Year: Kaala Pani To Scoop, Best Web Series of 2023

Indians introduced the western concept of web shows with the first ever Hindi comedy series as a constant companion. The 2014 show, produced by The Viral Fever, took things by storm online. Masses appreciated Sumeet Vyas, Jitendra Kumar and Nidhi Singh’s episodic show with constant roommates which ran successfully for three seasons. And since then there has been no looking back. From crime thrillers to psychological dramas, vintage classics to slice-of-life, viewers have enjoyed a plethora of web series on OTT platforms over the years. As 2023 draws to a close, let’s take a look at some of the popular Hindi web shows of the year.

Farz

This Raj and DK creation is an OTT wonder. Starring Shahid Kapoor alongside Vijay Serhupathi and Raashi Khanna, Farzi revolves around the story of a man who gets involved in the business of making fake money. The comedy-thriller is available on Prime Video.

night manager

Adapted from John Le Carre’s novel of the same name, The Night Manager depicts an ex-soldier on a mission to infiltrate a dangerous gang of arms dealers to stop his nefarious motives. Starring Aditya Roy Kapur, Anil Kapoor and Shobitha Dhulipala, The Night Manager is a great spy thriller waiting to be streamed on Netflix.

Anniversary

This Prime Video web show takes us back on a nostalgic journey through the early Indian film industry. Set against a pre-independence backdrop, Jubilee revolves around the journey of a production firm called Roy Talkies, the tale ends in the modern era. Prosenjit Chatterjee, Aparshakti Khurrana, Wamiqa Gabbi and Aditi Rao Hydari gave a brilliant performance.

Rana Naidu

Directed by Karan Anshuman, this Netflix show stars Rana Daggubati in the lead role. Rana Naidu is a series about the complicated world of celebrities where Naidu is a ‘problem solver’. But things change dramatically when he stumbles upon family secrets and a web of lies after his father’s release from prison.

Assyria 2

After the first season received rave reviews from the masses and critics alike, Arshad Warsi and Barun Dobti have joined forces again for the sequel. In the name of mythology, a boy named Shubhi takes law and order into his own hands and commits a series of crimes. Asur 2 at Sony LIV lived up to its name and presented an even more gritty story.

Dahad

Perhaps one of the best Amazon Prime Hindi web series is this Zoya Akhtar and Reema Kagti direction. A serial killer who does not leave the police station, does not leave behind bars, is what forms the core of this crime drama. Featuring amazing performances by Sonakshi Sinha and Vijay Verma, Dahad premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival.

Kaala Paan

This Netflix survival drama will keep you on track and keep you there until the last episode. Its resonance with the Covid-19 pandemic is what made the series appeal to the masses. Kaala Paanu tells a compelling tale of an unknown disease that is slowly sweeping across the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. It is a story of human error with elements of survival instincts, the search for healing, and strong human bonds embedded with feelings of love, despair, and grief.

Railway men

Netflix has assembled all the best actors of Bollywood namely Babil Khan, Kay Kay Menon, Divyandu and R Madhavan to create this disturbing masterpiece. Based on the Bhopal gas tragedy, the gripping tale revolves around the relentless efforts of three railway workers to save a thousand lives from a poisonous gas leak from a carbide factory.

Guns n Gulaabs

Guns n Gulaab on Netflix is ​​set in the fictional town of Gulabganj, where opium is grown under a government license. Ganchi and Nabed, leaders of two rival gangs, are in a heated battle for control of the opium trade. Amidst all this, a local schoolboy named Gangaram witnesses the killing of Grandfather Tiger by the hired assassin Four-Cut Aatmaram. Starring Rajkumar Rao, Dulquer Salmaan and Adarsh ​​Gurav in lead roles, the black comedy is a must watch.

the scoop

Karima Tana gave one of her best performances in the Netflix biographical crime drama Scoop. The series focuses on the true story of Gina Vora, who was accused of murdering afternoon reporter Jyotirmoy Dey in 2011. The nail-biting story was well received by both journalists and the general public.

Passion stories 2

Noted directors Konkona Sen Sharma, Sujoy Ghosh, Amit Ravindernath Sharma and R Balki have directed the sequel based on the hidden desires and lust of the female protagonists. Netflix’s four-part anthology broke the stereotypes surrounding sex and moved into the realms of female fantasy. Kajolm Mrunal Thakur, Tamannaah Bhatia, Vijay Verma, Neena Gupta, Tillotama Shome, Kumud Mishra and Angad Bedi were among the ensemble cast.

Aria 3

Sushmita Sen rocked the OTT circuit with her stellar acting in the directorial duo Ram Madhvani and Sandeep Modi’s Aarya. The third sequel released on Disney plus Hotstar this year has exceeded expectations.

Happy new year in advance!