Diksha Sundriyal
Television has always been a massive force in India. The audience here has taken to the small screen with the intensity that is only rivalled by the current golden age of television in the world. Indian audience has always had a close relationship with television and we have come a long way since the nostalgic days of Doordarshan. There are countless TV channels that serve a wide range of stories to the viewers, and the introduction of Netflix has only increased their appetite. The streaming service provides a myriad of options to the most binge-watching people on the planet, which means that it also has to invest heavily in Indian stories, apart from connecting them with the international content. If you want to explore the some really good Indian tv series, you are at the right place. Here’s the list of best Hindi shows on Netflix right now.
15. Rishta.com (2010)
This romance drama stars Shruti Seth and Kavi Shastri as Isha Mirchandani and Rohan Mehra, respectively. The business partners run a matrimonial agency and often come at crossroads with each other due to their polar opposite personalities. The series follows their professional struggles as they deal with all sorts of people while learning some lessons about their personal lives as well. Making this story spicier is the CEO of their company, Huzaifa Ali, who is completely focused on the financial outcomes of their venture and is heavily inclined towards cutting the costs, often creating hurdles in the paths of Isha and Rohan. Other supporting characters include the PR head of the company, Isha’s father and his girlfriend. You can watch the series here.
14. Dharmakshetra (2014-2015)
Hinduism has one of the richest mythologies in the whole world, which is the source of countless stories, which are then interpreted in a different manner by the varied geographical and linguistic territories of India. One of the most popular of them is the story of Mahabharata. A number of TV adaptations have been made on the epic, with a bunch of other shows that follow the stories of certain supporting characters. It follows the story of a family that indulges in a terrible war for the throne. ‘Dharmakshetra’ picks up with all of them justifying their actions on judgement day. One by one, they are brought in front of Chitragupta who will make the decision of whether the person in question deserves to go to heaven or hell. You can watch the series here.
13. Khotey Sikkey (2011)
‘Khotey Sikkey’ follows the story of a police inspector who chances upon an opportunity to change the justice system by seeking help from five youngsters. As the rich get richer in the plush neighbourhood of South Mumbai, the crimes get more random and frequent. The rich kids are aware of the influence of their parents, which enables them to do whatever they want to do without facing any consequences. It is in a similar case that five youngsters are brought to the police station of Senior Inspector Damodar Deshmukh. He views their situation as a chance to understand other criminals of their background and use their help to solve various crimes. You can watch the series here.
12. 21 Sarfarosh- Saragarhi 1897 (2018)
If you want to hear the stories of heroic acts, then look towards the countless wars that humans have fought over the course of their existence. The Indian subcontinent has had its fair share of conflicts and the history books are rife with barbarianism and bloodshed as well as bravery and valour. The Saragarhi war of 1897 is one of those events that seem impossible and yet happened due to the undying determination of a group of people. Serving in the British India Army, 21 Jat Sikh soldiers were forced to hold their ground against more than a thousand Afghan rebels who attacked at their post. The show follows the unbelievable battle led by Havildar Ishar Singh in what is considered “one of history’s greatest last stands”. You can watch the series here.
11. Raja, Rasoi Aur Anya Kahaniyaan (2014-)
If you are a food enthusiast and love TV shows that not only show you how to bring an exotic dish on your table but also inform you about the history of it, then ‘Raja, Rasoi Aur Anya Kahaniyaan’ is the one for you. In its every episode, the show presents a look into the historical events of India, depicting how they paved the way to the invention of some iconic dishes. The main focus is on the royal dishes and there is a lot you can learn about the kings and queens of India and the cuisines that graced their dining tables. The series has two seasons and covers almost all of the states of the country. You can watch the show here.
10. Selection Day (2018-)
Based on the book of the same name by Arvind Adiga, ‘Selection Day‘ depicts the obsessive love for cricket in the country. At the centre of the story are two brothers, Radha and Manju. Their father harbours an undying love for cricket and has passed it on to his sons. Since a very young age, they have been groomed by him to become the best batsmen of all time. Their journey begins with the local matches in the village teams, but as they begin to surpass the competition, their father decides that it is time for them to try out for professional cricket. They are thrown into rigorous training in order to get selected for the under-19 team. The entry of a formidable rival makes things more complicated for them. You can watch the series here.
9. Typewriter (2019-)
Created and directed by Sujoy Ghosh, ‘Typewriter’ is a horror series that is set in the quaint surroundings of Goa. It begins with the mysterious death of a horror novelist who authors a book called The Ghost of Sultanpore. Years after his death, his granddaughter returns to the house where he was killed and which is now deemed as a haunted property by the locals. Brought in the mix is a group of school children who are fascinated by the novel and create their own ghost club, hoping to one day catch that ghost mentioned in the book. However, they don’t anticipate the danger in their quest, which becomes more twisted with each step. And in the end, it all comes down to a typewriter. You can watch the series here.
8. Little Things (2016-2019)
‘Little Things’ follows the everyday life of a live-in couple, Kavya and Dhruv. Each episode focuses on various struggles in their personal and professional lives and what it takes to keep the spark in their relationship alive. The romance drama makes use of the conversational side of a relationship and has the protagonists talk about their emotions, their insecurities, their perspective of the world and their feelings for each other. A take on contemporary romance, this show presents a relatable tale of a real relationship. You can watch the series here.
7. Bard of Blood (2019-)
Based on the novel of the same name by Bilal Siddiqi, ‘Bard of Blood’ is an espionage drama that stars Emraan Hashmi in the lead role. He plays the role of Kabir Anand, an ex-RAW agent who is called back in action when four secret agents are held captive by a terrorist ring in Baluchistan. The series also stars Vineet Kumar Singh as Veer Singh, a sleeper agent, and Sobhita Dhulipala as Isha Khanna, an analyst, who assist Anand in his dangerous quest. If you harbour a love for high-octane spy stories, then ‘Bard of Blood’ is right up your alley. You can watch the series here.
6. Leila (2019)
Based on the book of the same name by Prayaag Akbar, ‘Leila’ is a dystopian drama that tells the story of a woman caught up in a totalitarian regime, looking for her daughter. It stars Huma Qureshi as a woman named Shalini. In the 2040s, water and fresh air are commodities and anyone caught wasting them is executed. Shalini lives in this world with her husband, Rizwan Chaudhury, and they have a daughter named Leila. One day, her husband is falsely accused of wasting water. He is killed and their daughter is abducted, while Shalini is thrown into a camp where she serves as a slave. With her mental health deteriorating, she finally finds a way to escape and begins the arduous journey to find her daughter. You can watch the series here.
5. Powder (2010)
For those who love shows like ‘Narcos’, ‘Powder’ provides an Indian version of the story. Set in Mumbai, it has two characters pinned against each other, each on the opposite spectrum of the law. Usmaan Malik and Naved Ansari have come from the same place. They grew up in the slums of the city, but life had different paths for them. While Malik joined the police force and worked his way up to become the head of the Narcotics Control Bureau, Ansari got stuck in the crime world and dived deeper and deeper to finally become the drug kingpin. Now Malik has to find a way to burn his empire to the ground, while Ansari busies himself with a new purpose- politics. You can watch the series here.
4. Yeh Meri Family (2018-)
If you are a 90s kid (of Indian origin), then there are a number of things that set your childhood apart from the one that the kids these days have. ‘Yeh Meri Family’ washes over you with that nostalgia wave and presents you with a great time, not just thoroughly entertaining you, but also bringing you face-to-face with the innocence and stupidity of childhood. The protagonist of the story is a 12-year-old boy named Harshu Gupta. The events pick up in the year 1998, with him living with his family in Jaipur, Rajasthan. The series chronicles their day-to-day challenges. You can watch the series here.
3. Ghoul (2018)
Blumhouse Productions is known for making horror hits like ‘Paranormal Activity’, ‘The Purge’, ‘Insidious’, ‘Get Out’, and many more. So, their association with Netflix to deliver a horror miniseries was a highly anticipated event. And ‘Ghoul’ did not disappoint. Created by Patrick Graham, who also wrote and directed the series, it is influenced by the legend of the ghoul in the Arab folklore. The series uses the claustrophobic surroundings of a high-security prison to deliver a tense tale of horror and thriller with strong political undercurrents. It stars Radhika Apte in the role of Nida Rahim, a military officer whose loyalty is called to test after her own father is arrested for sedition. She is sent to a military detention centre to assist with the interrogation of a high-level terrorist. Soon, she discovers that the terrorist is not a man but a supernatural creature. You can watch the series here.
Read More: Best Indian Movies on Netflix
2. Delhi Crime (2019)
In December 2012, entire India was shaken to the core when a brutal rape case came to light. The victim, who was later titled as Nirbhaya, had been physically and sexually abused to such extent that it didn’t seem possible for another human to have done such things. Still, it had happened and six people, one of them a juvenile, were convicted with the crime. ‘Delhi Crime’ focuses on the investigation led by the police officers who are not only shocked by the scale of the crime but are also under immense pressure from the government as well as the public to catch the perpetrators. It stars Shefali Shah as Deputy Commissioner of Police Vartika Chaturvedi, and her team, who heads the investigation. You can watch all episodes of the series here.
Read More: Best British Shows on Netflix
1. Sacred Games (2018-)
Based on the novel of the same name by Vikram Chandra, ‘Sacred Games’ is the first Netflix original for Indian platform. Since its release, the series has gained widespread popularity in the country and is one of the main reasons for the sudden hike in the viewership of Netflix. It follows the story of a policeman and a criminal overlord, their stories connected over the span of several decades. Saif Ali Khan stars as Inspector Sartaj Singh, a troubled cop struggling to keep his integrity alive in a corrupt department, who receives a phone call from Ganesh Gaitonde (played by Nawazuddin Siddiqui). The gangster informs him about a looming threat on the city which will materialise in 25 days and that Singh is the only one who can stop it. You can watch the series here.
Read More: Best German Shows on Netflix
