Best Indian Crime Thriller Shows Everyone Should Watch

Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you’re biting your nails, heart pounding, as the suspense takes over both your screen and the show? Chances are that you’re steaming Indian crime thriller. Indian crime thrillers are packed with cunning detectives, dangerous criminals, and stories that are raw and relatable.

With that being said, here are the best Indian crime thriller shows everyone should watch.

Paatal Lok (2020)

Let’s start off the list with the most obvious pick, Paatal Lok, starring Jaideep Ahlawat. The focal character is Join Hathiram Chaudhary, a hard-working Delhi police officer.

Hathiram’s life gains pace when Hathiram starts to look into a case that threatens to shake the very foundation of what he stands for. As Hathiram investigates the case, he finds that no matter how hard one tries, things with not change because of the systemic rot that infects the core of the system.

You can stream the show here.

Mirzapur (2018)

Mirzapur with Pankaj Tripathi leading the charge, is one of India’s top crime thrillers, set in the gritty, cutthroat world of Mirzapur, a city deep in Uttar Pradesh. It is a place where politicians and gangsters fight tooth and nail for control. The POV characters are two brothers, Guddu and Bablu, who end up working for the crime kingpin, Kaleen Bhaiya but what starts as a get-rich-quick-scheme gets out of control, leading to death and destruction.

The magic of Mirzapur lies in how it explores the ugly thirst for power and how it destroys everything in its wake, even the lives of those just trying to survive. The first two seasons are absolute knockouts but season three, though, doesn’t quite hit the same highs, leaving fans a bit wanting.

Bard of Blood (2019)

You know it’s going to be a solid binge when Emraan Hashmi is in the center! Bard of Blood, based on Bilal Siddiqi’s novel, is Netflix’s espionage series with Hashmi portraying the role of Kabir Anand, a former intelligence agent dragged back into the field. Kabir’s mission is to rescue a group of Indian agents held captive in Balochistan, Pakistan.

The series completely hooks you with its intense storyline and Hashmi’s tense performance. Sure, there are a few rough edges here and there, but the action-packed plot and Hashmi’s presence will keep you entertained. All in all, Bard of Blood is a great addition to Netflix’s lineup of Indian Originals, one that’s well worth a shot.

Breathe (2018)

R. Madhavan takes the lead in Breathe, a story about two men on a collision course that changes them both. On one side of the spectrum is Kabir Sawant, a brilliant but troubled cop, and on the other side is Danny Mascarenhas, a father desperate to save his son who urgently needs an organ transplant. For the love of his child, Danny becomes a killer and begins to target those he sees as unworthy of life.

Breathe is a very emotional show that will force you to choose between what’s right and the lengths you’d go to for the love of the family. From characters to their motive, every element is carefully created. Even though a few minor details around the killings might feel off, you still won’t be able to look away.

Jamtara (2020)

Jamtara is the brainchild of Soumendra Padhi, a crime-thriller inspired by real-life events and scams that conned many people of their hard-earned money. The show is set in the small town of Jamtara, the story follows young scammers like Rocky, Sunny, and Gudiya, who use phishing to trick unsuspecting victims.

Amit Sial and Debyendu Bhattacharya deliver standout performances, and the whole cast is solid. While some of the police action feels a bit over-the-top, the plot twists and high-stakes drama in both seasons make it hard to stop watching.

Asur (2020)

Gaurav Shukla and Vibhav Shikdar’s Asur is one of the best Indian-crime thriller shows in the market. In this show, you’ll find yourself in the heart of the holy city of Varanasi, where Barun Sobti’s character Nikhil Nair, an ex-forensic expert now working as a teacher has to rejoin the CBI to hunt a serial killer who thinks he’s the reincarnation of the demon Kali.

If you’re into crime thrillers with elements of mythology, Asur is a must-watch. It brilliantly merges modern-day tech with ancient legends as the CBI races to outsmart a killer who doesn’t think twice before killing. The show’s high ratings have led to a second season, which too explores more dark myths and mind games, keeping you glued to your couch from start to finish.

The Family Man (2019)

Srikant Tiwariby, portrayed by Manoj Bajpayee, is just an everyday man balancing a regular family life with a not-so-regular job in a government intelligence agency that requires him to stop and thwart any terrorist attacks before they smear the Indian soil.

What makes The Family Man so addictive is how real and relatable the characters feel. Watching Srikant spin tales to his family about “working on sales charts” while he’s actually being shot at and catching criminals will never stop being funny. Not to mention the bromance between Srikant and is pure gold, and is more than enough reason to stream the show.

Sacred Games (2018)

Sacred Games is a gritty story led by Saif Ali Khan as Sartaj Singh, a weary Mumbai cop who one day out of the blue gets a tip-off that has him pursue and find a very dangerous and notorious crime boss, Ganesh Gaitond (Nawazuddin Siddiqui.) The show is set over a span of 25 days, in which Sartaj tries his best to find a conspiracy that threatens the safety of Mumbai and its people. Even though the show is not rooted in reality, and doesn’t dig into any real life, the show exploration of Mumbai’s topsy-turvy underworld, rampant crime, corruption, and politics,

What makes Sacred Games unmissable is the way it conveys its story, jumping between past and present events. Also, the show boldly tackles real-world issues—all while never missing a beat.

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