The Indian Over-The-Top (OTT) entertainment industry has experienced phenomenal growth over the past few years. The surge in viewing of Indian web shows has completely transformed the landscape of entertainment consumption across the country. Driven by the increasing availability of high-quality content and competitive pricing, the key players including Amazon Prime Video, Disney+ Hotstar, Netflix, Zee5, and Sony Liv are evolving viewership dynamics and the industry’s future outlook. Shows like Amazon Prime Video’s ‘Mirzapur’ and Netflix’s ‘Sacred Games’ have managed to evoke passionate fandom and a legacy tackling the stereotypical image of the Indian entertainment landscape.
‘Mirzapur’ Season 3 which finally arrived after a long wait of four years on July 5, 2024, has been a big propeller, contributing to the streaming revolution in India since 2018. The show has carved a very special place in people’s hearts. Its gripping storyline, character building, explosive fight scenes, and stellar performances made many join the ride. However, the latest season disappointed eager fans to a certain extent, but it has managed to prove that the Indian OTT sector is burgeoning in prominence. According to a report by Statista, revenue in the OTT Video market in the country is forecasted to reach US$4.06bn this year in 2024.
If you are a fan of gangster vibes, gore, dark, crime thriller, and bloodshed, check out these Indian web series for a rollercoaster ride, all available to stream online:
Mirzapur
Created by Puneet Krishna, and Karan Anshuman, and starring stellar actors including Pankaj Tripathi, Ali Fazal, Vijay Varma, Shweta Tripathi, Rasika Dugal, Kulbhushan Kharbanda, Divyenndu Sharma, Priyanshu Painyuli, Anjum Sharma, and more, ‘Mirzapur’ has a total of 3 seasons streaming on Amazon Prime Video.
The show has a loyal fan base and a legacy that has been carved over the years. The adrenaline-pumping gangster crime drama with gritty realism depicts a violent tale of power and vengeance brought upon in the Mirzapur district in eastern UP by Kaleen Bhaiya and Guddu Pandit.
Watch the trailer here:
Panchayat
Scripted by Chandan Kumar, the Amazon Prime Video original series ‘Panchayat’ stars Jitendra Kumar, Neena Gupta, Raghubir Yadav, Sanvikaa, Durgesh Kumar, Chandan Roy, Ashok Pathak, Faisal Malik and Sunita Rajwar. The show follows the life of Secretary Abhishek Tripathi, posted in a Panchayat office in a small village named Phulera in Uttar Pradesh. Initially finding it difficult to adapt to the rural lifestyle, his job at the Panchayat office intensifies as the election nears.
‘Panchayat’ has people hooked across all three seasons. It is filled with lively humour with a refreshing take on reality in ruler India. The friendship, romance, and seriousness of the series are very well-balanced, making it so special to watch.
Watch the trailer here:
Sacred Games
Based on the novel by Vikram Chandra, ‘Sacred Games’ is a crime thriller web series directed by Vikramaditya Motwane. Consisting of two seasons, the Netflix series stars Saif Ali Khan, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Pankaj Tripathi, Radhika Apte, Elnaaz Norouzi, Kubbra Sait, and Neeraj Kabi.
The Gangstar web series follows Sartaj Singh, a disturbed police officer who embarks on a dangerous cat-and-mouse game in Mumbai to capture notorious criminal overlord Ganesh Gaitonde. The neo-noir crime thriller was among the first web series to make a mark in India’s OTT space.
Watch the trailer here:
The Family Man
Streaming on Amazon Prime Video, ‘The Family Man’ is an edgy action-drama series starring Manoj Bajpayee, Ashlesha Thakur, Sharib Hashmi, Priyamani, and Samantha Ruth Prabhu.
The series follows a middle-class man named Srikant Tiwari working for a special National Investigation Agency cell and must protect his family while carrying out his highly secretive duty towards his nation. The series is bold, and humorous, and portrays the challenges of marriage.
Watch the trailer here:
Guns & Gulaabs
Created and directed by Raj & DK, the black comedy Netflix crime thriller ‘Guns & Gulaabs’ stars Rajkummar Rao, Dulquer Salmaan, Adarsh Gourav, TJ Bhanu, Gulshan Devaiah, Gautam Sharma, Gourav Sharma, Krish Rao, Shreya Dhanwanthary, and more.
Set in Gulabganj, the ’90s-style crime show revolves around Tipu, a mechanic dealing with love and the world of crime, and Arjun, a narcotics officer who is pulled to the cartel-run town due to opium trade and rival gangs. The show is filled with romance, humour, drama, action, and of course good music.
Watch the trailer here:
These pulse-pounding dramas gave a bustling upturn to the Indian entertainment industry. Offering a unique viewing experience, these grappling series have kept the viewers on the edge of their seats until the very end.
