Do your weekend plans include Netflix and Netflix? But you’ve got so many recommendations you’re not sure where to start? Fret not, we’ve got your back. From thriller to romance, crime to reality, here’s your handy guide to the most popular Indian web series on Netflix.
‘Delhi Crime’
Based on the Nirbhaya case that rocked the nation, Delhi Crime (pictured above) revolves around the Delhi police’s search to find and convict the perpetrators of the heinous crime. The Netflix series became the first Indian show to win an International Emmy. Watch it for powerful performances by Shefali Shah and Rasika Dugal, who play cops.
Director: Richie Mehta
Cast: Shefali Shah, Rajesh Tailang, Rasika Dugal, Adil Hussain
Seasons: 1 (2019)
‘Sacred Games’
A phone call by fugitive gangster Ganesh Gaitonde (Nawazuddin Siddiqui) sends police officer Sartaj Singh (Saif Ali Khan) on an expedition to save Mumbai city. The first Indian original by Netflix, Sacred Games is an adaptation of Vikram Chandra’s eponymous novel. Read our review of season two here.
Director: Anurag Kashyap, Vikramaditya Motwane, Neeraj Ghaywan
Writer: Vikram Chandra (novel), Abhishek Chaudhary, Varun Grover
Cast: Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Saif Ali Khan, Neeraj Kabi, Aamir Bashir
Seasons: 2 (2018, 2019)
‘Indian Matchmaking’
Mumbai’s self-professed top matchmaker Sima Tapria traipses across Mumbai and USA to ensure a fairytale happily ever after for her clients. Unintentionally hilarious, regressive and gleefully memed across the Internet, watching this show is akin to watching a train wreck; you know you shouldn’t but can’t help it. Read our review here.
Creator: Smriti Mundhra
Cast: Sima Taparia, Aparna Shewakramani, Nadia Jagessar, Vyasar Ganesan, Ankita Bansal
Seasons: 1 (2020)
‘She’
Film-maker Imtiaz Ali tries his hand at digital with this thriller. Bhumika Pardeshi (Aaditi Pohankr), an ordinary constable with the Mumbai police is handpicked to go undercover as a prostitute in an operation to bust a drug ring. She follows Bhumi, a diffident woman, as she discovers her sexuality in the course of a covert operation. Watch it for Pohankar and Vijay Varma’s tremendous performances. Read our review here.
Creator: Imtiaz Ali
Director: Arif Ali, Avinash Das
Cast: Aaditi Pohankar, Vijay Varma, Vishwas Kini, Suhita Thatte, Shivani Rangole
Seasons: 1 (2020)
‘Little Things’
An extremely relatable and realistic portrayal of millennial love, Little Things focuses on the evolution of the relationship between Kavya Kulkarni (Mithila Palkar) and Dhruv Vats (Dhruv Sehgal). The chemistry between the two and their natural, charming screen presence make this a highly watchable series. Read our review of season three here.
Directors: Ruchir Arun, Sumit Aroraa
Writer: Dhruv Sehgal
Cast: Dhruv Sehgal, Mithila Palkar
Seasons: 3 (2016, 2018, 2019)
‘Taj Mahal 1989’
Released as a Valentine’s Day special last year, Taj Mahal 1989 weaves together love stories of four couples associated with Lucknow University during 1989. The seven-part limited series is anchored by the layered characters, intelligent insights on the nature of relationships and brilliant performances by Neeraj Kabi, Danish Husain and Geetanjali Kulkarni. Read our review here.
Creator: Puhspendra Nath Mishra
Cast: Neeraj Kabi, Geetanjali Kulkarni, Sheeba Chaddha, Danish Husain, Vasundhara Rajput, Mihir Ahuja
Season: 1 (2020)
