What to watch on OTT: The Girl with the Needle, The Night Agent, Hisaab Barabar and more

Oscar-nominated The Girl with the Needle — directed by Magnus von Horn and co-written by Line Langebek Knudsen and von Horn — is streaming from January 24. The movie, which had its world premiere under the competition section during the Cannes Film Festival 2024, follows a young factory worker Karoline (Vic Carmen Sonne), who is struggling to survive in post-WWI Copenhagen. When she ends up unemployed, abandoned and pregnant, the charismatic Dagmar (Trine Dyrholm) takes her in as a wet-nurse at an underground adoption agency which finds foster homes for unwanted children. A deep connection forms between them, until a shocking discovery suddenly shatters Karoline’s world.
Inspired by a true story, The Girl With The Needle is a haunting and profound look at one woman’s search for love and morality.

I Want To Talk
Prime Video

This story of a resilient father told with wry humour showcases one of Abhishek Bachchan’s career-best performances. Directed by filmmaker Shoojit Sircar, I Want To Talk follows the transformative journey of Arjun Sen, a chatty and shrewd Bengali man living the quintessential ‘American Dream’. Arjun’s life is upended when he learns he has only 100 days to live. This forces him to re-evaluate his priorities and reassess what truly matters in his life. His journey becomes a quest to reconnect with his estranged seven-year-old daughter and to make every remaining moment count. The film’s cast also features Ahilya Bamroo, Jayant Kriplani, Johnny Lever, Pearle Dey, and Kristin Goddard in pivotal roles.

The Night Agent S2
Netflix

The new episodes of this popular series, based on the novel by Matthew Quirk, pick up after the high-octane events of Season 1. After Peter Sutherland (Gabriel Basso) managed to save the president, he earned the opportunity to become a Night Agent. Working in the secretive organization Night Action in Season 2 will push Peter into a world where danger is everywhere and trust is in short supply. The just-released trailer offers a glimpse of all the thrills ahead as Peter finds himself fully immersed in the mysterious world of Night Action, a top-secret organization rife with deadly threats. As Peter says in the trailer, the dangers ahead include everything from a possible mole in Night Action to experimental weapons in the wrong hands — and he can’t trust anyone in these dire new circumstances.

The Killer’s Game
Prime Video

Based on the 1997 novel by the same name written by Jay Bonansinga, The Killer’s Game follows veteran assassin Joe Flood, who is diagnosed with a life-threatening illness and authorises a kill on himself to avoid the pain that is destined to follow. After ordering the kill, he finds out that he was misdiagnosed and must then fend off the army of former colleagues trying to kill him. Directed by J.J. Perry and written by Rand Ravich, Bonansinga and James Coyne. The action comedy film’s cast features Sofia Boutella, David Bautista, Lucy Cork and Pom Klementieff in lead roles. The film is streaming with dubs in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada.

Hisaab Barabar
ZEE5

Directed by Ashwni Dhir, the film promises to unravel a gripping narrative of financial fraud, corruption, and the relentless pursuit of justice. In Hisaab Barabar, R Madhavan essays the character of Radhe Mohan Sharma, a railway ticket checker who uncovers a small discrepancy in his bank account. What begins as a simple financial error quickly unravels into a dangerous journey filled with fraud, deceit, and corruption. As Radhe delves deeper, he finds himself entangled in a high-stakes battle with Micky Mehta (played by Neil Nitin Mukesh), a suave yet ruthless banker with significant influence. As Radhe’s quest for justice intensifies, the film poses a profound question: can one ordinary man take on systemic corruption? And will his perseverance and resilience be enough to secure his victory?

Thiru Manickam
ZEE5

Directed by Nandha Periyasamy, this Tamil-language film explores the journey of a man who, in spite of facing stiff opposition for doing good, shows how humanity ultimately wins. The film revolves around Manickam (Samuthirakani), a good-hearted man who runs a lottery shop at the Kumily bus stand, to support his family and his wife, Sumathi (Ananya), who prepares food for local workers. The emotionally charged film exults honesty and righteousness as extraordinary human qualities. The cast also features Bharathiraja, Nassar, Thambi Ramaiah, Karunakaran and Ilavarasu in supporting roles.

Barroz
Disney+Hotstar

The Malayalam-language fantasy film — based on ‘Barroz: Guardian of D’Gama’s Treasure’, a novel by Jijo Punnoose — marks Mohanlal’s directorial debut. For 400 years, Barroz (Mohanlal), a loyal servant, has guarded da Gama’s treasure. Bound by a centuries-old magic, Barroz awaits the arrival of a true descendant worthy of claiming it. The ambitious feature, which explores the maritime history of Portugal, Spain, Africa, and India, however, received mixed response when released in theatres. The film’s cast also features Maya Rao West, Cesar Lorente Raton, Ignacio Mateos, Kallirroi Tziafeta, Nerea Camacho and Tuhin Menon.