Pallavii Gupta
There’s a storm of talent today in the entertainment industry, with the advent of the web media services. Web series have not only become a new way of presenting a story but it has also given opportunities to tons of aspirants out there. From India’ first Netflix original Scared Games to the plethora of shows available on ALT Balaji, to the major hit of 2018 Breathe premiering on Amazon Prime, have set milestones in the entertainment industry and have left the audience craving more. So, to enjoy those pleasant summery nights, eagerly awaiting the monsoon, here is a list of the latest and upcoming web series, that’ll promise you a good dose of drama, thrill, and romance.
Kaafir
The Sonam Nair-directed web series, Kaafir, is backed by a credible screenplay penned by Bhavani Iyer. Starring Mohit Raina and Dia Mirza, it’s exclusively premiered on Zee 5 on June 15, 2019. The story weaves around a young man Vedant, a lawyer-turned-journalist who accidentally chances upon the footage of a young little girl, named Sehar.
Asked by his boss to do a ‘human-interest’ story with an emotional angle, he decides it’s best to pursue the beat of that child and find out what her story really is. He then discovers that Sehar’s mother, Kainaaz, has been kept in prison for over seven years as she is believed to be a Pakistani militant. However, nothing is as it seems, as later Vedant finds out through a series of interviews and interrogation, he conducts with Kainaaz. This is a spine chilling story and is a sheer portrayal of the strength and truth of a woman and the undying politics that divide our nations.
Leila
Netflix’s latest Indian original Leila is the dystopian drama that has caught everyone’s attention with its gritty, powerful, and brave political narrative. Starring Huma Qureshi and Rahul Khanna, the show opens with a happy family couple Shalini and Rizwan Chowdhury, and their small daughter Leila, enjoying their time in a swimming pool as they await a visit from a family member.
All seems well in their world until the next moment when they are attacked by someone. Rizwan is killed and his wife, Shalini is captured, what happens to the daughter will be known later in the series. The story then takes a mysterious yet thrilling turn, when Shalini wants to do anything and everything to reunite with her daughter, Leila. Leila is based on Prayaag Akbar’s book of the same name and has been adapted by writer Urmi Juvekar of Oye Lucky Lucky Oye and Shanghai fame. This show has all the ingredients of a perfect dystopian drama that strike a chord with the viewers. The fear makes you uncomfortable, the suspense on edge of your seat, the tragedy makes you miserable while the horror of it all surrounds you with all its intensity, as the possibility of impending doom lurks.
Chopsticks
This Netflix original starring Abhay Deol, Mithila Palkar and Vijay Raaz, premiered on May 31, 2019. Directed by Sachin Yardi, the story weaves around a gifted, yet insecure woman, who is in for a transformative experience, when she enlists an enigmatic con to help her recover her stolen car from a Mumbai thug. The plot might not seem that intriguing yet, but it is a simple concept with brilliant performances, by the star cast and indeed would cheer you up.
Typewriter
This Netflix original starring Aarna Sharma, Aaryansh Malviya, and Mikail Gandhi, is soon to release and break the internet with its supernaturally horrifying story. Premiering soon, this web series circles around three young friends in Goa, who plan to search an old villa for ghosts. Their adventure turns south when a new family moves in, the home’s buried past resurfaces in chilling ways.
Midnight’s children
Apart from being the executive producer of this Netflix original, prominent filmmaker, Vishal Bhardwaj has taken up the job of bringing to screen Rushdie’s magnum opus.
Based on Midnight’s Children, Salman Rushdie’s seminal work of fiction, the series will run with the same name and will air later this year. Following the life of Saleem Sinai, born on the stroke of midnight on August 15, 1947, the time of India’s independence and the partitioning of the two Nations, his story screams the politics of that time. His every act is mirrored and magnified in events that sway the course of India’s national affairs. Even his health and well-being are inextricably bound to those of his nation and his life is inseparable, at times indistinguishable, from the history of his country. Perhaps most remarkable are the telepathic powers linking him with India’s 1,000 other ‘midnight’s children’, all born in that initial hour and endowed with magical gifts.
Sacred Games Season 2
With its premier season being no less than a real mindboggling game where Ganesh Gaitonde plays the ‘sacred game’ with Sartaj Singh, but the mystery around the Guruji, still holds the mystery, that will be unveiled in the most anticipated season 2. Multiple new characters will be born this season amidst their much worthy star cast, Saif Ali Khan, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, and Pankaj Tripathi, the freshman includes Kalki Koechlin and Ranvir Shorey. Iss Khel ka Asli Baap Kaun Hai will definitely be revealed in this Following season which is to air on June 28, 2019, exclusively on Netflix. This is not only the most awaited but also India’s first Netflix original, that paved the way for modern entertainment in India.
Breathe season 2
Amazon Prime is all set to return with an impeccable second installment of its thriller series Breathe, which features Abhishek Bachchan and Saiyami Kher in the lead roles. The sequel of this hit series will reportedly go on floors next month, as reported by an article of India Today. This season would weave around and separate story and will be independent of its first season. Season one revolved around Danny, a father, whose son is suffering from fatal lung disease and requires a replacement. He, to reincarnate the doomed life of his deceased son, goes on a murder massacre and kills and
Bahubali before the beginning
After the grand success of the Baahubali movies in India as well as worldwide, Netflix has come up with the prequel of the movies and its fourth original Indian web series. The series is based on Anand Neelakantan’s novel, The rise of Sivagami. Produced jointly by S.S Rajamouli and Arka Media Works, this upcoming Indian web series stars Mrunal Thakur as Sivagami Devi, Smaran Sahu as Bhallaladeva, and Sunil Palwal as Kattapa. The story revolves around how Sivgami rose to power and ruled the kingdom bravely, amidst her troubled childhood & the mysteries of Mahishmati. Considering the power-packed performances and the impeccable storyline of the Baahubali franchise, this upcoming Indian web series is definitely a binge-watch worthy.
Criminal justice
This Indian crime thriller, based on the BBC show of the same name, as an Indian Netflix original, that has swept the floor off the viewers’ feat. Directed by Tigmanshu Dhulia, this show stars Jackie Shroff, Vikrant Massey, Pankaj Tripathi, Anupriya Goenka, and Mita Vashist, and is a credible combination of thrill, drama, and crime, which will keep you on the edge of your seats. The plot plays around Aditya, who has been accused of murdering. After a girl ends up in his cab following a drug experience and a one night stand, he wakes up to find the girl dead and a knife in his hands. This is his struggle, to discover the unknown secrets of that night, and prove his innocence in front of the police and the judicial system of the county.
The Verdict
This ALT Balaji exclusive, is a 10-episode series, to be directed by Shashant Shah. Starring Angad Bedi, Manav Kaul, Elli Avram, Kubra Sait, and Sumeet Vyas, this story is based on the real-life incident of 1959, which follows the trial of naval officer K.M Nanavati, who shot three bullets from his revolver into a, famous businessman of that time and then went and confessed his crime to the police, later pleading guilty and proving his innocence in the court. Akshay Kumar too starred in a movie with same plot called Rustam. Releasing later in 2019, this show is a perfect amalgamation of crime, romance, thrill, and suspense.
Mirzapur season 2
Being the most viewed series of 2018, this show is right from the heartland of India and is a quite a relatable plot to the Indian audience. Ab Bajega Pura Band is the tagline for season 2 of Mirzapur and is successful in creating enough buzz in the minds of the viewers. Starring Vikrant Massey, Pankaj Tripathi, Shweta Tripathi, Rasika Dugal, and Ali Fazal, this sequel will exclusively premiere on Amazon Prime, later in 2019. Will Sharad Shukla & Guddu Pandit avenge their personal loss, or Kaleen Bhaiya will again come out victorious? These are few revelations which will be uncovered in this upcoming season.
Bard of blood
Starring Emraan Hashmi this Netflix original will be based on a 2015 Indian fictional espionage thriller novel, written by debutant author Bilal Siddiqi, of the same name. Co-produced by Shahrukh Khan, the star cast also includes Vineet Kumar Singh, Amyra Dastur, Shashank Arora, Kirti Kulhari, Sobhita Dhulipala, and Jaideep Ahlawat. The storyline develops around Kabir Anand, who is a former Research and Analysis Wing(RAW) agent and now a professor of Shakespeare in Mumbai. He was forced to leave RAW after a disastrous mission in Balochistan. He is called by the agency to return after Sadiq Sheikh, his ex-boss is killed. Meanwhile, Mullah Omar and the ISI are also after him, for certain reasons that shall all be unraveled in the show.
Four More Shots Please! Season 2
Four More Shots Please! is an Indian web television series streaming exclusively on Amazon Prime Video. Directed by Anu Menon, the series follows the story of four unapologetically flawed women, two in their thirties and two in their early twenties, who are struggling with four typical problems of their own. They live, love, make mistakes and discover what really makes them tick through friendship and shots of tequila in millennial Mumbai. Starring Gurbani Judge, Sayani Gupta, Kirti Kulhari and Maanvi Gagroo, this show is spread across two seasons with the second one premiering on June 3, 2019.
