Is the New Year celebrations slowly fizzing out? Phones that were once buzzing with plans to explore beaches or mountains are now quiet. Many of us, especially those from the bygone 1990s era, have decided to stay home to celebrate New Year at our homes. To make your New Year celebrations unforgettable, we’ve compiled a list of the top 10 must-watch picks that will spice up your YOLO life. So, without further ado, let’s dive into our top 10 picks for 2024.
Aavesham – Entertainment
With Fahadh Faasil in the lead role, Aavesham (Trailer) is friends’ enjoyment on steroids. It’s fun, at times scary for our co-leads, and a pure entertainer. It has an IMDb rating of 7.8. You can catch the exploits of Ranga and his henchmen on Amazon Prime and Disney+ Hotstar. Director Jithu Madhavan has beautifully captured the passive-aggressive side of the villain, Ranga, the flamboyant nature of teenagers that often leaves them vulnerable, and a simple yet important message: stay away from bad company.
Maharaja – Crime thriller
From one versatile actor to a versatile villain-cum-Hero, Vijay Sethupathi starrer Maharaja (Trailer), is undoubtedly the best crime thriller of 2024. Released in June, the film unpacks the revenge story of Maharaja and his quest to reclaim his ‘Lakshmi’ — a tin dustbin stolen by burglars from his home. The story is more than what meets the eye, with Vijay Sethupathi’s stellar performance being the highlight. You can watch it on Netflix.
Panchayat 3 (Webseries)– Authenticity
With a phenomenal IMDb rating of 9.0, Panchayat 3 web series (trailer) featuring our own Jeethu Bhaiya, takes the cake when it comes to delivering gems of a content that is related to the grass-root level. It’s raw, its authentic, and Sachveerji, weekend me employees ko sahi me kuch acha nahi lag rha hai. They need a content rich series like Panchayat to sit back, enjoy their New Year coming. From Lalna Hind ke Sitara, to Alluah meeting, the series has given content that will drive away its point for a long time to come. You can watch it on Amazon Prime.
Shekhar Home (Webseries) – Detective
Who needs Sherlock Holmes when Kay Kay Menon stars in Shekhar Home (Trailer), a gripping detective series that promises a whirlwind of suspense and clever twists. Menon’s performance as a detective will have you hooked, as his character dives deep into complex cases with sharp wit and intelligence. If you’re a fan of mystery and intrigue, Shekhar Home is sure to entertain you. You can watch it on JioCinema.
Freedom at Midnight (Webseries) – Historical
Freedom at Midnight is a riveting historical series that captures India’s struggle for independence in a way never seen before. This show delves into the moments that shaped the nation, told through the lens of the lesser-known stories. It brings to light the heroes and the untold sacrifices that defined the course of history. Watch it for a fresh perspective on India’s past. Available on SonyLiv.
Article 370 – National narrative
With Bollywood’s current acting Queen Yami Gautam in the lead role, Article 370 (Trailer) is a riveting tale of what went into, to abrogate the repressive and the highly exploitative part of the Indian Constitution, Article 370, 35A, which had been breeding secessionist narrative in the valley. It delves into the complexities surrounding the decision and the political, social, and personal ramifications that followed. A must-watch for those interested in understanding modern India’s shifting political landscape.
Pushpa 2 – Massy cringe fest
‘Pushpa flower nhi fire hai‘ came to the theatres in the fag end of the year, December, but it shattered all the Box office records. The Pushpa saga continues in Pushpa 2 and it delivers yet another dose of massy entertainment, larger-than-life action sequences, and, of course, Allu Arjun’s charisma. While critics and classy audience may not like it, Pushpa 2 struck the entertainment chord with the audience. It not only became the highest-grossing Indian film of the year but it is the third highest-grossing Indian film ever. So, brace yourself for a bit of a cringe fest with over-the-top action, but sometimes, that’s exactly what you need for a mindless fun watch.
Stree 2 – Horror
With ensemble star cast featuring versatile actor RajKumar Rao, Shrada Kapoor and humour institution Pankaj Tripathi, Stree 2 brings back the quirky horror-comedy that made the first installment so popular. While I personally put the first installment above Stree 2, the latest installment of horror-comedy by Maddock films was nothing sort of money-minting machine. The movie is the third-highest grosser movie of 2024.
HanuMan – Cultural aspect
HanuMan is a film that brings together the cultural aspects of mythology and the superhero genre. The story follows a modern-day interpretation of Lord Hanuman’s mythological feats, infused with action and deep spiritual symbolism. This one is perfect for those who appreciate a blend of culture and high-octane action.
The Sabarmati Report – Correcting History
‘The Sabarmati Report’ was released in theatres on 15th of November. In the movie, Vikrant Massey, who irked the Islamist lobby and announced hiatus from Bollywood, decently portrayed the character of a journalist who went on to expose the real conspiracy behind the 2002 Godhra train massacre.
We have not included Samay Raina’s Show, India’s Got Latent, which was one of the most watched shows, because we don’t especially endorse the genre of dark humour, and have extentively alarmed the readers about the downside of mainstreaming of dark humour.
