10 Indian web shows to binge watch during coronavirus lockdown

Little Things (Netflix): There’s no unnecessary melodrama or soppy sentimentality in this charming relationship drama of a young couple, Kavya (Mithila Palkar) and Dhruv (Dhruv Sehgal), who live together in Mumbai. The phrase ‘God is in the small things’ comes to life when you see the central couple evolve in the most adorable manner. These two grow on you and are as comforting as a cup of tea. When you get to season 3, you learn about how a long-distance relationship can test any sturdy relationship like theirs. Watch it for Mithali and Dhruv’s splendid chemistry as a central couple. Trust me, you will fall in love with them.

Made In Heaven (Amazon Prime): Indians love our splashy weddings and there’s such vicarious fun to be had in ‘Made In Heaven’, the glossy series that chronicles the lives of two Delhi-based wedding planners Tara Khanna (Shobita Dhulipala) and Karan Mehra (Arjun Mathur). Be warned, a fairy tale happily-ever-after ending is not guaranteed, but like any good marriage this series will take you through some spectacular highs. You may also want to raid the stunning lead Shobita Dhulipale’s wardrobe after watching this glamorous series littered with talented and stunningly good-looking actors. And if you have ever been curious about how the snooty, South Delhi’s rich and fabulous social set live, then the deliciously wicked ‘Made In Heaven’ will appease your appetite. Both Tara and Karan are compelling in their roles and it’s heartening to see them be vulnerable and strong in their roles. The binge-worthy series also explores the taboo subject of older women having a desire to remarry, dowry and other interesting socially-charged topics. There are no tidy endings here, but what a spectacular joyride to put a ring on as you self-isolate to stem the virus outbreak.

Sacred Games (Netflix): Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan made his digital debut with this disturbingly persuasive thriller ‘Sacred Games’, directed by Anurag Kashyap and Vikramaditya Motwane. Khan plays a down-on-his-luck cop, Sartaj Singh, who’s racing against time when an elusive Ganesh Gaitonde — played brilliantly by Nawazuddin Siddiqui — cherry picks him and claims that Singh’s city is under siege by unknown forces. The first season of this gangster epic is outstanding as its talented bunch of actors elevate the drama aided by some fierce writing, but its second season isn’t as promising.

The Family Man (Amazon Prime): Manoj Bajpayee is in brilliant form as Srikant Tiwari, the head of an undercover antiterrorism agency, who races against time to save Indian civilians. He’s no superspy with fancy gadgets, souped-up cars or guns, but ‘Family Man’ works because of its motley of endearing characters and its realistic treatment. Their fallibility makes this series searing, raw and real.

Mentalhood (Zee 5): Karishma Kapoor makes her digital debut with this watchable series about five SoBo (South Mumbai) moms whose kids go to the same posh school. She plays the quintessential outsider from Kanpur who has just shifted to a swanky metropolis like Mumbai. It’s a tale of sisterhood and issues like domestic abuse, infidelity and guilt is dealt with delicately. It might remind you of HBO’s Nicole Kidman-starrer ‘Big Little Lies’, but ‘Mentalhood’ is still worth watching for the women that add life and verve to their quirky mom roles. It’s a charming series that never hurts the eye.

Delhi Crime (Netlix): This seven-part series, written and directed by Richie Mehta, plays out like a sobering police procedural about a cop (Shefali Shah) who hunts down six men behind the gang rape of student in Delhi on a moving bus. It’s based on a chilling true story of the gang-rape and murder of Jyoti Singh, 23, who was violently assaulted and left for dead by five men and a teenager on a bus in New Delhi (the Nirbhaya case that captured the imagination and evoked terror in India) and so every scene sobers you and is a grim reality about how unsafe cities can get for women at large. The gravity of the crime and how the Delhi cops managed to nab the culprits are told with grim efficiency. Shah as the lead investigative officer is perfectly cast and brings home the series. It’s gritty and overwhelming.

Mirzapur (Amazon Prime): This violent series is not for the faint-hearted and is often described as web series’ answer to Anurag Kashyap’s iconic two-part film series, ‘Gangs Of Wassepur’. Set in lawless Uttar Pradesh, here we have morally bankrupt gangsters waging bloody turf wars. The cast is formidable with names including Kulbhushan Kharbanda, Ali Fazal, Pankaj Tripathi, Divyendu, Rasika Dugal and Vikrant Massey. While some of the twists get tiring, watch it for a bit of vicarious fun in gangsters going on a rampage.

The Final Call (Zee 5): Arjun Rampal makes his digital debut with this unusual thriller ‘The Final Call’ as the troubled pilot Karan Sachdeva who’s on call to steer his flight filled with passengers to safety. Seasoned actors Sakshi Tanwar and Vipin Sharma are in their element here. The show treads on trick subjects like fate, destiny, depression and death with impressive dexterity. It may not find a smooth landing every episode, but there’s enough to keep us entertained.

Inside Edge (Amazon Prime): This compelling series, spearheaded by the likes of Vivek Oberoi, Angad Bedi, Aamir Bashir and Sayani Gupta, exposes the grime and pursuit of power behind the glamorous and enchanting world of T20 cricketing tournament. It delves into the dark web of match-fixing, power-grabbing and betting. Aided by solid acting by its lead actors, this series is wicked and binge-worthy. The stakes are high in this game that doesn’t stop at the cricketing pitch.

The Forgotten Army (Amazon Prime): Directed by Kabir Khan, this limited five-episode series chronicles the late Indian freedom fighter Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose’s creation of Indian National Army and the thunderous impact on India’s military might during the pre-Independence era. Starring Sunny Kaushal, this historical epic seems long, but has some high points.