Best Telugu Web Series: The Telugu entertainment industry has experienced exponential growth in the last few years with the rise of OTT platforms providing a new avenue for creative storytelling. Viewers are now exposed to engaging and gripping series across different genres that push the boundaries of conventional formats. This article discusses 15 best Telugu web series that have received wide acclaim for their compelling narratives, multilayered characters and production values on par with international standards.
While some are intense crime thrillers or family dramas, others offer lighthearted romantic escapades. All have one thing in common – they showcase the immense talent and vision of directors and producers working in Telugu cinema.
Top 15 Best Telugu Web Series in 2024:
1. Rana Naidu (2023):
Starring famous actor Rana Daggubati in the title role, Rana Naidu is an action crime series currently in production. It follows the life of an undercover cop in Hyderabad embroiled in the murky dealings of gangsters and the corrupt nexus between politicians and criminals. With Sonu Sood’s intimidating screen presence and gritty portrayal of a cop willing to go to any lengths, the series promises to keep viewers on the edge of their seats. Rana Naidu is raising the bar for Telugu crime dramas by shooting across real locations of the city’s underbelly.
IMDB Rating- 7.1/10
Director- Suparn Verma, Karan Anshuman
Star Cast- Rana Daggubati, Gaggubati Venkatesh, and Surveen Chawla.
2. The Software Developer (2020):
This romantic entertainer series brought to the fore the challenges faced by young graduates transitioning to the corporate world. Starring Shanmukh Jaswanth and Vaishnavi Chaitanya in pivotal roles, it explored relatable themes like the pressure to find stable jobs and balancing personal and professional commitments through its protagonist, played by Shamanth. With witty dialogue exchanges between the lead pair and realistic depictions of office politics, The Software Developer emerged as a refreshing change from conventional romance dramas and resonated strongly with urban audiences.
IMDB Rating- 7.3/10
Director- K Subbu
Star Cast- Vaishnavi Chaitanya, Shanmukh Jaswanth Kandregula, Pruthvi Mukka, and Iduri Sri Priya
3. Kumari Srimathi (2023):
An intriguing period family drama currently in production is Kumari Srimathi. Spanning decades in the 1950s-70s, it profiles the coming-of-age journey of a young widow from a wealthy Zamindar family who defies patriarchal norms to become financially independent. Directed by Gomtesh Upadhye and headlined by Uday Aghamarshan, Jayanth Tadinada, Kaushik Subrahmanya, and Srinivas Avasarala, the series delves into themes like gender equality, conservatism versus progressivism with soulful performances and production design transporting viewers back in time. With heartwarming bonding between its multifaceted characters, Kumari Srimathi promises to touch hearts.
IMDB Rating- 7.2/10
Director- Gomtesh Upadhye
Star Cast- Nithya Menen, Thiruveer, Praneetha Patnaik, Nirupam Paritala, and Gautami
Also Read: 15 BEST TELUGU COMEDY MOVIES
4. Recce (2022):
As one of the most acclaimed thriller series of recent times, Recce lived up to its name with edge-of-the-seat sequences following intelligence officers on secret missions. Helmed by debutant director Poluru Krishna and starring well-known actors like Sriram, Siva Balaji, Dhanya Balakrishna, Aadukalam Naren, Ester Noronha, and Jeeva, it brought alive the high-stakes world of espionage and covert operations through meticulous action scenes filmed across scenic foreign locales. With sharp writing, taut direction and talented actors embracing complex roles, Recce left an impact beyond its genre for showcasing Telugu cinema’s evolving capacities.
IMDB Rating- 7.1/10
Director- Poluru Krishna
Star Cast- Sriram, Siva Balaji, Dhanya Balakrishna, Aadukalam Naren, Ester Noronha, Jeeva
Also Read: 50 BEST TELUGU SONG RINGTONES
5. The Baker and the Beauty (2020):
As a sweet romantic drama adapted from an American series of the same name, The Baker and the Beauty won hearts for its charming love story between a humble village baker and an entitled supermodel. It featured Santosh Sobhan and Tina Shilparaj in the lead roles and credible support from other actors like Venkat, Rajiv Kumar Aneja, and Vishnu Priya; it explored themes of class divides, self-discovery and feminism through lighthearted moments accentuated by soulful music. Though predictable at times, The Baker and the Beauty offered heartwarming respite from daily stressors and emerged victorious in the genre due to winning on-screen pair chemistry.
IMDB Rating- 6.9/10
Director- Jonathan Edwards
Star Cast- Santosh Sobhan, Tina Shilparaj, Venkat, Rajiv Kumar Aneja, and Vishnu Priya
Also Read: TOP 10 FAMOUS TELUGU ACTORS
6. Oka Chinna Family Story (2021):
Featuring Neeraj Madhav and Shraddha Das in lead roles, Oka Chinna Family Story was a heartwarming family drama Telugu web series revolving around the bond between siblings. The series portrayed bittersweet moments of a young man striving to care for his family after losing their parents in an accident. With realistic conflicts around responsibilities and emotions, beautifully etched-out secondary characters, and soulful music elevating every scene, Oka Chinna Family Story struck the right chords in depicting the strength of familial ties during testing times.
IMDB Rating- 8.1/10
Director- Mahesh Uppala
Star Cast- Sangeeth Shobhan, Simran Sharma, Tulasi, and Vijaykrishna Naresh
Also Read: TOP 10 NEW TELUGU MOVIES ON OTT
7. Dhahanam (2022):
Dhahanam was a riveting thriller series that kept audiences on the edge of their seats throughout its gripping mystery unraveling across episodes. Helmed by director Gasthya Manju and starring talented actors including Nidhi Arun, Abhishek Duhan, Abhilash Chaudhary, Isha Koppikar, and Naina Ganguly, it took viewers deep into the dark underbelly of drug trafficking networks. Intense scenes following an undercover investigation combined with dramatic twists ensured viewers remained glued to the finale. Dhahanam received wide praise for tackling a relevant social issue through an engaging drama of fast-paced action and performances delivering a powerful cinematic experience.
IMDB Rating- 6.3/10
Director- Agasthya Manju
Star Cast- Nidhi Arun, Abhishek Duhan, Abhilash Chaudhary, Isha Koppikar, and Naina Ganguly
8. Kotha Poradu (2020):
Kotha Poradu was a satirical black comedy delving into murky realities of power politics set against a village backdrop. Featuring popular comedic actors like Anvesh Michael, Thanmai Bolt, Sai Prasanna, and Raj Tirandasu in main roles, the series stood out for its quirky and witty dialogues laced with local humor and puns exposing hypocrisies. Though provocative at times critiquing social ills, Kotha Poradu emerged as refreshing for bringing mirth through uncomfortable realities. Its portrayal of ordinary folk navigating a system with remarkable writing, direction and casting became one of the pioneering satires from Telugu OTT space.
IMDB Rating- 8.1/10
Director- Anvesh Michael
Star Cast- Anvesh Michael, Thanmai Bolt, Sai Prasanna, and Raj Tirandasu
9. Athidhi (2023):
Athidhi is an upcoming action crime thriller spy series in production. Headlined by versatile actor Gayatri Chaganti, Keshav Deepak, and Ravi Varma, initial glimpses reveal the series will explore his character’s high-octane missions and covert operations against the backdrop of international border politics. With impressive stunt sequences shot in scenic foreign locales and a credible cast including Viva Harsha, Athidhi is anticipated to set a new benchmark in the action genre from the Telugu industry. Coupled with sharp scripting and Sudheer’s intense avatar, it promises gripping entertainment blending commercial mass elements with creative storytelling.
IMDB Rating- 6/10
Director- Y.G. Bharath
Star Cast- Gayatri Chaganti, Keshav Deepak, and Ravi Varma
10. Vyavastha (2023):
Vyavastha is an upcoming political drama series exploring party organization’s power dynamics. Starring popular actors Jagapathi Babu and Naresh the series delves deep into murky aspects of manipulating the masses for votes and backdoor politicking. Jagapathi Babu’s portrayal of a ruthless politician whose hunger for power knows no bounds is being lauded even in early promotions. With a gripping insider view of manipulative strategizing coupled with stellar production values, Vyavastha is gearing up for the most ambitious political drama from the Telugu OTT space.
IMDB Rating- 6.4/10
Director- Anand Ranga
Star Cast- Kartgik Rathnam, Sukrutha Wagle, Hebah Patel, and Sampath Raj
11. Manorathangal:
One of the best Telugu web series Manorathangal was a heartwarming anthology series of bittersweet romantic stories set against a rural backdrop. Each episode touched upon themes like perseverance in love despite societal pressures, love transcending religious divides and emotionally rich subjects brought alive through simplistic yet effective storytelling. Winning performances from new talents and soulful music compositions further elevated the rural ambience beautifully portrayed through picturesque visuals and nuanced writing. Manorathangal left viewers with meaningful takeaways on the power of love and compassion.
IMDB Rating- 6.5 /10
Director- Priyadarshan; Santhosh Sivan
Star Cast- Kamal Haasan, Surabhi Lakshmi, Fahadh Faasil, Mammootty
12. Dhootha:
Dhootha was a nail-biting horror thriller that left even skeptics at the edge. The storyline revolves around mysterious ghostly happenings inside an isolated bungalow, and sudden spine-chilling moments built through dramatic cliffhangers keep audiences hooked. Terrific performances by actors Mohan Krishna Indraganti Aditi Suravaram alongside a gripping screenplay directed by Vijay Karthik K, made Dhootha one of the most successful shows in the horror genre. Its terrifying visuals and immersive audio gave a frightening cinematic watch from the comfort of home screens.
IMDB Rating- 7.7 /10
Director- Vikram Kumar
Star Cast- Naga Chaitanya Akkineni · Parvathy Thiruvothu · Prachi Desai · Priya Bhavani Shankar · Chaitanya Garikipati · Ravindra Vijay · Sanvita Mandadapu.
13. Suzhal – The Vortex:
Suzhal-The Vortex broke barriers as one of the most expensive web series from India exploring a gripping mystery. A compelling whodunit storyline set against the backdrop of the famous summer festival Bharat Jodo Pongal kept audiences guessing till the very end. With nuanced performances by veteran actors Kathir Aishwarya Rajesh, alongside fresh talents like Sriya Reddy the crime saga highlighted small-town local politics and communal tensions through an investigative lens. Suzhal received high acclaim for its cinematic visual scale, background score, and crisp screenplay direction from Pushkar & Gayatri.
IMDB Rating- 8.2 /10
Director- Bramma, Anucharan Murugaiyan
Star Cast- Kathir · Aishwarya Rajesh · Shreya Reddy · Parthiban Radhakrishnan · Prem Kumar · Harish Uthaman · Kumaravel · Indumathy Manikandan.
14. Koose Munisamy Veerappan:
An engrossing biopic series on notorious forest brigand Veerappan, Koose Munisamy Veerappan brought alive his menacing exploits terrorizing three states through method performances. From portraying his rebellion against a system that marginalized marginal forest communities to bloody killings the series traced his rise and fall grippingly across episodes. The winning portrayal of the elusive outlaw by actor Jayaram with authentic visuals of dense forests heightened the thriller quotient to make it a chartbuster series recalling chilling true crimes.
IMDB Rating- 9.1 /10
Director- Sharath Jothi
Star Cast- Mahe Thangam as Veerappan · Nakkeeran Gopal, journalist & MD of Nakkheeran Publications · Pa Pa Mohan, advocate · DGP Retd. Alexander IPS
15. Inspector Rishi:
Inspector Rishi is a crime thriller series premiered on Amazon Prime Video in March 2024. Directed and created by J.S. Nandhini, the series stars Naveen Chandra as Inspector Rishi, an insightful police officer who solves complex criminal cases. He is joined by Sunaina Yella who assists him in his investigations. The series also features Kanna Ravi, Srikrishna Dayal, Malini Jeevarathnam and Kumaravel in key roles. With a running time of 10 episodes, Inspector Rishi combines crime drama and horror elements as Inspector Rishi uses observation and deduction skills to solve mysterious murders and paranormal events plaguing the city. The series received praise for its compelling storyline and performances.
IMDB Rating- 7.2 /10
Director- J.S. Nandhini
Star Cast- Naveen Chandra · Srikrishna Dayal · Kanna Ravi · Malini Jeevarathnam · Sunaina Yella · Kumaravel · Harini Sundararajan · Semmalar Annam.
Conclusion:
The best Telugu web series of recent times has pushed creative boundaries with cutting-edge storytelling formats. While some explored societal norms and human relationships profoundly, others offered gripping crime sagas or satires imbued with local nuances. Backed by talented directors and versatile actors fully dedicated to themselves, they have set global benchmarks. With studios increasing budgets, exciting new concepts are enhancing the OTT landscape. Regional stories are now being discovered by wider audiences through these shows, demonstrating immense growth potential.
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