There are shows you watch for fun. And then there are the ones that shake you – the kind that don’t let you scroll your phone while watching. These stories pull you in, hold your face to reality, and make you think about the world we live in. They question comfort. They disturb you a little. And maybe that’s the point.
Here are a few streaming titles that don’t sugarcoat life – they wake you up.
The Great Indian Murder
Image : Pinterest
IMDb Rating : 6.8/10
Star Cast :
Richa Chadha, Pratik Gandhi, Ashutosh Rana
Release Year : 2022
OTT Platform : Disney+ Hotstar
It begins with the murder of an influential man – but soon you realize it’s not just about one death. It’s about the rot underneath power, politics, and privilege.
Why Watch :
Because every character feels like someone you’ve seen in the real world – pretending to care, but hiding something darker. Richa Chadha and Pratik Gandhi are phenomenal, turning what could’ve been a regular murder mystery into a reflection of how truth and justice actually work in our country.
Dahan: Raakan Ka Rahasya
Image : Pinterest
IMDb Rating : 7/10
Star Cast :
Tisca Chopra, Rajesh Tailang, Mukesh Tiwari
Release Year : 2022
OTT Platform : Disney+ Hotstar
You think you’re entering a supernatural thriller – curses, rituals, myths. But as it unfolds, you realize the real monster isn’t in the cave; it’s in people’s minds.
Why Watch :
Because it shows how easily fear is used to control people. It’s about blind faith, manipulation, and how a society can cling to superstition even in modern times. Tisca Chopra delivers one of her best performances, playing a woman who refuses to bow to irrationality.
Delhi Crime
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IMDb Rating : 8.5/10
Star Cast :
Shefali Shah, Rajesh Tailang, Rasika Dugal
Release Year : 2019-2023
OTT Platform : Netflix
Based on one of India’s darkest real-life incidents. It’s not an easy watch. It’s not meant to be.
Why Watch :
Because Shefali Shah’s performance is hauntingly real. This isn’t a typical cop drama. It’s about exhaustion, trauma, and duty and how women in uniforms carry the pain of the world while still showing up. The series doesn’t try to make you comfortable; it makes you aware. It’s one of those stories that you carry long after it ends.
Jamtara: Sabka Number Ayega
Image : Pinterest
IMDb Rating : 7.2/10
Star Cast :
Sparsh Shrivastava, Monika Panwar, Amit Sial
Release Year : 2020-2022
OTT Platform : Netflix
A group of young men from a small town turn into cyber criminals, running massive phishing scams from rural India.
Why Watch :
Because it’s scary how close this story feels to reality. You realize how easily greed and opportunity mix and how the internet has become a new kind of jungle. The show’s small-town setting gives it a raw edge. It’s not glamorized crime; it’s desperation, survival, and ambition colliding in a world that doesn’t play fair.
Maharani
Image : Pinterest
IMDb Rating : 7.6/10
Star Cast :
Huma Qureshi, Sohum Shah, Amit Sial
Release Year : 2021-2023
OTT Platform : SonyLIV
It’s the story of an uneducated village woman suddenly becoming the Chief Minister of Bihar. Sounds like fiction – but it’s inspired by real political turns in Indian history.
Why Watch :
Because Huma Qureshi’s journey from confusion to command is powerful to watch. The show exposes corruption, caste politics, and gender bias – but what stands out is how a woman, thrown into chaos, learns to fight with brains, not privilege. It’s a political drama that slowly grows on you, and by the end, you’re rooting for her like she’s someone you actually know.
Conclusion
These aren’t feel-good shows. They’re uncomfortable, bold, and honest. They talk about corruption, ignorance, injustice – things we often scroll past in news feeds. But when you see them play out through stories, it hits harder. If you’re tired of predictable OTT content, these are the ones that’ll remind you why stories matter – because sometimes, they don’t let you sleep easy.