Renowned director Cheran makes his first introduction in the field of web series with Journey on Sony LIV, an interestingly mixed combination of young, promising actors and well-known faces. The series traces the lives of five promising candidates vying for a coveted spot in one of the leading automobile companies.

Every other candidate had an edge over the other with his unique calibre and compelling background stories. The show beautifully handled minority representation at work, the struggles of immigrant professionals, and societal prejudice against immigrants posted for various offshore assignments.

But while promising thematic elements are prominently featured on the show, what's actually delivered falls short in its outdated storytelling and predictable plotlines. The preachy dialogues and artificial necessity coursing through the narrative always feel enforced, resembling a drawn-out public service announcement rather than actual drama.

But in flashes, Cheran's magic shows up despite its flaws. Kalaiyarasan, Prasanna, and Divyabharathi are on top of their performances, and that gets highlighted, while the late Mammukkoya gives a memorable cameo. The romance that is built between Raghav and Jessie is probably shades of Cheran's earlier works, and it offers charm briefly.

Some other tracks, unfortunately, fail with weak backstories and underperformances. Nitesh Gupta as the main character is not impactful, and Anju Kurian seems a misfit for the role given. Divyabharathi, as Latha, has done a knockout job, but the track about her noble mission takes too long and is redundant. Aari Arjunan delivers a decent performance in a similarly preachy storyline.

Other than that, the remaining support cast, consisting mostly of veterans like R. Sarathkumar and Jayaprakash, is more or less under-utilised. The music score by Sathya C offers a decent background, with songs failing to leave an impression. But the visuals sure provide a visual extravaganza by Ekhambaram NK.

On the whole, Journey is a mixed bag. There are promising ideas floating around, and there are moments of nostalgia with glimpses of Cheran's trademark. But then all this binary leads itself to some outdated storytelling and preachy elements that work against the film. If you are one of the fans of classics from Cheran, you may find moments to cherish here in this series. But if you are a viewer expecting a new and engaging story on screens,Journey can be shorter on your wishlist.

Verdict: Stellar performances and classic Cheran moments make Journey a worthwhile watch.

Rating: 3/5