With the passage of time, writers and directors have gotten creative with the stories that they choose to bring to the people. While reality is always stranger than fiction, audiences have started to get more and more confusing and mysterious stories inspired by the complexities of everyday life that bring forth one shocking incident after another. If JioCinema’s Gaanth Chapter 1: Jamnaa Paar focusing on the infamous Burari Case of 2018 has left you shocked, then get ready to watch these Hindi mystery series that are nothing short of terrifying and alarming.
5 Shocking Hindi Mystery Series
Dahaad
In this spine-chilling tale, fearless SI of a small village in Rajasthan, Anjali Bhaati, realises that a serial killer is on the loose when she connects the deaths of 27 women under mysterious circumstances. Drudging through backward societal norms and expectations, she fights against the prejudices and injustices around her in order to bring the ruthless serial killer to justice.
Starring Sonakshi Sinha, Gulshan Devaiah and Vijay Varma in prominent roles, the series is not only a memorable serial killer series but also an impactful tale of a woman fighting against the unfair practices around her to bring justice not only for the victims but also for herself as she suffers from the unfair expectations that society has on her. The series is inspirational not only because of the storyline that is unrelenting but also because of the fantastic performances of everyone in it. In spite of being a cat-and-mouse chase, this is a nuanced story that will leave you glued to your screen.
Check out Dahaad review here.
Kohrra
Set in Punjab, the Netflix series is a crime thriller police procedural series that showcases the aftermath of an NRI groom’s sudden death. Cops Balbir Singh and Amarpal Jasjit Garundi race against time in the midst of mounting pressure from their superiors to solve a case that opens a can of worms as they dig deeper. The storyline is predictable but the creators have clearly not focused on the whodunit aspect of it. What sets this series apart is how well the human stories are told as it focuses on the complexities of human beings and their yearning for love and partnerships.
As you go through the turmoil of the characters, you realise that everyone has something that they need to keep hidden and you relate to their stories thoroughly, engaging you in the process. The series is also a sharp examination of contemporary Punjab and the Punjabi psyche, and even the locations play a significant role in distinguishing it from similar shows taking place elsewhere.
Check out Kohrra review here.
Kaala Paani
In this Hindi mystery series, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands face a deadly foe in the form of a new disease that threatens to destroy anyone in its path. When higher authorities don’t give it enough importance, the disease reaches new levels of danger after which the islands are cut off from the external world, leaving anyone in it to fend for themselves. In a desperate fight for survival, there are some who care enough to find a cure.
The series, first and foremost, makes great use of its location, with the island proving to be a beautiful but deadly prison from where there is no escape. Add to that the fact that there is a deadly disease out to get them and the walls are slowly closing in on the characters and you have a claustrophobia-inducing experience that will leave you on the edge of your seat. Kaala Paani makes use of these things seamlessly along with introducing a deluge of characters who are not only written well but also get equal care and time. You care about the situation and the people, making this mystery thriller nothing short of arresting.
Check out Kaala Paani review here.
Aranyak
Raveena Tandon and Parambrata Chatterjee star in this Hindi mystery series set in a fictional town in Himachal Pradesh. When a young woman is found murdered, two upright police officers make it their mission to find out the perpetrators. In the midst of the murder-mystery plot, we also see these two people battling their inner demons and moving past some horrible things in their past.
The gloomy atmosphere of this sleepy town proves to be a fantastic background for a brutal and senseless crime. The mystery and lore of Sirona prove to be a fantastic aspect of the series that makes you question reality over and over again. With questions of environmental conservation becoming a big part of the narrative, you question who is human and who is animal as well as the meaning of those words. Although a little simple, the storytelling and cinematography, along with the performances, are what compel you to keep watching this Hindi mystery series.
Check out Aranyak review here.
The Family Man
Last but not least, this series, starring Manoj Bajpayee, is everyone’s favourite and for good reason! The Hindi mystery series is a spy thriller wherein a Srikant Tiwari, working covertly in the National Investigation Agency, has to save his country against rising threats while simultaneously saving his family life from going into shambles. The series is a humorous and sharp spy series that gets all of its notes right and doesn’t drop the ball when it comes to balancing its more dramatic moments with the thrilling ones.
The accessible yet aspiration storytelling is only made better with the fantastic performances where Bajpayee, as usual, steals the show. With two seasons and another on the way, this Hindi mystery series is nothing short of engaging in every capacity. Along with this, the dialogues are equally witty and are an overall entertaining and enriching experience for fans of the genre.
Check out The Family Man review here – Season 1 and Season 2.
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