The streaming giant may have only a handful of quality originals to its credit for the Indian market, but these are totally worth your time. And if you’re hunting for your next binge watch, look no further. We’ve picked some of the best Indian TV shows streaming on Amazon Prime. Bookmark this page to stay updated with the best of TV on Prime. For international shows, check out the 14 best TV shows on Amazon Prime.
1. The Family Man (2019-2021)
The Family Man stars Manoj Bajpayee as Srikant Tiwari, an operative of a covert force called TASC whose sole objective is to anticipate terrorist attacks and thwart them. The first season sees TASC trying to stop an ISI-led nerve gas attack on the capital and eventually ends on a cliffhanger. The second season addresses those unanswered threads while introducing a new threat into the mix. Armed with almost 200 kilos of explosives, Raji (Samantha Akkineni) a Sri-Lankan rebel is planning a deadly airstrike. Can Srikant and Co prevent this from happening? Raj and DK’s web series works both as a riveting action thriller and a moving family drama. The second season improves upon its predecessor by blurring the lines between a hero and a villain. Watch The Family Man for impressive performances all around and stunning one-shot action sequences mounted with unerring precision.
Watch The Family Man – Season 1 on Amazon Prime
Watch The Family Man – Season 2 on Amazon Prime
2. Paatal Lok (2020)
This outstanding series, coming after a surfeit of pedestrian Hindi shows, is a dark exploration of the systemic and amoebic relationship between television news, politics, police and the investigating agency. Created by Sudip Sharma and produced by Anushka Sharma, Paatal Lok is an intense, grounded, compelling, and in some ways, pathbreaking attempt to showcase the workings of India’s dark underbelly, festooned by a complex web of interdependencies of the various cogs in this unfeeling wheel of amorality.
Watch Paatal Lok – Season 1 on Amazon Prime
3. Panchayat (2020)
Panchayat is a story of a simple young man who gets posted as a secretary to one of the village Panchayats. The highlight of the show for me remains the authenticity with which the characters are written, directed and played. Even the supporting characters execute their part with remarkable sincerity. Breaking all molds, TVF sets quite a benchmark for others. Panchayat comes as a ray of hope in these dark, gloomy times when we are all forced to stay and look inwards. It doesn’t hope to preach yet leaves a few subtle messages for those who care enough to find them. But what Panchayat certainly leaves you with is a warm, endearing smile.
Watch Panchayat – Season 1 on Amazon Prime
4. Made in Heaven (2019)
Made in Heaven shines light on the grim truth of the big fat Indian weddings. A fierce examination of our strengths and vulnerabilities, the show is a brilliant but subtle exposition of the inner recesses of the human soul. Much of what the show achieves can be attributed to sharp writing (Alankrita Shrivastava) and terrific performances. Shobita Dhulipala, Arjun Mathur, Kalki Koechlin, Jim Sarbh headline the show with their effortless acts. The tonality and presentation is trademark Zoya. Akhtar along with Nitya Mehra and Prashant Nair engages audiences as much with their stories as her storytelling. The show is gearing up for Season 2, due for release in 2021.
Watch Made In Heaven – Season 1 on Amazon Prime
5. Hostel Daze (2019)
Hostel Daze is an wildly hilarious, nostalgic trip back to college life, riding strongly on the back of its characters, each of who deliver unforgettable performances. This is the closest our cinema has ever gotten to depicting student life for what it really is. Watch it to relive the good old days. You won’t regret it! Season 2 has just dropped. And it only gets better. Sadly, it’s only 4 episodes long.
Watch Hostel Daze Season 1 on Amazon Prime
Watch Hostel Daze Season 2 on Amazon Prime
6. Mirzapur (2018)
Mirzapur is Amazon’s answer to Netflix’s Sacred Games. Set in the badlands of eastern UP, this one mixes a heady cocktail of power and politics tripping on guns and drugs. If there’s one overarching quality that stands out about this web series, it is the power of restraint. Seething, simmering, burning, about to spill-over restraint. Except the gore and grime of blood which is ubiquitous (in some cases, unnecessary) and a part of visual calisthenics, everything is about control: controlled aggression, controlled rage and controlled retribution. Season 2 is explosive and a triumph of cinematic art. It is a show in which the script sits on the bloodied throne and the direction is a crafty wazir.
There must be a Season 3. For a sapling is being nurtured by a woman and she, essentially a survivor and a schemer, is waiting in the wings, a dowager, a queen mother. For a kingmaker is more powerful than the king!
Read Mirzapur Season 1 and Mirzapur Season 2 reviews here.
Watch Mirzapur – Season 1 on Amazon Prime
Watch Mirzapur – Season 2 on Amazon Prime
There we are! These are the best Indian TV shows on Amazon Prime streaming right now. Tell us your favourites in the comments below.
