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The film tells the story of three friends who work in a software company. Balu (Vaibhav) is a fun-loving guy, and he wants to be on the bench so that he can woo his love, Isha (Akanksha Singh). Meenakshi (Ritika Singh) does not like her job and wants to become a director. She tries to make short films with her friends. Ravi ( Charan Peri) is a happy-go-lucky youngster who gets married at a young age, and he cannot tolerate the constant attention demand from his wife (Nayan Sarika). Prasad Vassishta (Rajendra Prasad) is a new joiner in the company, and he has a hidden motive for his arrival. The rest of the story follows the journey of three friends and how they find the true essence of life, love, and ambition.
Performances:
Vaibhav was superb and entertained as much as he could, along with a slight emotional touch in the end. Akanksha Singh looked gorgeous and gave an effective performance. Ritika Singh was good, and Charan Peri was also suitable for his character. Rajendra Prasad shows his experience and adds value to the character with his performance. Tanikella Bharani makes his presence felt despite having a short screen time while Tulasi, Anant, and others are apt.
Bench Life is written and directed by Manasa Sharma, and she does a good job of making a heartwarming comedy drama. The backdrop of the series is relatable, and it caters to universal audiences. The youngsters will connect with the software backdrop and the issues they face during the work. The comedy and serious parts are well balanced and give a feel of totality. The technical elements were good. However, the director could have concentrated on stressing the emotional parts and avoided the predictable factor popping out in the occasional moments.
Positives;
The casting and performances work wonders for the film. Vaibhav, Aakanksha, Ritika, and Charan provide believable performances and make the viewers involved in their journey. The veterans like Rajendra Prasad and Tanikella Bharani also add the required depth in critical situations. The comedy moments work right from the start to the end of the series, while the last episode also came well with the emotional angle working perfectly.
The story and the conflicts which arise within the characters are basic. There are not many surprises in the narration, which gives a feel of predictability. Whether it is the issue between Meenakshi and her mother or the conflict between Ravi and his wife, it could have been dealt with more care. Also, Balu working in the same office for almost a decade without any progress looks a bit illogical and there could have been a backstory or dialogue to justify his part in the office.
