Netflix: Binge To Your Heart’s Content with these Web Series

She is director Imtiaz Ali’s first attempt at creating something for the smaller screen. The plot of this Indian original Netflix series follows the transformational journey of a lower-middle-class, junior police constable who is shoved out of her comfort zone to go on an intelligence mission and breach a criminal organization. The limited series stands out because of its brilliant performances, some of which will truly make you cringe at the general chauvinistic nature of men in authoritative positions.

Based on one of the most shocking and heart-wrenching rape incidents in India’s capital city of New Delhi, this seven-part series will shake you to the very core. Delhi Crime chronicles what’s commonly referred to as the Nirbhaya rape case in India. The incident had even received immense international attention at the time because of the gruesome nature of the crime. However, most media reports were focussed on the victim and the incident alone.

Filmmaker Richie Mehta takes viewers behind the scenes of the investigation into the case conducted by the Delhi Police. The series navigates through the bureaucratic pressures, political influences and lack of resources faced by the Delhi Police during the investigation period.

Little Things is an Indian web television series by Pocket Aces. It features Mithila Palkar and Dhruv Sehgal in the lead roles. The story revolves around Kavya Kulkarni (Palkar) and Dhruv Vats (Sehgal), a couple in a live-in relationship in Mumbai. The series progresses with everyday life explored through conversation between the couple. The language used is English, with a few sentences in Hindi (used mostly in slang).

Leila stands out on its own merits. Directed by Deepa Mehta, the series is based on a novel written by Prayaag Akbar. It follows the journey of a woman named Shalini (Huma Qureshi), who is snatched away from the comfort of her family life, into the shackles of a totalitarian regime called Aryavarta. Given India’s current political scenario, the series hits all too close to home and presents a disturbing futuristic scenario that is not too hard to imagine.

A haunted house and an old book stir the imaginations of three young friends in Goa plan to search an old villa for ghosts, but when a new family moves in, the home’s buried past resurfaces in chilling ways.

This Netflix original Indian series is made up by three interconnected love stories. The first one is that of two college professors — Sarita and Akhtar — who are trapped in a loveless marriage because they’re more caught up with the mundane rigmarole of daily life. The second one is of Sudhakar (Akhtar’s long-lost friend) and Mumtaz, who fight societal norms to remain together. Their relationship exudes happiness, but it’s not without its hardships. The last one is the story of two college students — Dharam and Rashmi — who like each other intensely but politics, jealousy and differing priorities take centerstage in their relationship. This impactful series captures the essence of lost love, eternal love, and new love all in one very tastefully created package. A must watch for Indian streamers.

Jamtara is an Indian original Netflix series inspired by true events. It’s a thrilling journey into the village of Jamtara in Jharkhand, which turns out to be India’s phishing capital. Cousins, Sunny and Rocky, along with their friends, quietly run a successful phishing scam from the village. Their operations are soon noticed by a criminal mastermind who wants a piece of the action. The cops too are on their trail and things get wildly intense as tensions increase and lives are threatened.

Not a fictional story, Devlok with Devdutt Pattanaik involves shedding light on some mythological events, stories and characters with the renowned mythologist himself. Devdutt Pattanaik is famous for his own version of The Mahabharata and Ramayana, apart from other notable works. 

Another Netflix nail-bitter Indian original, the Ghoul deals with the themes of supernatural horror, military activism, and Arabic folklore. The three-part series will spook you to say the least.

When a new prisoner arrives at a military detention center exhibiting eerie behavior, young interrogator Nida Rahim searches for the truth. Her quest becomes a battle for survival when the prisoner, sect leader Ali Saeed, turns the tables on Nida and the other interrogators, exposing their most shameful secrets. Nida ultimately discovers a ghoul inhabiting Saeed and — after telling her colleagues about it — learns the alarming truth about what its presence reveals.

Selection Day is an ocean of fantastic performances by the likes of Ratna Pathak Shah, Mahesh Manjrekar, Rajesh Tailang, and the two young stars of the series, Mohammad Samad and Yash Dholye. It follows the story of two small-town teenage boys Manju (Samad) and Radha (Dholye) who aspire to become international cricketers. Their father (Tailang) is a strict taskmaster and their coach. The boys score a scholarship to a prestigious sports school run by Pathak and things start to change.

What follows is a story about the boys discovering their individual personalities, the pressures they face to succeed, and the way their relationship evolves with their father. Produced by Anil Kapoor and Anand Tucker, all 12 episodes of Selection Day are a lesson in good storytelling and even better direction.

Lust Stories is a collection of four short stories created by some of India’s most celebrated filmmakers. The anthology series features stories by Anurag Kashyap, Zoya Akhtar, Dibakar Banerjee, and Karan Johar. Radhika Apte, Manisha Koirala, Vicky Kaushal, Neha Dhupia, and Sanjay Kapoor are some of the many noteworthy names that adorn the cast of the series. The central theme, of course, is that of lust. However, each story has a different message.

The first story featuring Apte is about a married woman who is eager to explore her sexuality. The second story casts Bhumi Pednekar and Neil Bhoopalam. It shines a light on an unlikely relationship between a man and his house help. The third follows the story of a couple dealing with infidelity and the tough choices they are forced to make. The last episode in the series is a humorous tale of a housewife who desperately seeks sexual intimacy with her husband. Instead, she finds it with a vibrator, in the most unusual circumstances.

A link in their pasts leads an honest cop to a fugitive gang boss, whose cryptic warning spurs the officer on a quest to save Mumbai from cataclysm.

When police officer Sartaj Singh receives an anonymous tip about the location of criminal overlord Ganesh Gaitonde, he embarks on a chase around Mumbai in what becomes a dangerous cat-and-mouse game. After being removed from the Gaitonde case, Singh begins his own investigation as he works to save Mumbai from impending doom. 
Flashbacks reveal some of the crimes that Gaitonde has committed through the years.