The race for eyeballs among OTT platforms is heating up. Releasing an original show every month is not going to suffice as subscribers seek shows that are as watchable as some of the international fare they are now accustomed to. The likes of Netflix, Prime Video, SonyLIV already have their programming slates packed with season two and, in some cases, even season three of their popular titles. But the real question is what will be the next big Scam 1992: The Harshad Mehta Story or Tabbar, both SonyLIV originals, for audiences to savour. Below are some of the web series to look out for.
Indian Predator (Netflix)
One of Netflix India’s better titles last year was the well-researched docu-series House of Secrets: The Burari Deaths. This new docu-series looks to “decode the minds of some of India’s deadliest killers” and claims to uncover “never-before-heard details of gruesome killings”. Fans of true-crime documentaries will particularly savour this.
Choona (Netflix)
Jimmy Sheirgill is keenly waiting for audiences to see him in this heist comedy drama directed by Pushpendra Nath Mishra (Ghoomketu). The story revolves around six men who have one thing in common: settle scores with a powerful politician.
Finding Anamika (Netflix)
After Shefali Shah, Sushmita Sen and Raveena Tandon, Madhuri Dixit Nene gets to frontline a series. Only she seems to be playing a role a tad familiar to us–an iconic actress. Produced by Karan Johar’s Dharmatic Entertainment, the suspense-filled family drama centres on “a global superstar, wife and mom who suddenly vanishes without a trace”.
Made in Heaven Season 2 (Prime Video)
Zoya Akhtar and Reema Kagti of Tiger Baby Films return with another round of weddings in and around the capital. This time, friends and business partners Tara (Sobhita Dhulipala) and Karan (Arjun Mathur) have their work cut out, given that their personal lives are in complete disarray.
Raj & DK’s untitled next (Prime Video)
Prime Video likes to take things slow and steady with its originals, so we are not certain if Raj & DK’s next with Shahid Kapoor, Vijay Sethupathi, Raashi Khanna and Regina Cassandra will be ready for 2022, but one can hope.
Six Suspects (Disney+ Hotstar)
An adaptation of Vikas Swarup’s novel of the same name, this one’s a whodunnit starring Pratik Gandhi, Richa Chadha and Ashutosh Rana.
Rudra: The Edge of Darkness (Disney+ Hotstar)
Ajay Devgn makes his streaming debut in this remake of British series Luther produced by Applause Entertainment in association with BBC Studios India. The actor will be seen in “an intense and gritty new cop avatar” in this crime drama which marks the comeback of Esha Deol and also features Raashi Khanna, Atul Kulkarni and Ashish Vidyarthi.
Human
Shefali Shah and Kirti Kulhari play doctors in this medical thriller which looks at the messy, scary world of drug trials. After a pharmaceutical company tries to “fast-track the development of a new drug despite lethal side effects”, Dr Saira Sabharwal (Kulhari) finds herself at odds with the woman she has idolised, Dr Gauri Nath (Shah).
Rocket Boys (SonyLIV)
Emmay Entertainment’s third web series after Mumbai Diaries 26/11 and The Empire is a biographical drama following the lives and work of India’s two GOATs (greatest of all time) among scientists, Vikram Sarabhai and Homi Bhabha. Ishwak Singh (of Paatal Lok fame) and Jim Sarbh play Sarabhai and Bhabha respectively.
Gullak (SonyLIV)
The Mishras are easily one of the most beloved families on OTT. That’s largely due to the fine writing team at The Viral Fever and a talented acting ensemble in Jameel Khan, Geetanjali Kulkarni, Anand Mishra and Aman Mishra.
Asur (Voot Select)
Season one of this crime drama ended with the serial killer identified. Now it is up to colleagues Dhananjay (Arshad Warsi) and Nikhil (Barun Sobti) to put their grudges aside and put an end to the high body count.
Untitled Fawad Khan and Sanam Saeed project (Zindagi)
Asim Abbasi (of Churails and Cake fame) brings back the hit pairing of Zindagi Gulzar Hai for what is being billed as “a genre-bending saga of familial traumas and reconciliations set in a world of magic and mystique”. Khan plays a single parent while Saeed is a woman who “harbours otherworldly secrets”.
Ashram (MX Player)
Prakash Jha single-handedly revived Bobby Deol’s career with this show that explores the clout of a godman and the hero worship he inspires. The new season will centre on Pammi (Aaditi Pohankar) taking on her mentor Kashipurwaale Baba Nirala (Deol).
