Screen Time: Small-Town Feel, Big-Time Thrill
This month’s picks are all over the map in the best way possible. There’s a warm, slow-burn tale about finding your voice in a tight-knit community; a creepy mystery tangled up in cult secrets; a tense spy chase racing against an AI-fueled threat; and a feel-good family comedy full of everyday chaos and big dreams. Whether you’re after something cozy, chilling, action-packed, or just plain funny, there’s plenty to keep you glued to the screen.
Uppu Kappurambu (Telugu)
Amazon Prime Video
In Uppu Kappurambu, we meet Apoorva (Keerthy Suresh), who’s suddenly handed the job of village head after her father’s passing. Problem is, she’s never been interested in politics, let alone running a village. At first, she’s awkward and unsure, and the locals aren’t exactly convinced she’s the right person for the role. But slowly, her quirks and empathy start to shine through. The real story kicks in when Chinna (Suhaas), the gentle cemetery caretaker, reveals a serious problem—the village burial ground is out of space. Apoorva teams up with him to figure out a fix. Their odd-couple partnership—sometimes tense, often sweet—drives the film, and it’s in their back-and-forth that the movie finds its heart.
Suhaas is fantastic as Chinna, bringing a quiet, almost philosophical charm to the role. Keerthy Suresh brings warmth, humor, and a believable growth arc to Apoorva. The film draws on a Vemana poem to compare salt and camphor. Similar in look but different in essence, it's a neat metaphor for the hidden strengths in a community.
The supporting cast, including Babu Mohan, Shatru, and a brief but memorable appearance from Vishnu Oi, adds energy and texture. The cinematography captures village life beautifully—sunlit fields, weathered walls, and all. It’s not perfect—the pacing sags in spots, and some drama feels dialed up too high—but overall, Uppu Kappurambu is a charming, thoughtful film. It’s about leadership that grows from unlikely places, the bonds between people, and the values that keep a community together, even when times get tricky.
Mandala Murders (Hindi)
Netflix
In the mood for a dark, twisty ride? Step into the world of Mandala Murders. Set in the foggy, fictional town of Charandaspur, it follows CIB officer Rea Thomas (Vaani Kapoor) and suspended cop Vikram Singh (Vaibhav Raj Gupta) as they chase down a string of bizarre murders. The twist? A creepy cult called the Aayastis is behind it all, trying to bring back a mythical being named Yast, using human body parts arranged in mandala patterns. Yeah, not exactly your average police case. The show hops between present-day investigation and moody 1950s flashbacks, where we meet Rukmini (Shriya Pilgaonkar), the cult’s founder, and uncover some pretty juicy family secrets. The timelines add drama and depth, though you’ll want to pay close attention—this is not background-watching material.
Visually, it’s a treat. Rain-soaked streets, candlelit rooms, and that constant sense of “something’s not right” keep you hooked. Kapoor brings grit and vulnerability to Rea, Gupta is the perfect brooding sidekick, and Surveen Chawla plays political shark Ananya with delicious menace. Raghubir Yadav and Shriya Pilgaonkar add even more texture to the mix. It’s not perfect—some episodes drag, and the mix of crime drama and occult horror sometimes trips over itself. But when it works, it’s gripping, eerie, and full of “just one more episode” energy. If you like your thrillers with a dash of the supernatural, a sprinkle of family drama, and a whole lot of atmosphere, Mandala Murders is worth the binge.
Special Ops Season 2 (Hindi)
JioHotstar
Himmat Singh is back, and so is the chaos. After five years, Special Ops 2.0 drops on JioHotstar, diving straight into a high-stakes mess of espionage, cybercrime, and AI conspiracies. Only this time, the battlefield isn’t just shadowy alleys and secret meetings; it’s the digital world, and the enemy is as invisible as it is dangerous. The season kicks off with a tech hotshot, Bhargava (Arif Zakaria), getting kidnapped. Himmat (Kay Kay Menon) and his handpicked RAW squad are pulled into a tangled web involving dodgy politicians, shady corporations, banking scams, and the unsettling rise of AI. It’s meant to feel urgent—the whole story unfolds over seven days—but some episodes take their sweet time, with long shots and filler scenes that kill the tension.
Still, when it works, it works. Menon is magnetic as always, playing Himmat with a mix of sharp strategy and quiet vulnerability. The returning crew—Karan Tacker, Muzzamil Ibrahim, Saiyami Kher, Vinay Pathak—fit back in like they never left. Prakash Raj is the surprise scene-stealer, while Tahir Raj Bhasin’s villain feels a bit repetitive. The action is slick, the visuals are polished, and the tech-driven plot feels timely. But Special Ops 2.0 sometimes seems more interested in looking like a big-budget global thriller than delivering a tight, pulse-pounding ride. Even so, if you’re here for Menon’s calm-in-the-storm energy and a modern twist on the spy genre, it’s still worth the binge.
Bakaiti (Hindi)
ZEE5
This one’s a fun, quirky little series that’s all about family chaos, love, and those everyday battles we’ve all seen at home. Set in old Ghaziabad, it follows the Katarias—dad Ajay (Rajesh Tailang), mom Sushma (Sheeba Chaddha), and their constantly squabbling teens, Naina (Tanya Sharma) and Bharat (Aditya Shukla)—as they try to make ends meet. Money’s tight, so everyone comes up with ideas to bring in extra cash, from Sushma dreaming of opening a boutique to the kids’ wild get-rich-quick plans. Eventually, they rent out a room, which means Naina and Bharat are stuck sharing one (which obviously doesn’t go down well). Things get even more interesting when their new tenant (Keshav Sadhna) shows up—charming, mysterious, and with his own set of problems.
The episodes are short and easy to binge, though some of the sibling fights and plot points feel a bit repetitive. Still, the show’s heart is in the right place. It touches on the daily struggles of a middle-class family—such as the struggle of living on one income, the pull of old family property, and how dreams for the future keep you going. The best part? Rajesh Tailang and Sheeba Chaddha are pitch-perfect, bringing warmth and humor to every scene. The younger actors also really come into their own towards the end, making for a sweet and satisfying wrap-up. Bakaiti is a breezy (the episodes are short), feel-good series for anyone who enjoys small-town family dramas.
Baisakhi Roy is a culture writer and journalist based in Ontario, Canada. Her work has appeared in The Globe and Mail, Huffington Post Canada, Chatelaine, Broadview and CBC. Formerly a reporter with The Indian Express in India, Roy is an avid Bollywood fan and co-hosts the Hindi language podcast KhabardaarPodcast.com. Email: baisakhi.roy@gmail.com
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