We are halfway through 2023 and it’s time to catch up on the best of the Indian series that premiered in the first six months of this year. A number of shows came on different platforms and while many didn’t create much impact there were a few that definitely are worth the watch.
Here we present to you the list (in no particular order) of top 10 Indian shows in the first half of 2023 that stood out from the rest:
The Night Manager – Disney+ Hotstar
Both parts of the show are out now and together they make for a well made show with a fitting end. The screenplay is taut with high production value and stellar performances. Originally based on the 1993 novel of the same name by John le Carré, the Indian adaptation of ‘The Night Manager’ is an espionage thriller drama that follows a former lieutenant in the Indian navy, who is now the night manager of a hotel, gets hired by an intelligence officer as a covert operative. He is tasked with infiltrating the inner circle of a secret and dangerous arms dealer who is also his lover’s killer.
Created by: Sandeep Modi
Cast: Anil Kapoor, Aditya Roy Kapur, Sobhita Dhulipala, Tillotma Shome, Ravi Behl and Saswata Chatterjee.
Scoop – Netflix
Coming from ‘Scam 1992’ creator, this show does not let down. From impeccable performances, gripping story, sharp dialogues to deft storyline and direction, ‘Scoop’ has it all. Based on the book ‘Behind Bars in Byculla: My Days in Prison’ written by Jigna Vora, the series follows the real life story of Jigna Vora who was accused of murder of another reporter in 2011.
Created by: Hansal Mehta and Mrunmayee Lagoo Waikul
Cast: Karishma Tanna, Mohd Zeeshan Ayyub, Prosenjit Chatterjee, Harman Baweja, Tannishtha Chatterjee and Deven Bhojwani
Dahaad – Amazon Prime Video
A hard hitting nuanced story, ‘Dahaad’ has a brilliant cast with amazing performances. The cinematography is superb and the production values of the show are top notch. Earlier titled as ‘Fallen’, ‘Dahaad’ is a serial killer drama set in a small town, the show follows the investigations of a female inspector into a crime that shakes her core.
Created by: Reema Kagti and Zoya Akhtar
Cast: Sonakshi Sinha, Vijay Verma, Gulshan Devaiah and Sohum Shah
Jubilee – Amazon Prime Video
This one is a riveting portrayal of the early years of Indian cinema. The highlights of ‘Jubilee’ are its casting, performances, treatment, direction, plot, production value, technical aspect and music. Set in a newly independent India, Jubilee is a fictional period drama that unveils the stories and dreams that gave birth to Bollywood, as we know it.
Created by: Vikramaditya Motwane, Soumik Sen
Cast: Prosenjit Chatterjee, Aditi Rao Hyadri, Aparshakti Khurana, Wamiqa Gabi
Rocket Boys 2 -SonyLIV
The first season of ‘Rocket Boys’ was immensely successful and the second season is no less. Jim Sarbh and Ishwak Singh are charismatic and earnest in their roles and the writing and direction are excellent. The series follows the incredible journey of India’s greatest scientists shaping a new era where no one dared to challenge their country’s sovereignty. The series is all about “Operation Smiling Buddha” which was the assigned code name for India’s first successful nuclear bomb test that was detonated on the army base Pokhran Test Range, in Rajasthan, by the Indian Army. India was the first country outside the five permanent members of the UN Security Council.
Created by: Nikhil Advani
Cast: Jim Sarbh, Ishwak Singh, Regina Cassandra, Saba Azad, Dibyendu Bhattacharya and Arjun Radhakrishnan.
Farzi – Amazon Prime Video
This one comes from the creators of ‘The Family Man’ and does not disappoint at all. The writing is sharp with terrific humour and some of the performances are just brilliant. In ‘Farzi’, an artist gets pulled into the murky high stakes of a con job and a fiery task force officer on the mission to rid the country of his menaces in this fast-paced, edgy one-of-a-kind thriller.
Created by: Raj & DK
Cast: Shahid Kapoor, Vijay Sethupathi, Raashi Khanna, Kay Kay Menon, Regina Cassandra, Zakir Hussain, Bhuvan Arora, Amol Palekar, Kubbra Sait
Saas, Bahu aur Flamingo – Disney+ Hotstar
With a quaint premise, excellent casting, decent performances, good production design and more ‘Saas, Bahu Aur Flamingo’ is a series to look out for. Savitri, the matriarch of a massive cartel in the lawless Borderlands, opens up a battle for succession to find her heir in a murky world of drugs and violence.
Created by: Homi Adajania
Cast: Dimple Kapadia, Deepak Dobriyal, Radhika Madan, Isha Talwar, Varun Mitra, Angira Dhar, Ashish Verma, Udit Arora, Jimit Trivedi, Naseeruddin Shah, Vipin Sharma and Monica Dogra.
Trial By Fire – Netflix
This series has one of the best storytelling that is compelling, gripping and perfectly paced that keeps you hooked throughout. Also, the performances are impeccable. Inspired from the book ‘Trial by Fire: The Tragic Tale of the Uphaar Fire Tragedy’ by Neelam and Shekhar Krishnamoorthy who lost their two children in the tragic fire accident at the Uphaar cinemas in Delhi in 1997, the Netflix series follows the couple as their life turns upside down after the incident.
Created by: Prashant Nair, Kevin Luperchio
Cast: Abhay Deol, Rajashri Deshpande, Ashish Vidyarthi, Shilpa Shukla, Rajesh Tailang, Shardul Bhardwaj, Ratna Pathak Shah and Anupam Kher
Kerala Crime Files – Disney+ Hotstar
Despite being a simple procedural crime thriller, ‘Kerala Crime Files’ is a show done right. The natural setting, writing, cast and everything else just fits perfectly in this Malayalam show. A team of six policemen led by Sub-Inspector Manoj is on a chase to solve a murder in a suburban lodge room, with just one clue – a fake address, from the lodge register.
Created by: Ahammed Khabeer
Cast: Aju Varghese, Lal, Zhinz Shan, Navas Vallikkunnu, Sreejith Mahadevan, Sanju Sanichen
Ayali – Zee5
It is a Tamil show with a message and emotions that are relatable. The setting and casting are aptly suited. The story of ‘Ayali’ revolves around the life of a young teenage girl (Tamizhselvi) who defies the horrible 500-year-old customs and traditions that oppress the women of Veerappannai village in Pudukottai towards her dream of becoming a doctor.
Created by: Muthukumar
Cast: Abi Nakshatra, Anumol, Madhan, Linga, Singampuli
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