Best Crime Thrillers To Watch On OTT Ahead Of ‘Phir Aayi Hasseen Dillruba’ Release
Ahead of the release of Vikrant Massey, Taapsee Pannu and Sunny Kaushal’s ‘Phir Aayi Hasseen Dillruba’, a list of some of the most gripping crime thrillers to watch on OTT.
Bollywood, the Hindi film industry based in Mumbai, is one of the largest and most prolific film industries in the world. Bollywood produces hundreds of films each year and has a massive influence on Indian culture. Tracing its origins to the late 19th century, Indian cinema began with the first silent film, ‘Raja Harishchandra’ (1913) by Dadasaheb Phalke. The introduction of sound in films with ‘Alam Ara’ (1931) marked the beginning of another era. The 1950s and 1960s are considered the golden age of Bollywood, with iconic films like ‘Mother India’ (1957), ‘Pyaasa’ (1957), and ‘Mughal-e-Azam’ (1960). Stars such as Raj Kapoor, Guru Dutt, and Bimal Roy made significant contributions during this period.
The 1970s and 1980s saw the rise of commercial cinema with heroes like Rishi Kapoor, Dharmendra Deol and Amitabh Bachchan, who became known as the ‘Angry Young Man’ of Bollywood. This era popularised masala and commercial films, a mix of various genres including action, drama, romance, and comedy. The 1990s brought a more global outlook with films like ‘Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge’ (1995) and ‘Kuch Kuch Hota Hai’ (1998). The industry continued to evolve, embracing new technologies and storytelling techniques.
The industry boasts iconic personalities, including actors like Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, Aamir Khan, and Akshay Kumar. Actresses such as Madhuri Dixit, Sridevi, Aishwarya Rai, Kareena Kapoor, Deepika Padukone, and Priyanka Chopra have also left an indelible mark. Directors like Raj Kapoor, Yash Chopra, Karan Johar, Sanjay Leela Bhansali, and Rajkumar Hirani have been influential with their unique storytelling styles.
Bollywood's cultural impact extends beyond films. Music and dance sequences are an essential part of Bollywood, often becoming cultural phenomena and contributing to the movie’s overall success. Music composers and singers like R.D. Burman, A.R. Rahman, Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy and Arijit Singh, have created unforgettable soundtracks that are integral to Bollywood films.
The industry also influences fashion trends in India, with styles from films frequently adopted by the masses. Nowadays, Bollywood stars have also started embracing the method dressing trend while promoting their films.
Bollywood films span a wide range of genres and themes. Romance has always been central to Bollywood, with love stories such as ‘Dil Se’ (1998) and ‘Jab We Met’ (2007), no matter what decade it is.
Action films featuring high-octane stunts and dramatic fight sequences, like ‘Sholay’ (1975) and the ‘Dhoom’ series, have also been popular. Emotional and family dramas are staples, with films like ‘Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham’ (2001) and ‘Taare Zameen Par’ (2007) resonating deeply with audiences.
Comedy films also hold a special place in Bollywood, with movies like ‘Gol Maal’ (1979), ‘Andaaz Apna Apna’ (1994), ‘Hera Pheri’ (2000), ‘Welcome’ (2007), and ‘3 Idiots’ (2009) bringing laughter to millions.
Additionally, films addressing social issues and biopics have gained popularity, with titles like ‘Pad Man (2018), ‘Article 15’ (2019) and ‘Mary Kom’ (2014) and ‘Dangal’ (2016), receiving critical acclaim.
In recent years, Bollywood has seen a shift towards more diverse and experimental content. Films like ‘Gully Boy’ (2019) and ‘Stree’ (2018) became box office hits and gained critical acclaim for their fresh perspectives in their respective genres.
The rise of OTT platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+ Hotstar and Jio Cinema has changed the way Bollywood films are consumed, allowing for a wider and more global audience. Along with romance, comedy, action and drama movies, another genre that has been gaining popularity over the years in Bollywood is crime thriller. Each year, more and more gripping crime thrillers are releasing in cinemas and on OTT.
Ahead of the release of Vikrant Massey, Taapsee Pannu and Sunny Kaushal’s ‘Phir Aayi Hasseen Dillruba’ on Netflix on August 9, we decided to list down some of the most gripping crime thrillers to watch on OTT.
If you are planning to stay home this weekend amid heavy rains in several parts of India and want some movie recommendations, then we have got you covered.
Without further ado, check out the list here:
1. ‘Bhakshak’: This heart-wrenching crime thriller was released on February 9, 2024. Directed by Pulkit of ‘Bose: Dead/Alive’ fame, the 2024 Hindi movie starred Bhumi Pednekar in the lead role. ‘Bhakshak’ also starred Sanjay Mishra, Aditya Srivastava, and Mithilesh Sinha in key roles. The movie, inspired by the real-life Muzaffarpur shelter home case, revolves around Vaishali Singh (played by Bhumi Pednekar), a journalist who uncovers a horrifying child sexual abuse scandal in a government-funded shelter home. The movie received mostly positive reviews with Bhumi Pednekar being widely praised for her portrayal of Vaishali, bringing depth and authenticity to her role. ‘Bhakshak’ served as a stark reminder of the harsh realities of child abuse and the role of journalism in seeking justice, despite the obstacles and dangers involved.
Where to watch: Netflix
2. ‘Jaane Jaan’: This 2023 Hindi mystery crime thriller marked Kareena Kapoor Khan’s OTT debut. Directed by Sujoy Ghosh, it also starred Jaideep Ahlawat, Vijay Varma, Saurabh Sachdeva and Lin Laishram. ‘Jaane Jaan’ revolved around Maya D'Souza (Kareena Kapoor), a single mother living in Kalimpong. Her life takes a dramatic turn when she becomes the prime suspect in the murder of her estranged husband (Saurabh Sachdeva). Inspector Karan Anand (Vijay Varma), a determined officer, is assigned to the case. As Karan delves deeper into the investigation, he uncovers layers of secrets and lies. Simultaneously, Naren Vyas (Jaideep Ahlawat), a neighbour and well-wisher of Maya, finds himself entangled in the case. The film builds up to a suspenseful climax with twists and turns that keep the audience guessing. The movie received positive reviews for its gripping narrative, strong performances, and effective direction. The film garnered significant viewership on OTT.
Where to watch: Netflix
3. ‘Monica, O My Darling’: This 2022 movie starred Rajkummar Rao, Radhika Apte and Huma Qureshi in the lead roles. The Vasan Bala directorial was a thrilling murder mystery where an ambitious man called Jayant Arkhedkar (Rajkummar Rao) finds himself at the centre of a web of blackmail and manipulation. The Hindi dark comedy crime thriller was one of the most entertaining films to drop on OTT in 2022. The film is based on a book by Japanese author Keigo Higashino about a man trying to pull off the perfect murder. In the comic crime thriller, Rajkummar Rao essayed the role of a sharp engineer who stumbles into a deadly mystery while attempting to hide his secrets through an absurd plot to kill. Rajkummar Rao, Radhika Apte and Huma Qureshi’s performances in the Hindi movie were definitely a standout. The dark comedy drama also starred Sikandar Kher, Zayn Marie Khan, Akansha Ranjan Kapoor and Sukant Goel.
Where to watch: Netflix
4. ‘Haseen Dillruba’: The 2021 Hindi romantic crime thriller, directed by Vinil Mathew, starred Taapsee Pannu, Vikrant Massey, Harshvardhan Rane and Aditya Srivastava. Written by Kanika Dhillon, ‘Haseen Dilruba’ was one of the most-watched Hindi movies on Netflix when it released in 2021. The movie revolved around Rani Kashyap (Taapsee Pannu), who finds herself embroiled in the murder investigation of her husband, Rishabh Saxena (Vikrant Massey). The narrative weaves through the complexities of their tumultuous marriage, romantic entanglements, and the mystery surrounding Rishu's death. The story unfolds with flashbacks and multiple perspectives, keeping the audience guessing about the true nature of the characters and the actual events leading to the murder. While the film received mixed reviews, Taapsee Pannu and Vikrant Massey’s performances were particularly praised. The music for ‘Haseen Dillruba’ was composed by Amit Trivedi and it featured a mix of romantic and suspenseful tracks that complemented the film's tone.
Where to watch: Netflix
5. ‘Raat Akeli Hai’: This 2020 Hindi crime thriller film, with elements of mystery and drama, marked famous casting and assistant director Honey Trehan’s directorial debut. ‘Raat Akeli Hai’ starred Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Radhika Apte, Shweta Tripathi, Tigmanshu Dhulia, Shivani Raghuvanshi and Nishant Dahiya. The 2020 Hindi movie followed Jatil Yadav (Nawazuddin Siddiqui), a dedicated but lonely police officer, who is called to investigate the murder of Raghubeer Singh, a wealthy and influential patriarch found dead on the night of his wedding. As Jatil Yadav delves deeper into the investigation, he uncovers a web of dark secrets, deceit, and lies within the Singh family. The film navigates through various twists and turns, revealing the complexities of human relationships and hidden motives, keeping the audience guessing until the very end. ‘Raat Akeli Hai’ received positive reviews from critics and audiences alike. Nawazuddin Siddiqui's portrayal of Jatil Yadav was particularly praised for its depth and intensity, as was Radhika Apte's performance as Radha. The film's tight screenplay, direction, and cinematography also garnered acclaim, establishing it as a strong entry in the genre of Indian crime thrillers.
Where to watch: Netflix
6. ‘Badla’: This 2019 Hindi crime thriller was directed by Sujoy Ghosh and starred Amitabh Bachchan, Taapsee Pannu, Manav Kaul, Amrita Singh, Tanveer Ghani and Denzil Smith. ‘Badla’ focused on Naina Sethi, a successful businesswoman accused of murdering her lover, Arjun Joseph. To defend herself, she hires Badal Gupta (Big B), a high-profile lawyer known for never losing a case. The story unfolds through a series of flashbacks and intense interrogations, where Naina and Badal delve into the events leading up to the murder. As the truth gradually unravels, hidden motives and shocking revelations come to light, keeping the audience on the edge of their seats. ‘Badla’ received positive reviews from critics and audiences alike. The performances of Amitabh Bachchan and Taapsee Pannu were highly praised, particularly the intensity they brought to their roles. The film's engaging narrative, tight screenplay, and unexpected twists contributed to its success. Before landing on OTT, ‘Badla’ was released in cinemas and emerged as a box office hit. The movie made over Rs 88 crore in India and Rs 140 crore worldwide.
Where to watch: Netflix
7. 'Andhadhun’: Directed by Sriram Raghavan, ‘Andhadhun’ is a critically acclaimed 2018 Hindi black comedy thriller movie with elements of crime and drama. The 2018 Hindi movie featured Ayushmann Khurrana, Tabu, Radhika Apte, Anil Dhawan, Zakir Hussain, Manav Vij, Ashwini Kalsekar and Chaya Kadam. The movie followed Akash (Ayushmann Khurrana), a visually impaired pianist who becomes embroiled in a series of mysterious and dangerous events after witnessing a murder. Akash pretends to be blind, but his world turns upside down when he becomes an unwitting witness to the murder of a former film star, Pramod Sinha, orchestrated by Pramod's wife, Simi, and her lover, Inspector Manohar. As Akash navigates through this situation, the film takes several unpredictable twists and turns, blending dark humor with suspense and crime. The movie received widespread critical acclaim and emerged as a box office hit, grossing over Rs 74 crore in India and over Rs 439 crore globally. Ayushmann Khurrana's portrayal of Akash was particularly lauded.
Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video
8. ‘Drishyam’: Unarguably one of the best crime thrillers to come out of India. ‘Drishyam’ movie series, originally made by Indian writer-director Jeethu Joseph in Malayalam with Mohanlal in the lead role, received widespread acclaim. The hit suspense thriller was later remade in several languages including Kannada, Telugu, Tamil, Hindi, Chinese and more. While Mohanlal’s ‘Drishyam’ remains iconic, its 2015 Hindi adaptation directed by Nishikant Kamat, starring Ajay Devgn, gained immense appreciation and became quite popular. The Hindi remake of ‘Drishyam’ also featured Shriya Saran and Tabu in the lead roles. ‘Drishyam’, revolving around a man doing everything to save his family from a murder accusation, has been released two parts in both Hindi and Malayalam versions. The movie is titled ‘Drishya’ (2014) in Kannada, ‘Drushyam’ (2014) in Telugu, ‘Papanasam’ (2015) in Tamil. Recently, it was reported that ‘Drishyam’ is also being remade in Hollywood.
Where to watch: The Hindi version of the movie is available on multiple platforms -- Jio Cinema, Disney+ Hotstar and Netflix. The original Malayalam movie is available to watch on Disney+ Hotstar.
9. ‘Kahaani’: The 2012 critically acclaimed Hindi mystery crime thriller, directed by Sujoy Ghosh, starred Vidya Balan, Parambrata Chatterjee, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Indraneil Sengupta, Dhritiman Chatterjee and Saswata Chatterjee. The 2012 Hindi movie followed the story of Vidya Bagchi (Vidya Balan), a pregnant woman who travels from London to Kolkata in search of her missing husband, Arnab Bagchi. Despite receiving little help from the local authorities, Vidya is determined to find him. She teams up with police officer Satyoki Sinha, and together they uncover a complex web of lies and deceit. As they delve deeper into the investigation, they come across a series of shocking revelations. The film builds up to a gripping climax with a surprising twist that leaves the audience in awe. ‘Kahaani’ was a commercial and critical success, minting Rs 51.30 crore in India and over 79 crore worldwide. Vidya Balan's performance as the determined and resilient Vidya Bagchi was widely praised. The film's screenplay, direction, and supporting performances, particularly those of Parambrata Chatterjee and Nawazuddin Siddiqui, were also highly praised.
Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video
10. ‘Talaash: The Answer Lies Within’: This 2012 Hindi crime thriller, featuring elements of psychological horror and drama, was directed by Reema Kagti. It starred Aamir Khan, Rani Mukerji, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Rajkummar Rao, Nawazuddin Siddiqui and more. ‘Talaash’ followed Inspector Surjan Singh Shekhawat (Aamir Khan), who is investigating the mysterious death of a popular film actor, Armaan Kapoor, whose car crashed into a sea. As Surjan delves deeper into the case, he is also grappling with his own personal tragedy—the death of his young son, Karan, which has strained his relationship with his wife, Roshni (Rani Mukerji). During the investigation, Surjan encounters Rosie (Kareena), a mysterious sex worker who provides him with crucial information. As he gets closer to solving the case, Surjan uncovers shocking truths that blur the lines between reality and the supernatural. ‘Talaash’ received positive reviews for its gripping narrative and strong performances. The film was a commercial success, grossing over Rs 93 crore in India and Rs 175 crore worldwide.
Where to watch: Netflix
P.S.: While these were some of our top picks, you can also watch ‘Merry Christmas’, ‘Badlapur’, ‘Bob Biswas’, ‘Talvar’, and Sandeep Aur Pinky Faraar on OTT.
