Netflix Unveils 2024 India Content Slate of 8 Films, 14 Series
Netflix Unveils 2024 India Content Slate of 8 Films, 14 Series
Netflix unveiled its 2024 content slate targeting India’s expanding streaming market at a talent-packed gala event Tuesday in Mumbai. The company’s latest India lineup is notably diverse, spanning an array of genres across eight feature films and 14 series, but it’s also a slight step down in terms of volume compared to recent years (Netflix released as many as 40 original Indian titles in 2021).
Dubbed “Next on Netflix: Blockbuster Entertainment Ka Next Level,” the Mumbai gathering was hosted by Netflix’s top executive in the country, Monika Shergill, vp content for Netflix India.
“2023 was our most successful year, and it has been hugely rewarding to see our members and critics love stories across genres and emotions from India – and around the world,” Shergill said. “In 2024, we’re taking this thrill to the next level. The biggest names and freshest voices in Indian entertainment are bringing their most special films, series and documentaries to Netflix, and we can’t wait for you to watch them.”
Headlining the 2024 slate is Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar, the streaming series debut of Bollywood blockbuster filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali (Padmaavat). The eight-part series is an epic period drama following the lives of tawaif entertainers in the red-light district of Lahore during the Indian independence movement. It stars Manisha Koirala, Sonakshi Sinha, Aditi Rao Hydari, Richa Chadha, Sanjeeda Sheikh and Sharmin Segal.
Netflix also showcased the next three projects under its partnership with the hitmaking studio Yash Raj Films. The outfit’s forthcoming series Mandala Murders is a crime thriller “where the villain, victims, survivors and detectives are all intricately connected,” according to Netflix. The period feature, Maharaj, meanwhile, stars Junaid Khan and Jaideep Ahlawat and is dubbed as “an ode to mankind’s spirit to do good, to pursue the truth at any cost.” And Anupam Kher’s film Vijay 69 was described as “a quirky slice-of-life film about a sexagenarian who takes on a triathlon.”
Other marquee titles across the slate include: IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack, director Anubhav Sinha’s re-creation of the longest airplane hijack in Indian history; drama Dabba Cartel, a high-octane production from Excel Entertainment about five unassuming housewives who come together under unlikely circumstances to form a drug cartel; and courtroom comedy Maamla Legal Hai, a blend of humor and heart headlined by Ravi Kishan.
Toplining this year’s unscripted titles is The Great Indian Kapil Show, starring India’s “king of comedy” Kapil Sharma. The slate also seeks to build on Netflix’s early successes with Indian documentaries. New docs include music film Yo Yo Honey Singh: Famous, an intimate and immersive look at the eponymous rapper’s life; and The Greatest Rivalry: India vs. Pakistan, a deep dive into the drama surrounding the world-renowned cricket rivalry between the two countries.
Netflix is also bringing back new seasons of several fan favorite series, such as Kota Factory Season 3, Mismatched Season 3, Yeh Kaali Kaali Ankhein Season 2 and Fabulous Lives vs Bollywood Wives.
A rundown of the full 2024 Netflix India slate is below.
FILMS
Amar Singh Chamkila Release Date: April 12
Logline: The untold true story of Punjab’s original rock star of the masses, Amar Singh Chamkila, who emerged from the shadows of poverty and rose to the heights of popularity in the ’80s, due to the sheer power of his music, angering many along the way, ultimately leading to his assassination at a young age of 27.
Director: Imtiaz Ali
Music: A. R. Rahman
Cast: Diljit Dosanjh, Parineeti Chopra
Do Patti
Release Date: TBC
Logline: The film is set to take viewers on a thrilling and unpredictable roller coaster ride, with the perfect puree of suspense, emotion and drama like never before. It is set to transport audiences to the mesmerizing yet mysterious hills of North India, which serve as a backdrop for this vivid edge-of-the-seat thriller to unfold.
Director: Shashanka Chaturvedi
Cast: Kajol Devgan, Kriti Sanon, Shaheer Sheikh, Tanvi Azmi
Maharaj
Release Date: TBC
Logline: Inspired by true events, Maharaj is an incredible David vs. Goliath story. Set in the 1800s, it narrates how a regular man, journalist by profession, takes on a powerful role model of society, hailed by many as a messiah for the masses. The fearless reporter wields his pen to go toe-to-toe with this spotless figure of the community in a bid to uncover a series of incidents that shake the very foundation of society. The period drama is an ode to mankind’s spirit to do good, to pursue and discover truth at any cost and to fight for humanity. It shows how one person’s will to affect positive social change can triumph over all evil and bring those in power to justice.
Director: Siddharth P Malhotra
Cast: Junaid Khan, Jaideep Ahlawat, Sharvari, Shalini Pandey
Murder Mubarak
Release Date: TBC
Logline: Based on the novel Club You to Death by Anuja Chauhan, Murder Mubarak transports you to the capital where a death at a posh recreational club opens an investigation that gets complex by the minute as secrets and lies come to the surface and everyone is a suspect.
Director: Homi Adajania
Cast: Sara Ali Khan, Pankaj Tripathi, Vijay Varma, Dimple Kapadia, Karisma Kapoor, Sanjay Kapoor, Tisca Chopra, Suhail Nayyar
Phir Aayi Hasseen Dillruba
Release Date: TBC
Logline: After the success of Haseen Dillruba, the story continues…. Now residing in the city of Agra, Rani lives as a paying guest and Rishu lives under the alias Ravi Varma. While the city is facing its own struggles with a broken barrage, heavy floods and an unexpected arrival of crocodiles in the Yamuna river, Rishu and Rani are trying their best to avoid attention and plan their escape for their happily ever after. Will they manage to evade the cops this time as well?
Director: Jayprad Desai
Cast: Taapsee Pannu, Vikrant Massey, Sunny Kaushal, Jimmy Shergill
Sikandar Ka Muqaddar
Release Date: TBC
Logline: A heist thriller that spans across 18 years.
Director: Neeraj Pandey
Vijay 69
Release Date: TBC
Logline: Vijay 69 is a quirky, slice-of-life film about a man who decides to compete in a triathlon at the age of 69! With Anupam Kher in the titular role, this comedy is produced by Maneesh Sharma and directed by Akshay Roy for YRF Entertainment. A film that will tug at your hearts, Vijay 69 is about the purity of emotion that this sexagenarian feels within himself when he sets forth to achieve his impossible dream and, therefore, makes a bid to defy all odds. YRF Entertainment previously produced huge global hits on streaming like The Romantics and The Railway Men.
Director: Akshay Roy Cast: Anupam Kher
Wild Wild Punjab
Release Date: TBC
Logline: A group of drunk boys decides to avenge a friend’s breakup by crashing his ex’s wedding and achieving closure. What ensues is a bold and impromptu plan for a “breakup trip” leading to unforeseen adventures in this maze of a land called – Wild Wild Punjab!
Director: Simarpreet Singh
Cast: Varun Sharma, Sunny Singh, Manjot Singh, Jassie Gill, Patralekhaa, Ishita Raj
SERIES
Dabba Cartel
Release Date: TBC
Logline: A series of unusual circumstances leads five ordinary women from Thane down a rabbit hole of adventures that sees them begin distributing drugs through a “dabba” delivery business. As their secret cartel expands, they must navigate treacherous alliances, the law, and their own inner conflicts – risking everything they hold dear.
Director: Hitesh Bhatia
Cast: Shabana Azmi, Jyotika, Shalini Pandey, Nimisha Sajayan, Anjali Anand, Gajraj Rao, Sai Tamhankar, Lillete Dubey, Jisshu Sengupta, Bhupendra Jadawat
Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar
Release Date: TBC
Logline: Archnemeses Mallikajaan and Fareedan are locked in a battle for succession of Heeramandi, where courtesans reign as queens. The only hope is young Alam, Mallikajaan’s youngest daughter. But what happens when Alam relinquishes power and chooses the love of one man over the adulation of many? Set in pre-independent India against the backdrop of the freedom movement, Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar is an epic saga of love, power, betrayal, struggle and, ultimately, freedom.
Creator-Director: Sanjay Leela Bhansali
Cast: Manisha Koirala, Sonakshi Sinha, Aditi Rao Hydari, Richa Chadha, Sanjeeda Shaikh, Sharmin Segal, Shekhar Suman, Fardeen Khan, Adhyayan Suman, Taha Shah
IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack
Release Date: TBC
Logline: On 24 December 1999, Indian Airlines flight IC 814, en route from Kathmandu to New Delhi, was hijacked and taken to Kandahar in Taliban-governed Afghanistan. The hijack lasted seven days; while passengers and crew suffered, some great officers back home struggled to answer the “who” and “why” – answers that were beyond the obvious and extremely complex. But the people had to be brought back home safely. The clock was ticking as the negotiations forged through; this is the story of those seven days which became the longest hijack in Indian history.
Director: Anubhav Sinha
Cast: Vijay Verma, Patralekhaa, Pankaj Kapoor, Naseeruddin Shah, Arvind Swami, Dia Mirza, More
Khakee: The Bengal Chapter
Release Date: TBC
Logline: From the badlands of Bihar to the ganglands of Bengal – our next chapter moves to Kolkata in 2003 when two honest cops go after a dreaded don and his fierce henchmen. Based on a true story, this brand-new season of our beloved cop franchise brings to the screen twice the cops, twice the criminals and twice the action-packed crime drama of S1.
Creator: Neeraj Pandey
Kota Factory Season 3
Release Date: TBC
Logline: Having now braved through the tough initial preparation and the relentless pressure of academics, students brace themselves for the all-important IIT JEE exam. With Jeetu Bhaiya, the students’ unwavering mentor and inspiration, on his own poignant journey to discover his calling, the uncertain fate of the students hangs in the balance in this high-stakes drama of the much-anticipated third season.
Showrunner: Raghav Subbu
Cast: Jitendra Kumar, Tillotama Shome, Mayur More, Ranjan Raj, Alam Khan, Revathi Pillai, Ahsaas Channa, Rajesh Kumar
Maamla Legal Hai
Release Date: March 1
Logline: Set within the fictional confines of Patparganj District Court, this gavel-slamming courtroom comedy, Maamla Legal Hai, explores the world of law through the eyes of its eccentric lawyers. This motley crew of lawyers from idealistic rookies to cynical veterans promises a delightful blend of humor, heart, and legal jargon, drawing inspiration from real-life strange and unbelievable cases.
Director: Rahul Pandey
Cast: Ravi Kishan, Nidhi Bisht, Anant V Joshi, Naila Grewal, Anjum Batra, Vijay Rajoria, Yashpal Sharma
Mandala Murders
Release Date: TBC
Logline: Detectives Rea Thomas and Vikram Singh are thrust into a dark world where these bone-chilling murders are not just random acts of violence but also part of a sinister plan orchestrated by a century-old secret society. But…what’s the purpose of this secret society? Be prepared to enter into the thrilling world of Mandala Murders where the villain, victims, survivors and detectives are intricately and deeply connected to each other!
Creator-Director: Gopi Puthran
Cast: Vaani Kapoor, Vaibhav Raj Gupta
Mismatched Season 3
Release Date: TBC
Logline: Three years from Season 2, we are out of young love and in for some adulthood. After making it through a long-distance relationship, Dimple and Rishi are back together in a brand-new city in a whole new dynamic, facing each other in two competing institutes. Will they be able to overcome a new set of challenges to discover their now-forgotten chemistry?
Director: Akarsh Khurana
Cast: Prajakta Koli, Rohit Saraf
Yeh Kaali Kaali Ankhein Season 2
Release Date: TBC
Logline: Vikrant thought he had the perfect plan to get rid of his ruthless wife. But when his hired hitman turns against him and kidnaps her for ransom, he finds himself in a deadly game with no rules. To make matters worse, a new and powerful rival, who is in love with Purva, enters the fray. Purva, herself, has a few tricks up her sleeve. How will Vikrant survive this web of lies, greed and murder?
Showrunner: Sidharth Sengupta
Cast: Tahir Raj Bhasin, Anchal Singh, Shweta Tripathi, Gurmeet Chaudhary
Fabulous Lives vs. Bollywood Wives
Release Date: TBC
Logline: The cozy world of the Bollywood Wives is in for a shake-up. Three new divas from the swank capital of India, Delhi, join the proceedings. Confronted with lives that could be shinier than theirs, the Bollywood Wives are ready for battle. It is the city of excess vs. the city of dreams. It is bling vs. swag. It is Delhi vs. Bollywood. It is Fabulous Lives vs. Bollywood Wives. Who will blink first?
Director: Uttam Ramkrishna Domale
The Great Indian Kapil Show
Release Date: March 30
Logline: India’s most loved comedian finds a home on Netflix and brings along his crazy but loyal cast of characters! The Great Indian Kapil Show is a variety chat show set in the bustling confines of an airport and features prominent celebrity guests every week. The series will expand to global audiences, infusing Kapil Sharma’s signature wit with classic Indian humour. Featuring Sunil Grover, Krushna Abhishek, Kiku Sharda and others.
Showrunner: Anukalp Goswami
Cast: Kapil Sharma, Sunil Grover, Archana Puran Singh, Krushna Abhishek, Kiku Sharda,
Rajiv Thaku
The Greatest Rivalry – India vs. Pakistan
Release Date: TBC
Logline: There is nothing like cricket to raise emotions in India. But passion hits new heights when it’s a match between India and Pakistan! The Greatest Rivalry – India vs. Pakistan chronicles the relationship between both countries, on and off-field. The docuseries is filled with emotions, cricketing action and humor as it presents two sides of a coin – the competitiveness and unlikely camaraderie shared between the two teams. Featuring legends like Sunil Gavaskar, Virender Sehwag, Shoaib Akhtar, Ravi Ashwin, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Sourav Ganguly, and many others – dive into the greatest rivalry known to any cricket fan.
Directors: Chandradev Bhagat, Stewart Sugg
To Kill a Tiger
Release Date: TBC
Logline: A girl, her father, and their fight for justice. To Kill a Tiger is a cinematic, David and Goliath story about Ranjit, a farmer in Jharkhand, who takes on the fight of his life when he demands justice for his 13-year-old daughter, the survivor of sexual assault. Nominated for the Academy Award for Best Documentary feature and directed by Nisha Pahuja, this is a story of hope, resilience and a father’s unwavering love. Sometimes, one person’s bravery can be all it takes to spark change.
Director: Nisha Pahuja
Yo Yo Honey Singh: Famous
Release Date: TBC
Logline: Based on the illustrious journey of hip-hop artist and rapper, Yo Yo Honey Singh: Famous is a deep-dive into his roller coaster life and the sudden public disappearance at the peak of his exalted career. Honey Singh, for the first time, finally opens up about his personal life in a rare, honest and revelatory way, much to the excitement of the industry and his fans
Director: Mozez Singh
Star: Yo Yo Honey Singh
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