The streaming platforms are offering an interesting mix of movies and web series to keep the viewers entertained during lockdown. From releasing the latest movies like Angrezi Medium to the launch of Disney+, a lot is happening in the digital space.
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While a lot of content is available for streaming, we plan to save your browsing time. We have recommendations for what you can watch during self-isolation.
Streaming Guide: April 5 and 6 | April 3 and 4 | April 1 and 2 | March 30 and 31 | March 28 and 29 | March 26 and 27| March 24 and 25 | March 22 and 23 | March 20 and 21 | March 19 and 18 | March 17 | March 16
In this blog, find everything worth watching on Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+ Hotstar, SonyLIV, ALTBalaji, ZEE5, MX Player and Voot Select. Read less
The coronavirus pandemic has made it difficult for movie buffs to head to theaters. Filmmakers have also stalled the release of their movies. The major releases that have been affected include Sooryavanshi, Mulan, Fast 9 and A Quiet Place 2 among more.
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The stand-up act is 75 minutes of Vir Das paying ode to India, its people, the culture and practices in front of a foreign audience. In an extremely relatable act for many Indians, he talks about what India means to him by bringing in references to food, customs, pop culture and historical events. He hardly talks about politics which would suit those who want something light without hitting out at the government.
Full Metal Alchemist, which has been adapted from the Manga of the same name, follows the adventures of two brothers who are searching for the Philosopher’s Stone so they can regain the bodies they lost in a failed attempt to bring their dead mother back to life. The show is set in a fictional world where “alchemy” is the dominant science. With 64 episodes, it is a massive show but the pacing of the story is so fast that you can’t help but get hooked to the story. If you love this one, make sure you don’t miss the reboot, Full Metal Alchemist: Brotherhood.
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Director Nalan Kumarasamy’s dark comedy further boosted Vijay Sethupathi’s career. This is the movie that told us that Sethupathi is here to stay and he’s not just a two-film wonder. The comedy of errors involving a group of amateur kidnappers will leave you in splits.
Rocky and Mayur’s adventures entertained us quite a lot, and now, we can catch those old TV episodes on Amazon Prime Video. The two foodies travel to different parts of India as they taste and critique the best food that India has to offer.
Shala is a Marathi web-series steaming on YouTube. It is a story of three school friends and how they tackle every day issues that come their way. It is a beautiful coming of age story, which will give you a peek into the lives of students in the interiors on India.
Starring Arjun Chakraborty, Madhumita Sarkar, Paoli Dam and Anindita Bose in the lead roles, Love Aaj Kal Porshu is a Bengali romantic drama that can be explained as a cross between Groundhog Day, The Truman’s Show and Love Aaj Kal. Click here for more deets.
Directed by Mysskin, the film has no heroine and no songs. It is a neo-noir thriller filled to the brim with dark humour and raw emotions. OA, which stars Mysskin himself and Sri of Vazhakku Enn 18/9 fame in the lead roles, is the tale of a man trying to redeem himself in society. The movie brilliantly shows society in its cruel, unforgiving form. And the suspense element holds up right until the end of the film.
This surprisingly sweet film boasts of everything that makes a road trip movie great. Despite using the same old tropes (different personalities travelling together reluctantly), the cast (Paul Rudd — ’nuff said) does a great job of making a strong script and clever dialogues come alive.
Shajahan, starring Vijay, showed the 1990s kids the methods to approach a girl: make eye contact, don’t hesitate to seek help if needed, and tell all your friends about your crush just to weed out the competition and be patient. It taught us not to rush and do something stupid that we may regret our entire life. The subtext dealt with the issue of consent.
Remy, a rat, has a special talent – he’s a magnificent chef. He comes to the aid of restaurant staff member and serves up divine food. The movie is a great watch for people of all ages. It is packed with comedy, emotions and great food. The movie gets its name from a classic Ratatouille dish that Remy serves to a renowned food critic to remind him of his childhood days. Must watch!
Kaale Dhande is a Marathi comedy web show starring Mahesh Manjrekar, Sanskruti Balgude and Shubhankar Tawde. Surprisingly bold, this show is a new age comedy. The story revolves around Vicky, a young photographer and how his life changes because of various unforeseen situations. Desperate to put things in order, he gets entangled into further mess. Manjrekar plays a baddie and makes this show a total entertainer.
A dark fantasy anime, Tokyo Ghoul explores a world where ghouls live in secrecy alongside human beings. The ghouls are essentially creatures who look and behave like humans but they have to eat human meat to survive. As you can imagine, the show is visceral and grotesque but it is also one of a kind. And if you move past the violence and gore, there is actually a very touching storyline that explores humanity in all of its grey shades.
Rajinikanth plays a loyal servant, who can fly his horse-powered chariot between mountains, deliver an impromptu performance on stage and do a lot more. Not enough? There is also the father (Rajinikanth, again), the gold-hearted millionaire, who becomes a sage after being betrayed by his relative.
The Kid Who Would Be King is about a school kid who has nothing special about him. His fortunes change, however, when he pulls King Arthur’s famous sword Excalibur from the stone it is buried in. According to the Arthur stories, only the true king can draw the sword and wield it. The film is an enjoyable adventure for kids and adults alike.
"The main selling point of The Raikar Case is its able cast. Atul Kulkarni, who plays the family patriarch, is as good as he has always been," reads The Indian Express review. The show is now streaming on Voot Select.
Read more | The Raikar Case review: An engaging whodunnit with compelling performances
Samantar stars Swwapnil Joshi and is just what we need when we are locked down during the coronavirus outbreak. The web-series was originally made in Marathi and later dubbed in Hindi, Telugu and Tamil. Directed by Satish Rajwade, Samantar is a thriller based on the book by the same name by Suhas Shirwalkar. It also stars Nitish Bhardwaj and Tejaswini Pandit.
Brightburn is a truly terrifying superhero (or supervillain?) horror film. It is an inversion of Superman’s lore. Just like Clarke Kent, Brandon Breyer came from outer space and fell in a Kansas farm. And just like Clarke, he found loving parents. But instead of being a kind, thoughtful individual, he submits before his darker proclivities and goes on a murder spree.
It marked the debut of director Karthik Subbaraj. The film came at a time when small-budget movies were receiving a lot of love from the audience. And this horror-thriller made a dent at the box office and gave Vijay Sethupathi his first break.
The world from the perspective of Jeff Goldblum is a really interesting place, and you can experience exactly that in this National Geographic documentary series.
This Netflix show by David Chang is just what its name suggests. While we believe that we first eat with our eyes, we all know that delicious food might not be pretty always. Here, Chang moves around the world as he explores different foods and their importance in different cultures. The second season features a Curry special episode that will certainly appeal to the Indian palette.
Even though we missed the chance to catch Irrfan Khan’s comeback on the big screen, Angrezi Medium is now streaming on Hotstar. The Indian Express' film critic Shubhra Gupta wrote in her review, “Angrezi Medium could just as well have been called Irrfan Returns. Watching this terrific actor lighting up the screen, of knowing about his medical struggles, and the fact that he did this film while still in treatment, gives it a special bittersweet flavour.” Click here for more.
Netflix show Tiger King has ended up becoming one of the biggest shows during this lockdown period. The documentary focuses on a feud between wild cat owners in America, which makes for a bizarre but entertaining watch.
The Indian Express' film critic Shubhra Gupta praised the film and called lead actor Sanjay Mishra’s performance “faultless”. In her review she wrote, “Kaamyaab is a moving, consistently engaging portrait of an artiste as a weathering, weathered man. And Sanjay Mishra is faultless as the lead character - always the bridesmaid, never the bride; an insider but always on the outside.” Click here to read the full review.
Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant movie is a rom-com for the ages. Julia is a Hollywood star and Hugh is a hopeless shopkeeper who crosses paths with Julia's character one fine day. Predictable things happen, but it is still sentimental and sweet after all these years of its release.
Two hopeless tech geeks and one clueless dame together try to make through the hurdles of the job. Sometimes they fail, sometimes they succeed. And what do we get? Laughter in dozens.
This Parvathy and Dulquer Salmaan starrer film is unique in its treatment of subject, cinematography and performances. Everything stands apart and how! Part road trip, part love affair; Charlie brings out the best in its actors.
This award winning animated flick is not as good as the original. But it comes a very close second. Elsa and Anna are still going on adventures, only this time, the stakes are higher.
If you are craving a bit of everything, then this drama should be your go-to. It has action, some thrill and the lead pair share a great chemistry. The show is currently streaming on Netflix.
Steve Carell and Timothee Chalamet feature in this moving drama about drug addiction and its consequences. Chalamet and Carell won critical acclaim for their performances in the movie. However, it unfortunately failed to woo the larger audience. Worth a watch.
This is your regular rich boy meets 'poor' girl. They are stunning and so are the locales. The only twist here is that this is an all-Asian cast, and that works spectacularly well. Read more about it here.
This might be Rohit Shetty's most entertaining work till date, and to top it all, it has Bollywood stars Shah Rukh Khan and Deepika Padukone in the lead. There is romance, action and loads of comedy at work.
This four-hour stand-up special is funny, emotional and relatable. Acaster might not be the most popular stand-up artiste around, but he is pretty famous in select cliques and among fans of stand-up specials.
This South Korean show is all about books and romance. Its lead stars share a great chemistry and those who are fond of reading will have a fun time watching the series.
Tired of facing Earth's issues?Then walk into the world of Sandra Bullock and George Clooney starrer Gravity. An award-winning space drama that will have you gripping your armchairs.
A young bride is excited about moving into her in-laws' place, but the whole thing takes an unexpected turn when she is coerced into playing a game of hide and seek with her new family.
When you put words like Tom Cruise and Mission Impossible together, the best outcome to expect is a blockbuster of an entertainer. Fallout is especially rich in action and that 'masaledar' drama that makes it a perfect summer watch.
Actor-filmmaker Jon Favreau cooks delicious meals and stirs mayhem in this kitchen drama called Chef. Sofia Vergara and Scarlett Johansson also feature.
One reason to watch this movie is the fact that it stars the likes of Emma Stone, Ryan Gosling and Steve Carell. Another is that it is actually quite entertaining and sweet -- something romcoms lack these days.
Keanu Reeves plays the titular role of an expert assasin in this blockbuster action-thriller. It has two key elements that makes fans go crazy -- Keanu Reeves and cool action. Paisa vasool!
A bunch of cops, crimes and loads of hilarity. This acclaimed and funny show has been produced by SNL-fame Andy Samberg who also plays the male lead in the show.
A sequel to Alan Moore's graphic novel of the same name, this tale of vigilantes and badasses does justice to its source material.
Also read | Watchmen review
This fantastical tale of elves and brothers features the voices of popular Hollywood stars Chris Pratt and Tom Holland. But that is not the sole reason to watch the film. There is also magic, wonderment and love -- all three powerful words and emotions the world is constantly in dire need of. Read more about it here.
Kingdom is a tale of the struggle for the throne, but the said struggle gets hampered by dead people getting resurrected because of a mysterious plant which also turns them into witless cannibals. The first two seasons of the show are streaming on Netflix.
Mulk revolves around one joint Muslim family whose honour is at stake after a family member takes to terrorism. Set in the Indian heartland, Mulk features Taapsee Pannu, Manoj Pahwa, Neena Gupta and Rishi Kapoor.
This Deepika Padukone starrer revolves around the story of ane acid attack survivor who fought against all odds to attain dignity of life. Also starring Vikrant Massey, the movie has been directed by Meghna Gulzar. While Chhapaak did not perform brilliantly at the box office, the film won critical acclaim, mainly thanks to Deepika's convincing act as Malti.
If you are tired of the same old tropes of superhero films, Amazon Prime’s The Boys is a refreshing take that you must watch. Yes, the show is about superheroes who save the world, but at the same time, we are given a peek at what happens behind the scenes of blind hero-worship. The entire series takes place in a commercialised universe where the superheroes are controlled by a corporation. Their image and their “tasks” are all monitored to feed the public and therein lies the problem. As the second season is already on its way, make sure you catch The Boys on Amazon Prime Video.
True crime lovers, Jamtara: Sabka Number Aayega is a gem that’s hiding in the crevices of Netflix. Based on a true story, the series focuses on phishing operations in Jamtara district. Directed by Soumendra Padhi, the 10-part series garnered positive reviews upon its release. In an interview with Indian Express, Padhi said, “What drew me to this particular crime, as a concept, is that I feel it is a great equaliser. Most people there have not studied after class six. All they do is procure mobile phones and it’s like a family business, they’re all into conning.”
This 2019 Oscar-nominated movie is a biographical drama of two popes -- Pope Benedict and Pope Francis. While one is more orthodox and conventional in his ways, the latter likes to take life with a pinch of salt. The Two Popes features Anthony Hopkins and Jonathan Pryce in the lead roles. It has been helmed by Fernando Meirelles.
This Oscar nominated film by Quentin Tarantino is a love letter to the old Hollywood, the one which Tarantino witnessed as a youngster. It has elements of an epic movie, a historical drama and a thriller and packs quite a few moments of dark humour, Tarantino style. It features Leonardo Di Caprio, Brad Pitt and Margot Robbie and a host of other well-known names of the industry in special appearances. Read Movie Review
Voot Select’s latest web series titled Asur is for fans of the crime-thriller genre. The show, with a fair dose of Indian mythology, revolves around a serial killer. It stars Arshad Warsi, Barun Sobti, Anupriya Goenka, Riddhi Dogra and Sharib Hashmi among others. According to Indianexpress.com, Asur is a web series that holds promise. "What is interesting about Asur is that it is dipping its hands into a lot of things - a dissolving marriage, love, crime, mythology and psychology,” read the first impression of Asur.
Read | Asur first impression: This thriller holds promise
The Pakistani show, Zindagi Gulzar Hai, made a deep impact on the Indian audience when it aired on Zindagi back in 2014. Fawad Khan who starred as the lead opposite Sanam Saeed, went to achieve widespread popularity after this show.
All you foodies who are missing outside food during the lockdown, don't worry! All the seasons of Masterchef Australia are available on Hotstar and it’ll keep you satiated till you can properly go out and indulge again.
Rajesh Khanna’s character of Anand while suffering from cancer makes you fall in love with him courtesy his ‘live life to its fullest’ attitude and the thought ’embrace death as much as you embrace life.’ Through the film, he, along with Amitabh Bachchan, give lessons on death and life to the audience. And, mind you, it’s done in such an entertaining way that not for a second you get bored with all the life philosophy thrown at you.
The AltBalaji web series is an adaptation of Louisa May Alcott's classic novel Little Women. It stars Rajeev Khandelwal and Surveen Chawla in the lead roles. It is a story of four sisters (Meher, Jannat, Amal and Bano) that focuses on the issues of society and how women are always judged and put to test. It also highlights the independent and strong mentality of today’s women.
American actor-filmmaker John Krasinski has come up with his new show, in the times of the COVID-19 pandemic, which is winning the hearts of audiences around the world. The show called Some Good News is hosted by Krasinski on his YouTube channel. With just two episodes, the channel already has over a million subscribers. Read more
The Imagineering Story is about Walt Disney Imagineering, a little known design and development centre of The Walt Disney Company, which creates Disney theme parks and attractions around the world. Go behind the scenes of the Disney Parks dream.
Panchayat is an eight part-series set in the village of Phulera, Uttar Pradesh. Abhishek Tripathi (Jitendra Kumar) who is fresh out of college has somehow landed himself a government job, as Panchayat sachiv, which pays him Rs 20,000 a month. He goes straight from hanging out with his friends at the mall, talking about CTCs and instagramming to the dusty village of Phulera with daily power cuts and where he has to bathe in the open at the hand pump outside the panchayat office.
Also read | Panchayat review: It takes a village
Samantar stars Swwapnil Joshi and is just what we need when we are locked down during the coronavirus outbreak. The web-series was originally made in Marathi and later dubbed in Hindi, Telugu and Tamil. Directed by Satish Rajwade, Samantar is a thriller based on the book by the same name by Suhas Shirwalkar. It also stars Nitish Bhardwaj and Tejaswini Pandit. Read more
The Kid Who Would Be King is about a school kid who has nothing special about him. His fortunes change, however, when he pulls King Arthur’s famous sword Excalibur from the stone it is buried in. According to the Arthur stories, only the true king can draw the sword and wield it. The film is an enjoyable adventure for kids and adults alike. Read more