Sita Ramam on Prime Video to Jogi on Netflix: Must-watch shows and films on OTT

The days of rushing to make reservations at the box office counter to catch our favourite movies on the big screen are long gone. You can now take advantage of a plethora of entertainment alternatives wherever you are with only a few taps on your smartphone or remote. If you binge-watch television, this is probably already a part of your regular habit. Here's our pick of shows and films that would guarantee nothing less than an engaging experience, to help you in making the best decision across various streaming platforms.

Sita Ramam

Ram is an orphan soldier whose life is transformed by Sita after he receives a letter from her. Sita Ramam, starring Dulquer Salmaan, Mrunal Thakur, and Rashmika Mandanna, explains Lieutenant Ram's intriguing love tale.

Produced by Vyjayanthi Movies and Swapna Cinema, the romance drama is directed by Hanu Raghavapudi and is streaming in Telugu, Malayalam and Tamil.

Dulquer Salman said, “Sita Ramam is a timeless and heartwarming movie that embraces the poignancy of true love between two people. The positive feedback our movie received made me quite happy. Thanks to Prime Video; viewers all over the world will be able to feel the warmth of this tale. The film will always have a special place in my heart.”

Playing Sita has been one of the most humbling experiences of her life, said Mrunal Thakur. “It’s my first film in the South and with the streaming premiere on Prime Video, I can’t wait for more audiences to watch the film and give it the same love that I’ve felt since it was released.”

“The journey Sita Ramam has been interesting and wonderful. Congratulations to the entire team, especially Hanu sir and thank you to Afreen,” said Rashmika Mandanna, in a statement.

Jogi

The 1984 anti-Sikh riots are the basis for the Netflix film starring Diljit Dosanjh. Along with Kumud Mishra, Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub, Hiten Tejwani, and Amyra Dastur, Jogi is directed by Ali Abbas Zafar.

Anti-Sikh riots broke out in 1984 as a result of Operation Blue Star, an Indian military operation that took place between June 1 and June 8 of that year to drive separatist leader Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale and his supporters from the Golden Temple in Amritsar. Indira Gandhi was shot dead by her bodyguards Satwant Singh and Beant Singh during the operation.

Talking about the film, Diljit said, “Jogi holds a special place in my heart and I say it with pride that this has been told on a global platform. This is my first film on Netflix and the subject is very important to me."

Cuttputlli

Cuttputlli, headlined by Akshay Kumar and Rakul Singh, is available on Disney+ Hotstar. The psychological thriller, bankrolled by Vashu Bhagnani, is reportedly a remake of the 2018 Tamil psychological thriller Ratsasan, which featured Vishnu Vishal and Amala Paul in the lead. With screenplay and dialogues by Aseem Arrora, Cuttputlli is directed by Ranjit M Tewari. 

Lensed by National Award-winning cinematographer Rajeev Ravi, the film is also produced by Jackky Bhagnani and Deepshikha Deshmukh, under the banner Pooja Entertainment.

Although Cuttputlli's plot is rather obvious, the writing and the manner the story develops make for an engaging viewing experience. It does occasionally lose concentration and go off into uninteresting side stories, but thankfully it quickly gets back on course.

Fate: The Winx Saga

This show has returned for a second season, and students are returning for their second year while still grieving for the character that Eve Best portrays, Farah Dowling.

Rosalind is released from stasis at the end of the first season because the headmistress, Farah, was aware of her predicament. In the dramatic ending, Rosalind engaged in combat with Farah and appeared to kill her before taking control of Alfea. Although initially she was recognised by her sharp features and a blonde ponytail, the new Rosalind has a distinct appearance.

Though Lesly Sharp appeared only at the end of the first outing, Miranda Richardson has taken over from her with a cropped haircut.

Season 2 of Fate The Winx Saga was filmed from July to November 21, but it was only on July 22 that the casting was announced.

Chintaa Mani

This tale about a mystical stone known as Mani that can predict the future is being praised everywhere for its original handling of a paranormal subject. Chintaa Mani, directed by first-timer Puneet Sharma, centres on a trio of friends, one of whom meets a wanderer who offers the Mani in exchange for some money. The buddies attempt to change their future after seeing it, which causes them to have a tragic experience. Sudhanshu Rai, Shobhit Sujay, Abhishek Sonpaliya, and Akhlaq Ahmad Azad are all cast members in the Saints Art-produced movie.

Detective Boomrah

A regular-looking detective who can investigate crimes with paranormal and supernatural components is the subject of a web series. A man who came unexpectedly into a locked room is reported missing after jumping off the heritage hotel's terrace, prompting Detective Boomrah to be summoned in. To unravel the mystery, he decides to follow a strange man named Amtim and jump off the roof after him, just like the vanished man did. Where did he go exactly? On MX Player, you can watch it to learn the truth about the missing man.

Shiksha Mandal

The trailer gives viewers a preview of the show and focuses on how some pupils are made to participate in a corrupted educational system and lack the means to challenge the authorities.

The Vyapam Scam, which rocked Madhya Pradesh, served as inspiration for Shiksha Mandal, who provides a glimpse inside what is allegedly India's largest education scam. The idea demonstrates how political support for exam scams in conjunction with academic institutions leads to student murders and enigmatic disappearances.

Actor Gulshan Devaiah said in a statement: “Education is an important sector that is instrumental in empowering our today and shaping our tomorrow; thus, having been a teacher myself, being a part of this story and playing the part of a teacher made perfect sense to me.”

Syed Ahmad Afzal is the series' director, and Gauahar Khan, Gulshan Devaiah, Pavan Raj Malhotra, Rajendra Sethi, and Iram Badar Khan all play significant roles.

The Rings of Power

Amazon Prime Video's much-awaited series focuses on the long-feared reemergence of evil in middle-earth and gives a first look at some of the spine-tingling characters that the series’ heroes will be battling.

This epic drama is set thousands of years before the events of JRR Tolkien’s The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings books and will take viewers back to an era in which great powers were forged, kingdoms rose to glory and fell to ruin, unlikely heroes were tested, hope hung by the finest of threads, and one of the greatest villains that ever flowed from Tolkien’s pen threatened to cover all the world in darkness.

Beginning in a time of relative peace, the series follows an ensemble cast of characters, both familiar and new, as they confront the long-feared reemergence of evil on middle-earth.