Despite gems like October and Raazi, 2018 was the year when movies like Race 3 passed off as blockbuster entertainment.
So save yourself from a three hour stretch of mindless cinema by exploiting your wi-fi connection and watching these amazing web series released this year:
1. Adulting
Dice Media’s first web series stars Yashaswini Dayama and Aisha Ahmed as two roommates surviving Mumbai.
Their social media struggles, friendly banter, and career problems make this an extremely relatable show that you should definitely watch with your friend, or better yet, your roommate.
The second episode on mothers is definitely a highlight of the series. You can watch the complete series here.
2. FLAMES #PadhaiAurPyaar
Produced by The Timeliners, this web series stars Ritvik Sahore (of Laakhon Mein Ek fame) and Tanya Maniktala in lead roles.
This cute romantic series will take you back to your salad days, to the age of after-school coaching centers, and first relationships.
You’ll definitely end the series with a big smile on your face. You can watch the complete series here.
3. Sacred Games
Netflix’s first Hindi original web series, that has earned its fair share of praises and a few controversies, has definitely raised the standard for Indian shows.
Starring Saif Ali Khan, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, and Radhika Apte, watch this thrilling crime drama to enjoy the fine mixture of expert storytelling and brilliant acting, free of illogical censoring.
The transformation of Mumbai from a city to a character is one of biggest USP of the show. You can watch the complete first season on Netflix.
4. Breathe
The Amazon Prime original series, starring R. Madhavan and Amit Sadh, is not your run-of-the-mill thriller.
Watch it to see a different side of father’s love, and for the fact that unlike soap operas, we finally have grey characters as leads.
If nothing else, you’ll definitely fall in love with Madhavan’s performance in this. You can watch the complete season on Amazon Prime.
5. It Happened In Hong Kong
Viu India’s latest original, starring Aahana Kumra and Amol Parashar in lead roles, is the romantic series for the ‘wanderlust’ generation.
While clichéd in parts, it still rings a little more true than most romantic mainstream movies, provided you ignore the not-so-subtle promotion of Hong Kong tourism.
The chemistry that the lead pair share is charming, to say the least. You can watch the complete series on Viu. You can watch the first episode here.
6. Official CEOgiri
Produced by Arre, this is the second season of their original web series Official Chukyagiri and presents the corporate life from the CEO’s (played by Sumeet Vyas) point of view.
Watch it for an interesting mix of office politics, romance, and drama.
Ardent fans of Sumeet Vyas may find it easier to ignore the tinges of a soap opera drama in the show. You can watch the complete season here.
7. Maaya 2
Produced by VB On The Web (Vikram Bhatt’s web series productions), Maaya 2 is the second season of the show Maaya – Slave Of Her Desires and stars Leena Jumani and Priyal Gor.
While the first season explored BDSM relationships, the second season is about a lesbian relationship in the Indian society, where same-sex relationships are still illegal.
The two seasons are not inter-related, but definitely explore topics that Indian entertainment industry rarely experiments with. You can watch the complete season on the official app.
8. Engineering Girls
Produced by The Timeliners, the series deal with the engineering college and hostel experience of female students.
Starring Barkha Singh, Sejal Kumar, and Kritika Avasthi as the three friends navigating drama clubs, love, and practical submissions, the show is a fresh take on the college experience.
Many Hindi movies and series have explored the life of male engineering students, but this is perhaps the first time the experience is showcased from a female perspective. You can watch the complete series here.
9. The Reunion
The Zoom Studios original series explores the lives of four adult friends, who meet at their college reunion and come to terms with the changes in the group dynamics, and their individual personalities.
Featuring an ensemble cast, the show definitely struggles in parts and appears to be trying too hard to become youth-centric. However, there are enough pleasant moments that will remind you of own college days.
If nothing else, watch the show for Anuj Sachdeva and Sapna Pabbi. You can watch the complete series here.
10. Girl in the City Chapter 3
This Bindaas original, that set Mithila Palkar on the path to viral fame, just released the first episode of its third season, and it definitely seems interesting.
Meera is still on her journey towards understanding the city and turning her dreams into reality, one experience at a time.
You may want to catch up on the first two seasons to enjoy this season completely. You can watch the first episode of chapter 3 here.
11. Tere Liye Bro
If there is a friend you’ve been waiting to reconnect with for ages, this Bindaas original series will convince you to immediately call that person up.
Starring Prabal Panjabi, Nikhil Khurana, Pranay Pachauri, and Malhaar Rathod, this is definitely an emotional, funny, and warm tale of friendship.
Despite numerous shows and movies on friendship, this show still stands out for being absolutely endearing. You can watch the series here.
12. Yeh Meri Family
Produce by TVF, the series is set from a 12-year-old Harshu’s (Vishesh Bansal) point of view, and is a light-hearted take on the typical Indian family.
From the looks of the trailer and the first episode released, the series appears to be funny and emotional in equal parts.
You can watch the first episode here.
These series are perfect to binge on till the time other anticipated web series like The Ghoul, The Ministry, Gangster Newton etc. are released. It’s Wi-Fi FTW!