After a splash of Holi colours comes the chance to take a dip into the vibrant world of online streaming. We pick a string of recent web series that are sure to pique your interest with thrills, Bollywood politics, life in a boarding school, and courtroom comedy. Here is a look at the shows available on Netflix, Prime Video and Disney+ Hotstar.
Lootere
Cast: Vivek Gomber, Amruta Khanvilkar, Rajat Kapoor, Martial Batchamen Tchana, Preetika Chawla
Jai Mehta’s debut web series Lootere unfolds off the coast of Somalia, an African nation teetering on the edge of civil war. Tensions escalate as a group of ruthless pirates seize the control of a vessel transporting a contraband cargo. The ship’s owners, the intended recipients and the crew are caught in the midst of chaos, triggering a harrowing battle for survival marked by bloodshed and escalating stakes. Hansal Mehta serves as the showrunner for this gripping action drama.
Streaming platform: Disney+ Hotstar
Showtime
Cast: Emraan Hashmi, Naseeruddin Shah, Mahima Makwana
Produced by Karan Johar’s Dharmatic Entertainment, Showtime is a gripping drama on Bollywood's inner workings. Helmed by Sumit Roy, the series revolves around Raghu Khanna (Emraan Hashmi) who manages Viktory Studios, named after his ailing father Victor (Naseeruddin Shah). Following the box office debacle of their latest film, Raghu resorts to bribing critics for his next production. However, a young journalist Mahika (Mahima Makwana) publicly shames him. Mahika, turns out, is Victor’s granddaughter and inherits Viktroy studio, leaving Raghu to fume with indignation.
Streaming platform: Disney+ Hotstar
Big Girls Don't Cry
Cast: Pooja Bhatt, Avantika Vandanapu, Aneet Padda, Akshita Sood, Dalai, Vidushi, Tenzin Lhakyila, Afrah Sayed, Zoya Hussain
Created by Nitya Mehra and directed by Karan Kapadia, Sudhanshu Saria and Kopal Naithani, alongside Mehra, Big Girls Don’t Cry delves into life in a boarding school and bonds of sisterhood within the dormitories. The series unfolds within the confines of Vandana Valley Girls School, run by a resolute headmistress, Anita Verma (Pooja Bhatt), who champions the values of the prestigious institution. Under her watchful eye, any form of rebellion or expression of individuality is swiftly quashed. The show portrays how a group of girls navigate their stay at the boarding house under the strict supervision of the headmistress .
Streaming platform: Prime Video
Maamla Legal Hai
Cast: Ravi Kishan, Naila Grewal, Nidhi Bisht, Anant V Joshi
Maamla Legal Hai, helmed by Rahul Pandey, is a comedic courtroom drama inspired by real-life court cases. Blending humour, oddities and poignant moments, the series offers a peek into the workings of a court in Patparganj. Ravi Kishan leads as VD Tyagi, a shrewd lawyer aiming for Bar Association presidency by navigating legal loopholes. Ananya Shroff (Naila Grewal), a Harvard-educated advocate, confronts the stark reality of Patparganj's legal scene. Nidhi Bisht plays Sujata, aspiring for her own chamber despite lacking cases. Anant V Joshi's Vishwas Pandey, who manages the court, thinks of himself as Donna Donna Paulson from Suits.
Streaming on: Netflix
