The Indian arm of the streaming giant Netflix has churned out some well-made shows since its arrival in this part of the world. The OTT platform boasts of some fantastic web series such as ‘Delhi Crime’, ‘CAT’, ‘Scoop’, ‘Kohrra’, and more recently ‘Gun & Gulaabs’. On the other hand, there are also some Netflix original shows which have either ended or there hasn’t been any concrete news for their continuation / revival for another season. Here are five such web series which deserve another shot and should be revived / renewed by Netflix.
Ghoul
Although it was a miniseries which consisted of three episodes and one season, but ‘Ghoul’ was a rare Indian horror show which was even listed as amongst the top-rated Netflix shows on Rotten Tomatoes. The show was backed by international filmmaker Jason Blum along with Anurag Kashyap and Vikramaditya Motwane, amongst others.
Plot: Set amidst the backdrop of an authoritarian regime in near future India, ‘Ghoul’ features Radhika Apte as Nida Rahim, a newly enlisted military officer, who is brought in to interrogate a mysterious prisoner in a remote detention facility. However, the goings-on take a deadly turn when the prisoner begins to reveal the darkest secrets of the interrogators, indicating some kind of supernatural presence.
Ray
The Netflix anthology spanning multiple genres is an on-screen adaptation inspired by four short stories by the legendary filmmaker Satyajit Ray. The series has been directed by Srijit Mukherji, Abhishek Chaubey, and Vasan Bala. The two segments namely ‘Bahrupiya’ starring Kay Kay Menon and ‘Hungama Kyun Hai Barpa’ starring Manoj Bajpayee and Gajraj Rao were particularly impactful and their success proves many more stories from Satyajit Ray are waiting to be explored for a potential ‘Ray Season-2’.
Plot: The stories range from an under-achieving but gifted makeup artist, a train journey of a popular singer, story of a successful but self-centred businessman, and a famous movie star who is going through an existential crisis.
Typewriter
The horror drama series was helmed by the immensely talented ‘Kahaani’ director Sujoy Ghosh. It received decent reviews at the time of its release and was reminiscent of the cult series ‘Stranger Things’ in a good way.
Plot: The show’s story revolves around a group of three children who plan to find a ghost in an old villa. But the story takes an interesting turn when a new family moves in, and the place’s dark and haunted past begins to surface.
Bard of Blood
This spy thriller series is perhaps the most underrated title on this list. It received somewhat mixed reviews at the time of its release back in the year 2019. However, Emran Hashmi’s controlled performance was applauded by many, and the first season ended in a terrific cliffhanger. And it was backed by none other than Shah Rukh Khan. The makers could iron out some of the flaws of the opening season and come back with a bigger and better second season.
Plot: Based on Bilal Siddiqui’s book, the show follows the daredevil adventures of a former RAW agent Kabir Anand (Emran Hashmi), who must rely on his very particular set of skills and deal with his dark past during a hostage rescue mission in Balochistan. It also features Vineet Kumar Singh, Sobita Dhulipala, Jaideep Ahlawat, and Rajit Kapoor in important roles.
Bombay Begums
This one is another show on this list which received mixed feedback from critics. But still, it was listed amongst the top-rated Netflix shows on an international listicle on Rotten Tomatoes. It was a good acting comeback for the ‘Dil Hai Ke Manta Nahin’ actress Pooja Bhatt.
Plot: The series follows the story of five Mumbai-based ambitious women from different walks of life and how they deal with their lives to achieve what they want. One is a hotshot bank CEO while another one is a former bar dancer.
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