Indians were introduced to the Western concept of web shows through the first Hindi comedy series Permanent Roommates. Produced by The Viral Fever, the 2014 show whipped up an online storm. The masses appreciated the episodic rendition of the Sumeet Vyas, Jitendra Kumar, and Nidhi Singh series with Permanent Roommates running successfully for three seasons. And since then, there has been no looking back. From crime thrillers to psychological dramas, vintage classics to slice-of-life ones — over the years, the audience has enjoyed plenty of web series on OTT platforms. With 2023 coming to an end, let us take a look back at some popular Hindi web shows of the year.
Farzi
This Raj and DK creation is an OTT marvel. Starring Shahid Kapoor in the lead alongside Vijay Serhupathi and Raashi Khanna, Farzi revolves around the story of a man who gets involved in a fake money-making business. The comedy-thriller is available for streaming on Prime Video.
The Night Manager
Adapted from John Le Carre’s novel of the same title, The Night Manager centers around an ex-soldier on a mission to infiltrate an arms dealer’s dangerous gang to stop his negative motives. With an ensemble cast of Aditya Roy Kapur, Anil Kapoor, and Shobhita Dhulipala, The Night Manager is the perfect spy thriller drama waiting to be streamed on Netflix.
Jubilee
This Prime Video web show takes us back on a nostalgic ride to the early film industry of India. Set against a pre-Independence background, Jubilee revolves around the journey of a production firm named Roy Talkies, with the tale concluding in the modern age. Prosenjit Chatterjee, Aparshakti Khurrana, Wamiqa Gabbi, and Aditi Rao Hydari put up a brilliant performance.
Rana Naidu
Directed by Karan Anshuman, this Netflix show stars Rana Daggubati as the protagonist. Rana Naidu is a series about the complicated world of celebrities where Naidu is a “problem-solver". But things take a drastic turn when he stumbles about familial secrets and a web of lies following his father’s release from prison.
Asur 2
With the first season receiving mammoth reviews from the masses and critics alike, Arshad Warsi and Barun Dobti joined forces again in the sequel. In the name of mythology, a boy named Shubh takes law and order into his own hands, conducting a series of crimes. Asur 2 on Sony LIV lived up to the name and delivered an even grittier tale.
Dahaad
Perhaps one of the finest Amazon Prime Hindi web series is this Zoya Akhtar and Reema Kagti direction. A serial killer on the loose with the police department leaving no stone unturned to put him behind bars is what forms the crux of this crime drama. With amazing performances by Sonakshi Sinha and Vijay Verma, Dahaad witnessed a premiere at the Berlin International Film Festival.
Kaala Paani
This Netflix survival drama will keep you on the edge and leave you hanging there even in the final episode. Its resonance with the Covid-19 pandemic is what made the series appeal to the masses. Kaala Paanu tells the compelling tale of an unknown disease that is slowly engulfing the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. It is a story of human error with elements of survival instincts, the search for a cure, and strong human ties embedded with feelings of love, despair, and sorrow.
The Railway Men
Netflix assembled all the finest actors of Bollywood namely Babil Khan, Kay Kay Menon, Divyendu, and R Madhavan to create a disturbing masterpiece. Based on the Bhopal gas tragedy, the gripping tale revolves around the relentless efforts of three railway workers to save a thousand lives as poisonous gas leaks from a carbide factory.
Guns n Gulaabs
Guns n Gulaab on Netflix takes place in the fictional town of Gulaabganj where opium is grown under government licence. Ganchi and Nabeed, the leaders of two competing gangs, are in a heated battle for control of the opium trade. Amidst all of this, a local schoolboy named Gangaram witnesses Babu Tiger being killed by hired assassin Four-Cut Aatmaram. Starring Rajkummar Rao, Dulquer Salmaan, and Adarsh Gourav in lead roles, the black comedy is a must-watch.
Scoop
Karisma Tanna delivered one of her finest performances on Netflix’s biography crime drama Scoop. The series is focused on the true story of Jigna Vora, who was charged with murdering a midday reporter Jyotirmoy Dey in 2011. The nail-biting plot resonated well with both journalists and the commoners, spitting nothing but facts about the society and media industry.
Lust Stories 2
Acclaimed directors — Konkona Sen Sharma, Sujoy Ghosh, Amit Ravindernath Sharma, and R Balki made a sequel based on the hidden desires and lustful yearnings of female protagonists. The four-part Netflix anthology broke the stereotypes surrounding sex and navigated the realms of female fantasies. Kajolm Mrunal Thakur, Tamannaah Bhatia, Vijay Verma, Neena Gupta, Tillotama Shome, Kumud Mishra, and Angad Bedi were some among the ensemble cast.
Aarya 3
Sushmita Sen rocked the OTT circuit with her stellar acting chops in the director duo Ram Madhvani and Sandeep Modi’s Aarya. The third sequel released on Disney plus Hotstar this year performed beyond expectations too.
Wish you a very Happy New Year in advance!
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