Top OTT releases this week: Murder in Mahim, Doctor Who Season 14 and more

This week’s OTT releases have thriller elements at their very core. Whether it’s JioCinema’s crime mystery Murder in Mahim – based on the plight of homosexuals in India – or Apple TV’s sci-fi series Dark Matter, you’ll be glued to your screens waiting for what comes next. The former carefully dissects the homophobia-ridden social fabric of our society, and the latter delves deep into the infinite possibilities of how our lives could unfold.

Hotstars’ Doctor Who Season 14 serves up wit, humor, suspense and mystery. With decades of material to compare it to, this fledgling section has a lot to prove.

Another big pick is SonyLiv’s Undekhi, which is back for a third season. Explores the dark underbelly of being drunk on wealth and power, focusing on an influential family. The first two seasons were quite a hit with audiences, making this revival highly anticipated.

If you’re looking for something in non-fiction, you can go for Netflix’s latest true crime documentary, Cooking to Kill: Unraveling the Cesar Roman Storywhich explores the intriguing murder case of a Spanish chef who built a successful career on a web of secrets and false identities.

You can also go for Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar (if you haven’t binged on the period drama yet). The show was Netflix’s second most-watched non-English TV show globally this week, with 4.5 million views between April 29 and May 5.

If you want to skip the intense dark genres, you can opt for Prime Video’s latest German series, Maxton Hall — The World Between Us, an invigorating high school drama with a millionaire student and a scientist at crosshairs.

Top OTT releases this week

With that, here are the best OTT releases of the week that made it to our weekend watch list!

Murder in Mahim

When: Now streaming

Where: JioCinema

Mahim Murder is a crime thriller based on homophobic sex crimes where a gay sex worker is murdered in the toilet of Mahim railway station. The show stars Vijay Raaz and Ashutosh Rana, a police officer and former journalist, who work to solve the case. The eight-episode long-running series is set in Mumbai in 2013, when homosexuality was a crime.

Although the show seems a bit overwrought and predictable with crammed plots, tried and tested loopholes and obvious social commentary in the beginning, it soon grows into an unmissable work of art with strong performances. If you’re a little patient with Murder in Mahim, at least until the third episode, you’re in for a cinematic treat that effortlessly takes on even the most difficult subjects, such as the father-son relationship.

Undekhi Season 3

When: Now streaming

Where: SonyLiv

Undekhi follows the Atwals, a powerful and wealthy clan of Manali who are now more vengeful and cruel than ever. After escaping the clutches of the law after the head of their family, the slanderous Papaji, kills a dancer, Undeki begins to work on his succession plans. As he is forced to confront the demons of his past, chaos unfolds within the already disoriented family.

In season three, buried secrets resurface, fueling exciting encounters, emotional roller coasters, and more drama. The lead characters include Harsh Chhaya, Surya Sharma, Anchal Singh, Ankur Rathee and Dibyendu Bhattacharya.

Dark matter

When: Now streaming

Where: Apple TV+

The latest sci-fi series on Apple TV follows Jason Dessen, a physicist, professor and ordinary family man who is abducted one night into an alternate version of his life. Caught between the possibilities of various diverse lives he could have lived, his former mundane life becomes a hellish nightmare. The rest of the series follows the panicked physicist trying to reunite with his real family, who interestingly now have the biggest threat in himself. Based on Blake Crouch’s acclaimed novel of the same name, Dark Matter stars Joel Edgerton, Jennifer Connelly, Alice Braga and Jimmy Simpson. Two episodes have been released on the platform and the rest will be released every Wednesday.

Doctor Who Season 14

When: Now streaming

Where: Hotstar

Doctor Who, one of the longest-running and most popular sci-fi tropes of all time, is back with another installment. The show follows alien Time Lords called Doctor Who who travel the universe in a time-traveling spaceship, often with companions.

This season was billed as the fifth series hosted by Russell T. Davies as head writer and executive producer, the fourteenth to air since the program’s 2005 revival, and the fortieth season overall.

The new season stars Nkuti Gatua as the Fifteenth Doctor and Millie Gibson as his lively new sidekick. The duo embarks on journeys through time and space, meeting remarkable allies and facing formidable adversaries.