Small towns always look calm from the outside – narrow lanes, old tea stalls, familiar faces. But behind those walls, there’s always something people don’t talk about. Something that’s better left buried. OTT platforms have started telling these stories – about lies, secrets, and people who look simple until life turns upside down. If you’re into thrillers that feel too real to be fiction, here are a few you shouldn’t miss.
Kohrra
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IMDb Rating : 7.7/10
Star Cast :
Suvinder Vicky, Barun Sobti, Harleen Sethi
Release Year : 2023
OTT Platform : Netflix
A wedding in Punjab turns tragic when a groom is found dead just days before the ceremony. The police investigation pulls out layers of pain, family pressure, and love gone wrong.
Why Watch :
Kohrra isn’t just a murder mystery – it’s about how people hide what hurts them most. The writing is raw, the performances are real, and it leaves you thinking long after it ends.
Dahaad
Image : Pinterest
IMDb Rating : 7.3/10
Star Cast :
Sonakshi Sinha, Vijay Varma, Gulshan Devaiah
Release Year : 2023
OTT Platform : Prime Video
In a dusty Rajasthani town, women start disappearing and nobody seems to care. Until one female cop refuses to let it slide.
Why Watch :
It’s more than a crime story – it’s about power, silence, and the courage it takes to break both. Vijay Varma and Sonakshi are brilliant.
Aranyak
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IMDb Rating : 7.8/10
Star Cast :
Raveena Tandon, Parambrata Chatterjee, Ashutosh Rana
Release Year : 2021
OTT Platform : Netflix
Set in a misty hill station, a missing tourist case slowly turns into something bigger – with rumours of a mythical beast and secrets people would kill to protect.
Why Watch :
Aranyak mixes crime, emotion, and folklore perfectly. It’s atmospheric, unpredictable, and beautifully shot.
The Gone Game
Image : Pinterest
IMDb Rating : 7.5/10
Star Cast :
Sanjay Kapoor, Shweta Tripathi, Arjun Mathur
Release Year : 2020-22
OTT Platform : JioCinema
A family gets stuck in a lockdown and one of them dies. But was it COVID or something far darker?
Why Watch :
The show was filmed completely during the pandemic using phones and webcams, yet the tension feels real. It’s short, smart, and different from everything else.
Paatal Lok
Image : Pinterest
IMDb Rating : 8.1/10
Star Cast :
Jaideep Ahlawat, Neeraj Kabi, Abhishek Banerjee
Release Year : 2020
OTT Platform : Prime Video
A failed cop investigates a case that leads him straight into hell – corruption, caste, crime, and everything in between.
Why Watch :
It’s dark, disturbing, and brutally honest. The kind of show that stays with you because it’s too close to reality.
Mirzapur
Image : Pinterest
IMDb Rating : 8.5/10
Star Cast :
Pankaj Tripathi, Ali Fazal, Divyenndu Sharma
Release Year : 2018-23
OTT Platform : Prime Video
The small town of Mirzapur runs on guns, politics, and revenge. And everyone’s fighting for power.
Why Watch :
Because no one does raw storytelling like this one. It’s violent, emotional, and addictive.
Grahan
Image : Pinterest
IMDb Rating : 8.3/10
Star Cast :
Pavan Malhotra, Wamiqa Gabbi, Zoya Hussain
Release Year : 2021
OTT Platform : Disney+ Hotstar
A CBI officer uncovers a 1984 riot case – only to find her own father’s name in it.
Why Watch :
Grahan isn’t just about the past. It’s about identity, guilt, and the things that never leave you. Beautifully written and deeply emotional.
Conclusion
Because small towns hide the biggest truths. Because secrets are louder in silence. And because these shows remind us that you never really know what goes on behind someone’s front door. So if you’re done with big-city thrillers, try these. Every episode feels like you’ve walked into someone’s secret and now you can’t walk out.