Telugu ZEE5 is preparing to launch its newest original courtroom thriller, Objection My Lord – Notary Parasuram Chapter 1, on July 31. The platform hosted a grand preview and media interaction in Hyderabad ahead of the streaming debut, bringing together the cast and crew to discuss the making of the legal drama. Produced by Rajkumar Akella under the banner of Dream House Productions and directed by Santhosh Ayyappan, the series stars Srikanth Meka in the lead role, alongside Mukesh Rishi, Ananya Sharmaa, Snehal and Sameer in key parts. Suryaa handled the cinematography, while Arunn Chiluveru composed the music. The first two episodes were screened for the gathering, and the response set the tone for what the makers hope will be a benchmark release for the platform.
A Story Built Against the Clock
One of the recurring themes of the evening was the sheer speed at which the series was made. Executive Vice President Jayanth revealed that the entire project, from pre-production through post-production, was completed in roughly thirty-one to thirty-five days. He recalled that producer Rajkumar Akella and cinematographer Suryaa were brought on board and immediately committed to the timeline, bringing in Srikanth Meka and Mukesh Rishi in quick succession to anchor the project.
Director Santhosh Ayyappan echoed this account, noting that the shoot itself began early in the month and wrapped in nineteen days. He credited the cast for adjusting to a punishing schedule, describing single days where filming stretched close to twenty-four hours. He explained that the team had initially been unsure whether such a compressed timeline was achievable, but the commitment shown by the lead actors made it possible. According to the director, call sheets often began at nine in the morning and continued well past midnight, with the entire unit choosing to push through rather than break the momentum.
Executive Producer Arjun added that the production team had barely paused since handing the project over to the actors, with post-production work continuing right up to the days before the premiere. He noted this was his second collaboration with Srikanth Meka, having previously worked together on the web series Chadarangam.
The Lead Performance That Anchored the Shoot
Much of the evening's conversation centred on Srikanth Meka, who plays advocate Parasuram in the series. Several members of the cast and crew pointed to his willingness to work extended hours as central to completing the shoot on schedule. Director Santhosh Ayyappan said that whenever the team asked whether filming could continue into the next day, the actor preferred to finish the scene in a single stretch rather than pause and resume, even if that meant working through the night.
Srikanth Meka himself reflected on the experience, noting that this marks his third web series with ZEE5, following a turn as a politician in Chadarangam and a police officer in Shootout at Alair. Playing a lawyer in a courtroom drama, he said, offered a different kind of performance challenge, one that demanded precise timing and clarity of expression. He credited the director's clear vision for helping him understand exactly what each scene required, and praised cinematographer Suryaa for maintaining consistent quality despite the pace of the shoot. He also spoke warmly about his co-stars, describing Ananya Sharmaa's patience during late-night shoots and Sameer's long-standing friendship, having worked together on earlier films.
Actor Gemini Suresh, who also appears in the series, spent much of his remarks describing what it was like to watch Srikanth Meka work. He recalled sessions that began at nine at night and continued until nine the following morning, with the actor delivering strong performances in every scene despite the hours. He suggested that younger actors in the industry have much to learn from this kind of discipline, noting that Srikanth Meka remains the only Telugu actor to have completed one hundred films.
Mukesh Rishi's Presence and Contribution
Mukesh Rishi's involvement was frequently described as a turning point for the project. Producer Rajkumar Akella said that once the actor agreed to join, it felt like fortunate timing, since his existing commitments could easily have made his participation impossible. Director Santhosh Ayyappan recalled being initially nervous about working with him, given his reputation, but found him approachable and cooperative from the outset. He said the actor was willing to adjust his schedule and continue filming through the night without objection.
Actor Sameer, who has previously worked with Mukesh Rishi on the film Indra, said the series would not have come together without a lead as cooperative as Srikanth Meka, describing him as a performer who understands exactly what a director needs and delivers it precisely. Srikanth Meka, in turn, described Mukesh Rishi as a person of quiet patience on set, someone who would simply wait through long nights without complaint and deliver his lines when required.
Voices from the Supporting Cast
Several supporting actors used the platform to describe their individual experiences on set. Actor Rajasekhar, marking his fifth collaboration with ZEE5, spoke about taking on a role that moves away from the emotionally heavy characters he is typically associated with. He described the project as a courtroom drama with a distinct tone, and expressed gratitude for being remembered and offered a part after an earlier casting fell through.
Actor Harish Chandra, who plays a character named Narayana, described the role as one of the most emotionally demanding of his career, involving a wide range of shifting feelings rather than a single emotional register. He said he had doubted his ability to do justice to the part, but found the director's guidance and encouragement helped him find his way into the character. He called it his first web series after years of film work, and said it left him with a sense of complete fulfilment as an actor.
Actor Snehal, who plays Tulasi, said the ten years she has spent in the industry had not previously given her a set experience quite like this one. Having grown up across different parts of North India, she noted that Mukesh Rishi's presence in the cast had generated excitement among her Hindi-speaking friends and acquaintances, who had not previously had the chance to see her work.
Actor Ananya Sharmaa, who plays Vedha, spoke about the twists embedded in the story, saying that her own theories about the plot while reading the script did not anticipate where the narrative eventually goes. She described working alongside Mukesh Rishi and Srikanth Meka as an opportunity to learn from experienced performers, and said the production team managed to maintain high quality despite the pressures of the compressed schedule.
Actor Sameer, who has worked on numerous web series previously, described Objection My Lord as closer to a feature film in its scale and production values than a typical web series. He noted that the director made small adjustments to his look and hairstyle for the role, despite his familiarity with playing police characters in the past.
Behind the Camera: Direction, Cinematography, Editing and Music
Director Santhosh Ayyappan, marking his directorial debut with this project, spoke about the collaborative effort required to complete the series within its tight window. He singled out cinematographer Suryaa as central to making the project possible, describing him as someone who believed in the project from the outset. He also credited his editing team, particularly editor Kishore, for shaping the final cut.
Kishore, marking his own debut as an editor, said working on a project starring Srikanth Meka held personal significance, given that he grew up watching the actor's earlier films. He described the experience of editing his first web series as a source of pride.
Music director Arunn Chiluveru detailed the compressed timeline he faced, having joined the project only in late June with the condition that he could begin composing as filming got underway. He said the re-recording process had to be completed within a single week following the shoot, given the scale of the cast involved. He noted that the production team gave him creative freedom throughout the process, with none of his musical choices questioned.
Cinematographer Suryaa was repeatedly credited by cast and crew members as one of the driving forces behind the project's rapid execution, with several speakers describing him as involved not just in the visual execution but in budget discussions and pre-production planning as well.
The Production and Platform Perspective
Producer Rajkumar Akella spoke about the trust placed in his team by ZEE5, describing the short production window as a significant challenge that the platform's confidence helped them meet. He said securing both Srikanth Meka and Mukesh Rishi at a moment when their schedules aligned felt like fortunate timing, and praised the contributions of the newer actors in the cast alongside the more experienced performers.
Executive Vice President Jayanth used a courtroom metaphor to describe the platform's own process of assembling the project, joking that the production team had been called to account for the timeline roughly a month before delivering the finished series. He praised the involvement of Chiranjeevi, describing the veteran star as a source of support for the project in the same way he had backed Arjun Suravaram previously. He noted that Chiranjeevi personally hosted the team and launched the trailer, and had since watched the finished episodes with a positive response. Jayanth also acknowledged the project head, Hiranmayi, for her continuous involvement throughout production, and thanked the wider camera and direction departments for their contribution.
Looking Ahead to the Premiere
Several speakers described the series as closer in scale and ambition to a feature film than a conventional web series, citing its production values, casting and narrative structure as points of distinction. Objection My Lord – Notary Parasuram Chapter 1 is set to premiere on ZEE5 on July 31. It marks Santhosh Ayyappan's directorial debut and adds to Srikanth Meka's growing body of work with the platform.
