August 29 marked 25 years of the world having Netflix. What started out as a DVD rental service in the US is today a giant streaming platform with an approximate subscriber base of 220-million worldwide. And what better day for Netflix India to mark it as #FilmsDay, a daylong event at Mumbai’s Taj Lands End where about 10 films that are set to stream on the platform over the next few months, were showcased, in the presence of their cast and crew. Here’s what has us excited.

Thrill/ Drama

Jogi

Set to premiere on September 16, Ali Abbas Zafar takes the viewer into the heart of the anti-Sikh riots of 1984, in Jogi, with the spot-on casting of Diljit Dosanjh in the title role. Raw and hard-hitting, Jogi is not an easy watch, but is an important story to tell, especially in today’s divisive times. Kumud Mishra, Mohd Zeeshan Ayyub, Amyra Dastur and Hiten Tejwani make up a part of the ensemble cast of the film, which reiterates “the importance of love, hope and friendship in times of chaos”. Ali burnt his fingers with his political drama Tandav, but something tells us Jogi will strike a chord with most.

Radhika Apte in Monica O My Darling

Monica O My Darling

Giving off a top-to-toe Andhadhun vibe is the dark and quirky teaser of Monica O My Darling. That’s no surprise given that Andhadhun maker Sriram Raghavan was initially attached to direct the film, finally helmed by Mard Ko Dard Nahi Hota man Vasan Bala. Present at the showcase in full strength was the dark thriller’s cast and crew, comprising Vasan and actors Rajkummar Rao, Huma Qureshi, Radhika Apte, Akansha Ranjan Kapoor and Sikandar Kher. Can’t wait to watch Rajkummar as “The Prince of Angola!” Watch the teaser for context.

Tabu at the #FilmsDay showcase

Khufiya

Our money is on this one! Can it get better than Vishal Bhardwaj directing Tabu once again in a thriller whose teaser had us at ‘Kh’ (from the epiglottis). Khufiya, as the name suggests, has an air of delicious mystery about it, accentuated by the short but powerful teaser which is, of course, frontlined by Tabu as a secret agent, but also has Ali Fazal, Wamiqa Gabbi and Ashish Vidyarthi in key roles. “I have been in love with Tabu for the last few lifetimes! When I think of a film, I think of ways to cast her,” said Bhardwaj at the launch, with Tabu, statuesque in a black gown, confessing how glad she is that “Vishal writes almost every role for me, even if I don’t end up doing them!”

Period

Team Qala on stage

Qala

Bulbbul maker Anvita Dutt returns with a period drama set in the 1930s which stars Triptii Dimri in the title role and introduces the late Irrfan’s son Babil Khan. The biggest hoots from the audience at the showcase were reserved for Babil who revealed how “scared and vulnerable” he was when auditioning for Qala, given that it was right after his father’s untimely death. Also present at the launch were Swastika Mukherjee and Amit Sial, who play pivotal roles in the film that was shot in Kashmir.

Nostalgia

The Archies

The Archies

A few months ago, Zoya Akhtar’s announcement that she was bringing Riverdale to Bollywood and giving a desi spin to the much-loved Archie comics franchise met with a lot of apprehension. For those growing up on the comic, we hope that The Archies — which Zoya has set among the Anglo-Indian community — will be watchable enough to bring in a wave of nostalgia even as it acquaints Gen Z with its freckle-faced hero and his pals. The film introduces a bunch of young debutants, including star kids Suhana Khan, Khushi Kapoor and Agastya Nanda (Amitabh Bachchan’s grandson). In Zoya we trust!

Quirky

Sanya Malhotra in Kathal

Kathal

Sanya Malhotra spearheads this small-town satire in which she plays a cop searching for a missing jackfruit aka kathal. On stage, Team Kathal — including Sanya and producer Guneet Monga — had a rip-roaring time introducing their film to those present, with this showcase inviting the maximum laughs. We hope Kathal does too!

Also

Anushka Sharma in Chakda ’Xpress

Chakda ‘Xpress: A clip of Anushka Sharma talking from the UK sets is all we got in the Chakda ’Xpress showcase. A teaser, released a few months ago, met with criticism, especially Anushka’s faux Bengali accent as former India cricket captain Jhulan Goswami. Let’s hope the Prosit Roy-directed film turns out better.

Plan A Plan B: Netflix’s success with the concept of matchmaking (Sima aunty, anyone?) has made it greenlight an entire film around a matchmaker, played by Tamannaah Bhatia. Riteish Deshmukh and Poonam Dhillon, who were present on Monday, co-star.

Chor Nikal Ke Bhaga: A heist/ hijack thriller with the primary action taking place on a plane is the focus of this film that stars Yami Gautam Dhar and Sunny Kaushal. Stree and Bala maker Amar Kaushik produces the film.

Untitled adaptation of The Devotion of Suspect X: The Devotion of Suspect X, based on Keigo Higashino’s bestseller of the same name, is a film that Sujoy Ghosh has been wanting to make for years. He’s got that opportunity now with the yet-untitled adaptation that boasts the stellar cast of Kareena Kapoor Khan, Jaideep Ahlawat and Vijay Varma and was recently shot in Darjeeling.