Best Shows of 2023

2023 saw a lot of experimentation in terms of shows that were brought to the table. There were shows that catered to almost every emotion and feeling. With true stories like Hansal Mehta’s Scoop, to true crime documentaries like Hunt for Verappan, or just fiction shows like The Morning Show Season 03, the year was catered to every individual.

Here are my top shows of the year.

1. Trial By Fire

Juxtaposed between the crossroads of personal tragedy and systemic negligence, Trial By Fire is a poignant series on the case of the Uphaar cinema fire in New Delhi. Brought out by the point of view of the lead warriors of the court battle, Neelam and Shekhar Krishnamoorthy, who lost their children on the fateful day, the show fights for justice of those children and people who died in the cinema which caught fire in June 1997.

The show, created by Prashant Nair and Randeep Jha, details the real-life tragedy that turns into a fight of people versus the system. The writing of the show, along with the production design and costumes is captured with remarkable authenticity, which uncharacteristically allows its viewers to stay focused on the lives ravaged by the tragedy.

The writing of the show, along with the production design and costumes is captured with remarkable authenticity, which uncharacteristically allows its viewers to stay focused on the lives ravaged by the tragedy - and also makes it one of the best shows of this year.

2. Cinema Marte Dum Tak

Cinema Marte Dum Tak, created by Vice Studios and Vasan Bala gives pulpy Hindi cinema its due. It features four prime directors of the 80s - Vinod Talwar, Deepak Gulati, Kishan Shah, and J.Neelam as we get to see a behind-the-scenes of them making a film like they would in the 80s and 90s - with low budgets, small crews, and horror or smutty storylines.

The docu-series has an interesting take on pleasure and the gaze, an important aspect in film history, and shows how the audience enjoyed trashy pleasure which they sought within the safe walls of a cinema. Pulpy and prolific, the films during the 80s and 90s formed a subculture of their own with a distinct storytelling style and vocabulary.

The show interestingly does not look down upon B-grade and C-grade cinema, but defends its stance of it being cinema, which entertains people. Featuring Arjun Kapoor on a round table with these directors, the show brings the sensibility from main stream Bollywood. It shows dignity for the people from the industry, who have been disrespected and dismissed. The show is also a sense of tribute to the workers of the industry.

3. Kohhra

Since the pandemic, we have seen an increase in the stories told based in small towns and characters. Each of these stories infuse aspects of these towns and settlements which we as viewers always go back to – be it a Panchayat, which brought out the simple pleasures of life and friendship in an Indian village; or a Badhaai Do, which brought out the concept of lavender marriages in small town cities of India. Small towns or specific places offer authenticity to build on a character and universe. And this is fantastically done in Netflix’s new show Kohrra, which transforms the tranquil Punjabi landscape into a haunting world of cop buddies, drugs, NRI lives, and patriarchy.

Writer and now producer Sudip Sharma returns to the world of disgruntled cops and crime with this show. Directed by Randeep Jha, both history and geography play a pivotal role in Kohrra, in which a murder mystery ends up being an incisive reading of the contemporary landscape of Punjab and the Punjabi psyche.

The show balances its intrigue with elaborate character development. There is a lot of establishment – flashbacks, family portraits, inexplicable tension etc. But where Kohrra wins is its casting, (Suvinder Vicky and Barun Sobti are fantastic and how!) and that is what makes it one of the top shows this year along with fantastic writing and great production design.

4. Guns and Gulaabs

Set in the 90s world of crime and violence, Guns and Gulaabs, created by Raj and DK depicts the story of love and innocence blending with humour and romance. Starring Rajkumar Raj, Adarsh Gourav, and Gulshan Devaiah, among others, what made this show one of my favourites this year was the slick writing, characterisation and comedy. There is definitely a way in which Raj and DK make their shows, and I think this is one of their bests.

It is almost nearly impossible to forget the characters of Tipu and Chaar-cut Aatmaaram - I honestly cannot wait to see what is in store for the characters in Season 2!

Season 2 of the show was announced in December by Netflix India.

5. The Romantics

Directed by Smriti Mundhra, The Romantics is an ode to the man who defined Hindi cinema and romance for decades.

Featuring interviews from almost 35 actors, ranging from the older generation like Amitabh Bachchan and Rishi Kapoor, to the younger generation - Ranveer Singh and Anushka Sharma, and influencers like Lilly Singh (that probably act like the voice of the Indian American diaspora), the show follows the legacy of the legendary filmmaker Yash Chopra, and how he gave us some of the most iconic characters, stories, and songs.

The show definitely made me feel like a kid in a candy shop, and that is what makes it one of my favourites this year. To relive the the swooning, superstar-making highs of DDLJ, the moving melodrama and music of Mohabbatein, the defining moment of Chak De, the status quo-breaking Band Baaja Baaraat and beyond, was a treat.

5. Jubilee

Jubilee, created and directed by Vikramaditya Motwayne was hands down one of my favourite shows this year. Loosely adapted to tell the story of the making of the first movie studio in Bombay, Bombay Talkies, the show had a stellar cast of Prosenjit Chatterjee, Aparshakti Khurana, Sidhant Gupta, Aditi Rao Hydari, Wamiqa Gabbi and Ram Kapoor.

What made this show to the list of tops this year is not just the performances, but the whole visual appeal that it had. The cinematography by Pratik Shah and the production design by Aparna Sud, transported us to the black and white era of the making of movies. Additionally, the beautiful soundtrack by Amit Trivedi cemented Jubilee’s position in the list of my favourite shows.

6. Kaala Paani

Kaala Paani gave us a stark reminder of nature’s fury and the importance of co-existing with nature.

Directed by Amit Golani and Sameer Saxena, the show is outstanding in terms of its writing. I loved the way how without generalisation or polarisation the creators made a make believe world in Andaman with tribesmen, and how with their interconnection with nature, brought out the fact that not only we must coexist, but also at the end of the day we are all human, irrespective of our color, creed, caste, etc.

The show also had some stunning performances - Sukant Goel and Vikas Kumar were the best for me in the show. A close second would be Mona Singh (who has come back in the scene this year and how!). However, my favorite performance of her’s this year would be that of Bulbul Johari in Made in Heavan Season 02.

2024 has an exciting line up of shows - Dharmatic Productions’ Call Me Bae, Rohit Shetty’s Indian Police Force, among others. Cannot wait to grab my popcorn and binge these! Here’s to more entertainment on our screens in 2024!