This watchlist will give fiction a run for its money
Choose from chilling true crime, inspiring life stories and captivating mysteries
I was in class nine when the infamous Indrani Mukerjea and Sheena Bohra case took the headlines by storm. The case intrigued me so much that every morning before school, I dedicated half an hour to scouring the newspaper for every new detail and update. There might as well have been a murder board in my head as I tried to play Sherlock Holmes and solve this twisted mystery. I realised then that as much as I loved reading fiction thrillers, nothing was more captivating than real-life stories and events. And so, when the documentary The Indrani Mukerjea Story: Buried Truth dropped on Netflix last year, I was hooked.
Turns out, I’m not alone in my love for movies and TV shows based on true stories. Clearly, audiences love them too, given the sheer number of real-life events inspiring on-screen adaptations across genres. From financial frauds like the Harshad Mehta stock market saga (Scam 1992) to heart-tugging accounts like a mother’s legal battle to bring home her children (Mrs Chatterjee vs Norway), historical moments like the Indian cricket team’s 1983 World Cup victory (83) to how the iconic Nike Air Jordan shoe came into existence (AIR), life-to-screen adaptations are grounded in reality. Their believability is what makes them more compelling than larger-than-life superhero action sequences.
So if you’re also a fan of life-to-screen adaptations, bookmark this watchlist based on true stories that will leave you believing that truth is, indeed, stranger than fiction.
8 movies and TV shows based on real events that should be on your watchlist
Black Warrant (2025)
We’ve all grown up watching C.I.D‘s ACP Pradyuman tell criminals “ab tum baaki ki zindagi jail mein guzaarna” (“now spend the rest of your days in jail”) at the end of a case. But what happens once the cat-and-mouse chase ends? Black Warrant shows you exactly that. The seven-episode series, directed by multiple directors including Vikramaditya Motwane, is based on the non-fiction book Black Warrant: Confessions of a Tihar Jailer co-written by Sunil Kumar Gupta and journalist Sunetra Choudhary.
Set in the 1980s, the show follows Gupta (played by Zahan Kapoor), an idealistic young superintendent navigating the harsh realities of Delhi’s infamous Tihar Jail. As he grapples with issues like overcrowded prison cells, gang violence, and corruption, Gupta, advocates for the inmates’ rights, while his colleagues, entrenched in the corrupt system, are indifferent. His moral compass is tested by real-life figures like Charles Sobhraj, who gives Gupta tips on how to adjust to life in jail—revealing the notorious serial killer’s manipulative side. The series offers a gripping portrait of India’s criminal justice system, exploring the struggles faced by both inmates and jail staff, and the grim duality of prison life, where right and wrong often become blurred.
Watch the seven-episode series on Netflix
Sector 36 (2024)
Mindhunter fans will agree: a watchlist based on real events is incomplete without a true-crime narrative. Sector 36 presents a bone-chilling story, loosely based on the 2006 Nithari serial murders, with changed names and a dramatised plot. It follows sub-inspector Ram Charan Pandey as he confronts a sinister serial killer targeting vulnerable children in a slums of Delhi.
The discovery of a lone human hand in the drains of Sector 36 unearths the dark world of Prem Singh (Vikrant Massey), a house help by day and disturbed serial killer by night, involved in organ trafficking and gruesome murders. As the plot unfolds through flashbacks, the audience is let into Singh’s deeply troubled past, having been abused as a child by his uncle. This drives him to commit horrific acts against other vulnerable children. The story takes a darker turn when Singh attempts to kidnap Pandey’s own daughter, forcing him to confront his own moral failings and the corrupt system within which he operates.
Maharaj (2024)
Step into the 19th-century Bombay courts with Maharaj, based on Saurabh Shah’s novel of the same name, which details the events of the landmark Maharaj Libel Case of 1862. The plot follows Maharaj ‘JJ’ (played by the versatile Jaideep Ahlawat), a revered but corrupt religious leader who sexually exploits women under the guise of spirituality.
When Karsandas Mulji (Junaid Khan), a progressive thinker and social reformer, finds that his fiancée, Kishori, has fallen victim to JJ’s immoral practices and tragically taken her own life, he vows to expose the truth. He launches a newspaper to reveal JJ’s crimes, gathering testimonies from other victims, and challenging deep-rooted societal beliefs. But the path to justice is never easy. As Mulji and JJ lock horns, their battle intensifies and spills into the courts. Mulji is determined to expose JJ’s crimes, while JJ stops at nothing to protect his power and status as the ultimate godman.
The Six Triple Eight (2024)
Who knew mail delivery could also be a battlefield? The Six Triple Eight follows the inspiring true story of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion—the only all-African-American Women’s Army Corps unit during WWII. Neither racism nor war could challenge these badass women, who cleared a backlog of 17 million letters with grit and impeccable sorting skills.
Led by Major Charity Adams (Kerry Washington), these 855 women tackled the daunting task in just 90 days, delivering mail to American troops in Europe. They accomplished this even as they navigated personal losses, faced systemic racism and endured harsh conditions, all while approaching their mission with unwavering determination. The film honours their overlooked contributions and includes a clip of Michelle Obama recognising the battalion’s efforts during a 2009 address at the Women in Military Service for America Memorial Center, where two women who served in the Six Triple Eight were present.
Joy (2024)
What happens when you’re a scientist trying to revolutionise reproduction in the 1960s? You’re told to refrain from “playing god” and taking over divine duties like creating the miracle of life. Luckily, some individuals are undeterred by naysayers. Joy is based on real events during the 1960s and 1970s at the University of Cambridge in England, when a team comprising scientist Dr Robert Edwards, nurse and embryologist Jean Purdy, and surgeon Patrick Steptoe, worked tirelessly to develop in vitro fertilisation (IVF) techniques to assist couples struggling with infertility.
Life is a miracle, indeed, but sometimes it starts in a petri dish, under the microscopic guidance of experts like this pioneering team, who helped several couples become parents. Overcoming societal resistance, ethical dilemmas, personal struggles and the challenges of embryo implantation, the team’s perseverance led to the birth of Louise Brown in 1978—the world’s first “test-tube” baby.
Young Woman and the Sea (2024)
They say swimming is a life skill, and really, there are only upsides to learning it. You either crack the code for enjoyable cardio (better than walking 10k steps, no?), or you could deepen your commitment, and become an Olympic swimmer just like Trudy Ederle. Young Woman and the Sea follows the life of Ederle, who made history by becoming the first woman to swim across the English Channel in 1926. Her passion for swimming was sparked by her mother’s determination to ensure her children learn how to swim after witnessing a traumatic ferry disaster and discovering that most of the fatalities were women.
Despite battling measles and societal pressures, Ederle thrives in the sport. She goes on to compete in the 1924 Paris Olympics, winning two bronze medals. She then sets her sights on crossing the English Channel, despite her father’s initial disapproval and the physical dangers involved, proving that no sexism, gender norms or discouragement can come between a young woman and her sea.
Stream the film on Disney + Hotstar
Women in Blue
A watchlist based on true stories needs at least one tale where women are smashing patriarchy with the ease of swatting an annyoing makkhi trying to sit on a glass of milk. This Spanish-language show is set in 1970s Mexico and follows four women—María, Gabina, Ángeles, and Valentina—who don striking azure uniforms and join the country’s first female police force. Initially recruited as part of a publicity stunt to divert attention from a brutal serial killer, the women soon realise the true danger threatening their city.
Determined to prove their worth, they secretly investigate the case while balancing rigorous training, personal struggles, and societal expectations in a deeply conservative era. With themes of resilience, empowerment, and the complexities of policing, the series weaves gripping suspense with a poignant look at the historical challenges faced by women breaking barriers in law enforcement.
Stream the 10-part series on Apple TV+
Manvat Murders
Just when you think life isn’t that horrific, you come across the story of some wackjob killer fuelled by superstition and greed, like in Manvat Murders. Based on a chapter from Footprints on the Sands of Crime by former Maharashtra Director General of Police, Ramakant Kulkarni, this Marathi-language series delves into the gruesome events that unfolded in the town of Manwat, Maharashtra, between 1972 and 1976.
The case involved the brutal murders of ten individuals, including a 10-year-old girl, allegedly committed by a tribal couple who believed the sacrifices would uncover buried gold and bring wealth. They were guided by superstitious practices linked to a local shaman. The eerie, atmospheric narrative draws you in with its puzzling whodunit, building up to the final court case and shocking verdict.
Stream the eight-part series on Sony Liv
