6 Indian TV shows to stream between ‘The Odyssey’ and Spidey

Rajkumar Hirani makes his streaming debut and the result is exactly the comedy-thriller we expect from the man behind the Munna Bhai series and 3 Idiots. The show stars Arshad Warsi as Pedro, an old-school, technologically challenged cop forced to team up with tech-whiz Pritam to crack an ATM heist. They later team up to solve a missing-kid case, and eventually a kidnapping, too. Throw in a familiar Hirani ensemble, including the ever likeable Mona Singh, streaming’s current It-boy Vikrant Massey, and a cameo by the hilarious Boman Irani, and you’ve got an easy-breezy binge. Psst: a Korean production company has shown interest in adapting the story for a K-drama.

If you’ve been nostalgic for a romance show straight out of 2016—picture-perfect locations, meet-cutes, and a whole lot of sweet moments—Musafir Cafe is for you. Vikrant Massey plays Chander, a cafe owner in Mussoorie with a seemingly spotless life alongside his devoted partner Preeti (Mahima Makwana). Then, the show flashes back eight years to Bhopal, where he fell hard for the impulsive, big-dreaming, kajal-and-ethnic-jewellery-wearing Sudha (Vedika Pinto). The two timelines play out in parallel as we find out which relationship will endure and what shaped his current life. Based on Divya Prakash Dubey’s eponymous novel, the show is co-produced by Homemade Stories and Terribly Tiny Tales. While the series takes some time to pick up, the bittersweet ending feels well-earned, so be sure to stick around until the end.

In Netflix’s first Telugu original, the birds-and-bees talk takes centre stage in Super Subbu. The story revolves around Subbu (Sundeep Kishan), a virginal 20-something from Hyderabad who gets shipped off to teach sex education to the residents of Maakipur, a village proud of its unusually high birth rate. As Subbu attempts to keep his job while hiding its nature from his straightlaced father (Murali Sharma), mayhem ensues. Each episode tackles a different topic, from birth control to consent to sex determination. As Subbu faces opposition from the male villagers, Kantha (Getup Srinu) and Swathi (Mithila Palkar) make for great supporting characters. A mix of raunchy comedy and social commentary, the show is relatable, original, and important.

While the recent student protests may have revolved around higher education, Aadarsh Baal Vidyalaya takes on another very pertinent issue in the Indian education system. The series centres Kay Kay Menon’s Gyaneshwar Tripathi, the laid-back headmaster of a government school attempting to fix his institution so he can earn a free trip to Cambridge. The story plays out over seven episodes as a gang of misfit teachers comes together to fix the school. Bolstered by a cast of cute kids and the politically connected fixer Urmila Devi (Archana Puran Singh), who adds some comic relief, the show makes for a sweet, funny watch on a lazy weekend.

While YouTube has had a great run with true-crime podcasts, from Miss Conduct to Desi Crime, TV is back to add its two cents to the genre. Ali Fazal leads this eight-episode series loosely based on the infamous 1978 Ranga-Billa case, playing a rookie cop racing to crack the murder of two siblings in Delhi. The show splits its time between the investigation and the days leading up to the crime, slowly building anticipation for the dark times to come for the city. Sonali Bendre and Aamir Bashir deliver gutting performances as the grieving parents—it’s a heavy watch and not for every day. If you’re in the mood for a well-acted drama with historical weight, this one is for you.

Before you write this off as a six-hour ad for a watch brand, give it a chance, because it’s one of the best workplace dramas to hit Indian streaming this year. Set in 1970s-’80s Bombay, the show follows the story of Titan founder Xerxes Desai (Jim Sarbh). The story begins as the Tata Group executive spots a gap in the market: India’s watch industry is dominated by smuggled Swiss imports, and no brand at home has stepped up to compete. What follows is the slow, gruelling journey of building a legendary business—from funding roadblocks to scary, sceptical boards and a crew of rotating designers and engineers. While Naseeruddin Shah plays a warm, wise JRD Tata, Sarbh gives Desai charisma with just enough ego to keep the character fun. We wouldn’t call it a binge-watch, so take your time and it’ll keep you hooked and fill family conversations for days.