Entertainment / OTT Revolution: How Streaming Platforms Are Transforming Indian Cinema

OTT Revolution: How Streaming Platforms Are Transforming Indian Cinema

Entertainment Jul 08, 2024

by Mehak Kapoor | Features Editor - Entertainment

The growing dominance of Over-The-Top (OTT) streaming platforms has brought about a significant transformation in Indian cinema. Digital giants like Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Disney+ Hotstar have not only revolutionized content consumption habits but deeply influenced the creative processes in Indian film production. Netflix and Amazon Prime Video are steadily expanding their libraries of Indian original series and movies. These streaming titans are fiercely competing in the realm of locally produced content, driven by an unprecedented increase in video consumption across India.

Bollywood actors have increasingly embraced this trend, with Saif Ali Khan starring in several series, and the latest being Heeramandi with top actresses like Manisha Koirala, Sonakshi Sinha, Aditi Rao Hydari, etc. Additionally, the highly acclaimed series Mirzapur showcases this shift. Traditionally, Bollywood or A-list actors avoided television shows, but the advent of streaming platforms has created new opportunities for them to explore non-film roles.

This year, audiences can look forward to discovering new Bollywood talent making their debut across various OTT platforms. If you’re searching for top-notch Indian original content, your search ends here with this curated list—my favourite to stream online.

Heeramandi (2024)

Indian filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s digital debut with Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar made history upon its release on May 1. The series quickly became the second most-watched non-English show on Netflix, trending in 43 countries. Featuring an ensemble cast that includes Sonakshi Sinha, Manisha Koirala, Aditi Rao Hydari, Sanjeeda Shaikh, Richa Chadha, and Sharmin Segal, along with significant roles played by Fardeen Khan, Taha Shah Badussha, Shekhar Suman, and Adhyayan Suman. The show has been reported by Netflix as the most successful premiere for an Indian scripted series to date.

**OTT Revolution: How Streaming Platforms Are Transforming Indian Cinema**

Snippet: Heeramandi’s history dates back to the 17th century when it was known as ‘Shahi Mohallah’ or the royal community, frequented by princes and nobles. During the Mughal era, women from Afghanistan and Uzbekistan entertained the royal court, becoming highly skilled tawaifs trained in classical arts like Kathak, mujra, Thumri, Ghazal, and Dadra. Despite Islamic prohibitions on prostitution, Shahi Mohallah thrived under Mughal patronage. As one of the three Mughal power centres along with Delhi and Agra, Lahore’s opulence was reflected in Shahi Mohallah. The area declined after Aurangzeb’s death in the early 18th century, becoming a hub of prostitution following Ahmad Shah Durrani’s invasion in 1748, until Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s conquest of Lahore in 1799.

The series is set in the pre-independence era of India and revolves around the lives of courtesans in the Heeramandi district of Lahore. It delves into the rich cultural tapestry and the socio-political landscape of the time, exploring themes of love, betrayal, politics, and survival. The show aims to shed light on the lesser-known stories of the courtesans, their struggles, and their influence on the society of that era

Pushpavalli (2017-2020)

Pushpavalli is an Amazon Prime Video original comedy series featuring Sumukhi Suresh as the protagonist, a small-town girl named Pushpavalli. Her life veers from her mother’s expectations of education and marriage when she meets Nikhil Rao. Determined to be near him, Pushpavalli relocates to Bengaluru and lands a job close to his workplace. The series unfolds with comedic twists as Pushpavalli finds herself entangled in a series of humorous situations, including her attempts to secretly follow Nikhil and conceal her unconventional actions.

Snippet: In Season 1 of Pushpavalli, the story revolves around Pushpavalli, who meets Nikhil Rao in Bhopal and becomes infatuated with him. Moving to Bangalore, she takes a job near Nikhil’s workplace and enlists a tea vendor named T-Boy to gather information about him. She manipulates situations and tells lies to get closer to Nikhil, leading to a dramatic confrontation when he discovers her actions.

Season 2 continues with Pushpavalli’s engagement to Vidyuth, arranged by her mother. Despite this, Pushpavalli’s obsession with Nikhil persists, and she returns to Bangalore under the guise of bonding with her fiancé. She resumes her old job and secretly lives in a PG, navigating challenges while trying to win back Nikhil’s trust and exact revenge on him for rejecting her.

Kota Factory (2019-2024)

Kota Factory, an Indian Hindi-language series created by Saurabh Khanna, directed by Raghav Subbu, and produced by Arunabh Kumar (for The Viral Fever), is set in Kota, Rajasthan, known for its coaching centres. The storyline revolves around 16-year-old Vaibhav, Mayur More, who faces the challenges of preparing for the IIT-JEE entrance exam. Shot in colour and later converted to monochrome during post-production, the series realistically depicts the challenges, pressures, and experiences faced by students in Kota’s competitive coaching institutes. The third season of the show was released a few weeks ago. The show is available on Netflix.

Snippet: The show depicts a group of determined young individuals focused on achieving their goal of becoming IITians. They dedicate their lives to studying mathematics, physics, and chemistry to pursue this ambition. Vaibhav joins Prodigy Coaching Center in Kota mid-semester and finds it tough to adjust to the rigorous schedule and competitive environment. He makes friends with Balmukund Meena, Ranjan Raj, Uday Gupta, and Alam Khan, who assist him in overcoming initial difficulties. They introduce him to Jeetu Bhaiya, and Jitendra Kumar, an inspiring physics teacher and mentor to many students. Vaibhav faces academic challenges and discovers the demanding nature of Kota’s coaching culture. Struggling with the intense competition, Vaibhav considers quitting but a heartfelt conversation with Jeetu Bhaiya motivates him to persevere. With Jeetu Bhaiya’s unique teaching methods and motivational talks, Vaibhav regains his focus, tackling challenges like inorganic chemistry along the way.

Mirzapur (2018-Present)

Fan-favourite Mirzapur is an Indian crime thriller web series streaming on Amazon Prime Video. Set in the heartland of Uttar Pradesh, the series revolves around the lawlessness and power struggles among mafia dons, politicians, and law enforcement agencies. The trailer for Mirzapur Season 3 has been released, and the new season is scheduled to premiere on July 5.

Snippet: It centres on Kaleen Bhaiya, Pankaj Tripathi, a ruthless mafia boss in Mirzapur, Uttar Pradesh, who controls drugs, guns, and politics with his son Munna, Divyendu Sharma. The plot follows Guddu, Ali Fazal and Bablu Pandit, Vikrant Massey, brothers initially working for Kaleen Bhaiya but later aiming to establish their dominance in the town’s underworld. The series delves into themes of loyalty, betrayal, and the brutal consequences of power in rural India, earning praise for its intense narrative and strong performances.

Asur (2020-Present)

Asur is an Indian crime thriller web series available on Voot. However, you can watch this show on your IPTV box. The series follows Nikhil Nair, played by Barun Sobti, a forensic expert turned teacher, who returns to his roots in the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to solve a series of mysterious killings that seem to be connected to ancient Indian mythology. As Nikhil and his team delve deeper into the cases, they encounter a brilliant but troubled forensic anthropologist, Dhananjay Rajpoot, played by Arshad Warsi, whose unorthodox methods clash with traditional investigative approaches. We hope to get another season of this show, I loved binging Asur.

Snippet: The narrative weaves together elements of mythology, psychology, and crime investigation, exploring themes of good versus evil and the complexities of human nature. Asur blends ancient lore with modern crime-solving techniques, offering a unique and gripping storyline that keeps viewers on edge. The series has been praised for its innovative plot, strong performances, and the way it merges suspenseful storytelling with deep philosophical themes. The portrayal of the serial killer is menacing, and while the series’ depiction of violence is not overtly graphic, it is impactful and can be unsettling for some viewers. It blends psychological depth with suspenseful storytelling, making it a compelling but intense watch. Viewer discretion is advised due to its disturbing content.

Killer Soup (2024)

Killer Soup unfolds with a slow build towards an unsettling climax, highlighted by standout performances from Konkona Sen Sharma, Manoj Bajpayee, and the entire ensemble cast on Netflix. Season 1, which is streaming on Netflix, benefits from skilled direction and editing that gives ample room for the multiple storylines to develop, revealing the complexities of the characters and their morally ambiguous choices. Manoj Bajpayee plays the role of Swathi’s suspicious husband with his trademark intensity, while Konkona Sensharma brings a mix of intensity and humour to Swathi’s character in this suspenseful tale of ambition and intrigue.

Snippet: The show is set in the fictional hill town of Mainjur, near Madurai. It follows Swathi Shetty, Konkona Sen Sharma, a housewife aspiring to own a restaurant, and her affair with Umesh Mahto/Pillai, Manoj Bajpayee, a massage therapist. When Swathi’s husband, Prabhakar Prabhu Shetty, also played by Manoj Bajpayee, discovers their infidelity, a fatal confrontation ensues. Relieved to be free from her controlling husband, who failed to support her restaurant dreams, Swathi finds herself navigating a new dynamic with Umesh. The series explores power dynamics and deception with a darkly comedic edge, anchored by strong performances.

Dahaad (2023-Present)

Dahaad is one of the most remarkable shows I’ve watched, and we’re all eagerly anticipating its second season. In mainstream cinema, there’s been a noticeable trend in the past decade towards portraying police officers as stylish, muscular, and driven by vengeance. Sonakshi Sinha takes on a fresh role in the Amazon Prime Video series Dahaad, created by the team behind Made in Heaven, portraying sub-inspector Anjali Bhaati.

Snippet: The essence of Dahaad lies in the straightforward approach that Bhaati, regardless of her gender and caste, adopts towards her duties. Created by Zoya Akhtar and Reema Kagti, the series centres on Mandwa, a small town in Rajasthan. It sheds light on the prevalent issue of missing women, exacerbated by escalating tensions fueled by caste dynamics and accusations of love jihad. Remaining faithful to its theme of violence against women, Dahaad delves into how the powerful exploit caste and religion, perpetuating patriarchal norms. You can’t stop watching this series—it’s so addictive!

The Family Man (2019-Present)

Manoj Bajpayee reprises his role as filming begins for Season 3 of Amazon Prime Video‘s renowned Indian spy thriller, The Family Man. Created by Raj & DK, the series features Bajpayee as Srikant Tiwari, an everyday middle-class man who secretly serves as an intelligence officer within the fictional Threat Analysis and Surveillance Cell (TASC) of the National Investigation Agency. The series is known for its intense action sequences, complex characters, and exploration of timely geopolitical themes, all anchored by Manoj’s compelling performance as Srikant Tiwari.

Snippet: In season 1 of The Family Man, Srikant Tiwari, a senior officer in the Threat Analysis and Surveillance Cell (TASC) of India’s National Investigation Agency (NIA), balances his work with a slightly tumultuous family life. Alongside his best friend JK Talpade and colleagues Zoya, Milind, Jayesh, and Force One officer Imran Pasha, they investigate a potential terrorist threat known as Mission Zulfiqar.

Season 2 shifts focus to a storyline involving a military resistance similar to the Tamil Tigers from Sri Lanka, plotting for freedom.

Farzi-Fakes (2023)

Farzi (transl. Fake) is a black-comedy-crime-thriller series for Amazon Prime Video, created, produced, and directed by Raj & DK, with co-writing credits to Sita Menon and Suman Kumar. The show stars Vijay Sethupathi, Shahid Kapoor, Kay Kay Menon, Raashii Khanna, and Bhuvan Arora. The show rips you from start to finish with its observant narrative. Unlike many series, it sidesteps dual plots and excessive sex scenes, delivering a grounded and realistic portrayal of counterfeiting crime. The second season is currently in the works.

Snippet: The plot follows a disillusioned artist who turns to creating counterfeit money, weaving a tale of crime and dark humour. Sunny, played by Shahid Kapoor, an artist frustrated by India’s income inequality and unable to sustain his grandfather’s printing press, joins forces with his best friend Firoz to produce counterfeit money. Their operation encounters obstacles from a gangster named Mansoor and a determined cop named Michael.

Sacred Games (2018-2019)

Sacred Games, India’s first Netflix original series, is a crime thriller based on Vikram Chandra’s 2006 novel. Produced and directed by Vikramaditya Motwane and Anurag Kashyap under Phantom Films, the series was adapted for the screen by Varun Grover, Smita Singh, and Vasant Nath. The development of Sacred Games started in 2014 when Netflix vice-president Erik Barmack approached Vikramaditya Motwane to create Indian content for the platform.

Snippet: Season 1 follows Sartaj Singh (Saif Ali Khan), a troubled Mumbai Police inspector disillusioned by the force’s corruption. His life takes a drastic turn when he receives a call from Ganesh Gaitonde, a notorious crime lord missing for 16 years, who warns him to save the city within 25 days. This sets off a chain of events plunging Sartaj into India’s criminal underworld. Aided by RAW officer Anjali Mathur, Sartaj uncovers Gaitonde’s origins and his father’s connection to Gaitonde.

In Season 2, the story deepens as Sartaj investigates an ashram his father was part of and their apocalyptic plans for a new world. Flashbacks reveal Gaitonde’s past, his involvement with the ashram, and his dealings in Kenya under RAW officer Kusum Devi Yadav. Sartaj discovers his cousin, extremist Shahid Khan, who along with the ashram, plans to destroy India.

These shows have elevated the standards of Indian cinema, offering a platform for actors of all calibers to come together and excel. Watch them and let us know which one you enjoyed the most! There are many more I’d love to include, but let’s save those for the next piece.

Mehak Kapoor | Features Editor - Entertainment

Author

Mehak Kapoor (@makeba_93) is a seasoned entertainment and lifestyle journalist with over a decade of experience in anchoring and content creation for television and digital platforms. Passionate about storytelling and factual reporting, she enjoys connecting with diverse audiences. Outside of work, ...

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