For a long time, the Indian film industry and the television industry have been in two different leagues. While, Bollywood has been making waves globally with its content, our television industry has refused to re invent itself and remained stuck to the same melodrama which we have been watching since years. Thankfully, the introduction of web series in the country brought about a fresh wave of new and innovative content. Creators are not shying away from trying to think and create content that is out of the box. The biggest motivating factor in this is the lack of censorship.
The battle of creators with the censors has been going on since ages. While the creators feel that their content is actually putting a mirror on the things that are happening in our society, the censors think otherwise. With the lack of censorship, creators on the web space are now free to present their story the way they actually want to. While the web space in the country is still relatively young, we have got enough glimpses of the potential of the content which we are able to produce. So, we list down some of our favourite web series that you definitely must check out. Read on…
Sacred Games
Produced by : Netflix
Streaming on : Netflix
Director: Anurag Kashyap and Vikramaditya Motwane
When the first scene in the show is of a dog falling from the height of a skyscraper, you know that this show isn’t going for subtlety. In fact, it’s the level of brutality the marks the cornerstone of this webseries. Sacred Games was the first web series produced by Netflix in India and with a duo of talented directors like Anurag Kashyap and Vikramaditya Motwane pulling the strings, people naturally expected big things. Since it is Netflix, obviously they weren’t holding back as along with getting ace directors on-board, they also went all out with the casting of the film. Having stars like Saif Ali Khan, Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Radhika Apte in a web series proves that even Bollywood stars are realising the massive potential of the platform.
It is based on Vikram Chandra’s 2006 novel of the same title. While the storyline won’t be termed as extraordinary, it is the visual craftsmanship of the directors that distinguishes Sacred Games from following the footsteps of other crime dramas. The acting by the cast too is absolutely spot on. Saif Ali Khan is convincing as a Sikh police officer and even nails his Punjabi accent while he is at it. It seems that playing a ruthless gangster can come to Nawaz even in his sleep as like his past performances he fits this role like a glove. Radhika Apte delivers an impactful performance as a RAW agent. Another standout performance in the film is by Kubra Sait, who plays a transgender singer and dancer Kukoo. She mesmerises the audience and Gaitonde.
Yeh Meri Family
Produced by: The Viral Fever
Streaming on: Netflix
Director: Sameer Saxena
“Summer is a festival, not a season.” declares a 13-year-old Harshu (Vishesh Bansal) - an average boy from an average family. Within few minutes of the web series, the message is very clear.
TVF wants you to go on a nostalgia ride through their web series. The web series is filled with elements of nostalgia like hearing cricket commentary on the radio, talking on cordless phones while drinking Rooh Afza, phantom cigarettes and WWF trump cards.
In fact, all that’s missing is a dial-up connection and Yahoo chatrooms. The web series revolves around the events that occur during the summer in a family of five. Many shows tend to suffer from the nostalgia.
They compensate for a lack of originality by serving a glorified throwback of the good old days. However, Yeh Meri Family has enough substance in it along with providing a healthy dose of nostalgia.
Made In Heaven
Produced by: Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani
Streaming on: Netflix
Director: Nitya Mehra, Zoya Akhtar, Prashant Nair and Alankrita Shrivastava
Close to two months ago, Zoya Akhtar and Reema Kagti delivered one of the best Hindi films in recent times - Gully Boy. The film had a lot going for itself like stellar acting and great music. However, it: biggest strength was that it stayed away from the stereotypes that are a given for films ‘made in Bollywood’. And this thought is reapplied in Zoya and Reema’s next venture, Made In Heaven. This web series follows the life of two Indian wedding designers.
These two, and the brides and grooms they are serving, often lie to get their way. But, like most of us who also lie, cheat or deceive to get by in life, they do not always get away with things and are unable to find closure. Again, much like in real life, the web series shows us the deep dark truth behind the seemingly perfect face of the rich Delhi wedding scene.
Little Things
Produced by: Dice Media
Streaming on: Netflix
Director: Ajay Bhuyan
This cute little web series based on the life of a couple in a relationship won the hearts of people ever since it was released online. The realistic and refreshing take on love blooming between two youngsters over little things in the big city of Mumbai is probably the biggest selling point of the show. The web series recently concluded its second season.
In the second season, we find the protagonists to be in a much different position than the first. Dhruv has quit his job of a Data Analyst at a startup, while Kavya is making leaps and bounds of progress at her new job. The series explores this power imbalance within the couple without over-dramatising their situation. The thing that works best for the web series is the lead couple’s effortless chemistry.
The simplicity and ease with which the lead pair play their parts is truly commendable. The show is realistic in the way it portrays love. It celebrates the imperfections of love and life, and it shows us exactly what happens when two real people fall in love and decide to go for it. It’s messy, it’s imperfect, but, at the end of the day, it is all worth it.
from filmfares http://bit.ly/2PbMj0h
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