Have you subscribed yet?
By Shradha Aswani
Have you been crossing your fingers for Amazon to open its Prime world up for cinephiles like you? Well, your wishes have been granted. As of 2 August, Amazon Prime Video has launched in Thailand, which means users will be able to access hundreds more shows that aren’t available in this region, watch them in Thai subtitles, and can look forward to more local Prime Originals in the near future.
However, if you’ve only just started your account (remember, there’s a 7-day free trial if you just want to dip your toes), we’ve put together a list of desi Prime Originals that are worth watching (or re-watching) on the platform.
Comedy
All must-watch lists should start with comedy. At a time when humour faces the risk of extinction, shows like Panchayat and Comicstaan remind us not to take ourselves too seriously. Addressing fairly serious problems of unemployment and corruption in its light and hilarious exterior, Panchayat is an excellent satirical piece. Jitendra Kumar’s charm shines through the screen and is reason enough to catch the show if you still haven’t.
Comicstaan, on the other end, adopts a reality-TV style and is a great watch if you are a stand-up enthusiast. Almost all the established Indian stand-up comics have appeared as judges on the show.
Drama
Prime has plenty of drama series streaming on the platform, and some of them have caught audiences off guard across continents.
The Modern Love Series, which has now released episodes of Modern Love Hyderabad and Modern Love Mumbai, leaves you with a reminiscent smile. Other series like Breathe and The Family Man take the high-paced approach and don’t let you sleep until you know what is next.
Meanwhile, the worldwide sleeper-hit Made In Heaven, a fictionalised series on the Indian wedding industry, ties an anthology of stories together with the life of lead protagonists Sobhita Dhulipala and Arjun Mathur, who play wedding planners. Although this series came out a while ago, its authenticity and relevant writing make it an intriguing watch even today.
Last and not the least, it’s hard to have missed the hype around Four More Shots Please, a starry-eyed show about Millennial women who stand their ground. Catch it if you’re interested in a contemporary tale of friendship and the namesake shots of tequila that they share.
Crime Thrillers
Streaming platforms’ obsession with crime thrillers never gets old, and Prime Video has many in stock. Two that have stood out for audiences include Mirzapur, a Pankaj Tripathi starrer that fictionalises real happenings from the northern state of Uttar Pradesh; and Pataal Lok, a gripping, fantasy-led crime drama that explores an entirely different side of the human psyche. While these titles created wild buzz upon their release in the subcontinent, many others have found fame amongst consumers in India and abroad. Take a chance with these and find out if they live up to their promise of entertainment and fun!
