All 18 seasons of the adult animated series, The Family Guy, now streaming on Disney+ Hotstar.
The total number of coronavirus cases have crossed the 85,000-mark in India. Though the government has given some relaxations in the lockdown, it is still advisable to stay at home to prevent yourself from the virus.
Though there are limited sources of entertainment as you restrict yourself to home, watching new web series, TV shows and movies is always a good choice. Also, with streaming platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney Plus Hotstar, Voot Select, ZEE5, MX Player and SonyLIV upping their game, you have got plenty of options to choose from.
To add up, some movies that were scheduled to release in the theaters are now releasing on the digital platforms. These include Ayushmann Khurrana-Amitabh Bachchan starrer Gulabo Sitabo and Vidya Balan starrer Shakuntala Devi among various other south films.
Paatal Lok review: An intelligently written, engrossing web series
The only problem you might face is choosing from the variety of content available. Well, for that, we are here to help.
Streaming Guide | May 11, 12 | May 10, 9 and 8 | May 7, 6 and 5 | May 4 and 3 | May 2 April 27 and 28 | April 25 and 26 | April 22, 23 and 24 | April 19, 20 and 21 | April 18 | April 15, 16 and 17 | April 12, 13 and 14 | April 10 and 11 | April 7, 8 and 9 | 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, we recommend movies, TV shows and web series you can watch or re-watch on the streaming platforms.
Set in the early 1900s, Mr Sunshine is about a group of activists who are fighting for Korean independence. Everything about this series, from its cinematography, storytelling to the acting of the leads deserves high praise. If you are a history buff, then Mr Sunshine will be a treat for you. The series traces the geo-political changes that took place in countries such as Russia, the United States, China, and especially Japan and the impact it had on a newly-emerging Korea.
Directed by Nanfu Wang and Jialing Zhang, One Child Nation talks about the ramifications of the one-child policy of China that lasted for almost 25 years. It’s a harrowing account of people who emotionally talk about the harsh experiences their families went through as China enforced the policy on all its citizens.
Uriyadi (2016), starring Vijay Kumar in the lead role, is considered one of the best political thrillers in Kollywood. The film is set in the 1990s and follows four socially-conscious college-going boys. Even though the second part which hit screens last year was a let-down, Uriyadi is an unmissable film, and I highly recommend it.
Helmed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela is a retelling of the story of Romeo and Juliet. From music, majestic dance sequences, colourful costumes, lavish sets, dramatic narrative and the sizzling chemistry between the lead pair, the film had all Bhansali quirks. Stream this one if you are in a mood to listen to some Bollywood-ish dialogue-baazi.
If you are bored of zombie movies, Train to Busan should be your pick. Not that it does anything groundbreaking, but most of it is set in the cramped environment of a train, and zombies are preternaturally athletic, instead of doddering fools of The Walking Dead.
Also Read | Top 10 zombie movies to watch before Betaal
This French horror series revolves around the young novelist Emma who realizes that the characters she writes in her horror novels are also in the real world. The show, sadly, got cancelled after just one season, but there are enough spooky moments to make you jump.
This animated sitcom revolves around the Griffins, a family consisting of parents Peter and Lois; their children, Meg, Chris, and Stewie; and their anthropomorphic pet dog, Brian.The long-running show is popular among audiences for its dark humour and its take on American culture. All the 18 seasons are now streaming on Disney+ Hotstar.
This science fiction anthology series is one of the most innovative TV series today. Most of its episodes present a horrifying future, where humanity’s obsession with technology has led it to adverse situations. Black Mirror is all the scarier because it rings too uncomfortably true.
Read More | Top 10 Black Mirror episodes
This animated series is Amazon's first original animated series. The show, a mix of sci-fi and human drama, follows Alma, who discovers she has time-traveling abilities after a near-death experience. How she uses her new found talent to find the truth about her father’s death forms the plot.
Another series from South Korea, Something in the Rain is a beautiful, light-hearted rom-com. The show focuses on an unconventional relationship between a 30-something woman and a man who is in his mid-20s. The lead actors’ chemistry in the show is so genuine that you cannot help but root for them. The show delves into their struggle with the age difference, breaking the taboo around it and subsequently, finding the courage to go public with it. There is also a fantastic sub-plot that highlights the various problems faced by women in the corporate world of South Korea.
Kirumi was tragically overlooked by many cinema-goers when it hit screens. Directed by debutant Anucharan, the film tells the tale of a police informer who is stuck in between two corrupt systems. Starring Pariyerum Perumal fame Kathir in the lead, the movie makes for a thrilling watch. Do not miss this.
A poignant story of a strong-willed girl and her relationship with her equally strong-willed mother. Saoirse Ronan has done a marvellous job in bringing out on the screen the angst of adolescence. There is subtlety here, and the viewer never feels overwhelmed. We rarely see the relationship between a mother and her daughter put on screen in such a believable way.
Hugh Jackman and Allison Janney play high-ranking school district officials who are entangled in an embezzlement scandal. They do their best to bury it, and yet the truth comes out.
The movie that is most representative of its genre, Fury Road is simply the best action movie ever made, bar none. The stunt work in this George Miller directorial is mind-boggling, and if you look at its behind-the-scenes clips, you will realise the movie had an insane amount of practical effects and actual people rather than CGI.
Gunda combines the ludicrously misguided ambitions of Kanti Shah’s inner cinephile with a drunk poet’s angst against the system. It’s a movie version of a group of crackpots trading barbs over bonfire.
Also Read | 10 Bollywood movies that are so bad that they are hilariously good
This Hulu series is now streaming on Hotstar. The series stars Reese Witherspoon and Kerry Washington in pivotal roles.
State of Siege 26/11 is a riveting account based on the real-life terror attack that happened in Mumbai in 2008. Indianexpress.com's Arushi Jain wrote in her first impression review of the series, "State of Siege 26/11 gives you a stirring visual account of the 2008 Mumbai attacks. Since we know it is not only about the victims but also the armed forces, it compels you to keep watching to understand how the security forces of the country came together to save the lives of people, kill nine terrorists and capture Ajmal Kasab alive."
Shala is a Marathi web-series streaming 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.
Written and directed by Vetrimaran, the movie documented the culture around cockfight. It earned Dhanush his first National Award for Best Actor.
The Anurag Singh directorial is the story of three friends Guri, Deep and Sher Singh who stay together in the university hostel. The film revolves around their friendship, and how their love life lands them in trouble. The film is a fun watch on a lazy weekend.
Starring Rajeev Khandelwal and Aahana Kumra, Marzi is streaming on VootSelect. The first impression review of Marzi read, "A rape case. One victim. One accused. Who is guilty? Who is lying? Who is telling the truth? Voot Select’s original web series Marzi, starring Rajeev Khandelwal and Aahana Kumra, is a gripping thriller that leaves you with questions after each episode."
Starring Samuel L. Jackson, Anthony Mackie and Nicholas Hoult in pivotal roles, The Banker is now streaming on Apple TV+. The film has been directed by George Nolfi.
Devs comes from Alex Garland, known for uncanny movies with a trippy visual language. The series, starring Sonoya Mizuno, Nick Offerman, Karl Glusma, Alison Pill. among others is a mystery that takes it time to get off the ground, but when it does, the payoff is big and worth waiting for. Apart from its entertainment value, Devs has a lot to say about humans, religion and so on and it is fun to peel back the layers of the story and look beneath the metaphors.
Stephen King adaptation Pet Sematary starring Jason Clarke, Amy Seimetz, and John Lithgow, is now available on Amazon Prime Video. The film tells the story of a family that moves to a countryside house with his wife and two kids. They discover that their new house is built near a pet cemetery (spelled as Sematary). The said pet cemetery was itself built on an ancient burial ground. Among the two kids, one becomes a little too interested in the cemetery. When their pet dies and comes back, the child is happy. But as we know from horror fiction, when the dead come back, they are never the same. One of the children is also then run over by a speeding vehicle.
Operation MBBS showcases the story of three first-year MBBS students, Nishant (Ayush Mehra), Sakshi (Anshul Chauhan) and Huma (Sarah Hashmi). They come from diverse backgrounds and have their own reasons for pursuing MBBS. What happens when these three come together? Will they compete against each other or will they form great friendships? Will they become doctors for money or to save lives? That’s what forms the crux of Operation MBBS.
Based on Andrzej Sapkowski’s stories, which also inspired a hugely popular series of open-world RPG video-games, The Witcher is a highly entertaining fantasy show starring Henry Cavill, Anya Chalotra and Freya Allan.
Based on an intriguing what-if premise, The Man in the High Castle is an alternate reality show. In this world, the Axis powers won and the United States was carved up between Imperial Japan and Nazi Germany. Common Americans live under two foreign, oppressive regimes and they are resigned to their fate... until the people come across another reality -- our reality -- according to which things could be better.
Set after the events of Return of the Jedi, this space western follows a bounty hunter, played by Pedro Pascal. This is the first series of the Star Wars universe on Disney’s web platform. The series has already been renewed for a second season.
Based on Neil Gaiman's fantasy novel, Stardust is directed by Matthew Vaughn. It stars two actors who later played comic-book superheroes - Charlie Cox (Daredevil) and Henry Cavill (Superman).
Mrs. America is a Hulu miniseries created by Desperate Housewives and Mad Men alum Dahvi Waller. Starring Cate Blanchett in the lead, the series is set in the 1970s 'United States and is about the movement to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment or ERA by second-wave feminists.
Hugh Jackman’s final outing as Wolverine is one of the best superhero movies ever made. This is the Wolverine movie we needed and deserved. A no holds barred film filled with ample gore and eye-popping action, a compelling desolate setting, and marvellous work by Jackman and Patrick Stewart in their last hurrah, Logan is fantastic.
1922 is a decent watch for horror fans. The themes of the film – guilt and ‘every murderer gets his comeuppance’ (epitomised by a character in the line “In the end, we all get caught”) – are as old as time. It unsettles more than it scares and seeks to be a slow-burner.
This film was all about repairing the supposed damage that the previous entry in the sequel trilogy, The Last Jedi, did. Essentially, it tried to please the fanboys and turned out to be so messy that it did not please anybody. However, as a send off it is pretty good and if you are a fan, it will make you emotional and teary-eyed.
An Amazon Original, Lore is based on a podcast of the same name. Every episode of the show tells the origins of a horror story and although it is more of a documentary than drama, it is a slickly produced show that is engaging enough for a binge. You might want to check out the podcast as well. It is sublime.
Created by Horowitz and Bloomberg, the psychological thriller series Homecoming was about Homecoming Transitional Support Center, a live-in facility which claimed to rehabilitate American soldiers returning from overseas wars and make them suitable for civilian life. But it had a sinister hidden purpose. Before the second season debuts on May 22, finish the first season. There are 10 episodes, with each being around 30 minutes.
Mike Flanagan's Doctor Sleep is the sequel to Stanley Kubrick's groundbreaking horror film The Shining and picks up the story of Dan Torrance (Ewan McGregor), the kid in the original movie. Just like The Shining, Doctor Sleep is also based on a Stephen King book of the same name, a sequel that elaborates on the 'shine' ability.
When an aspiring crime fiction writer movies into a shady apartment building filled with mysterious residents, strange things start to occur. Strangers from Hell is a Korean psychological-thriller drama series that is based on the webtoon of the same name. It is a well-written show that will keep you hooked from the start till the end.
Flames revolves around a young teenage couple Rajat and Ishita, who try to manage their relationships with the family along with their career goals, their journey, and more.
Nalpathiyonnu is a socio-political satire that explores the journey of two men, who are strong followers of Communist ideologies, as they set out to take the pilgrimage to Sabarimala. Directed by Lal Jose, the film stars Biju Menon, Nimisha Sajayan, Indrans and Suresh Krishna.
Mark Ruffalo stars in I Know This Much Is True in a double role of twin brothers. The official synopsis of the HBO mini-series reads, “Based on the 1998 bestselling novel by Wally Lamb, adapted and directed by Derek Cianfrance, this limited series follows the parallel lives of identical twin brothers, played by Mark Ruffalo. A family saga, it tells a story of betrayal, sacrifice and forgiveness set against the backdrop of 20th-century America.”
The documentary film Epicenter: 24 Hours in Wuhan chronicles Chinese city Wuhan’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic in its initial days. For those who do not know, Wuhan is now considered to be the place from where the novel coronavirus originated.
This HBO miniseries is executively produced by two giants of American cinema, Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks, who bring their experience of Saving Private Ryan to Band of Brothers, which is an exquisite and sensitive portrayal of a company of soldiers.
Starring Song Kang-Ho of Parasite fame, The Drug King is based on the true story of a lowly drug dealer, Lee Doo-sam, and his rise to the top of the Japanese narcotics trade. The movie boasts of excellent performances by its star cast which includes Bae Doo-na, Jo Jung-suk and Lee Sung-min.
Spotlight is based on the true story of a case of against the church. The movie received praise for its realistic portrayal of old-school journalism. Spotlight won the Oscar for Best Picture and Best Original Screenplay.
The latest season of MasterChef Australia titled Back to Win is streaming on Disney+ Hotstar. The show streams just a few hours after its Australia telecast. Catch all the excitement on this food reality show five times a week.
The Anurag Singh directorial is the story of three friends Guri, Deep and Sher Singh who stay together in the university hostel. The film revolves around their friendship, and how their love life lands them in trouble. The film is a fun watch on a lazy weekend.
Termed as one of the best Indian web shows, Kota Factory is set in the student city of Kota. Here, we follow 16-year-old Vaibhav, who is preparing for his IIT exams. Unlike many shows where young adults find the path to success restricting, this show celebrates student life in all its educational glory.
In this Anubhav Sinha directorial, Rishi Kapoor played a Muslim man who tries his best to bring back honour to his family after a kinsman gets involved in terrorist activity. Mulk won praise for its performances and direction. The movie also featured Taapsee Pannu, Manoj Pahwa and Ashutosh Rana.
While the sunny Los Angeles is not as compelling a setting for horror as the dank streets of Victorian London, The City of Angels, Showtime horror series Penny Dreadful's spinoff, is surprisingly good, with a nice amalgam of contemporary social issues and the supernatural.
Mrs Serial Killer stars Jacqueline Fernandez, Manoj Bajpayee and Mohit Raina in pivotal roles. The official synopsis of Shirish Kunder directorial reads, “When her husband is framed and imprisoned for serial murders, a doting wife must perform a murder exactly like the serial killer, to prove her husband innocent.”
Self-driving cars. Phones that are essentially a hologram that snap into existence in the L between the forefinger and thumb. The promise of eternal life even after you are dead. These are the few salient features of Upload, a quirky, sci-fi-ish show that is currently streaming on Amazon Prime Video. The show is for sure heavy on the tech stuff, but that’s just the world it is set in. Once you get over the initial geekiness of it all, Upload reveals its many layers.
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.
Hundred is about two women, Netra Patil (Rinku Rajguru) and Saumya Shukla (Lara Dutta). Netra, who works in the census department, is given the tragic news that she has a brain tumour. She has 100 days left. Saumya, an Assistant Commissioner of Police, is struggling to prove there is more to her than just being a woman. One day, their paths cross and thus begins the story.
What happens when great actors like Varun Badola and Shweta Tiwari come together on screen? The audience gets to watch a good show. Mere Dad Ki Dulhan is not your typical Indian TV show. At the heart of it is a beautiful relationship between a single father Amber (Badola) and his young daughter Niya (Anjali Tatrari). Niya wants to set up her father with someone. Enters a forty-something single woman Guneet Sikka (Tiwari), who starts living in Amber’s house as a tenant. Amber and Guneet cannot stand each other but unknowingly start liking each other on a dating app. Watch this show for an entertaining story and some brilliant performances.
Shoojit Sircar ventured into Bollywood with the romantic drama Yahaan. It is an emotional and picturesque love story that flourishes in conflict-ridden Kashmir. What happens when a Muslim Kashmiri woman falls for a Hindu man, who’s also a captain of the Indian army, makes for the narrative of Yahaan. Watch it for a brilliant performance of Jimmy Shergill and the film’s soul-soothing music.
Sophie Turner (Sansa Stark of Game of Thrones) stars as a mentally-ill and suicidal woman in this series which turns from a mental health drama to a survival drama in a bizarre twist.
Inspired by the cult 1996 film of the same name, Fargo black comedy–crime drama anthology series also went on to become critically acclaimed and won several awards, including the Golden Globes. The series boasts an ensemble cast including the likes of Billy Bob Thornton, Martin Freeman, Patrick Wilson, Ted Danson, Ewan McGregor among others. All 3 seasons are streaming on Netflix.
Shah Rukh Khan’s Rahul was back to spreading arms and Deepika Padukone was a surprise as the daughter of a south Indian gangster in Rohit Shetty's Chennai Express. Critics panned the movie, but if you are a fan of Bollywood masala films, you can watch it for its beautiful locations, Deepika-Shah Rukh chemistry, colourful song sequences and well-choreographed action sequences.
AMC’s zombie drama series The Walking Dead has been around for a long time now. It will complete ten years in October this year, and this is no mean feat. The series, based on the comic book series of the same name by Robert Kirkman, Tony Moore, and Charlie Adlard, tells the story of a world ravaged by an apocalypse due to the spread of a virus that turns people into undead who feast on the living. Read more
Not only is Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban the most cinematic of all the Harry Potter movies, but it also shows Harry’s character development accurately, therefore retaining the essence of the storyline, which cannot be said of other films in the series. This was possible because the material was dealt with carefully by acclaimed filmmaker Alfonso Cuaron. Read more