Arjun & Kartk, Zoya Akhtar, Raj and DK, Hansal Mehta, and Shiv Rawail are creators whose narratives stood apart this year

From subversive entertainers to nostalgia steeped narratives to gritty social commentaries, this year regaled the audience with multi-layered content. Here is a look at some of the most memorable shows and films of 2024.

Arjun & Kartk

Dynamic creators Arjun Singgh Baran and Kartk D Nishandar, produced two radically different shows this year. Ritam Srivastav’s directorial ‘Rafuchakkar,’ featured Maniesh Paul in the role of a lifetime with Priya Bapat, Prakash Jha, and Aksha Pardasany. Apart from the gripping narrative, Paul’s portrayal of the many avatars of an elusive conman was yet another reason that the audience enjoyed this show. Arjun and Kartk delivered another winner in ‘Taali.’ Directed by Ravi Jadhav, the riveting six-part series was based on the life of transgender activist Shreegauri Sawant. Sushmita Sen’s bravura performance and the non-normative theme catapulted the show to the top of viewership ratings. Both shows can be watched on JioCinema.

Zoya Akhtar

A rare talent in a male-dominated industry, Zoya Akhtar has an eye for stories that are insightful and refreshing. This year, her production company, Tiger Baby, co-managed by director Reema Kagti, released OTT hits like ‘Made in Heaven-2’, ‘Dahaad’, ‘The Archies’ and ‘Kho Gaye Hum Kahaan,’ ‘Made in Heaven-2’, premiered in August, earning praise for its witty writing, character arcs, performances, and an insightful portrayal of India where tradition and modernity often collide. ‘Dahaad’ was a chilling thriller starring Sonakshi Singh in her OTT debut with Vijay Varma nailing the character of a serial killer. While ‘The Archies’ received mixed reviews, ‘Kho Gaye Hum Kahaan’ is getting much love for its exploration of relatable themes like friendship, heartbreak, ambition and social media addiction. ‘Made in Heaven-2’ and ‘Dahaad’ are available on Amazon Prime Video while ‘The Archies’ and ‘Kho Gaye Hum Kahaan’ can be watched on Netflix.

Raj and DK

Raj Nidimoru and Krishna D.K., who have worked as creators, directors, writers, and producers for more than 20 years once again thrilled audiences in 2024 with their patented mix of humor, drama, and suspense. This year they unveiled ‘Guns & Gulaabs,’ (On Netflix) a tongue-in-cheek crime drama set in the 1990s starring compelling talents like Rajkummar Rao, Dulquer Salmaan, Gulshan Devaiah, Adarsh Gourav and the late Satish Kaushik in possibly his last role. The wildly deviant treatment of the show earned it unanimous acclaim. Additionally, they produced, directed, and co-wrote ‘Farzi,’ a binge-worthy black comedy and crime thriller starring Shahid Kapoor in his OTT debut on Amazon Prime Video.

Hansal Mehta

Hansal Mehta’s ‘Scam 2003: The Telgi Story,’ directed by Tushar Hiranandani with Mehta as co-director, stands out as one of the most compelling and binge-worthy Indian series of the year. A Hindi-language biographical financial thriller streaming on SonyLIV, the show explores the true story of stamped paper counterfeiting orchestrated by Abdul Karim Telgi in the early 2000s. Inspired by Sanjay Singh’s book ‘Telgi Scam: Reporter’s ki Diary,’ it is the second installment in the Scam franchise, following ‘Scam 1992’ and starred Gagan Dev Riar as Telgi. This was a productive year for Mehta as he also co-directed ‘Scoop’ with Mrunmayee Lagoo Waikul for Netflix. This crime drama starring Karishma Tanna was based on Jigna Vora’s biographical memoir ‘Behind Bars in Byculla: My Days in Prison.’

Shiv Rawail

Shiv Rawail recently created and directed ‘The Railway Men: The Untold Story of Bhopal 1984,’ a drama on Netflix inspired by station master Ghulam Dastagir and his team at Bhopal Junction railway station during the 1984 toxic gas leak at Union Carbide India Limited’s plant. Produced by YRF Entertainment, the streaming division of Yash Raj Films, the series stars R. Madhavan, Kay Kay Menon, Divyenndu, and Babil Khan, with Sunny Hinduja and Juhi Chawla Mehta in supporting roles. Released in November, the gripping show has been consistently topping Netflix ratings.