Seen all the new releases and re-runs of your favourite shows? Fret not, because here’s a full list of best Indian binge worthy TV shows you can catch up on.
Panchayat
The latest series to take the viewers by a storm is TVF’s ‘Panchayat’. This comedy revolves around an engineering graduate who takes up a job as the secretary of the Panchayat office in a remote Uttar Pradesh village, for the lack of any other option. His hilarious adventures that follow and the simplicity of the situations is what tickles your funny bone. Not to forget a stellar cast consisting of the likes of Neena Gupta and Raghubir Yadav.
Permanent Roommates
The romantic comedy revolves around a couple who’ve been in a long-distance relationship for three years, and suddenly face the prospect of living together. One of the OG web series, this one became supremely popular because of its relatability factor with the youth. The breezy everyday situations dealt with a touch of humour make it one of the best binge worthy TV shows.
Inside Edge
If it’s a series about cricket, how can it not be popular in India? A cast of Sayani Gupta, Richa Chadha, and Angad Bedi amongst others play roles in this premise of a T20 cricket franchise in a Powerplay League. The show explores the darker sides of things in such scenarios, from money, power, sex, selfishness, and everything in between.
Made in Heaven
One of the web series that created the maximum buzz of all time, ‘Made in Heaven’ made a space in all our hearts. With Bollywood bigwigs like Zoya Akhtar, Alankrita Srivastava, Nitya Mehra, and Prashant Nair directing this eight-episode series, it’s no surprise that the end product was a cinematic gem. Crisp writing, powerful acts, fitting background score, and impeccable screenplay wrapped this up as the perfect binge-watch material.
The shows take us through the stories and awakenings of Tara (Sobhita Dhulipala) and Karan (Arjun Mathur), two friends who set up a wedding planning business—and the ups and downs they go through in their personal lives while they strive to bring others their happily ever after. The show also touched upon pertinent topics without being overbearing, such as dowry, seniors’ choice to remarry, and LGBTQ+ rights.
Mirzapur
An Anurag Kashyap-esque gangster drama, ‘Mirzapur’ came replete with gunshots, blood and gore, and abuses used as punctuation. With this being a refreshing cocktail to watch, without any interference from the censors, this Amazon production rode high on performances. Pankaj Tripathi, Kulbhushan Kharbanda, Rasika Dugal, Vikrant Massey, Ali Fazal — each actor hit the nail (or gunshot) on the head. While the storyline may have been predictable at times, crisp dialogues and screenplay make it worth a watch.
Sacred Games
Based on Vikram Chandra’s eponymous novel, ‘Sacred Games’ was Netflix’s first Hindi web series. Directed by Anurag Kashyap and Vikramaditya Motwane, the crime-thriller had Saif Ali Khan, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, and Radhika Apte in pivotal roles. The Siddiqui-Kashyap duo shone again (they’ve teamed up before in ‘Gangs of Wasseypur’ and ‘Raman Raghav 2.0’), with versatile performances from all. Trudging through the Mumbai underworld with a don, an honest cop, and an intelligence agent fighting sexism, ‘Sacred Games’ nuances cultural and historical aspects expertly. It may have gotten a tad brooding at times, but the series marked a turning point for the small screen, showcasing the quality the industry is capable of. Undoubtedly one of the best binge worthy tv shows ever.
Delhi Crime
Based on the infamous Delhi gang rape of 2012, ‘Delhi Crime’ follows DCP Vartika Singh (Shefali Shah) as she cracks the case. The seven-episode series is based on in-depth research and focuses on the hurdles faced by the police when trying to solve a case, especially one that has the nation’s sentiments attached to such a great extent.
Director Richie Mehta has tried to present the aftermath of such heinous acts, and how it impacts everyone involved. A mix of fact and fiction, the pull here is the to the point projection, no-frills added narration, which is what the real-life episode requites. Performances by Shah, Rasika Duggal, and Yashaswini Dayama are to look out for.
Lust Stories
Though not a series by definition, this collection of four short stories deserves a mention. Bollywood’s biggest directors – Karan Johar, Zoya Akhtar, Anurag Kashyap, and Dibakar Banerjee – came together to create this anthology, with each directing one story. All plots address and attempt to explore the sexual suppression thrust upon women in India; the narratives also points to how women today are looking to establish their identities. Bringing such topics to home screens, with actors such as Vicky Kaushal and Manisha Koirala, is a stepping stone towards more mature themes. Watch it for the impressive acting, direction, and drama delivered in small doses.
Little Things
A mature script and refined performances by Mithila Palkar (Kavya) and Dhruv Sehgal (Dhruv); the actors play a live-in couple in Mumbai, and the series presents a realistic take on the Indian millennial. As Kavya’s ambition is juxtaposed with Dhruv’s laid-back and carpe diem attitude, they go through conflicts and resolutions experienced by any couple you may have known. The direction could pick up the pace, but barring that, even the dialogues do great in keeping you hooked.
The Family Man
If you’re a fan of good acting, the fact that Manoj Bajpayee is heading this series is enough to make you watch ‘The Family Man’. A riveting action-drama, the series follows Srikrant Tiwari (Bajpayee), a typical middle-class man who has an undercover life as a government agent. Working with a National Investigation Agency special cell, the show tracks him flitting between the agent role and the family man role—protecting the country from terrorists by day and being the unassuming husband and father at night. Sharp storyline interspersed with comic moments, and on-point acting is what you’ll find here.
An innate love for travel and food has translated into many a trips since childhood for Megha; it also fed her curiosity to know about local cultures. When not writing, she is on the lookout for three things: A great dark chocolate dessert, a beautiful pool where she can practice her backstroke, and art that she can save up for.
