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 "title": "Bench Life",
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 "excerpt": "Bench Life is a 2024 Telugu comedy-drama web series on SonyLIV, directed by Manasa Sharma and produced by Niharika Konidela. Five episodes follow three Hyderabad IT employees, Balu, Ravi, and Meenakshi, who scheme to get benched, unlike any other office drama of its name.",
 "snippet": "Bench Life is a 2024 Telugu comedy-drama web series on SonyLIV, directed by Manasa Sharma and produced by Niharika Konidela. Five episodes follow three Hyderabad IT employees, Balu, Ravi, and Meenakshi, who scheme to get benched, unlike any other office drama of its name.",
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 "markdown": "# Bench Life\n\n**Bench Life** is a 2024 Indian Telugu-language comedy-drama web series directed by Manasa Sharma for SonyLIV, about three software employees at an IT company in [Hyderabad](https://www.edgepedia.org/hyderabad) who each want to be placed on the corporate bench, the period when an employee has no active project but keeps drawing a salary.<sup>[1](https://www.gadgets360.com/entertainment/bench-life-web-series-127943)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[2](https://scroll.in/reel/1073174/)</sup>  It premiered on 12 September 2024 with five episodes and was produced by Niharika Konidela under Pink Elephant Pictures.<sup>[3](https://www.sonyliv.com/shows/bench-life-kannada-1700001519)</sup>\n\n| Key fact | Detail |\n|---|---|\n| Premiere | 12 September 2024, SonyLIV; five episodes of roughly 40 minutes each<sup>[3](https://www.sonyliv.com/shows/bench-life-kannada-1700001519)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[4](https://tv.apple.com/in/show/bench-life/umc.cmc.5hw7my8ta7ee9wb4yqtm39uhv)</sup>  |\n| Creator team | Director and writer Manasa Sharma, co-writer Mahesh Uppala, producer Niharika Konidela (Pink Elephant Pictures)<sup>[3](https://www.sonyliv.com/shows/bench-life-kannada-1700001519)</sup> |\n| Premise | Balu, Ravi and Meenakshi, employees at Apcoh Tech in Hyderabad, scheme to get benched for their own private reasons<sup>[5](https://www.123telugu.com/reviews/ott-review-bench-life-telugu-web-series-on-sony-liv.html)</sup> |\n| Lead cast | Vaibhav Reddy (Balu), Ritika Singh (Meenakshi), Charan Peri (Ravi), Aakanksha Singh (Isha), Rajendra Prasad (Prasad)<sup>[3](https://www.sonyliv.com/shows/bench-life-kannada-1700001519)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[6](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt30821976/)</sup>  |\n| Languages | Telugu original audio with dubs in Hindi, Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada, Marathi, and Bangla<sup>[4](https://tv.apple.com/in/show/bench-life/umc.cmc.5hw7my8ta7ee9wb4yqtm39uhv)</sup> |\n| Ratings | IMDb 7.2/10 (253 votes); 3/5 from 123telugu and ABP Desam, 3.5/5 from OTTplay and Gadgets 360<sup>[6](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt30821976/)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[5](https://www.123telugu.com/reviews/ott-review-bench-life-telugu-web-series-on-sony-liv.html)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[1](https://www.gadgets360.com/entertainment/bench-life-web-series-127943)</sup>  |\n| Audience tracking | Scored 63 on Ormax Media's 2024 list of most-liked Telugu streaming originals, tied with *Harikatha: Sambhavami Yuge Yuge*<sup>[7](https://www.ormaxmedia.com/data/library/StreamingOriginals-The2024Story-OrmaxMedia.pdf)</sup> |\n\n## Spoilers\n\n### Premise and characters\n\nThe series takes its title from the corporate bench, the state of employees in client-services IT firms who, after finishing a project, wait on salary for the next assignment. Producer Niharika Konidela described the bench as \"a place where employees often feel lost and uncertain\".<sup>[8](https://telanganatoday.com/niharika-konidela-says-bench-life-captures-the-experience-of-being-on-corporate-bench)</sup> The show inverts the usual office drama: instead of overachievers, it follows three self-described nonstarters who treat the bench as a loophole, a way to be paid while doing nothing.<sup>[2](https://scroll.in/reel/1073174/)</sup>\n\nThe three leads have separate motives. Balu ([Vaibhav Reddy](https://www.edgepedia.org/vaibhav-reddy)), a man in his mid-thirties and the self-appointed ringleader, is awkwardly in love with Isha, a manager on another team, and wants to be benched to join her project.<sup>[2](https://scroll.in/reel/1073174/)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[5](https://www.123telugu.com/reviews/ott-review-bench-life-telugu-web-series-on-sony-liv.html)</sup>  Ravi (Charan Peri) is a recently married slacker who schemes to fund an impossible Goa trip with his friends; the actor described him as mentally still stuck in his college days.<sup>[2](https://scroll.in/reel/1073174/)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[9](https://pynr.in/behind-the-scenes-with-bench-life-squad/)</sup>  Meenakshi ([Ritika Singh](https://www.edgepedia.org/ritika-singh)) despises her job and wants time to pursue her ambition of becoming a filmmaker, going as far as stealing small props from the office for her projects.<sup>[2](https://scroll.in/reel/1073174/)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[10](https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/review/2024/Sep/14/bench-life-web-series-review-a-breezy-comedy-drama-about-redemption-and-reconciliation)</sup>\n\nAround them sit the supporting cast: the veteran actor [Rajendra Prasad](https://www.edgepedia.org/rajendra-prasad) plays Prasad Vassishta, an ex-police officer who joins the company hoping to reconcile with his estranged daughter Isha ([Aakanksha Singh](https://www.edgepedia.org/aakanksha-singh)), who works there as a manager; [Nayan Sarika](https://www.edgepedia.org/nayan-sarika) plays Gayatri, Ravi's wife; Venkatesh Kakumanu and Tanikella Bharani fill out the office.<sup>[2](https://scroll.in/reel/1073174/)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[5](https://www.123telugu.com/reviews/ott-review-bench-life-telugu-web-series-on-sony-liv.html)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[6](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt30821976/)</sup>  The five episodes are titled Code Error, Firewall, Debugging, Testing, and The Real Bench, and the arc moves from the trio's schemes through a cost-cutting scare that puts their jobs at risk to a redemptive close.<sup>[4](https://tv.apple.com/in/show/bench-life/umc.cmc.5hw7my8ta7ee9wb4yqtm39uhv)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[11](https://www.ottplay.com/news/bench-life-ott-release-date-when-and-where-to-watch-vaibhav-reddy-web-series/33604a7660699)</sup>\n\n## Production\n\nSonyLIV approached Pink Elephant Pictures, which had made *Oka Chinna Family Story* for ZEE5, asking for a series set in the IT industry. Manasa Sharma, a former software engineer, and co-writer Mahesh Uppala chose the bench as the setting because it had not been dramatized on screen, and deliberately kept the writing non-technical so the show would reach viewers outside the industry; after the opening stretch the software setting recedes behind the characters.<sup>[12](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/telugu/interviews/2024/Sep/19/manasa-sharma-action-and-emotion-always-go-together)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[13](https://www.deccanchronicle.com/entertainment/ott/bench-life-the-it-industrys-untold-stories-come-alive-on-sony-liv-1822085)</sup>  Sharma said the character of Meenakshi is largely autobiographical; her full name is Meenakshi Manasa Sharma, and the character's texting mother is drawn from her own.<sup>[12](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/telugu/interviews/2024/Sep/19/manasa-sharma-action-and-emotion-always-go-together)</sup>\n\nBench Life was Sharma's directorial debut and, per [The Pioneer](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-pioneer), the seventh production from Pink Elephant Pictures.<sup>[12](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/telugu/interviews/2024/Sep/19/manasa-sharma-action-and-emotion-always-go-together)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[9](https://pynr.in/behind-the-scenes-with-bench-life-squad/)</sup>  Danush Bhaskar handled cinematography, PK Dandi composed the music, and Prawin Pudi edited.<sup>[5](https://www.123telugu.com/reviews/ott-review-bench-life-telugu-web-series-on-sony-liv.html)</sup> It was the second Telugu web series to stream on SonyLIV, after the Trisha Krishnan police drama *Brinda* in August 2024.<sup>[11](https://www.ottplay.com/news/bench-life-ott-release-date-when-and-where-to-watch-vaibhav-reddy-web-series/33604a7660699)</sup>\n\n## Reception\n\nCritics received the series as a light, watchable comedy with uneven writing. Reviewers consistently praised the performances: Vaibhav Reddy's comic timing and one-liners were called the show's strongest asset, Rajendra Prasad's warm turn as the retired officer balancing humor and seriousness drew repeated mention, and Ritika Singh's Meenakshi track, the one character who uses the bench to chase a dream, was singled out as the most engaging.<sup>[2](https://scroll.in/reel/1073174/)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[5](https://www.123telugu.com/reviews/ott-review-bench-life-telugu-web-series-on-sony-liv.html)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[10](https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/review/2024/Sep/14/bench-life-web-series-review-a-breezy-comedy-drama-about-redemption-and-reconciliation)</sup>\n\nThe recurring criticisms were pacing and sentiment. Reviewers found the middle episodes slow, the episode endings reliant on convenient dramatic conflicts, and the late-episode turn toward redemption close to preachy; the New Indian Express also noted that Balu's lax attitude strains believability and that his character is hard to invest in emotionally.<sup>[2](https://scroll.in/reel/1073174/)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[5](https://www.123telugu.com/reviews/ott-review-bench-life-telugu-web-series-on-sony-liv.html)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[10](https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/review/2024/Sep/14/bench-life-web-series-review-a-breezy-comedy-drama-about-redemption-and-reconciliation)</sup>  Numeric scores clustered in the middle of the scale: 3/5 from 123telugu, ABP Desam, and connectmyindia, and 3.5/5 from OTTplay and Gadgets 360.<sup>[5](https://www.123telugu.com/reviews/ott-review-bench-life-telugu-web-series-on-sony-liv.html)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[1](https://www.gadgets360.com/entertainment/bench-life-web-series-127943)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[14](https://connectmyindia.com/OTT-telugu-movie/ott-review-bench-life-web-series-streaming-on-sony-liv-3744.html)</sup>  Audience measures were similar: IMDb listed 7.2/10 from 253 votes, and Ormax Media's tracking of most-liked Telugu streaming originals placed Bench Life at 63 for 2024, level with *Harikatha: Sambhavami Yuge Yuge* and just below *Brinda* at 64.<sup>[6](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt30821976/)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[7](https://www.ormaxmedia.com/data/library/StreamingOriginals-The2024Story-OrmaxMedia.pdf)</sup>\n\n## Availability\n\nThe series streams on SonyLIV in India, also via VI movies and tv and Airtel Xstream Play, with an A (adult) certification and content advisories for language and tobacco use.<sup>[15](https://www.justwatch.com/in/tv-show/bench-life)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[4](https://tv.apple.com/in/show/bench-life/umc.cmc.5hw7my8ta7ee9wb4yqtm39uhv)</sup>  Besides the Telugu original, Apple TV India's catalog lists audio in Bangla, Hindi, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, and Tamil, with English subtitles.<sup>[4](https://tv.apple.com/in/show/bench-life/umc.cmc.5hw7my8ta7ee9wb4yqtm39uhv)</sup>\n\n## References\n\n1. [Bench Life Web Series (2024), Gadgets 360](https://www.gadgets360.com/entertainment/bench-life-web-series-127943)\n2. [\"Bench Life\" review: Vaibhav is the star employee in an otherwise middling office drama, Scroll.in (Sruthi Ganapathy Raman, 12 September 2024)](https://scroll.in/reel/1073174/)\n3. [Bench Life, Sony LIV official show page](https://www.sonyliv.com/shows/bench-life-kannada-1700001519)\n4. [Bench Life, Apple TV (India) catalog](https://tv.apple.com/in/show/bench-life/umc.cmc.5hw7my8ta7ee9wb4yqtm39uhv)\n5. [OTT Review: Bench Life, Telugu web series on Sony LIV, 123telugu (12 September 2024)](https://www.123telugu.com/reviews/ott-review-bench-life-telugu-web-series-on-sony-liv.html)\n6. [Bench Life (TV Series 2024), IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt30821976/)\n7. [Most-Liked Telugu Shows/Films, Ormax Media, Streaming Originals: The 2024 Story](https://www.ormaxmedia.com/data/library/StreamingOriginals-The2024Story-OrmaxMedia.pdf)\n8. [Niharika Konidela says \"Bench Life\" captures the experience of being on corporate bench, Telangana Today (27 August 2024)](https://telanganatoday.com/niharika-konidela-says-bench-life-captures-the-experience-of-being-on-corporate-bench)\n9. [Behind the scenes with Bench Life squad, The Pioneer (6 September 2024)](https://pynr.in/behind-the-scenes-with-bench-life-squad/)\n10. [\"Bench Life\" web series review: A breezy comedy-drama about redemption and reconciliation, The New Indian Express (14 September 2024)](https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/review/2024/Sep/14/bench-life-web-series-review-a-breezy-comedy-drama-about-redemption-and-reconciliation)\n11. [Bench Life OTT release date, OTTplay (29 August 2024)](https://www.ottplay.com/news/bench-life-ott-release-date-when-and-where-to-watch-vaibhav-reddy-web-series/33604a7660699)\n12. [Manasa Sharma: Action and emotion always go together, Cinema Express (19 September 2024)](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/telugu/interviews/2024/Sep/19/manasa-sharma-action-and-emotion-always-go-together)\n13. [From Code to Screen: Manasa Sharma's Journey with Bench Life, Deccan Chronicle (8 September 2024)](https://www.deccanchronicle.com/entertainment/ott/bench-life-the-it-industrys-untold-stories-come-alive-on-sony-liv-1822085)\n14. [OTT Review: Bench Life Web Series Streaming On Sony LIV, ConnectMyIndia (12 September 2024)](https://connectmyindia.com/OTT-telugu-movie/ott-review-bench-life-web-series-streaming-on-sony-liv-3744.html)\n15. [Bench Life, watch tv show streaming online, JustWatch](https://www.justwatch.com/in/tv-show/bench-life)\n\n---\n*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Series and fictional screen worlds › Unscripted, reality, and web-native series › Web-native and streaming-original series › Indian and South Asian web series › Premiered 2021 to 2025*\n\n*Initially written Oct 3, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 3, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 3, 2026; Oct 21, 2026; Oct 25, 2026; Nov 1, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*\n\n*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*\n\nLicense: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license\n",
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 "credit": "\"Bench Life\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/bench-life. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.",
 "credit_md": "\"[Bench Life](https://www.edgepedia.org/bench-life)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), [https://www.edgepedia.org/bench-life](https://www.edgepedia.org/bench-life). [Edgepedia Community License 1.0](https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license).",
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 "speakable": "Bench Life is a 2024 Telugu comedy-drama web series on SonyLIV, directed by Manasa Sharma and produced by Niharika Konidela."
}