Gangireddy and Jordar in the lead roles.[4] It premiered on Disney+ Hotstar on 27 April 2023.[5]
Plot
Ghanta Ravi (Priyadarshi Pulikonda) is a dairy farm proprietor, Vikram (Krishna Chaitanya) is a creative ad writer, while Rahul (Abhinav Gomatam) nurtures aspirations of becoming a writer. Through a series of serendipitous encounters, these individuals forge a bond, giving rise to an unforeseen and unique friendship. They share a common frustration with their wives' behaviors. The trio faces legal trouble when caught in a drunk driving case. Simultaneously, the police discover a prominent actress has been kidnapped. The series explores whether the trio has any connection to her disappearance. The reasons behind their alcohol consumption are revealed, examining if it is linked to their marital issues. The trio refers to themselves as "Tigers", and the series explores the significance of this choice in the larger narrative.
Priyadarshi Pulikonda as Ghanta Ravi: He runs a dairy business. He is proud of his line of work even though his immediate family including his wife and elder daughter isn't
Abhinav Gomatam as Rahul: He quit his job to become a freelance writer. He is shown to be always struggling to find work
Krishna Chaitanya as Vikram: A corporate guy who faces constant heat from his boss in the first season
Jordar Sujatha as Hymavathi: She is Ghanta Ravi's wife and a beautician by profession
Pavani Gangireddy as Madhuri: She Rahul's wife and a doctor by profession
Deviyani Sharma as Rekha: She is Vikram wife and a lawyer by profession
Recurring
Gangavva as Poshavva, Ghanta Ravi's mother. She lives with her family, consisting of her son, daughter-in-law and two grandchildren, in their family buffalo pen (Season 1-)
Jabardasth Rohini as Lakshmi: She is the house help of Rahul and Madhuri. She has a witty sense of humour and often looks down on her boss, Rahul for not having a full-time job (Season 1-)
Sunaina Badam as Rajini Devi, Vikram's co-worker. Like Vikram, she too is put through a great deal of stress by Ram Mohan who makes her do his son's homework (Season 1)
Satya Krishnan as Spandana a psychiatrist. She counsels and eventually becomes close with Hymavathi, Madhuri and Rekha (Season 1-)
Venu Yeldandi as Raghava, a news anchor. He harbours a minor vendetta against Rahul and thereby on all the three tigers because Rahul prank called him in the first season. It is revealed in the second season that he is the husband of Spandana (Season 1-)
Jayasri Rachakonda as Arundhati, Vikram's mother-in-law (Season 1-)
Ananth Babu as Kumar, the president of the gated community in which Rahul and Madhuri live. He also doesn't have a high opinion of Rahul (Season 1-)
Darshana Banik as Harika. She has an unrequited crush on Vikram (Season 2)
Kireeti Damaraju as actor Vrushen Babu. He is Hamsalekha's fiance at the beginning of the second season (Season 2)
RK Mama as Pittala Srisailam, the MLA of Jubilee Hills (Season 2)
Aarthi Ganeshkar as Laboni, Rahul's neighbour. She has frequent brushes with Rahul because of the latter's protest to her puppy soiling the lobby and barking frequently (Season 2)
Three frustrated husbands are in the police station for a drunk-and-drive case and start telling their life stories to the CI. They tell him how they met at a school day event for their kids and became friends.
The ACP informs the CI that the famous actress Hamsalekha is missing. The frustrated husbands continue to share their woes with the CI, about their life and marital problems that led them to meet at a bar for drinks.
Rahul is jealous of his wife's relationship with her colleague. The wives of the three frustrated husbands meet at a beauty salon by coincidence and they see a video of their husbands creating a ruckus in a bar on TV.
Ghanta Ravi sees a guy getting too close to his daughter and warns him. Rahul attempts to work out but ends up with an injury. At the Hospital, he finds out Madhuri's colleague who he hates is actually engaged and Rahul is relieved.
The underwear AD made by Vikram becomes a controversy and he loses his job. Rekha files a case against the AD. The CI asks them to leave but then realizes they are connected to the missing actress and arrests them.
CI Bhikshapathi interrogates the protagonists. Confessions follow, straining relationships. Madhuri seeks space from Rahul, and Vikram's job news triggers Rekha's exit. Hymavati persuades Ganta Ravi to a gated community reluctantly.
Rekha, Hymavati, and Madhuri consult Spandana on marriage woes. She warns of the "7 Years Itch." Vikram launches a startup, impressing Harika. Ganta Ravi introduces Rahul to Hamsalekha's script opportunity. Ravi gets a corporator ticket.
Hamsalekha asks Ganta Ravi to find a scriptwriter. Rahul faces criticism for chasing a dog. Ganta Ravi explores a gated community. Dimple runs for school captain. Wives are shocked by Spandana's views and behaviour at her anniversary.
In the Stone Age, a comical exploration of evolving relationships. Rahul complains about Laboni at a community meeting. Ganta Ravi gives money to MLA PA. Vikram and Harika's ad pitch is rejected, but an impromptu idea gets approved.
Vikram's party sparks Harika's emotions. Ganta Ravi-Hymavathi fights about money. Rahul rejects changes in the script. Vikram values Rekha. Misunderstanding ruins Vikram's marriage. Ganta Ravi was touched by Dimple. Rahul moves to Kolkata
Reception
A critic from 123telugu gave the series 3.25/5 stars and stated "Save The Tigers is an uproarious series that guarantees laughter from start to finish. Priyadarshi, Abhinav Gomatam, and Krishna Chaitanya steal the show with their impeccable performances, infusing the series with an abundance of humor. While the storyline is uncomplicated and a few imperfections exist, the overall experience is perfect for a family weekend watch. Rest assured, this series offers a unique and entertaining experience without any compromise on originality."[6]
Paul Nicodemus of The Times of India gave the series 3/5 stars and stated "In this Telugu comedy series, skillful direction by Teja Kakumanu and a well-cast ensemble bring to life the daily frustrations of three couples, providing a humorous commentary on modern life dynamics. Despite the entertaining and insightful content, the series concludes with a suspenseful 'to be continued' note in its final episode."[7]
Avad Mohammad of OTTplay gave the series 3.5/5 stars and stated that "Save The Tigers is a riotous comedy caper that nails the sweet spot between humor and relatable scenarios. Clocking in at a concise half-hour per episode, it's the perfect dose of clean, family-friendly entertainment. Sure, there are a few moments that veer into the over-the-top territory, but that only adds to the charm. This series wraps up as a fantastic way to kick back and enjoy some quality time with your family. Trust me, it's worth a watch."[8]
A critic from Eenadu stated that "Raghava and Pradeep bring lots of funny moments to the story of three couples dealing with issues like who's in charge and not trusting each other. Teja Kakumanu's funny acting adds to the fun, and the movie looks really good thanks to its great production."[9]
Abhilasha Cherukuri of Cinema Express gave the series 3.5/5 stars and stated that "Save The Tigers initially hinted at a breezy and light-hearted experience, but it surprisingly leaves the audience with a sense of weariness and heaviness. There's a wishful longing for the writers to have delved more profoundly into the dependable premise and the fairly decent set of characters."[10]
