Here’s what’s on our OTT binge list in February

Barry RodgersPublished on Feb 15, 2023

From high drama to espionage and a homage to the legendary Yash Chopra, there’s something for everyone in the OTT space this month

It’s safe to say that our insatiable appetite for OTT shows, docuseries and movies will not be waning anytime soon. With a slew of titles set to release on streaming platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+ Hotstar, among others, the latter half of February has it all: A nod to Bollywood’s long-standing love affair with romantic movies, courtesy legendary filmmaker Yash Chopra to the new eight-part Amazon series, Farzi, in which Shahid Kapoor makes his OTT debut. Before we dive into the full list, here’s a nugget of information to help you comprehend the sheer popularity of the OTT space: According to a Deloitte report, Indian OTT subscriber figures will expand at 17 per cent CAGR to reach 224 million by 2026 from the current 102 million.

The RomanticsYash Raj Films has been behind some of the most popular and loved romantic movies in Bollywood. Not only have movies from the YRF stable captivated the Indian audience over the past five decades, but they’ve also captured the interest of international audiences. From the 90s classic Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (a movie so iconic that it is played in Mumbai’s Maratha Mandir theatre even after 27 years) to modern hits like Pathaan. The Romantics on Netflix follows 35 leading Bollywood actors as they come together to unpack director Yash Chopra’s legacy and discuss their roles in his films.Streaming platform: Netflix — **The Romantics**
Yash Raj Films has been behind some of the most popular and loved romantic movies in Bollywood. Not only have movies from the YRF stable captivated the Indian audience over the past five decades, but they’ve also captured the interest of international audiences. From the 90s classic *Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge* (a movie so iconic that it is played in Mumbai’s Maratha Mandir theatre even after 27 years) to modern hits like *Pathaan*.
*The Romantics* on Netflix follows 35 leading Bollywood actors as they come together to unpack director Yash Chopra’s legacy and discuss their roles in his films.
Streaming platform: Netflix

FarziAre you familiar with Bollywood potboilers that spotlighted how counterfeiting or ‘jaali-note-ka-dhanda’ would pop? If not, Farzi, developed and directed by Raj and DK, could provide a handy primer. The eight-part Amazon Prime Video series, in which Shahid Kapoor makes his OTT debut, takes us into the dark underbelly of counterfeit notes, including the kind of paper a genuine note uses, the artistry involved in the design, the printing and distribution and the deadly danger involved in the whole operation. Streaming platform: Amazon Prime Video — **Farzi**
Are you familiar with Bollywood potboilers that spotlighted how counterfeiting or ‘jaali-note-ka-dhanda’ would pop? If not, *Farzi*, developed and directed by Raj and DK, could provide a handy primer. The eight-part Amazon Prime Video series, in which Shahid Kapoor makes his OTT debut, takes us into the dark underbelly of counterfeit notes, including the kind of paper a genuine note uses, the artistry involved in the design, the printing and distribution and the deadly danger involved in the whole operation.
Streaming platform: Amazon Prime Video

The Night ManagerSet to stream on February 17th, the Indian adaptation of the John le Carré bestseller will see Anil Kapoor take on the role of an international arms dealer, played by Hugh Laurie in the original BBC one from 2016, while Aditya Roy Kapur plays the character who infiltrates his circle, essayed by Tom Hiddleston in the original. Sridhar Raghavan (Pathaan) wrote the screenplay, and the cast also includes acclaimed actors Sobhita Dhulipala and Tillotama Shome. Like the original, the show is billed as an epic thriller set in exotic locations, but the creators spent many months working on the script to ensure it was a real adaptation rather than a cut-and-paste remake and that the soul of it was Indian. Streaming platform: Disney+ Hotstar — **The Night Manager**
Set to stream on February 17th, the Indian adaptation of the John le Carré bestseller will see Anil Kapoor take on the role of an international arms dealer, played by Hugh Laurie in the original BBC one from 2016, while Aditya Roy Kapur plays the character who infiltrates his circle, essayed by Tom Hiddleston in the original. Sridhar Raghavan (*Pathaan*) wrote the screenplay, and the cast also includes acclaimed actors Sobhita Dhulipala and Tillotama Shome.
Like the original, the show is billed as an epic thriller set in exotic locations, but the creators spent many months working on the script to ensure it was a real adaptation rather than a cut-and-paste remake and that the soul of it was Indian.
Streaming platform: Disney+ Hotstar

The Law According to Lidia PoëtThe Italian period drama series premieres on February 15th and tells of a time when one’s qualifications for a role were dismissed based on social class or gender. The focus of attention, and one set to fight this scourge, is Lidia Poët, a young Italian woman who has set out to become the first female lawyer in all of Italy. And while Poët might excel in her private and professional life, her being a woman meant that her skill as a lawyer is perceived as being less valuable. Soon, she takes on a murder case wherein she is heckled by her family and the men in her field who believe she does not belong in the legal profession. Streaming platform: Netflix — **The Law According to Lidia Poët**
The Italian period drama series premieres on February 15th and tells of a time when one’s qualifications for a role were dismissed based on social class or gender. The focus of attention, and one set to fight this scourge, is Lidia Poët, a young Italian woman who has set out to become the first female lawyer in all of Italy. And while Poët might excel in her private and professional life, her being a woman meant that her skill as a lawyer is perceived as being less valuable. Soon, she takes on a murder case wherein she is heckled by her family and the men in her field who believe she does not belong in the legal profession.
Streaming platform: Netflix

The LuminariesHow did a sex worker get by in the 1800s? The award-winning limited series, based on the Booker Prize-winning novel of the same name, has all the answers. The adventure mystery is set amid New Zealand’s 1860s gold rush period. It follows the journey of Anna Wetherell, a sex worker accused of murder, as she arrives in New Zealand from London to start a new life for herself. Starring Eve Hewson and Himesh Patel, the show is full of twists and turns, with the truth coming out in the series finale.Streaming platform: Lionsgate Play — **The Luminaries**
How did a sex worker get by in the 1800s? The award-winning limited series, based on the Booker Prize-winning novel of the same name, has all the answers. The adventure mystery is set amid New Zealand’s 1860s gold rush period. It follows the journey of Anna Wetherell, a sex worker accused of murder, as she arrives in New Zealand from London to start a new life for herself. Starring Eve Hewson and Himesh Patel, the show is full of twists and turns, with the truth coming out in the series finale.
Streaming platform: Lionsgate Play

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Here’s what’s on our OTT binge list in February

From high drama to espionage and a homage to the legendary Yash Chopra, there’s something for everyone in the OTT space this month

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