6 shows that explore the heartland of India

By Deepali Singh29 February 2020

Smaller towns and local flavours are finding favour with show-makers who are constantly looking for engaging content

It is not just Indian cinema that is progressively looking at the heartland of India for setting its tales in—digital platforms, too, are not far behind. Stories that don’t belong to metropolitan cities have secured a place for themselves on OTT platforms that are constantly looking to engage the audience with relevant content. So, for every Made in Heaven set in glamorous Delhi, there is a Rangbaaz thriving in UP’s Gorakhpur. Here’s a look at a few tales that not only give you engaging plotlines and believable characters, but also take you on a cultural potpourri ride that India is.

Jamtara: Sabka Number Aayega (2020)

A small district in Jharkhand, that gained notoriety a few years ago for being the phishing capital of the country, came into the limelight once again when director Soumendra Padhi and his team of writers decided to make a show on Jamtara. The first season of the show aired on Netflix in January this year, focussing on the lives of 17-year-old Sunny Mondal and his bunch of con friends who are shown to be part of a phishing scam. The series was an immediate success owing to its intriguing storyline and good performances. The second season is expected to take the story further and delve deeper into the world of digital scams.

Where to watch: Netflix

Rangbaaz (2018)

The crime story franchise has aired two seasons as of now. The first one, starring Saqib Saleem, Tigmanshu Dhulia, and Ranvir Shorey was set in Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh and aired in 2018. Inspired from true events, the story revolved around Saqib’s character Shiv Prakash Shukla’s journey from being a student to one of the most wanted criminals of the country. The success of the first season inspired the OTT platform to announce the second season—Rangbaaz Phir Se— which aired last year in October. The spin-off proved to be a worthy successor, with Jimmy Sheirgill lending his might to the show. Based on true events yet again, the setting shifted to Rajasthan and this time the story was about caste supremacy and political rivalries.

Where to watch: Zee5

Mirzapur (2018)

Boasting of a cast that includes heavyweights such as Pankaj Tripathi, Vikrant Massey, Rasika Dugal, Shweta Tripathi, and Kulbhushan Kharbanda, the series revolves around drugs, guns and lawlessness in Mirzapur in Uttar Pradesh. Kaleen Bhaiya (Tripathi) and his gangster family believe in only one thing—the rule of the gun. With the reluctant involvement of two brothers Guddu (Fazal) and Bablu (Massey), the stage is set for a larger confrontation. While the critics were slightly divided about their adulation for the show, owing to its violence and inconsistent script, it was lauded by the audience and was one of the most popular web series last year. Its second season is slated for release soon.

Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video

Taj Mahal 1989 (2020)

Rewind to the ‘80s when love was about taking a trip to the Taj Mahal with your beloved and one didn’t have to swipe left or right on an app to find ‘the one’. Four love stories of couples belonging to different age groups and socio-economic status, all set in Lucknow in the year 1989, set the premise for this seven-episode show. What takes this show a few notches higher are the powerful performances by veteran actors Neeraj Kabi, Sheeba Chaddha, Geetanjali Kulkarni, and Danish Hussain. Among the other younger lot, it is Anud Singh Dhaka who impresses with his role of a complex character. The show dropped on February 14 this year to mostly positive reviews.

Where to watch: Netflix

Kota Factory (2019)

The coaching hub of the country—Kota in Rajasthan—is the setting for this coming-of-age educational satire. The show emerged as the highest rated web series on IMDB from India last year, beating the likes of Sacred Games and The Family Man. The TVF original series follows the lives of students who take up coaching classes in Kota in order to gain admission to the coveted IIT. India’s first black and white series, the show stars the talented Jeetendra Kumar as Jeetu Bhaiya, a teacher who always encourages and motivates his students.

Where to watch: YouTube and TVF App

Laakhon Mein Ek (2017)

From examining the state of engineering coaching classes in season one to healthcare in rural sectors of the country, the second season of Laakhon Mein Ek is set in the fictional village of Sitlapur in Maharashtra. Biswa Kalyan Rath’s show that aired in April last year sees Shweta Tripathi play a junior doctor who battles corruption, sexism, and ignorance, in order to do her job properly. The eight-part series received mostly favourable reviews for the female lead’s performance as well as for its engaging plot.

Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video