Netflix has not had great success when it comes to Indian tv content. Their offerings in terms of shows and movies are not very popular or well-received, and they don’t have a large selection to choose from. Here is my list of favorite Netflix original Indian TV Shows.
Sacred Games (First Season)
The first season of Sacred Games proved to be a game changer for Netflix in India. It was one of the first times Indian audiences were exposed to high-quality, mature content on the streaming platform.
Season one, which was released back in July 2018, immediately became a talking point among cinephiles and casual viewers alike. The slow-burning crime drama was unlike anything else available on Indian screens at the time, and its refreshingly adult take on themes like politics, religion, corruption, and sex helped it become one of the most talked about shows in recent memory. So you should watch the show but perhaps skip the second season entirely.
Note: The show was canceled after the second season.
Ghoul
Ghoul is a thrilling mini-series that offers all the elements of a good horror story—mystery, gore, and psychological thrills. It’s definitely one of Netflix’s most underrated shows.
The story is set in a futuristic, dystopian India where fascism has risen to power. It’s about the interrogation of Ali Saeed—a dreaded terrorist—in a secret government internment camp. The plot ignites horror and supernatural events after he was interrogated there.
Radhika Apte plays the main character Nida Rahim, who is supported by Manav Kaul, Ratnabali Bhattacharjee, S. M. Zaheer, and Mahesh Balraj in prominent roles.
Rhim is a newly recruited military officer fiercely loyal to the authoritarian regime and is ready to go to any limit to prove her faith in the existing system to cleanse society for a better future. She is assigned to interrogate Ali Saeed (Mahesh Balraj), the most infamous terrorist recently captured by the military and brought in for questioning. However, he turns their secrets on them—including her own shameful past. Rahim has come to the conclusion that Ali Saeed is possessed by some supernatural entity.
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Selection Day
An Indian sports drama, Selection Day is a perfect adaptation of Aravind Adiga’s 2016 novel of the same name. It is a story about cricket and class, where two brothers from an underprivileged background try to make a name for themselves in the world of sport.
Manju’s character is also very well written, played, and portrayed by Mohammad Samad. He has shown what it means to struggle with one’s identity and sexuality while being young and poor in India.
This is also the first time I have seen young queer love shown beautifully on the small screen, which I think is a huge milestone for LGBTQ+ representation in Indian media.
Note: The show was canceled after the second season.
Delhi Crime (Season 1)
Delhi Crime is based on the 2012 Delhi gang rape case that took place in Munirka, a neighbourhood of South Delhi. The story follows DCP Vartika Chaturvedi played by Shefali Shah, who is assigned the task of finding and arresting those responsible for gang rape.
The series is inspired by a real-life incident and the character of DCP Vartika Chaturvedi is based on the former deputy commissioner of police in Delhi, Chhaya Sharma who led the investigation into the case.
Delhi Crime season one won Outstanding Drama Series at the International Emmy Awards in September 2020.
Delhi Crime (Season 2)
The second season of Delhi Crime focuses on the Kachcha Baniyan gangs, which are known for attacking and robbing homeowners, sometimes even killing them. The perpetrators often cover their faces with oil or mud to make it more difficult for authorities to identify them.
Yet another strong season with powerful performances, sharp writing, and direction by Tanuj Chopra.
Note: No official news of season three renewal.
Mismatched
Mismatched is a rom-com based on Sandhya Menon’s best-selling book ‘When Dimple Met Rishi’. The series is a light-hearted love story, which revolves around two characters who are polar opposites and how they come together despite their differences.
The series stars Prajakta Koli as Dimple Ahuja, a girl who loves coding and dreams of becoming an app developer. Rishi on other hand is a hopeless romantic who wants to marry Dimple, a girl he hardly knows.
Note: The show is renewed for a second season.
Decoupled
A writer who hates people and his wife who started a successful company struggles to deal with their divorce while also dealing with the many ridiculous and annoying aspects of life in their wealthy world. That’s the plot for 8 episodes long of the Netflix series Decoupled. What makes this show great is the casting of the lead pair, R. Madhavan and Surveen Chawla who have amazing chemistry throughout its runtime.
Note: No official news of season two renewal.
Bad Boy Billionaires: India
This three-part documentary series explores scandals involving controversial Indian billionaires Vijay Mallya (Kingfisher Airlines), Subrata Roy (Sahara India), and Nirav Modi (Gitanjali Group).
It is quite surprising how one person can take advantage of the majority of people and still get away with it. Subrata Roy is a mastermind who knows how to exploit loopholes in Indian law. Netflix and the team behind the documentary have done a great job in showcasing the very minute details as to what went wrong and what the real intention behind this was.
House of Secrets: The Burari Deaths
Created by Leena Yadav and Anubhav Chopra, the three-part series, House of Secrets: The Burari Deaths explores the theories surrounding the demise of 11 members of the same family on 30 June 2018.
On the morning of 1 July 2018, Delhi woke up to a gruesome sight. Eleven family members were found hanged and dead in their residence at Burari. No one could have expected such a tragedy.
What really happened to them? There is no clear answer, but this documentary gives us a thorough explanation of each family member’s history and what they were like when they were alive. It details how the mass suicide might have happened, and also gives us information about the events that happened a few weeks before 1 July 2018.
The Docu-series is extremely disturbing, it definitely raises a lot of issues though about mental health, patriarchy, superstition, and cultural values.
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Indian Matchmaking
Call it a stereotype or whatever but Indian Matchmaking delivers on promises of entertainment. It stars Sima Taparia, everyone’s favorite matchmaker who guides clients in the U.S. and India in the arranged marriage process, offering an inside look at the custom in a modern era.
This show is an accurate portrayal of the Indian matchmaking scene in India. It’s all about caste, skin color, height, age, and family background. People try to marry up to improve their social status.
Note: No official news of season three renewal.
Little Things
Storytelling is all about paying attention to the smaller moments. The little things that happen in our everyday lives are often what make up the best stories. This is something that anyone in a relationship can relate to. Most sitcoms focus on comedy, but this one is much closer to real life.
I absolutely love the chemistry between the two leads, Dhruv Sehgal and Mithila Palkar are cast perfectly. You really shouldn’t miss this one!
Note: The series ended gracefully with four seasons.
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