If you’re a fan of mystery thrillers, there’s something exciting coming your way. Mandala Murders, starring Vaani Kapoor, is all set to release on July 25 on Netflix, and it’s already creating quite a stir among thriller lovers. Before it falls, why not get warmed up with some equally enthralling shows that can be watched on OTTplay Premium? These engrossing series are just right for anyone who loves suspense, crime, and plots that hook you from the beginning to the end.
But first, let’s discuss a little about what Mandala Murders is all about.
Mandala Murders—What to Expect
This new series is an in-depth investigation into a haunting world where old customs and contemporary crimes meet. Vaani Kapoor plays Rhea Thomas, a detective investigating a string of murders tied to an ancient secret society.
She’s assisted by Vikram Singh (played by Vaibhav Raj Gupta), and they both start to disentangle a network of black conspiracies and covert rituals.
Along with Kapoor, the series has a strong supporting cast of Surveen Chawla, Shriya Pilgaonkar, Siddhanth Kapoor, Raghubir Yadav, and Monica Choudhary. By the look of it, Mandala Murders is sure to be an edge-of-the-seat ride packed with suspense, secrets, and jolting twists.
Meanwhile, here are five OTTplay Premium binge-worthy thrillers that will surely keep you on the edge of your seat until July 25.
1. The Night Manager
If you like spy movies with stylish looks and high drama, The Night Manager is a must-watch on your watchlist. Shaan Sengupta, a former naval officer turned night manager of a luxury hotel, is played by Aditya Roy Kapur. His peaceful life turns around when he learns about the sinister side of the arms business, orchestrated by a very feared and influential businessman, Shelly Rungta, played by Anil Kapoor.
The chemistry between the leads, the crisp writing, and the rapid-fire storytelling make the show extremely addictive. And with rumors of a second season in production, it’s the ideal time to binge.
2. Special Ops
Directed by Neeraj Pandey, Special Ops is a thriller that traces RAW agent Himmat Singh as he tries to find out the person behind a sequence of terror strikes in India. Kay Kay Menon excels in the title role, playing Himmat as a dogged, no-nonsense officer with a keen mind and years of experience.
Season 1 combines real life with fiction, whereas Season 2 takes a shift into a cyber-spy thriller, and one gets to know how digital manipulation and spyware are as deadly as bombs and bullets. Both seasons are full of suspense, and this is a must-watch for fans of action and intelligence dramas.
3. Asur
This one’s different, albeit in the best possible way. Asur is a gripping psychological thriller that intertwines crime-solving with themes from ancient Indian mythology.
Arshad Warsi is forensic expert DJ Rajput, who gets involved in a dirty case of serial murder derived from Kali mythology.
The cast, along with Barun Sobti, Ridhi Dogra, and Anupriya Goenka, delivers strong performances. What’s distinctive about the show is not just that it’s about the crime; it’s also about deeper philosophical ideas about the nature of good and bad and how traumas in our past define us. If you want something intelligent but thrilling, you won’t go wrong here.
4. Criminal Justice
Criminal Justice, adapted from the British series, is a courtroom drama infused with an Indian perspective.
Every season will have a new story, typically that of one individual caught up in a defective legal system. Pankaj Tripathi plays the quirky yet extraordinary lawyer Madhav Mishra, who takes on complex cases that test not just his legal skills but also his conscience to the extreme.
The appeal of this series is its narrative, how it takes what seem to be simple cases and complicates them, turning them into emotional narratives. It’s not about guilt or innocence; it’s about how justice is interpreted in today’s world.
All four seasons are worth bingeing.
5. The Freelancer
Inspired by the book A Ticket to Syria, The Freelancer delivers a gripping mix of action, emotion, and intense drama.
Mohit Raina portrays Avinash Kamath, an ex-cop turned freelancer who takes on dangerous, high-stakes assignments.
His latest assignment? Rescue a woman named Alia from war-torn Syria after she’s lured into joining a terrorist outfit.
With strong performances from Anupam Kher, Kashmira Pardeshi, and Ayesha Raza Mishra, this series is as emotionally intense as it is action-packed. It’s a tale of bravery, survival, and the extremes to which one will go to save the innocent.
Wrapping Up
If you’ve been hungry for thrillers with more substance than superficial suspense, these five series on OTTplay Premium satisfy. They’re all about intricate characters, moral ambiguity, and compelling narratives, all without taking you out of suspense mode.