The list of admirers of Netflix’s Adolescence is growing with every passing day, especially in India, where many of the country’s prominent filmmakers, such as Shekhar Kapur and Sudhir Mishra, have wholeheartedly praised the latest Stephen Graham starrer for its bold storyline and innovative one-shot filming technique. The newest addition to this list is none other than Anurag Kashyap.
Maverick director Anurag Kashyap has also praised Netflix’s Adolescence, created by Stephen Graham and Jack Thorne. The series has taken the entire world by storm and currently holds a 98% ‘fresh’ rating on Rotten Tomatoes, making it one of the highest-rated TV shows of the year.
Kashyap said that he was “envious and jealous that someone can go and make that.” While praising the critically acclaimed crime drama series, he also took a dig at Netflix India’s top executives for their “lack of courage” and “hypocrisy.” He even went so far as to call them “dishonest and morally corrupt.”
Agreeing with Sudhir Mishra’s sentiments, Kashyap admitted that filming a series like Adolescence in India is impossible. This is ironic, given that he is one of the boldest and most innovative directors in the country, known for outstanding works such as Black Friday, Dev.D, Gulaal, Gangs of Wasseypur, Ugly, Mukkabaaz, and more.
Reflecting on his experiences after Sacred Games, Kashyap criticised Netflix India, alleging that they prioritise boosting subscriptions over preserving creative integrity. He claimed that the platform’s leadership lacks both courage and empathy, which, in his view, stifles the creation of bold and authentic content in the Indian OTT market.
Kashyap’s criticism of Netflix India holds weight, especially when considering the platform’s evolution in the Indian OTT market. His concerns about prioritising subscription growth over creative integrity can be supported by real-life examples of how Netflix India’s content strategy has shifted over time.
Let’s take a look at the platform’s documentary section. It seems like the days when Netflix India fearlessly produced and released raw, hard-hitting, and compelling documentaries—such as Bad Boy Billionaires: India, House of Secrets: The Burari Deaths, The Indian Predator series, and Crime Stories: India Detectives—are long gone.
Now, the OTT platform has shifted its focus towards more friendly, light-hearted, commercial, celebrity-centric, and shockingly hollow documentaries that feel more like weak PR stunts than true documentaries. Take The Roshans, for example.
While the Roshan family has contributed to Indian cinema, their significance largely rests on Hrithik and, arguably, his father, Rakesh Roshan. Overall, The Roshans was completely dull, bland, and hollow. Furthermore, it deliberately avoided addressing major controversies surrounding the family, such as the MeToo allegations and the Hrithik-Kangana dispute.
The Romantics, a documentary about Yash Raj Films, suffers from historical inaccuracies and self-aggrandizement. It falsely claims that Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge pioneered the trope of lovers seeking parental approval, completely ignoring Kabhi Kabhie and Maine Pyar Kiya.
Moreover, the over-the-top celebration of Dhoom as Bollywood’s greatest action film and the claim that Befikre introduced rom-coms to India are just plain absurd. Despite some valuable insights, the documentary’s narrative is marred by blatant inaccuracies and a lack of respect for cinematic history.
And what about Yo Yo Honey Singh: Famous? It fails to capture the singer’s unique journey, presenting a generic narrative. Vague fan and celebrity comments offer no depth, failing to justify the documentary’s existence.
And then there’s The Greatest Rivalry: India vs Pakistan. How do you expect to meaningfully portray the decades-long cricketing rivalry between these two nations in just three 35–40-minute episodes?
Are you looking for reality shows like Indian Matchmaking and Fabulous Lives of Bollywood Wives in this article? We don’t want to waste our time—or yours—discussing those pieces of garbage.
There was a time when Netflix India stood out in the Indian OTT market for its refreshing and outstanding content. Casting was based on an actor’s skills rather than their popularity or nepotistic connections—something that has plagued Indian cinema for decades. It’s baffling to see how a streaming service of this calibre has fallen so low.
Nadaaniyan is the latest epitome of this decline. The fact that this pathetic and uninspired Khushi Kapoor and Ibrahim Ali Khan starrer has made its way into Netflix India’s Top 10 weekly streaming list is absolutely disturbing. Most people know the movie is terrible, yet they are watching—perhaps just to bash it—but this only benefits Netflix by increasing viewership. Guess who will have the last laugh?
Netflix India needs to demonstrate a commitment to quality over subscriber growth and address the perception of creative constraints. This includes providing more creative freedom, supporting diverse projects, and being transparent about their decision-making process—ultimately proving that they value authentic, impactful Indian OTT content. Stay tuned for more updates.