Starting from the Emmy-nominated series Sacred Games, India has had quite a diverse record when it comes to releasing Netflix original series and films. With most of the releases in the Hindi language, Netflix India hasn’t exactly represented the country’s multi-lingual nature yet but still created several iconic originals to influence the Indian pop culture zeitgeist. India Netflix originals have also redefined the careers of some of the country’s finest performers like Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Radhika Apte.
Romance, horror, drama, crime, several genres have been covered by the streaming service’s operations in the South Asian country, some of which have garnered popular viewership and critical acclaim abroad too.
10 Bulbbul- 6.6
A feminist horror set in the colonial times of Indian history, Bulbbul might not have the most original narrative but its execution is pretty unconventional. Themes like patriarchy, child marriage, and domestic abuse are touched upon this atmospheric film that tells the story of a free-spirited woman who inherits her husband’s estate as supernatural elements haunt her village.
Director and writer Anvita Dutt Guptan brings out some hauntingly beautiful frames from the film with a constant reddish filter for the nighttime sequences. The lead portrayal of the titular character by Tripti Dimri is also worth noting as her character has an ominous smile wrapped on her for most of the scenes. But as the plot reveals, there are secrets behind this smile.
9 Ghoul- 7.1
Another female-driven Indian Netflix horror was Ghoul. The three-part miniseries is set in a dystopian and authoritarian regime where religious minorities are being persecuted in Orwellian prisons. An operative serving the system chances upon the presence of a supernatural ‘ghoul’ amongst the prisoners, leading down a rabbit hole of military abuse and totalitarianism.
The show’s grim nature builds the scope for several thrills and tensions along the way. Ghoul was one of the earliest streaming roles for actress Radhika Apte, who went on to star in countless other Netflix original series and films.
8 Soni- 7.2
Soni is a police procedural drama written and directed by Ivan Ayr. It presents the daily lives of two women serving in the Delhi Police as they make sense through crime and administrative pressure. The titular character Soni (Geetika Vidya Ohlyan) is a passionate and hot-headed policewoman who gets in trouble with her male colleagues for her methods. Soni's senior is the second female character in the film, who has a softer approach to life and tries her best to get Soni from harm's way.
However, as the film reveals, both women have a tough time with the kind of brash criminals they encounter. Shot in a realistic documentary style, Soni reveals the dangers of the big city along with the corruption of money and power.
7 Love Per Square Foot- 7.2
Love Per Square Foot is a breezy rom-com starring Angira Dhar and Vicky Kaushal (who later went on to become a staple in several Bollywood blockbusters). The leads seek to buy a home in the big city of Mumbai where expenses seem to be ever-increasing. So, to make matters more convenient, they decide to enter a fake marriage. But as is with the rom-com formula, the unexpected pair actually fall in love with the course of time.
Compared to the other Netflix originals most of which are heavy on mature content like violence and sexuality, Love Per Square Foot makes for a light-hearted escapist watch.
6 Raat Akeli Hai- 7.3
Raat Akeli Hai (The Night Is Alone) is a neo-noir whodunit that deals with the classic case of the murder of an aging patriarch. A no-nonsense cop (Nawazuddin Siddiqui) gets on the case, investigating every possible suspect in the family while the family points its fingers at the victim's new bride (Radhika Apte).
The film feels slightly long in duration but still keeps the viewers involved in its mystery, bolstered by convincing lead performances by the two lead actors. The shooting at a local small town adds to the feeling of grimness and isolation that each character seems to emulate.
5 Jamtara- 7.3
Set in the Central Indian town of the same name, Jamtara deals with the criminal underworld of "phishing" scams. Such scams involve young men calling up random numbers from all over the country, prompting them to invest in fraudulent schemes. However, matters go awry when a gangster seeks a stake in this business and a newly transferred policewoman is determined to shut down these scams for good.
Jamtara might seem similar to the several Indian crime shows that draw popularity on Netflix and Amazon Prime but its short runtime and comedic approach make it a binge-worthy series.
4 Taj Mahal 1989- 7.5
Taj Mahal 1989 is a romance anthology series set in the city of Lucknow in its titular year. Various couples from various age groups and social classes are touched upon. The show benefits greatly from its cast that includes established arthouse actors as well as fresh faces.
The story arcs seem to touch upon several themes like Indian youth politics, the stigma with divorce in the country, and the eventual changes that lovers face as their relationship ages. The anthology tends to get rushed or melodramatic at times but it still has enough emotions to keep viewers engaged.
3 Yeh Ballet- 7.6
Yeh Ballet is an inspiring underdog dance film that deals with two underprivileged dancers who get mentored by a moody foreign ballet teacher who's way past his prime. After taking the two children under his wing, he also seems to understand the class inequality they go through along with the elitism that's present in the world of high arts.
Starring Julian Sands as the instructor and two promising young debutants, the film falls prey to its melodramatic tropes while still being heartwarming enough to make for a good watch. The film marks a return to form for its writer-director Sooni Taraporevala, the screenwriter behind many Mira Nair films like the Oscar-nominated Salaam Bombay.
2 Delhi Crime- 8.5
The national capital of Delhi has had an upsurge of crime in recent times, especially sexual crimes against women. It’s this brutal reality that’s touched upon from the perspective of a Delhi Police investigating team handling a case of gang rape.
Delhi Crime is pretty realistic and accurate to most of its details inspired by real-life cases. Shefali Shah and Rasika Dugal as the policewomen in the case shine in their performances. But at the same time, the police drama can be disturbingly tragic to watch and hence might not be advised for all viewers.
1 Sacred Games- 8.7
The TV series that started a new generation of streaming content in India, Sacred Games is a crime saga that mainly deals with the cryptic relationship between a ruthless gangster Gaitonde (Nawazuddin Siddiqui) and a troubled policeman (Sartaj) as both unearth a plot that can destroy the city of Mumbai.
Heavy on sexuality and violence, the show often boasts of surreal as well as realistic settings that explore the problems plaguing the urban dwellings it is set in, ranging from religious communalism to class inequality. The show ran for two seasons and drew great acclaim for its lead as well as supporting cast.
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