“Paatal Lok” is a 2020 Indian crime thriller web series created by Sudip Sharma and produced by Anushka Sharma's production company, Clean Slate Filmz.
The series follows a washed-up Delhi police officer named Hathiram Chaudhary (played by Jaideep Ahlawat), who is assigned to investigate a high-profile assassination attempt on a prominent journalist. As he delves deeper into the case, he uncovers a complex web of corruption, caste politics, and power struggles.
The title “Paatal Lok” refers to the netherworld in Hindu mythology, and the series uses this as a metaphor for the seedy underbelly of Indian society.
The series received critical acclaim for its gripping storyline, strong performances, and social commentary on contemporary India. It also sparked controversy for its portrayal of certain communities and for its depiction of violence.
Some of the awards and nominations received by “Paatal Lok” include:
- International Emmy Awards: Nominated for Best Drama Series
- Filmfare OTT Awards: Won for Best Series and Best Actor in a Drama Series (for Jaideep Ahlawat)
- Screen Awards: Won for Best Original Series and Best Actor in a Drama Series (for Jaideep Ahlawat)
- Asian Academy Creative Awards: Won for Best Direction, Best Original Screenplay, Best Actor in a Leading Role (for Jaideep Ahlawat), and Best Supporting Actor (for Abhishek Banerjee)
| Genre | Neo noir Crime thriller |
|---|---|
| Created by | Sudip Sharma |
| Based on | The Story of My Assassins by Tarun Tejpal |
| Written by | Sudip Sharma Sagar Haveli Hardik Mehta Gunjit Chopra |
| Directed by | Avinash Arun Prosit Roy |
| Starring | Jaideep Ahlawat, Gul Panag, Neeraj Kabi, Swastika Mukherjee, Ishwak Singh, Abhishek Banerjee, Niharika Lyra Dutt, |
| Composers | Naren Chandavarkar Benedict Taylor |
| Country of origin | India |
| Original languages | Hindi English |
| No. of seasons | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 9 |