Web Series Name : Pharma
Streaming Date : December 19, 2025
Streaming Platform : Jio Hotstar
Rating : 2.5/5
Starring : Nivin Pauly, Rajit Kapur, Narain, Shruti Ramachandran, Veena Nandakumar, Binu Pappu, Muthumani, Aalekh Kapoor, and others
Director : P. R. Arun
Producer : Krishnan Sethukumar
Music Director : Abjaksh S
Cinematographer : Abhinandan Ramanujam
Editor : Sreejith Sarang
After a long wait, Nivin Pauly’s first OTT outing, Pharma, has finally premiered on Jio Hotstar. The Malayalam series also comes with a Telugu version. Read on to know how it turns out.
Story:
K.P. Vinod (Nivin Pauly) begins his journey at a small medical shop before entering the pharmaceutical world as a representative at RX Life Healthcare, a reputed hospital chain. With his mother’s failing health pushing him to earn more, Vinod works his way up despite the pressure and compromises the job demands. Over time, he uncovers disturbing medical crimes within the organisation. His path crosses with Rajeev Rao (Rajat Kapoor), a senior figure at Jaathi Clinic who has been challenging unethical pharma practices. What is RX Life Healthcare hiding? How much damage has its drug Kaidaxin caused? What does Vinod lose along the way? And who ultimately wins this fight against a powerful pharma giant forms the heart of the story.
Plus Points:
The series scores with its choice of backdrop. Exploring unethical practices in the pharmaceutical sector is a timely and relevant idea. The struggles of lower-level employees within the system are portrayed convincingly, and the show does well in highlighting certain dark realities of the medical industry.
A few scenes are effective and thought-provoking. The narrative gains some momentum towards the climax, where the conflict becomes more engaging. Nivin Pauly delivers a restrained and decent performance, gradually bringing maturity to the character as the story progresses. Shruti Ramachandran, Rajat Kapoor, and the supporting cast lend solid support.
Minus Points:
Despite its 8-episode format and reasonable runtimes, Pharma moves at a sluggish pace. After an adequate opening, the series struggles to maintain grip, even when it reaches its central conflict.
The story could have been told more effectively in 5 or 6 episodes. Stretching it to 8 weakens the impact. A medical crime drama demands sharper suspense, stronger twists, and a more impactful background score. These elements are largely missing here.
Given the rarity of Indian series dealing with the medical mafia, the show had the potential to be far more compelling. Nivin Pauly’s physical transformation may also affect audience connect, particularly among Telugu viewers who associate him with his youthful image from Premam. The Telugu dubbing, too, needed better refinement.
Technical Aspects:
Production values remain average throughout. Cinematography does its job without standing out. The background score fails to elevate key moments, and the editing lacks sharpness, with several scenes feeling stretched and avoidable.
Director P.R. Arun presents a relevant idea but falls short in execution. With tighter writing, stronger dramatic moments, and better pacing, the series could have delivered greater impact.
Verdict:
On the whole, Pharma is another mediocre series with a meaningful premise and a few effective moments, backed by a steady performance from Nivin Pauly. However, its slow pacing and lack of narrative tension limit its potential. It remains just an okay watch that works in parts but falls short of being truly engaging.
