{ "id": "ep8edxn2fd", "slug": "kumari-srimathi", "title": "Kumari Srimathi", "updated": "2026-11-01", "topic_path": [ { "id": "culture", "label": "Arts and culture", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture" }, { "id": "culture.performance", "label": "Screen and stage", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen", "label": "Film and television", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.series", "label": "Series and fictional screen worlds", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.series" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.series.series_international_serials", "label": "International serial drama and telenovelas", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.series.series_international_serials" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.series.series_int_serials_south_asia", "label": "South and Southeast Asian serials", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.series.series_int_serials_south_asia" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.series.series_int_serials_south_asia.telugu_serials", "label": "Telugu serials", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.series.series_int_serials_south_asia.telugu_serials" } ], "geo": [ { "id": "geo.ind.t2021.culture.performance.screen.series.series_international_serials", "label": "India · 2021 and later: International serial drama and telenovelas", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t2021.culture.performance.screen.series.series_international_serials", "path": [ { "id": "geo.ind", "label": "India", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t2021", "label": "India · 2021 and later", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t2021" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t2021.culture", "label": "Arts and culture", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t2021.culture" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t2021.culture.performance", "label": "Screen and stage", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t2021.culture.performance" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t2021.culture.performance.screen", "label": "Film and television", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t2021.culture.performance.screen" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t2021.culture.performance.screen.series", "label": "Series and fictional screen worlds", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t2021.culture.performance.screen.series" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t2021.culture.performance.screen.series.series_international_serials", "label": "International serial drama and telenovelas", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t2021.culture.performance.screen.series.series_international_serials" } ] } ], "excerpt": "Kumari Srimathi is a 2023 Telugu comedy-drama web series on Prime Video, starring Nithya Menen as a 30-year-old villager who opens a bar to reclaim her ancestral home; directed by Gomtesh Upadhye, produced by Swapna and Priyanka Dutt.", "snippet": "Kumari Srimathi is a 2023 Telugu comedy-drama web series on Prime Video, starring Nithya Menen as a 30-year-old villager who opens a bar to reclaim her ancestral home; directed by Gomtesh Upadhye, produced by Swapna and Priyanka Dutt.", "node": "culture.performance.screen.series.series_int_serials_south_asia.telugu_serials", "markdown": "# Kumari Srimathi\n\n**Kumari Srimathi** is a 2023 Telugu-language comedy-drama web series starring [Nithya Menen](https://www.edgepedia.org/nithya-menen) as Srimathi, a 30-year-old unmarried woman in a small [Andhra Pradesh](https://www.edgepedia.org/andhra-pradesh) village who decides to open a bar to raise money to buy back her family's ancestral home. The seven-episode series premiered on Prime Video on September 28, 2023, and was directed by Gomtesh Upadhye with [Srinivas Avasarala](https://www.edgepedia.org/srinivas-avasarala) as creator and showrunner.[1](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/web-series/prime-video-sets-september-28-premiere-for-nithya-menen-starrer-kumari-srimathi-8944968/) • [2](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/telugu/news/2023/Sep/22/nithya-menens-kumari-srimathi-trailer-unveiled-47901.html)\n\n| Key fact | Detail |\n|---|---|\n| Premiere | September 28, 2023, on Prime Video, in India and across 240 countries and territories worldwide[1](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/web-series/prime-video-sets-september-28-premiere-for-nithya-menen-starrer-kumari-srimathi-8944968/) |\n| Format | Seven episodes of about 40 minutes each[2](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/telugu/news/2023/Sep/22/nithya-menens-kumari-srimathi-trailer-unveiled-47901.html) |\n| Lead role | Nithya Menen as Itikelapudi Srimathi, a 30-year-old unmarried woman with a dead-end restaurant job[1](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/web-series/prime-video-sets-september-28-premiere-for-nithya-menen-starrer-kumari-srimathi-8944968/) • [3](https://telanganatoday.com/kumari-srimathi-a-refreshing-tale-worth-binge-watching) |\n| Setting | Ramarajulanka, a village in the East Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh[2](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/telugu/news/2023/Sep/22/nithya-menens-kumari-srimathi-trailer-unveiled-47901.html) • [3](https://telanganatoday.com/kumari-srimathi-a-refreshing-tale-worth-binge-watching) |\n| Production | Swapna Dutt and Priyanka Dutt, under Early Monsoon Tales, the web division of Swapna Cinema[2](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/telugu/news/2023/Sep/22/nithya-menens-kumari-srimathi-trailer-unveiled-47901.html) |\n| Languages | Shot in Telugu, with dubs in Hindi, Tamil, and Malayalam; Kannada was also announced in some trade reports[1](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/web-series/prime-video-sets-september-28-premiere-for-nithya-menen-starrer-kumari-srimathi-8944968/) • [4](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/telugu/news/2023/Sep/18/kumari-srimathi-gets-a-release-date-47741.html) |\n| Reception | IMDb rating of 7.2/10; reviews generally rated the series 3 out of 5[5](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt29225030/) • [6](https://www.ottplay.com/review/kumari-srimathi-review-nithya-menens-show-is-entertaining-but-stops-short-of-being-memorable/0e38376236895) |\n\n## Spoilers\n\n### Premise and plot\n\nThe series centers on Itikelapudi Srimathi, nicknamed Siri, a 30-year-old unmarried woman working as a floor manager in a restaurant for a meager salary. Her family consists of her grandmother Seshamma (Talluri Rameshwari), her mother Devika (Gauthami), and a younger sister (Praneeta Pattnaik). Her greedy uncle Keshava Rao (Prem Sagar) wants to sell the ancestral home and takes the family to court; after seven years of litigation, the judge gives Srimathi six months to raise the money to buy back the property, failing which she forfeits her rights to it.[3](https://telanganatoday.com/kumari-srimathi-a-refreshing-tale-worth-binge-watching) • [6](https://www.ottplay.com/review/kumari-srimathi-review-nithya-menens-show-is-entertaining-but-stops-short-of-being-memorable/0e38376236895)\n\nThe amount at stake is reported differently by two reviews: the Ottplay review puts the court-set dues close to Rs 4 million (Rs 40 lakh), while Telangana Today states Rs 3.8 million (Rs 38 lakh).[6](https://www.ottplay.com/review/kumari-srimathi-review-nithya-menens-show-is-entertaining-but-stops-short-of-being-memorable/0e38376236895) • [3](https://telanganatoday.com/kumari-srimathi-a-refreshing-tale-worth-binge-watching) Encouraged by her neighbor Sriram (Nirupam Paritala) and backed by her hotel management degree, Srimathi quits her job and opens a bar in the village, a choice that draws opposition from her family and the community.[3](https://telanganatoday.com/kumari-srimathi-a-refreshing-tale-worth-binge-watching) • [7](https://www.justwatch.com/in/tv-show/kumari-srimathi) Her childhood friend Abhinav (Thiruveer) is among those who help her along the way.[3](https://telanganatoday.com/kumari-srimathi-a-refreshing-tale-worth-binge-watching)\n\nThe story came from Telugu writer Balabhadrapatruni Ramani, whose idea of an unmarried girl in a village was developed collectively by a team of writers that included Mallik Ram.[8](https://www.newindianexpress.com/amp/story/bengaluru/2023/Oct/04/what-you-see-is-more-of-a-creative-experiment-kumari-srimathi-director-gomtesh-upadhye-2620535.html) • [9](https://scroll.in/latest/1056638/andhra-pradesh-cm-defends-plan-to-turn-government-schools-into-english-medium-institutions)\n\n## Production\n\nKumari Srimathi was produced by [Swapna Dutt](https://www.edgepedia.org/swapna-dutt) and [Priyanka Dutt](https://www.edgepedia.org/priyanka-dutt) under Early Monsoon Tales, the web division of their home banner Swapna Cinema, and marked the producers' first OTT venture.[2](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/telugu/news/2023/Sep/22/nithya-menens-kumari-srimathi-trailer-unveiled-47901.html) • [4](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/telugu/news/2023/Sep/18/kumari-srimathi-gets-a-release-date-47741.html) Early Monsoon Tales sits within the [Vyjayanthi Movies](https://www.edgepedia.org/vyjayanthi-movies) group founded by producer Ashwini Dutt, whose credits include the films Mahanati, Sita Ramam, and Yevade Subrahmanyam.[10](https://www.ottplay.com/news/nithya-menens-kumari-srimathi-opts-for-a-direct-to-ott-release-heres-what-we-know/9a16227552853)\n\nActor, writer, and filmmaker Srinivas Avasarala served as showrunner and wrote the screenplay and dialogues, with Uday Kaushik and Jayanth as co-writers.[2](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/telugu/news/2023/Sep/22/nithya-menens-kumari-srimathi-trailer-unveiled-47901.html) • [4](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/telugu/news/2023/Sep/18/kumari-srimathi-gets-a-release-date-47741.html) • [11](https://www.123telugu.com/reviews/ott-review-nithya-menens-kumari-srimathi-telugu-web-series-on-prime-video.html) Gomtesh Upadhye, a Bengaluru-based filmmaker, directed the series, his first web project; he said the show took over three years to make.[8](https://www.newindianexpress.com/amp/story/bengaluru/2023/Oct/04/what-you-see-is-more-of-a-creative-experiment-kumari-srimathi-director-gomtesh-upadhye-2620535.html) Staccato and Kamran composed the music, Mohan Krishna handled cinematography, and Srujana Adusumilli edited the series.[4](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/telugu/news/2023/Sep/18/kumari-srimathi-gets-a-release-date-47741.html)\n\nThe ensemble cast includes Gauthami, Thiruveer, Nirupam Paritala, Praneeta Pattnaik, Naresh, Murali Mohan, Talluri Rameshwari, Prem Sagar, and the veteran comedian [Babu Mohan](https://www.edgepedia.org/babu-mohan), who played a lawyer in his OTT debut.[2](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/telugu/news/2023/Sep/22/nithya-menens-kumari-srimathi-trailer-unveiled-47901.html) • [12](https://www.123telugu.com/mnews/kumari-srimathi-veteran-telugu-comedian-makes-his-ott-debut.html)\n\n## Release\n\nPrime Video announced the premiere date on September 18, 2023, and the trailer was unveiled on September 22.[1](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/web-series/prime-video-sets-september-28-premiere-for-nithya-menen-starrer-kumari-srimathi-8944968/) • [2](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/telugu/news/2023/Sep/22/nithya-menens-kumari-srimathi-trailer-unveiled-47901.html) The series streamed exclusively on Prime Video in India and in 240 countries and territories worldwide, in Telugu with dubs in Hindi, Tamil, and Malayalam; Cinema Express reported a Kannada release as well.[1](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/web-series/prime-video-sets-september-28-premiere-for-nithya-menen-starrer-kumari-srimathi-8944968/) • [4](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/telugu/news/2023/Sep/18/kumari-srimathi-gets-a-release-date-47741.html) Manish Menghani, director of content licensing at Prime Video India, described the series as family viewing built on the theme of a determined woman forging her own path.[1](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/web-series/prime-video-sets-september-28-premiere-for-nithya-menen-starrer-kumari-srimathi-8944968/)\n\n## Reception\n\nThe series holds a 7.2/10 rating on IMDb from more than 700 users, with episode-level ratings between 7.8 and 8.7.[5](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt29225030/) • [13](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt29225030/ratings/) Critics rated it around 3 out of 5. The Ottplay review called it a largely entertaining, progressive show carried by Nithya Menen's performance and Talluri Rameshwari's casting as the grandmother, while faulting the writing for cinematic liberties and underdeveloped supporting characters.[6](https://www.ottplay.com/review/kumari-srimathi-review-nithya-menens-show-is-entertaining-but-stops-short-of-being-memorable/0e38376236895) The 123telugu review praised the music by Staccato and Kamran, Mohan Krishna's cinematography, and the family-friendly tone, but noted slow pacing in the middle episodes and a rushed climax.[11](https://www.123telugu.com/reviews/ott-review-nithya-menens-kumari-srimathi-telugu-web-series-on-prime-video.html) A Scroll.in review highlighted Prem Sagar's villainous uncle as the most satisfying arc and noted that the ending promises a second season.[9](https://scroll.in/latest/1056638/andhra-pradesh-cm-defends-plan-to-turn-government-schools-into-english-medium-institutions)\n\nIn an October 2023 interview, Nithya Menen said the premise of a small-town girl opening a bar in her village was something that had not been explored on screen before, and that she was drawn to the cinematic treatment of the rustic village setting.[14](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/south-cinema/exclusive-nithya-menen-kumari-srimathi-not-something-ever/) The series has since been frequently recommended among Telugu-language shows on Prime Video, and it appeared in a 2025 study of gender representation in popular Indian OTT content as one of the selected Telugu web series.[15](https://populationfirst.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Final-OTT-RESEARCH-Report.pdf)\n\n## References\n\n1. [Prime Video sets September 28 premiere for Nithya Menen-starrer Kumari Srimathi, The Indian Express (PTI)](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/web-series/prime-video-sets-september-28-premiere-for-nithya-menen-starrer-kumari-srimathi-8944968/)\n2. [Nithya Menen's Kumari Srimathi trailer unveiled, Cinema Express](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/telugu/news/2023/Sep/22/nithya-menens-kumari-srimathi-trailer-unveiled-47901.html)\n3. [Kumari Srimathi: A refreshing tale worth binge-watching, Telangana Today](https://telanganatoday.com/kumari-srimathi-a-refreshing-tale-worth-binge-watching)\n4. [Kumari Srimathi gets a release date, Cinema Express](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/telugu/news/2023/Sep/18/kumari-srimathi-gets-a-release-date-47741.html)\n5. [Kumari Srimathi (TV Series 2023– ), IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt29225030/)\n6. [Kumari Srimathi review: Nithya Menen's show is entertaining but stops short of being memorable, Ottplay](https://www.ottplay.com/review/kumari-srimathi-review-nithya-menens-show-is-entertaining-but-stops-short-of-being-memorable/0e38376236895)\n7. [Kumari Srimathi, JustWatch](https://www.justwatch.com/in/tv-show/kumari-srimathi)\n8. [What you see is more of a creative experiment: 'Kumari Srimathi' director Gomtesh Upadhye, The New Indian Express](https://www.newindianexpress.com/amp/story/bengaluru/2023/Oct/04/what-you-see-is-more-of-a-creative-experiment-kumari-srimathi-director-gomtesh-upadhye-2620535.html)\n9. [Kumari Srimathi OTT review: Nithya Menen sparkles in entertaining Telugu web series, Scroll.in](https://scroll.in/latest/1056638/andhra-pradesh-cm-defends-plan-to-turn-government-schools-into-english-medium-institutions)\n10. [Nithya Menen's Kumari Srimathi opts for a direct-to-OTT release, Ottplay](https://www.ottplay.com/news/nithya-menens-kumari-srimathi-opts-for-a-direct-to-ott-release-heres-what-we-know/9a16227552853)\n11. [OTT Review: Nithya Menen's Kumari Srimathi – Telugu web series on Prime Video, 123telugu](https://www.123telugu.com/reviews/ott-review-nithya-menens-kumari-srimathi-telugu-web-series-on-prime-video.html)\n12. [Kumari Srimathi: Veteran Telugu comedian makes his OTT debut, 123telugu](https://www.123telugu.com/mnews/kumari-srimathi-veteran-telugu-comedian-makes-his-ott-debut.html)\n13. [Kumari Srimathi – Ratings, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt29225030/ratings/)\n14. [EXCLUSIVE: Nithya Menen on Kumari Srimathi, Bollywood Hungama](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/south-cinema/exclusive-nithya-menen-kumari-srimathi-not-something-ever/)\n15. [Study on Gender Representation in Popular OTT Content in India, Population First](https://populationfirst.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Final-OTT-RESEARCH-Report.pdf)\n\n---\n*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Series and fictional screen worlds › International serial drama and telenovelas › South and Southeast Asian serials › Telugu serials*\n\n*Initially written Oct 3, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 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", "same_as": [], "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/kumari-srimathi", "markdown_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/kumari-srimathi.md", "license": { "name": "Edgepedia Community License 1.0", "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license", "summary": "Free with credit, commercial use included. AI training is open to everyone. For other uses, organizations over USD 100M in revenue or 100M monthly users license separately.", "spdx": "LicenseRef-Edgepedia-Community-1.0" }, "credit": "\"Kumari Srimathi\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/kumari-srimathi. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "credit_md": "\"[Kumari Srimathi](https://www.edgepedia.org/kumari-srimathi)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), [https://www.edgepedia.org/kumari-srimathi](https://www.edgepedia.org/kumari-srimathi). [Edgepedia Community License 1.0](https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license).", "credit_html": "\"Kumari Srimathi\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/kumari-srimathi. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "speakable": "Kumari Srimathi is a 2023 Telugu comedy-drama web series on Prime Video, starring Nithya Menen as a 30-year-old villager who opens a bar to reclaim her ancestral home; directed by Gomtesh Upadhye, produced by Swapna and Priyanka Dutt." }