Best Indian TV Shows of 2020: 2020 has been the worst year for theatre owners due to COVID-19, and likewise, it has turned out to be a boon for the OTT platforms. During the lockdown, the consumption of digital content witnessed colossal growth, and streaming giants like Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Disney+ Hotstar have successfully established their wings in India.
The path-breaking success of Mirzapur and Sacred Games has brought a revolution for web shows in India as it has become the primary focus of OTT platforms. This year also we witnessed over 100+ web shows hitting the digital screens, and here we have picked up some of the Best Indian TV Shows of 2020. Let’s dive in.
Last Updated on December 23, 2020.
Also Read: Best Bollywood Movies of 2020
Also Read: Best Must-Watch Tamil Movies of 2020
Starring – Kay Kay Menon, Sana Khan
Creator – Neeraj Pandey
Genre – Espionage Thriller
Streaming Platform – Disney+ Hotstar
Espionage Thrillers have a great fan base in India, and Special OPS is a brilliant show in this genre. It follows a near-retirement RAW officer Himmat Singh (Kay Kay Menon) and his nineteen-year quest for a man who is behind all the attacks that happened in India during this period, that no one believes even exists. Himmat’s task force team of five special ops living in various parts of the globe aim to catch the mastermind, and the thrilling drama keeps you hooked till the climax.
Neeraj Pandey, who is known for classic films like A Wednesday and Baby, has helmed this eight-episode long mammoth series that was created by Disney+ Hotstar. Shot in Hindi, Special OPS is also available in Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, English, Marathi, and Bengali languages to stream online. Backed by an immersive and gripping screenplay, exceptional performances, and brilliant direction, the show was well-received by the viewers. According to a report in a leading daily, it is the Most Viewed Show of this year on Disney+ Hotstar and one of the Best Indian TV Shows of 2020.
Starring – Pratik Gandhi, Sharib Hashmi
Director – Hansal Mehta
Genre – Drama
Streaming Platform – Sony LIV
[‘SCAM 1992’ is feat. at #1 spot in our ‘Best TV Shows on Sony LIV’ list]
If there is a web product which could be called ‘Classic’, SCAM 1992 has to be that. Based on Sucheta Dalal’s book ‘The Scam’, it revolves around the life and crimes of Harshad Mehta, who took the entire world by shock with the biggest fraud in the history of the Indian stock market, back in the year 1992. The swindle was so mammoth that if accounted for today, it would be more than 24000 crores, far more than any of the recent and famous bank scams. Fascinating, isn’t it?
Acclaimed film-maker Hansal Mehta has helmed this financial-crime series that features Pratik Gandhi as ‘The Big Bull’ Harshad Mehta. Mostly known for his work in Gujarati cinema, the actor has delivered such splendid performance that no award, literally no award can justify his performance. The way SCAM 1992 excels in every department, its undoubtedly a case study for all the web show makers. With an impeccable IMDB rating of over 9.6, SCAM 1992 is streaming on Sony LIV. Without a doubt, Best Indian TV Shows of 2020.
Starring – Kalidas Jayaram, Sai Pallavi
Directors – Various
Genre – Drama
Streaming Platform – Netflix
[This excerpt comes from Surya’s ‘Paava Kadhaigal’ Review]
Paava Kadhaigal, the second Tamil Original distributed by Netflix follows a similar structure of Bollywood’s Netflix Originals, Lust and Ghost Stories, Paava Kadhaigal also brings together a mega team of directors with Sudha Kongara leading the pack alongside Vignesh Shivan, Gautham Vasudev Menon, and Vetri Maaran. The storyline of all the stories revolves around honor killing, a prevalent subject matter, which still manages to be the common enemy in modern-day Democratic India.
Paava Kadhaigal is a heart-trending watch. It will emotionally move you with its pragmatic storytelling, relatable characters, fantastic performances and narratives that don’t back down to display the wicked things that happen in our society in the name of honor killing. One of the Best Indian TV Shows of 2020.
Starring – Sushmita Sen, Vikas Kumar
Director – Ram Madhvani
Genre – Crime / Drama
Streaming Platform – Disney+ Hotstar
Front-loaded by Bollywood diva Sushmita Sen, Disney+ Hotstar backed Aarya is yet another superlative show of 2020. Revolving around Aarya Sareen (Sushmita), wife of a rich husband and mother of two kids, who seems to have everything in her luxurious life. Suddenly things turn upside down as her husband gets charged for illegal drug trafficking, and the responsibility to manage a business falls on Aarya’s shoulders.
Can she protect her family surrounded by some invisible enemies forms the rest of the story of this crime-drama series? Aarya was a huge success, and the makers have already announced it’s Season 2 that will release next year. The outstanding performances and brilliant twist & turns of this thriller show keeps you hooked throughout.
Starring – Jaideep Ahlawat, Neeraj Kabi
Creator – Sudip Sharma
Genre – Crime / Thriller
Streaming Platform – Prime Video
[‘Paatal Lok’ is also feat. in our ‘Best TV Shows on Amazon Prime’ list]
One of the Best Indian TV Shows of 2020, Paatal Lok, is a treat for the crime-thriller buffs, and it’s like the ensemble of great actors in a terrific story that talks about crime, fake news, terrorism, and other disturbing things of society. Although Paatal Lok had faced massive outrage for triggering religious sentiments, the negativity did nothing to hamper its staggering viewership on Amazon Prime Video.
The show follows Hathi Ram Choudhary (Jaideep Ahlawat), a pot-bellied cynical cop, who takes on four suspects, including Hathoda Tyagi (Abhishek Banerjee), during the investigation of an attempt to murder case of a celebrated journalist, Neeraj Kabi (Sanjeev Mishra). This high-profile case leads Hathi Ram to the darkest corners of the underworld, and the unfolding mysteries keep you tightly hooked from beginning to the end. Again, performance is the biggest asset of Paatal Lok, and Hathi Ram Choudhary will go down in history as one of the best-written characters ever.
Starring – Ali Fazal, Pankaj Tripathi
Directors – Mihir Desai & Gurmmeet Singh
Genre – Crime
Streaming Platform – Prime Video
Mirzapur 2, had every aspect going in its favor, from the well-deserved hype to the terrific talent involved and a great response to its first season. Directed by Mihir Desai and Gurmmeet Singh, the second season stars the returning cast – Ali Fazal, Pankaj Tripathi, Divyenndu, Shweta Tripathi Sharma in primary roles.
Mirzapur 2 takes time to settle down, spins the narrative in multiple different directions, and in the process, gets lost in its own shuffle. But, with compelling characters, top-notch performances from the entire cast, and a few good closing episodes, the second season packs in enough drama for you to complete the show on a weekend.
Starring – Jitendra Kumar, Raghubir Yadav
Director – Deepak Kumar Mishra
Genre – Comedy / Drama
Streaming Platform – Prime Video
Amid a flood of thrillers, Panchayat is a series that tickles the funny bone of viewers. This light-hearted social comedy-drama series features Jitendra Kumar in the lead role who rose to fame with The Viral Fever’s much-loved show Kota Factory. Panchayat is also bankrolled by TVF premiered on Amazon Prime Video and one of the Best Indian TV Shows of 2020.
The show chronicles the adventures journey of Abhishek Tripathi, an engineering graduate, who, after struggling to find his desired job, joins as a Panchayat Secretary in a remote village called Phulera of Uttar Pradesh. This eight-episode long rural drama perfectly defines the saying, “When right script meets the right talent, the output would be entertaining.” Give it a shot for the flawless narration and natural performances.
Starring – Abhay Deol, Pankaj Kapur
Director – Shailender Vyas
Genre – Sci-Fi / Thriller
Streaming Platform – Sony LIV
A great science-fiction Time Travel series, JL50, was an eye-opener for those who think it requires a massive budget to explore this genre. Initially, it is shot as a feature film, but due to the shutdown of cinemas, the makers opted to release JL50 as a web show by splitting it into four parts. Abhay Deol, Pankaj Kapur, Piyush Mishra, and Ritika Anand played the primary roles in the series that was premiered last month on Sony LIV.
The story of JL50 revolves around a lost plane that took off in 1984 and crash-landed in 2019. CBI officer Shantanu (Abhay Deol) investigates how a flight that went missing 35 years ago could appear out of nowhere. As he gets into it, many shocking mysteries unfold that forms the rest of the plot of this much-appreciated show. JL50 contains all the twists and turns that you may expect from a sci-fi thriller, and the enticing storyline, stellar cinematography, and power-packed performances make it a must-watch. One of the Best Indian TV Shows of 2020.
Starring – Ritwik Bhowmik & Shreya Chaudhry
Director – Anand Tiwari
Genre – Musical
Streaming Platform – Prime Video
Next on the list of the Best Indian TV Shows of 2020, Ritwik Bhowmik and Shreya Chaudhry starrer musical-drama series Bandish Bandits is a different outing from what we are getting served nowadays. It revolves around two polar opposite birds Radhe, who is taught to focus on classical singing, and Tamanna, a sensation who aspires to become an international pop star.
What unites them is the unconditional love for music, and unfortunately, it’s what separates them. Premiered exclusively on Amazon Prime, Bandish Bandits was a big success for the streaming giant as it had received exceptional response from viewers across the globe. It’s a 10-episode series, and you should give it a shot.
Starring – Amit Sadh, Madhurima Tuli
Director – Raj Acharya
Genre – Drama
Streaming Platform – Sony LIV
A patriotic-thriller rolling around the tragic Uri Attacks and the following historic Surgical Strike on Pakistan, Avrodh: The Siege Within is a must-stream show to know what exactly happened back then. You must’ve watched Vicky Kaushal’s Uri: The Surgical Strike but Amit Sadh led Avrodh narrates a more detailed version of the events, and the enthralling performances serve as a cherry on top.
For the unaware, Shiv Aroor and Rahul Singh had published a book called ‘India’s Most Fearless’ in 2018 that told many unheard stories of our armed forces. Avrodh: The Siege Within is primarily based on the chapter “We Don’t Really Know Fear” from this bestseller book. Helmed by Raj Acharya, it’s a nine-part series, where the first seven episodes focus on the planning of the strike, while the last two cover the strike itself.
Starring – Arshad Warsi, Barun Sobti
Director – Oni Sen
Genre – Crime / Thriller
Streaming Platform – Voot
[‘Asur’ is also feat. in our ‘Best TV Shows of Voot’ list]
Another brilliant outing in the list of Best Indian TV Shows of 2020, Asur is a thriller that intensely blends mythology and crime. Front-loaded by Arshad Warsi and Barun Sobti, Asur had got a unanimously positive response for its intriguing presentation, and this eight-episode long series is streaming on Voot.
Set in the holy yet mystical city of Varanasi, Asur begins with Nikhil Nair (Barin Sobti), a forensic-expert-turned-teacher, who returns to CBI and unites with his former mentor Dhananjay Rajput (Arshad Warsi), to solve a mysterious murder case. After deep diving, the duo finds themselves caught in a cat-and-mouse game with a brutal serial killer. One of the Best Indian TV Shows of 2020.
Starring – Neeraj Kabi, Geetanjali Kulkarni
Director – Pushpendra Nath Misra
Genre – Comedy / Drama
Streaming Platform – Netflix
[‘Taj Mahal’ is also feat. in our ‘Best TV Shows of 2020 on Netflix’ list]
In the times when Bollywood is making creepy love-stories like Love Aaj Kal, Netflix came up with Taj Mahal 1989. Helmed by Pushpendra Nath Mishra, who also gave us a colossal disaster like Ghoomketu, Taj Mahal 1989 is a refreshing tale of several characters of different ages with different takes on love.
One of the Best Indian TV Shows of 2020, set in 1989 Lucknow, it’s a delightful and wholesome entertainer which gives you a hang of what romance was like in a time before Tinder. The show is a must-watch for its attention to details, beautiful narration, and top-notch performances by Neeraj Kabi, Geetanjali Kulkarni, and the entire cast. Taj Mahal 1989 is a welcoming change from the regular crime-political-dramas, and it just finishes in 7-episodes, not more than 35 minutes long each, making you crave for more. Give it a shot to time travel back in the late 80s.
Starring – Amit Sial, Aksha Pardasany
Director – Soumendra Padhi
Genre – Crime / Drama
Streaming Platform – Netflix
[‘Jamtara’ is also feat. in our ‘Best Web Series’ on Netflix’ list]
Next on the list of the Best Indian TV Shows of 2020, You must’ve got some unwanted calls and messages asking for credit card and other banking details in your life this is what Jamtara: Sabka Number Ayega revolves around. Based on the phishing operations in the Jamtara district of Jharkhand, this Netflix series is binge-able for its seamless presentation of the cybercrime issue.
It begins in Jamtara of Jharkhand, where the young lads are involved in phishing scams, asking strangers for their credit card details, and transferring funds from their accounts. The plot takes a massive turn when they come into the light of a politician. It had got a good response from the viewers, and one of the reasons behind the acceptance of Jamtara: Sabka Number Ayega is the performance of actors that looks natural.
Starring – Mohit Raina, Abhimanyu Singh
Director – Jatin Satish Wagle
Genre – Crime / Drama
Streaming Platform – MX Player
Uttar Pradesh is a fascinating state for web show makers when it comes to manufacturing crime-dramas. After Mirzapur, it’s Bhaukaal that showcases the bloodbath and perpetration happenings of UP’s another city, Muzaffarnagar, considered as the crime capital of India. The show, aired on MX Player, was highly lauded for its hard-hitting dialogues, rawness in making, and terrific performances by the entire cast.
Inspired by the life of IPS Officer Navniet Sekera, the show features Mohit Raina, who impressed everyone with Devon Ke Dev – Mahadev and Uri: The Surgical Strike, playing the title role. Bhaukaal follows the journey of the braveheart officer to eradicate gang wars from Muzaffarnagar and bring down the crime rate.
Starring – Mayur More, Shishir Sharma
Creator – Girish Jotwani
Genre – Rom-Com
Streaming Platform – MX Player
A rom-com drama by MX Player, Girlfriend Chor, has everything to make you smile during these trying times. As the title suggests, the mini-series revolves around a boy Aakash (Mayur More), who, after getting friend-zoned by Neha (Himanshi Sharma), plans to trigger a rift between Neha and her boyfriend Vishal (Kushagre Dua). Aakash follows the song “Thukra Ke Mera Pyaar, Mera Inteqaam Dekhegi,” but in a light-hearted way.
Girlfriend Chor was well-appreciated by its targeted audience, and it was a success for the streaming platform. A big reason the show works has to be the fact that the makers have confined the script to just five episodes, which you can wrap in a go. One of the Best Indian TV Shows of 2020.
Starring – Sanjay Kapoor, Arjun Mathur
Creator – Nikhil Bhat
Genre – Psychological Thriller
Streaming Platform – Voot
Shot entirely during the lockdown, The Gone Game is yet another effective experiment by Voot, and the entire cast & crew team truly deserves a salute for their brilliant work. A four-episode series, no longer than 25-minutes each, The Gone Game is a compelling thriller that is loaded with an intriguing plot and outstanding act. The show had got some exceptional response, and it should be there on your watch-list.
It revolves around the Gujral family, which is scattered across the country and have isolated themselves after the announcement of Janta Curfew by PM. Suddenly Sahil Gujral (Arjun Mathur), son of Rajeev Gujral (Sanjay Kapoor), gets infected with the novel coronavirus, and in a few days, he succumbs to it. However, an unexpected phone call makes Amara (Shweta Tripathi), daughter of Rajeev, and the entire family wonder if Sahil is still alive. And that concludes our list of the Best Indian TV Shows of 2020. What did y’all think?
Starring – Prajakta Koli, Rohit Saraf
Creator – Akarsh Khurana
Genre – Coming-of-age
Streaming Platform – Netflix
[This excerpt comes from Surya’s ‘Mismatched’ Review]
More on the lines of the recent Netflix India’s contemporary dramas, Mismatched, much like its predecessors – Maska and Masaba Masaba is both emotional and wholesome to watch at the same time. Starring Prajakta Koli and Rohit Saraf in the lead roles, the six-episode series is based on the 2017 New York Times bestseller, When Dimple Met Rishi, written by Sandhya Menon with Rannvijay Singha, Vidya Malavade as the supporting cast.
Despite a few noticeable flaws, the Netflix Original, Mismatched, impresses from the beginning till the end with its intriguing narrative that has the right amount of emotions, well-written characters, wholesome moments, to-the-point character depictions, and decent performances. Bolstered with some elegant production design and mellow music, Mismatched acts as the proper relaxant if you had a long day and need something to divert your mind from the outside world.
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