#10. Nirmal Pathak ki Ghar Wapsi (Season 1, SonyLIV)
This 5 episode series on SonyLiv is about a city-bred young writer Nirmal Pathak (Vaibhav Tatwawadi) returning home to his village after having lived in the city all his life. The storyline has nice twists and turns and there’s a lot of backstory to catch up on. In the end it is a classic, layered good versus evil tale and the first season just manages to get the fire started.
#9. Masaba Masaba (Season 2, Netflix)
Our favorite, mouthy fashion designer and her mummy are back and Masaba has more to say! Quite fun, although a little less spontaneous than the previous season, Season 2 gets in a little deeper on emotional and controversial topics. The romance with Dhairya is still not quite happening, but there’s hope for Season 3! Masaba Masaba Season 2 is warm, light, lovely, and feel-good!
#8. Ghar Waapsi (Season 1, Hotstar)
Shekhar Dwivedi (Vishal Vashishtha) is returning to his parental home in Indore after a long while. He’s been laid off at work, and is at pains to conceal the fact from the family. While at home, Shekhar reconnects with old friends, makes new ones and reminisces on the time gone by. Ghar Waapsi, like Gullak, focuses on family and relationships, but is not quite as overtly ooey-gooey. The 6 episodes go fast!
#7. Guilty Minds (Season 1, Amazon Prime)
Guilty Minds is about 2 lawyer friends practicing their version of the law. Kashaf Quaze (Shriya Pilgaonkar) and Deepak Rana (Varun Mitra) are law school friends. Both fight cases in court, sometimes as opposing counsel, but their friendship remains strong. Guilty Minds is the “law” version of ER, and is quite comparable in quality. Also just as binge-able!
#6. Eternally Confused and Eager for Love (Season 1, Netflix)
This is a series about a whole lot of nothing but quite fun and quirky. Ray (Vihaan Samaat) is a 20-something young man looking to find the perfect girl. Aiding him in this are overbearing mummy and daddy (Suchitra Pillai , Rahul Bose). There’s also Ray’s inner voice – an actual character here (remember the quirk?). Think of this series as a fluffier Panchayat for the city crowd, minus the real-world problems, social work and self-realization.
#5. Rocket Boys (Season 1, SonyLIV)
Rocket Boys, an extraordinary look at India’s nuclear program, is well-made and interesting, despite all the science-y bits. Jim Sarbh stars as Indian physicist Homi Bhabha and Ishwak Singh (whom we saw in last year’s fabulous Paatal Lok) is Vikram Sarabhai. The 8 episode series is directed by Abhay Pannu and helmed by Nikhil Advani.
#4. Yeh Kaali Kaali Aankhein (Season 1, Netflix)
This dark, violent series is quite unpredictable. We go from what we think is a tepid small-town tale to an intense drama where conversations are sprinkled with casual references of severed limbs and murder. Tahir Raj Bhasin (whom we also saw in the very interesting time-bending Looop Lapeta), Shweta Tripathi, Aanchal Singh and Saurabh Shukla star.
#3. Panchayat (Season 2, Amazon Prime)
Much like it’s clean, wholesome predecessor, Season 2 of Panchayat is a winner. Our naive do-gooder protagonist Abhishek Tripathi (Jitendra Kumar) is continuing his work in Phulera village, while thinking of next steps for his future. The needle has moved on the romance angle, and the friendship with the Pradhan’s daughter Rinki progresses. Quite lovely – I binged it in a day!
#2. Gullak (Season 3, SonyLIV)
Gullak is a series about a family of four – the father Santosh Mishra (Jameel Khan), the mother Shanti (Geetanjali Kulkarni), the elder son Annu (Vaibhav Raj Gupta) and younger son Aman (Harsh Mayar), living in a small town and dealing with the ups and downs of everyday, middle-class life. Every episode deals with some new problem, ends with a resolution, and lots of heart-warming feel-goodness about love and family. Gullak Season 3 is a must-watch.
#1. Delhi Crime (Season 2, Netflix)
DCP Varthika Chaturvedi (Shefali Chhaya) and her crew return with an investigation into gruesome home killings, especially among the senior citizens of New Delhi. Season 2 is just as intense and fast-paced as Season 1. All 5 episodes are directed beautifully by Tanuj Chopra, and the superb cast brings it home!
