6:21:29 AM   |  By Bhaskar Pandey

It seems like digital platform is playing on front foot where the box office is numb due to ongoing pandemic. Web-series has brought a revolution in entertainment industry where audience are served with varieties blended with genuine and superb content.

                               This article will be covering the most underrated Indian web-series which deserves more recognition and acknowledgment among the audience. It’s a must-watch and should be added to your watch list, one cannot afford to miss these gems if you are part of this generation. They are blended with premium content, underdog performances, mind-blowing casting with wonderful messages. They are delightful to watch with your family without hesitation and the stories will melt like a butter and will force you to hold on your position until the climax. It’s so heartbreaking to see some of them still not part of reputed critics platform and we need your support to make it what they truly deserve. So here we go.

5. Taj Mahal 1989

• IMDb – 7.5   [16+]
• Genre – Drama, Comedy, Romance 
• Cast – Neeraj Kabi,Geetanjali Kulkarni,Danish Husain,Anud Singh Dhaka,Anshul Chauhan,Sheeba Chaddha,Paras Priyadarshan,Shirin Sewani,Mihir Ahuja
• Platform – Netflix
• Total Season – 1 {2020}
• Total Episodes -7
• Average watch-time – 31-36 min
• Written & Directed by – Pushpendra Nath Misra
• Source(img) – Netflix

                                          This year Valentine’s day Netflix India offered the audience with a very refreshing and organic love story set up in the city of Lucknow. The main reason to include this underdog in the list is its brave attempt to bring something different on the table where the web world is typecasted only with similar crime dramas rat race after Sacred games and Mirzapur and those love stories sugarcoated with sex.

                                          Three love-stories are revolving around Lucknow university with very ease and natural pace, a Lucknow University professor of psychology and her wife Sarita daughter of university’s chancellor who is struggling to find the lost chemistry in their relationship, once a university gold medalist who is now a tailor by profession and his relationship with a life partner which is very difficult to digest by the society and a young love buds of the university whose relationship is shaped by involvement in student politics. The first episode starts at the symbol of love The Taj Mahal and finishes at the same place. It’s interesting to see how the stories migrated from Lucknow to Agra. 

Best Dialogue

Arey maine naukri ke liye padhai nhi ki, either you can live rightly or you can live profitably

Translation: I didn’t study so I could get a job, either you live rightly or you can live profitably. (This dialogue is from former gold medalist presently who is tailor in reply to his friend)

Who should watch it?

If you like the periodic dramas with lull pace like Imtiaaz’s Love Aaj Kal and those who likes the college politics in Ananad L Rai’s Raanjhna then you will not be disappointed.

Why should watch it?

As usual the veteran cast Neeraj Kabi and Geetanjali Kulkarni are effortless but you should must watch it for amazing Danish Husain , Sheeba Chadda and young Anshul Chauhan they have got a miles to go in future.

Message: You don’t find love where you look for it.

4. Laakhon mein Ek

• IMDb  – 8.3 [16+]
• Genre – Drama, Black Comedy
• Cast – Ritwik Sahore, Alam Khan, Jay Thakkar, Biswa Kalyan Rath, Sandeep Mehta, Shivkumar Subramaniam, Shweta Tripathi, Suyash Joshi, Arun Nalawade,Rupesh Tillu
• Platform – Amazon Prime Videos
• Total Season – 2 { S1:2017 , S2:2019}
• Total Episodes – S1(6), S2(8)
• Average watch-time – 23-33 min
• Directed by – Abhishek Sengupta
• Written by – Biswa Kalyan Rath, Vaspar Dandiwala, Karan Agarwal, Hussain Haidry, Abhishek Sengupta
• Source(img) – Amazon Prime

                                                 Stand up comedian Biswa Kalyan Rath and team with director Abhishek Sengupta finally took a responsibility to bring out taboo existing in our society. The S1 exposes the education system in our country and peel of the bitter truth business of coaching centers and S2 exposes the medical health facilitation in rural areas of our countries.

                                               Aakash 15-year boy who is interested in mimicry and making videos who do not want to pursue science and further due to rat race culture in our society his parents sends him to a genius infinity coaching center in Vishakapatnam far from Raipur to prepare for IIT ignoring his choice. Aakash is not so good in studies, initially for sake of his parents he tries but fails miserably in bringing good numbers on board. He try to convenience his father that engineering is not his cup of tea but doesn’t make a difference. Slowly and gradually he starts getting depressed but then he finds a perfect companion on his journey pals Chudail and Bakri. The story import us back to hostel days those night outs, hostel corridor dramas, the hooting, the toppers groups, the backbenchers, the mess food everything is there on ground level. And finally how the journey of the boys takes a sharp turn which changes their life further and it’s harsh reality of our present generation.

Best Dialogue

Jab e na pata ho ki ka chaiye to pehle e pata karo ki humien ka nahi chaiye

Translation: When you don’t know what you want, then find out what you don’t want.(This dialogue is from Aakash friend Bakri when he finds out they are running in the wrong race of life)

Who should watch it?

If you liked TVF’s Kota factory , amazon’s hostel dayz revealing the sensitive issue i.e education system and bachelor’s life away from home. The cheap difference between science and commerce/arts then you should not be wasting your time anywhere, all you need to tap amazon prime now.

Why should watch it?

You should watch it for the nostalgia which will take you back to your hostel days and will force you to make a call to your college friends and share beautiful memories. You should watch it for the amazing trio Aakash, Bakri and Chudail chemistry which will make you laugh and drown you to futuristic darkness.

Message: It’s okay to be average and different from the crowd .

3. Gullak

• IMDb – 9.1 [+12]
• Genre – Family Drama, Comedy
• Cast – Jameel Khan, Geetanjali Kulkarni, Vaibhav Raj Gupta, Harsh Mayar, Shivankit Singh Parihar, Sunita Rajwar, Avinash Bundela, Sweta Joshi, Shaid Khan,Ajay Pal
• Platform – Sony LIV {TVF Originals}
• Total Season – 1 {2019}
• Total Episodes – 5
• Average watch-time – 20-27 mins
• Directed by –  Amrit Raj Gupta
• Written by – Nikhil Vijay
• Source(img) – imdb.com

                                                   When it comes to grounded and real content TVF has mastered the league with perfect execution. I am amazed to see the writer Nikhil Vijay who is an asset to the platform check out his bio to justify my words. Gullak means piggy bank and it is a delight to watch this concept applied to lower-middle-class family.

                                                                      Gullak is a story from a lower-middle-class family with background commentary of our favorite Shivankit Singh Parihar a housekeeper mother, a father working in the electricity department, two bothers Annu and Aman. There is full-on real family drama bits and pieces quarrel between the couples,  cats and dogs fight between the siblings, cross comments on routine food from mother’s kitchen, backbiting of neighbor aunty, the father taking the side of elder and mother defending the younger sibling, hilarious discussions while dining, fights over remote, a nuisance on power and water cut all these sweet and sour memories are stacked up in the curvature of gullak. The inner conflict of housekeeper mother who is neglected in our society and further we know the significance of her, the laborious father who is working round o’ clock to fulfill the family demands, the hardshell coconut love of elder towards the younger sibling is executed perfectly. 

Best Dialogue

Agar aapko sirf khusiyaan mile to zindagi mein khusiyoon ki ahmiyaat kaam ho jaati hian

Translation: If you only get happiness in return from life then the value of happiness is diminished. (This dialogue in background is when an irritated angry mother goes to bed without having food after heated discussion)

Who should watch it?

If you like grounded and raw family drama coming directly from the courtyard of the lower middle class then you cannot die without watching this masterpiece. 

Why should watch it?

The veteran duo Geetanjali and Jameel Khan has pulled up the role of parents in an amazing way while watching them you feel like they are your neighborhood uncle and aunties living very next door. **And for sure you will not be disappointed from the title track, give it a try* below** title track

Message: irrelevant of class, family is the ultimate pillar where you find happiness without any cost.

2. Yeh Meri Family

• IMDb – 9.2 [+12]
• Genre – Family Drama, Comedy
• Cast – Vishesh Bansal Akarsh Khurana,Mona Singh,Ruhi Khan,Brij Bhushan Shukla,Revathi Pillai,Prasad Reddy
• Platform – TVF
• Total Season – 1 {2018}
• Total Episodes -7
• Average watch-time – 25-37 min
• Directed by – Sameer Saxena
• Written by- Saurabh Khanna,Sameer Saxena 
• Source(img) – TVF

                                           TVF Originals Yeh meri family is the best execution of our childhood days where each and every episodes tickle down unboxing the past memories from school summer rasnaaa holidays. In fact, the series hit the threshold of wonderful textbook days and you just want more and more when the show progress.

                                      The show rewind back to summer of 1998 where the story is whispered from the delicate lead Harshu who stays with his family consists of housekeeping mother of he is proud of, an overweight insurance scheme agent father of who he is not proud of, an elder brother Dabbu who is an all-rounder and set a parameter of comparison between siblings, and an adorable, cute younger sister who is an apple of his eye. The story takes us to a school summer holidays, the quarrel between siblings, family dining together, playing cricket in overhead sun, chilling conversation with our school friends, dreaming of the first crush, hooking up inking down FLAMES on palm, heated and adorable moments with mom, sketching up the wall with crayons, waiting for shaktimaan show every small memories is captured so passionately which makes you fall in love. I assure you that if you have a heart you will fall for it.

Best Dialogue

Aadmi parivaar ka nahi, parivaar aadmi ka hissa hota hain isliye hum sab itni aasni se khud se phle parivaar ko rakhte hain

Translation: It’s not the people who are part of the family rather family is a part of people who keep family on top of priority in any circumstances. (These are words of the mother of the family when the family is united after some setback)

Who should watch it?

If you like family drama and raw content with no artificial dilution then you are at right note and give a chance to this show which offers something standard. If you like  Aamir’s Taare Zamin Par then go for it.

Why should watch it?

You should watch it for brilliant storytelling from the creator of this gem because pulling out something which is very familiar and ordinary is not an easy task. This story is common for every individual and it cuddle your past days with a beautiful performance from the entire cast and such creativity must be appreciated.

Message: In this vast universe our family is so dwarf, but for us our family is the universe.

1. Rise

• IMDb  –  8.0 [+12]
• Genre – Travel, Drama
• Cast – Vikrant Massey,Atul Srivastava,Akshay Bhagat,Megha Burman,Kumar Varun,Shishir Sharma
• Platform – Youtube
• Total Season – 1 {2017}
• Total Episodes – 4
• Average watch-time – 17-53 mons
• Directed by – Directed by – Prathamesh Patil,Sumit Saxena
• Written by – Sandeep Balan
• Source(img) –  imdb.com

                                   Surprised!…. Yeah, in-spite with low ratings this mini-series tops my list because even with so ordinary theme there is magic in this series which makes you fall in love with yourself and give an answer for your existence. When the Indian digital platforms were under process of evolution this web series set different fan base in our generation.

                                Story is about a young corporate employee finally who bought his big-budget dream bike with his own savings and EMI’s and unfortunately gets fired up on the same day from his office. He is disturbed with the ongoing situation he is confused whether he should celebrate his new bike or should mourn about his profession. He utters bitter truth that how an employee is treated even after giving 5 long years of service all because he is a tester. He is back at home and decides to sell his new dream bike so that he can pay his EMI’s and settle up with a new job. His father comes to his room and had a friendly conversation and shares some life experiences to boost up his son and finally asked to take him a road trip. The next morning he takes a road trip from his new bike and encountered an uncle Sharmaji and then it is so delightful to watch the further journey which gives an answer to everything. I personally watch it whenever I feel low.

Best Dialogue

Humlog material chizo ko apna sapna bna lete hain or naukri ko jariya bna lete hain unko pura karne ka

Translation: We make materialistic things our dreams and our job a medium to fulfill these dreams. (This dialogue is from protagonist on his virtue of being common)

Beta, sapno ki balancesheet mein faida or nuksaan nhi rakhna

Translation: In balance sheet of dreams never keep column for profit and loss. (This dialogue is from father to his son who insist to take him a solo road trip)

Who should watch it?

If you like traveling and web series like Trippling or Zoya’s Zindagi Milegi Na Dobara then without spending a buck you can stream it on YouTube. Just give a chance to fall in love with this journey and you will cherish.

Why should watch it?

I urge my audience to watch this masterpiece because this is less known and less appreciated and is hidden somewhere in the internet crowd. And of course for the graceful and hidden gem of our entertainment industry Vikrant Massey chemistry with Sharmaji Atul Srivastava will leave you speechless.

Message: Take that road trip, the road has answers to everything

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Bhaskar Pandey

Bhaskar Pandey is a Hyderabad Techie from Bihar/Jharkhand, professionally a Cloud Enginner and passionately involved with storytelling and writing, he is a descendant of Scorpio Sunshine who loves to unwrap the layers of life. He believes that writing is a serious job with a sensitive touch of responsibility which can bring organic change in folks, bring him down as a blogger. Madly believes the mantra “You become, what you think.”