Top Indian web series of 2020

What is Web Series?

A web series is a series of multimedia videos, usually in episodic form, scripted or non-scripted, published on the Internet and part of the web television medium, which first appeared in the late 1990s and became more popular in the early 2000s. A single instance of an episode or "webisode" may be called a web series programme, although the latter term is not commonly used. It is usually possible to watch web series on a variety of platforms and devices, including desktops, laptops, tablets and smartphones. They can also be seen on TV.

Netflix's streaming video website received the first Primetime Emmy Award nomination at the 65th Primetime Emmy Awards for original online-only web television in 2013. That year, three of its internet shows, House of Cards, Arrested Growth, and Hemlock Grove, won nominations.

As of 2016, a variety of awards, including the Streamys, Webbys, IAWTV, and Indie Series Awards, have been produced to recognise excellence in web series production; there are also numerous web series festivals, most notably in Los Angeles and Vancouver. Web series and interactive media award categories, including the Emmy Awards and the Canadian Screen Awards, have also been established by most major award ceremonies.

India's web space enjoyed decent development, but the game for OTT platforms changed in a major way in 2020. While the production of content was comparatively lower due to the shooting constraints, during the pandemic, the audience lapped up OTT content from the comfort of their homes.

Crime-drama was the flavour of the season, just like the last couple of years, but we also saw various genres being explored in the OTT room this time around. A share market show and a musical rivalry show in a family have achieved success, further showing that the OTT room has evolved out of its early stages and is beginning to find its own feet. A demonstration shot during the lockdown also became a shining example of the kinds of tests on the platform that can be conducted.

As 2020 ends, here's a look back at the top 10 Indian web series we saw this year. India's web space was growing decently, but the game for OTT platforms changed massively in 2020. While the production of content was comparatively lower due to the shooting constraints, during the pandemic, the audience lapped up OTT content from the comfort of their homes.

Crime-drama was the flavour of the season, just like the last couple of years, but we also saw various genres being explored in the OTT room this time around. A share market show and a musical rivalry show in a family have achieved success, further showing that the OTT room has evolved out of its early stages and is beginning to find its own feet. A demonstration shot during the lockdown also became a shining example of the kinds of tests on the platform that can be conducted.

By the end of 2020, here's a look back at the top 10 Indian web series we've seen this year.

1. Scam 1992 (SonyLIV)

In 2020, this Hansal Mehta series raised the bar for Indian web material, and the influence of this series led by Pratik Gandhi is sure to go a long way. Mehta's show showed that good content does not need dumbing down to hit the masses in the room where violence and gore sell like hotcakes. With only a few episodes, Scam 1992, based on the securities scam of Harshad Mehta, draws you fully into the world of the stock market. All worked in the show's favour, from its theme song, to its simplification of technical jargon, to even its filter option. In the last few months, and deservedly so, the casting of the show has been lauded.

2. Aarya (Disney+ Hotstar)

In building up to the premise, this Sushmita Sen-led series just wasted no time. It was obvious soon after the first episode started that Aarya was going to be a binge-worthy ride and it proved to be so with each episode that rolled out afterwards. The layered characterization, the screen presence of Sushmita Sen and the intelligent use of old Hindi film music also helped Aarya's cause.

3. Special Ops (Disney+ Hotstar)

Special Ops, produced by Neeraj Pandey, began in a promising way and kept to the promise in large part. Kay Kay Menon fit into Himmat's role right away and was the show-stealer here easily. In my view, the only con here was the fact that the stakes were never high enough for us to care about the good guys in the finale.

4. Paatal Lok (Amazon Prime Video)

This Jaideep Ahlawat-led series is another crime drama on the list, but Paatal Lok deserves a spot here. The Indian Express film critic Shubhra Gupta wrote in her review, “Paatal Lok is fashioned as a crime thriller-cum-police procedural set mainly in Delhi, spinning off into several threads, some really solid, a few comparatively weak, but managing to keep its hold on us. Weaving in an awareness and recognition of contemporary India makes it political, and elevates it: Paatal Lok is intelligently written, fast-paced, and engrossing, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.”

5. Bandish Bandits (Amazon Prime Video)

Bandish Bandits took the viewer by full surprise in the age of crime-drama web series. The world of classical music that this series produced only took a few episodes to get enthralled by. Bandish Bandits stood high on the shoulders of his plot, while the music was an important cornerstone of this display. In the Amritpal Singh Bindra and Anand Tiwari pair, Sheeba Chadha, Rajesh Tailang, Atul Kulkarni and Naseeruddin Shah were a treat to watch. Special props to the music of Shankar Ehsaan Loy as well.

6. A Simple Murder (SonyLIV)

The delightfully dark comedy came in like a breath of fresh air. The series took an absurdist approach to its often serious material, starring Mohd Zeeshan Ayyub, Sushant Singh, Amit Sial, Priya Anand, among others. A Simple Murder was, for the most part, so well performed that you could not help but marvel at its writing and performances.

7. Flesh (Eros Now)

Another crime drama series, this one was very conventional in its approach to good vs. bad, where a good cop working hard against crime was the protagonist for a change. Driven by an outstanding Swara Bhasker, in its portrayal of human commerce, Flesh was rather graphic and gory, but the show drove the point home with its use of repulsive visuals.

8. Panchayat (Amazon Prime Video)

The TVF series starring Jeetendra Kumar had a simple premise, and it's typically simplicity that wins the day, as we have often seen in the world of web content. The show's uncomplicated nature exposed us to highly sympathetic characters. Sponsored by Raghubir Yadav, Neena Gupta and Chandan Roy, the best part about Panchayat was its effective casting. During the lockdown, the show launched and its material left the audience feeling a little warm and fuzzy.

9. The Gone Game (Voot)

During the lockdown, The Gone Game was shot and was a special endeavour by the developers and actors. The use of technology in the film, in terms of zoom calls, text messages, was exceptional and, in my view, better than many shows with all the tools at hand. Although in the storey department, Gone Game was not outstanding, it more than compensated for it by effectively transmitting the anxiety that had engulfed us during the lockdown caused by the coronavirus to the computer.

10. Asur (Voot)

In its larger-than-life ideas, Asur, which merged the genres of mythological fiction and thriller, revelled, but its greatness was not conveyed well enough. When it came to tying up loose ends by the end of the season, Asur also faltered.

Thankyou!