In recent times, web series have become all the rage in India, and rightfully so- since most of them dare to showcase stories films and TV shows in India have shied away from or ignored. Here we have rounded up seven of the best original Indian hindi series on Amazon Prime you can stream right now:
Mirzapur
Crime thrillers have always been popular with the Indian audience, so no surprise this one’s a well-loved series. The show tells the story of mafia rivalry in Uttar Pradesh. Two brothers, Bablu and Guddu, join a gang led by Kaleen in desperation to save their father, and gradually become actual criminals.
If you have seen Netflix’s Sacred Games, this one’s for you. The show involves a lot of guns and some extremely crass language. There’s very real depiction of mafia rivalry and violence. If all that sounds like something you can stomach, definitely watch this one for Pankaj Tripathi and the rest of the cast members. Mirzapur is a Pankaj Tripathi show through and through, but every single person in the ensemble delivers an exemplary performance.
Breathe
Breathe is the story of a father, and the extents he will go to to save his child. Senior Inspector Kabir (Amit Sadh) finds himself face to face with a chain of deaths, each victim an organ donor. The case leads him to Danny (R. Madhavan), who seeks an organ transplant for his son, Josh. Kabir vows to do whatever it takes to reach the criminal and deliver justice.
Breathe has a captivating storyline that will keep you hooked to the show. The cast delivers some stellar performances, and R. Madhavan is an utter delight on screen as always. Read our full review.
Laakhon Mein Ek
Laakhon Mein Ek tells the story of Aakash Gupta, a boy with a penchant for making mimicry videos and dreams of being internet famous. However, his father wants him to become an engineer. After Aakash scores poorly in his 10th boards and doesn’t get admitted to any engineering college, he is sent to an institute called Genius Infinity to prepare for the IITs, where he is enrolled with the D-listers.
Laakhon Mein Ek has delightful acting from some little known faces; Ritwik Sahore’s Aakash is vulnerable and so, so relatable.This show may sound like the traditional underdog story you have seen in many forms and shapes before, but believe me, it’s so much more. Why? Well, you’ll have to watch for yourself to find out now, won’t you?
Pataal Lok
Another crime thriller with Pankaj Tripathi starring in one of the central roles, this show dives into the depths of the Indian criminal underworld. After an attempt at a veteran journalist’s life is made, a police investigation ensues that spans multiple cities.
The show discusses politics and religion, and brings forth some mythological metaphors and themes, like using the concepts of Swarga, Dharti and Paatal from the Hindu myths to describe the different classes and lifestyles. It’s definitely the kind of story we very rarely see on screen, and will stay with you for a long time.
Panchayat
Panchayat is a comedy-drama series produced by the YouTube famous TVF, or The Viral Fever. The series centers around an engineering graduate who, for lack of better job options, joins as a Panchayat secretary at the village Phulera in Uttar Pradesh.
Panchayat has a pretty solid storyline, with crackling, witty dialogue. However, what really worked to make Panchayat a massive hit is the presence of Jitendra Kumar, adoringly called Jeetu Bhaiyya by his legions of fans, as the main character. He has that boy next door charm the Indian audience has always loved, and he plays his character with a lot of heart and passion. Panchayat has earned great reviews across various social media platforms, and it promises a great time, so go forth and binge-watch it!
Made in Heaven
Made in Heaven is the story of two wedding planners- Tara (Sobhita Dhulipala) and Karan (Arjun Mathur) in Delhi. Tara is a woman who’s had to fight tooth and nail to reach the position where she is now, and Karan is a gay man in a society where homosexuaity is illegal and openly despised. With every new wedding they put up, they encounter new complexities and contradictions of the typical Indian lifestyle, and perhaps get to explore, and accept, their own selves too.
The show is a commentary on the narrow-mindedness and hypocrisy of the Indian upper class society. It brings the very real behind the scenes picture of the big fat Indian wedding to the limelight, as well as of the people who work tirelessly to organise these events. Made in Heaven is arguably the most original, fresh Indian web-series till date. If you want to watch a series that will really get you thinking, Made In Heaven is what you’re looking for. Watch it for the performances of the very talented cast, and the unique plot. Read our full review.
The Family Man
The Family Man centers around Srikant Tiwari, a middle-class man who is actually a world class spy. He works with the Threat Analysis and Surveillance Cell (TASC), a branch of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) of India. He struggles to strike a balance between his family life and his work as he has to investigate a potential terrorist attack.
The Family Man is said to be influenced by true newspaper articles. The story is intriguing, and while the premise is not the most original one, you need only watch the first episode to see why it made this list. Oh, and, the series stars Manoj Bajpayee in the lead role. Feel convinced to watch it yet?
Hostel Daze
Hostel Daze is another series from TVF. The storyline is pretty simple and straightforward- it’s basically four raucous young boys in an engineering college having fun adventures.
Have you seen campus movies like Chhichhore and 3 Idiots? If you have, then you know this particular genre of stories- they have sharp storylines, commentary on Indian college life and rowdy boys spouting zingy one liners. The happenings on screen might seem immature or downright gross at times, but they also make you painfully nostalgic for those days of your own life. Watch Hostel Daze for that college kid inside you.
Inside Edge
Inside Edge is a sports-drama, centering around the Mumbai Mavericks, an imaginary T20 cricket team playing in the Powerplay League. The new owners of the team are accused of match-fixing.
As the majority of Indians are missing the thrill (and drama) of IPL this year, this is a show you can stream right now and it will, maybe, sate your craving for cricket. The series features some outstanding performances from the ensemble cast, especially Richa Chadha, Sayani Gupta, Vivek Oberoi and Manu Rishi.
Four More Shots Please!
The show is, at heart, a tale of friendship- only this time with girls instead of the more usual all-male buddy dramas we are used to. The story is of four girls- Damini, Umang, Siddhi and Anjana- from different backgrounds, with vastly different goals, and their various (mis)adventures.
First of all, the four leads deliver outstanding performances and you can’t help rooting for them even as they make bad decisions after bad decisions on screen. It’s very rare that a piece of media with the main cast and crew all consisting of women comes along, and that’s one of the reasons this show is incredibly special. Female led media, especially in India, has a long way to go. Four More Shots Please! too has its issues and flaws, namely the wobbling plot, but it’s still a step in the right direction. Seasons 1 and 2 are now streaming on Amazon Prime! Read our full review.
Did we miss your favorite series on amazon prime? Do let us know!