Last Updated:
News18 Showsha Reel Awards 2025: From Heeramandi to Citadel: Honey Bunny, here’s a look at the nominations for Best Web Series this year.
Check out the nominees.
The News18 Showsha Reel Awards 2025 is set to celebrate excellence in cinema and OTT, and this year’s nominees for Best Web Series have delivered some of the most compelling storytelling and performances. From satires to gripping thrillers and heartfelt dramas, this year’s nominees have set new benchmarks for storytelling in the OTT space, making the competition for Best Web Series fiercer than ever. Here’s a look at the standout series that defined the year 2024:
Panchayat Season 3
Panchayat returned with its third season, continuing the journey of Abhishek Tripathi, played by Jitendra Kumar, as he navigated rural administrative challenges. Neena Gupta joined the cast and Raghubir Yadav reprised his role, adding depth to the show’s sharp writing and humour. Season 3 was a massive success, ranking among Prime Video’s top three most-watched Indian originals within the first two weeks of release, trending at number one in 26 countries.
Bandish Bandits Season 2
After a long wait, Bandish Bandits came back with its second season, once again blending classical and contemporary music through the journeys of Radhe (Ritwik Bhowmik) and Tamanna (Shreya Chaudhry). The first season’s soulful music and fresh storytelling made it a favourite, and Season 2 continued to explore the characters’ personal and artistic struggles, receiving praise for its melodies and heartfelt performances.
Freedom at Midnight
Based on the bestselling book by Larry Collins and Dominique Lapierre, Freedom At Midnight explored the events leading to the Partition of India and Pakistan, as well as the religious and socio-political dynamics of that time. The historical drama features Sidhant Gupta, Chirag Vohra, Rajendra Chawla, Luke McGibney, Cordelia Bugeja, Arif Zakaria, Ira Dubey, and Malishka Mendonsa.
Gyaarah Gyaarah
Gyaarah Gyaarah is an investigative thriller that spans three decades: 1990, 2001, and 2016. It mixes mystery and science with a hint of mysticism. The story is set in Uttarakhand and follows Yug Arya, a police inspector in 2016, who receives a strange transmission from Shaurya Anthwal from the years 1990, 1998, and 2001 through an old walkie-talkie. The different timelines connect for just a minute at 11:11 PM. Together, Yug and Shaurya try to solve various cases in their timelines.
Citadel: Honey Bunny
Bringing the high-octane action of the Citadel universe to India, Citadel: Honey Bunny delivered gripping espionage drama. The series, packed with adrenaline-fueled sequences and intense performances, became a must-watch for fans of the spy thriller genre, earning attention for its slick execution and fast-paced storytelling. It starred Samantha Ruth Prabhu and Varun Dhawan in lead roles.
Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar
Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar was a breathtaking spectacle, set in the pre-independence era, chronicling the lives of courtesans in the famed Heeramandi district. Starring Manisha Koirala, Sonakshi Sinha, and an ensemble cast, the series left audiences in awe with its grandeur. It became Netflix’s second most-watched non-English show globally upon release, breaking records for the highest viewership for an Indian series in its debut week. Critics lauded its stunning visuals, compelling performances and rich storytelling.