Tag Archives: Detective Byomkesh Bakshy

Streaming Video News: December 18, 2025

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I updated my list of Bollywood movies on Amazon Prime with today’s premiere of Season 4 of the Hindi series Four More Shots Please!. Earlier this week, the Maddock Horror Universe vampire flick Thamma started streaming on Prime.

I also updated my list of Bollywood movies on Netflix with today’s debut of the Telugu film Premante. Here’s where we stand with all the Yash Raj Films titles added for the “Holiday Season” event that runs through December 27:

December 11: Mere Yaar Ki Shaadi (2002) & Mujhse Dosti Karoge! (2002)
December 12: Bewakoofiyaan (2014) & Mere Dad Ki Maruthi (2013)
December 13: Bank Chor (2017) & Detective Byomkesh Bakshy! (2015)
December 14: Kabul Express (2006) & Tashan (2008)
December 15: Jhoom Barabar Jhoom (2007) & Sui Dhaaga: Made in India (2018)
December 16: Daawat-e-Ishq (2014) & Mere Brother Ki Dulhan (2011)
December 17: Qaidi Band (2017) & Titli (2014)
December 18: Aurangzeb (2013) & Thugs of Hindostan (2018)

The Netflix Original movie sequel Raat Akeli Hai: The Bansal Murders premieres on Friday, followed by Season 4 of The Great Indian Kapil Show on Saturday, with first guest Priyanka Chopra Jonas.

My list of Bollywood movies on Hulu got an update today with two new series: Madhuri Dixit’s Hindi show Mrs. Deshpande (also in Bengali, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Tamil, and Telugu) and the Malayalam series Pharma (also in Bengali, Hindi, Kannada, Marathi, Tamil, and Telugu).

After posting a review of Raat Akeli Hai: The Bansal Murders on Friday, I’m going to take some time off for the holidays. I’ll try to update the three main streaming pages with new additions, but I’ll do so sporadically. Here’s a calendar of some of the films and shows coming to streaming over the next couple of weeks (including the few we know from the rest of the YRF Holiday Season event):

December 22: Aaha Kalyanam (Tamil) on Netflix
December 25: Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat on ZEE5
December 26: Ek Tha Tiger, Hichki, Sultan, & Tiger Zinda Hai on Netflix
January 1, 2026: LBW: Love Beyond Wicket, Season 1 (Tamil) on Hulu

If you want to know what’s coming even further out, please check out my GIANT preview of the new Indian Original movies and series coming to Netflix in 2026 (and beyond). I love putting this together for What’s on Netflix every year, and it’s full of a ton of great information.

Thanks as always for another wonderful year at Access Bollywood. Special thanks to those of you who contributed via PayPal and Venmo. Your support means so much and helps keep this site going strong. Best wishes for a healthy holiday season and a happy new year! — Kathy

[Disclaimer: my Amazon links include an affiliate tag, and I may earn a commission on purchases made via those links. Thanks for helping to support this website!]

Streaming Video News: December 11, 2025

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I updated my list of Bollywood movies on Netflix with today’s streaming debut of the Tamil film Kaantha. Today also marked the start of Yash Raj Films’ “Holiday Season” event, where two movies from the studio’s back catalog will be added to Netflix every day until December 27. Here’s what was added today, plus links to what we know is coming:

December 11: Mere Yaar Ki Shaadi (2002) & Mujhse Dosti Karoge! (2002)
December 12: Bewakoofiyaan (2014) & Mere Dad Ki Maruthi (2013)
December 13: Bank Chor (2017) & Detective Byomkesh Bakshy! (2015)
December 15: Sui Dhaaga: Made in India (2018)
December 16: Daawat-e-Ishq (2014) & Mere Brother Ki Dulhan (2011)
December 17: Qaidi Band (2017) & Titli (2014)
December 18: Aurangzeb (2013) & Thugs of Hindostan (2018)
December 22: Aaha Kalyanam (2014/Tamil)
December 26: Hichki (2018)

The new Netflix Original Hindi comedy series Single Papa debuts on Friday.

I also updated my list of Bollywood movies on Amazon Prime with the addition of the Telugu film 12A Railway Colony. Amazon also added the Telugu version of Jatadhara, but not the Hindi version.

ZEE5 premiered a new Hindi film starring Radhika Apte today: Saali Mohabbat.

Months after Aamir Khan took his movies off of streaming services and made them available for rent on YouTube, another movie rental platform has debuted as a viewing option. The social cataloging service Letterboxd (follow me on Letterboxd here) has launched a virtual video store in specializing in hard-to-find films. One of the first movies they are offering is Anurag Kashyap’s thriller Kennedy, which played at the Cannes Film Festival and 2023 and then disappeared. It never released in theaters or on any streaming service. It’s now available for rent in select countries (not India, unfortunately) until January 9, 2026. In the US, a 48-hour rental costs $19.99 — not cheap, but fair considering it’s been impossible to find until now. You can rent Kennedy here, or check out the other movies available for rent.

[Disclaimer: my Amazon links include an affiliate tag, and I may earn a commission on purchases made via those links. Thanks for helping to support this website!]

Streaming Video News: December 4, 2025

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I updated my list of Bollywood movies on Netflix with today’s streaming debut of the Telugu film The Girlfriend and with five Yash Raj Films titles added to celebrate Ranveer Singh’s 15th anniversary as an actor:

Fun fact: I watched Befikre in 2016 intending to review it, but I immediately forgot both my intention to review it and everything that happened in the movie. That never happens, so do with that info what you will.

I’m still obsessively checking Netflix to determine the schedule for the YRF “Holiday Season” event that runs from December 11-27/12-28 (depending on your country). I’m excited that Titli and Qaidi Band are part of the lineup, as they haven’t been included in the YRF streaming catalog in the past. If we get Roadside Romeo as part of this, I’m going to freak out. Here’s what we know so far:

December 12 – Bewakoofiyaan & Mere Dad Ki Maruthi
December 13 – Bank Chor & Detective Byomkesh Bakshy!
December 15 – Sui Dhaaga: Made in India
December 16 – Daawat-e-Ishq & Mere Brother Ki Dulhan
December 17 – Qaidi Band & Titli
December 18 – Aurangzeb & Thugs of Hindostan
December 23 – Rocket Singh: Salesman of the Year (per CinemaRare)
December 24 – Bunty Aur Babli (per CinemaRare)

The new Netflix Original Tamil movie Stephen releases on Friday.

I also updated my list of Bollywood movies on Hulu with the additions of the Malayalam movie Diés Iraé and the Bengali series Milon Hobe Kotodine.

Streaming Video News: December 1, 2025

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I updated my list of Bollywood movies on Netflix with December 28 expiration dates for all of the Excel Entertainment films currently in the Netflix catalog. Those titles are:

These films flip-flop between Netflix and Amazon Prime every three years. Most of them are already streaming on Prime, except for Game and Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara (which is on Eros Now).

Two other Hindi films will expire from Netflix on December 31: Sanju and PK (★★★½).

The Yash Raj Films returns event proceeds apace on Netflix, with a Ranveer Singh collection coming in the afternoon of Thursday, December 4 in the United States and a Salman Khan collection coming December 26. There’s also a “Holiday Season” event running from December 11-27 with two films joining the Netflix catalog each day. Here are the titles and dates we know so far:

December 12 – Bewakoofiyaan & Mere Dad Ki Maruthi
December 13 – Bank Chor & Detective Byomkesh Bakshy!
December 15 – Sui Dhaaga: Made in India
December 16 – Daawat-e-Ishq & Mere Brother Ki Dulhan
December 23 – Rocket Singh: Salesman of the Year (per CinemaRare)
December 24 – Bunty Aur Babli (per CinemaRare)

Finally, Netflix very quietly announced the return of The Great Indian Kapil Show by adding “Season 4 Coming December 20” tag to its landing page.

If you missed any of the 38 Indian films added to Netflix in November, go check out my monthly roundup for What’s on Netflix.

[Disclaimer: my Amazon links include an affiliate tag, and I may earn a commission on purchases made via those links. Thanks for helping to support this website!]

Streaming Video News: June 27, 2017

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I updated my list of Bollywood movies on Netflix with one new addition to the catalog. The animated children’s movie Chhota Bheem and the Curse of Damyaan is now available for streaming. Half-a-dozen titles are set to expire from Netflix on July 1, including: Bajatey Raho, Darr @ the Mall, Detective Byomkesh Bakshy!, Dum Laga Ke Haisha, Greater Elephant, and Kshay.

I also updated my list of Bollywood movies on Amazon Prime with the addition of the 2016 Malayalam movie Shyam to the streaming service. For everything else new on Amazon Prime or Netflix — Bollywood or not — check Instant Watcher.

And I also updated my list of Bollywood movies on Heera because Action Replayy is now available for streaming. The only reason to watch the 2010 time travel comedy is to see just how far Aditya Roy Kapur has come as an actor, because he’s super annoying in Action Replayy.

Best Bollywood Movies of 2015

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2015 offered up a satisfying mix of sweet, intimate stories and dark thrills and chills. Here are my picks for the best Bollywood movies of 2015. (Click on the title of each movie to read my original review.)

The year ended on a triumphant note with the release of the historical epic romance Bajirao Mastani. Director Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s colorful, lavish style demands to be seen on the big screen.

Two smaller Hindi films that played at the Chicago South Asian Film Festival prove that big budgets aren’t necessary to make a great movie. Haraamkhor and Dhanak depict the struggles of childhood in very different ways, with Dhanak being easily the sweetest film of the year.

Early 2015 saw the release of two great revenge thrillers: Badlapur and NH10. While Badlapur explores the toll that a lingering desire for vengeance takes on a grieving husband (Varun Dhawan), NH10 is a race against the clock for a woman (Anushka Sharma) trying to defeat the men out to kill her.

In contrast to such dark fare, Piku lovingly and humorously explores the tense relationship between an adult daughter (Deepika Padukone) who hits the road with her ailing father (Amitabh Bachchan).

A pair of top-notch crime thrillers also made the list. Talvar‘s unique story structure sets apart this real-life murder mystery. Detective Byomkesh Bakshy! put a modern, stylish twist on a classic Indian literary detective.

Dum Laga Ke Haisha is as charming as can be, telling the tale of a loser (Ayushmann Khurrana) rebelling against his marriage to an accomplished woman (Bhumi Pednekar) who fails to fit his beauty standards. So much care went into the story that it is impossible not to fall in love with these young adults trying to grow under enormous family pressure.

My favorite movie of 2015 is a big budget, multi-starrer that nevertheless tells a smart, contemporary family story. Too often, Bollywood spectacle films are “check your brain at the door” affairs, full of bombast but devoid of substance. Director Zoya Akhtar brings together an A-list cast — including Priyanka Chopra, Anushka Sharma, Ranveer Singh, Farhan Akhtar, and Anil Kapoor — for a film that is fun and romantic, but also contains insightful critiques of the respect (or lack thereof) accorded women in modern Indian society. Director Akhtar takes the opportunity this big-budget blockbuster affords her and uses the platform to inform as well as entertain. For that reason, my favorite Hindi film of 2015 is Dil Dhadakne Do.

(Update: I watched Masaan after posting this list. Were I to re-do my rankings, I’d place Masaan in 9th place, between Dhanak and Haraamkhor.)

Kathy’s Top Ten Bollywood Movies of 2015

  1. Dil Dhadakne Do — Buy/rent at iTunes or Amazon
  2. Dum Laga Ke Haisha — Buy/rent at iTunes or Amazon
  3. Detective Byomkesh Bakshy! — Buy/rent at iTunes or Amazon
  4. Talvar — Buy at Amazon
  5. Piku — Buy/rent at iTunes or Amazon
  6. NH10 — Buy at Amazon
  7. Badlapur — Buy at Amazon
  8. Dhanak
  9. Haraamkhor
  10. Bajirao Mastani

Previous Best Movies Lists

Streaming Video News: January 1, 2016

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I updated my list of Bollywood movies on Netflix with a ton of new additions to the catalog. Netflix kicked off 2016 by adding seventeen (!) Hindi movies to the streaming catalog, along with a number of movies in other Indian languages, most notably director Mani Ratnam’s 2015 Tamil hit OK Kanmani. I added a category for films in other Indian languages at the bottom of my Netflix page. (January 2 update: Dum Laga Ke Haisha is also now on Netflix!)

Here’s a list of all the Bollywood films added to Netflix today:

Detective Byomkesh Bakshy! and Piku are two of my favorite movies of 2015, and I can’t wait to check out Randeep Hooda in Main Aur Charles, which didn’t open in US theaters. A number of these films — like Katiyabaaz and Kshay — were hits on the festival circuit, and this is the first opportunity for a wide audience to see them. Same for the Gujarati film The Good Road, India’s official submission to the 86th Oscars, which was also added today.

For everything else new on Netflix, please check out Instant Watcher.

Bollywood Box Office: May 8-10

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Piku just knocked the pants off of every other Hindi movie to open in North America in 2015 so far and set a high bar for future releases. During its first weekend — from May 8-10, 2015 — Piku earned $938,938 from 117 theaters, an average of $8,025 per screen.

Mother’s Day Sunday drove huge crowds to the theater for the family comedy starring Amitabh Bachchan and Deepika Padukone. At least one showing at my local cinema sold out of tickets, which is almost unheard of. In one weekend, Piku earned $200,000 more than Baby — now the second highest earner of 2015 — earned from four weeks in North American theaters. Piku‘s strong earnings and positive word of mouth should make the team behind Bombay Velvet nervous ahead of its release on Friday, May 15.

[Rentrak reports to Bollywood Hungama weekend earnings figures for Piku that are about $150,000 less than the above figures reported by Box Office Mojo. I tend to prioritize Box Office Mojo’s figures when they have them available for Hindi movies. Either way, Piku earned a helluva a lot of money.]

In its second weekend, Gabbar is Back took in another $109,705 from 92 theaters ($1,192 average), bringing its North American total to $490,385.

Other Hindi movies still in North American theaters:

  • Detective Byomkesh Bakshy!: Week 6; $2,200 from six theaters ($367 average); $608,751 total
  • Dharam Sankat Mein: Week 5; $160 from one theater; $13,545 total

Sources: Box Office Mojo and Rentrak, via Bollywood Hungama

 

Bollywood Box Office: May 1-3

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Gabbar is Back had a good opening weekend in North America by 2015 standards, which isn’t saying much. During the weekend of May 1-3, 2015, Gabbar is Back earned $270,101 from 120 theaters ($2,251 average). That’s the fifth highest opening of the year, although it opened in the third highest number of theaters.

As with Mr. X, Gabbar is Back proved vastly more popular in Canada than in the US. In Canada, Gabbar is Back took in $64,224 from 13 theaters, meaning that nearly a quarter of the film’s earnings came from just a tenth of its total North American theaters. The difference in the countries’ per-screen averages is even more stark: $4,940 in Canada versus $1,924 in the US.

Gabbar is Back‘s opening weekend total is $164,850 less than what Baby — Akshay Kumar’s other 2015 release — earned in its opening weekend in January. Given the caliber of Bollywood movies releasing this month, Gabbar is Back is more likely to flame out fast in theaters rather than burn slowly. Baby earned 60% of its total haul in its first weekend, so a similar performance by Gabbar is Back would place its final North American tally at around $450,000.

In its fifth weekend, Detective Byomkesh Bakshy! added another $4,529 from five theaters ($906 average) to bring its US total to $605,436.

Dharam Sankat Mein spent a fourth weekend in one theater, taking in $374 to bring its total to $13,339.

Source: Rentrak, via Bollywood Hungama

Opening May 1: Gabbar is Back

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One new Hindi movie opens in the Chicago area on May 1, 2015. Akshay Kumar plays a corruption-busting vigilante in Gabbar is Back.

Gabbar is Back opens on Friday at the AMC River East 21 in Chicago, Regal Gardens Stadium 1-6 in Skokie, MovieMax Cinemas in Niles, AMC South Barrington 30 in South Barrington, Regal Cantera Stadium 17 in Warrenville, and AMC Loews Woodridge 18 in Woodridge. It has a listed runtime of 2 hrs. 11 min.

Detective Byomkesh Bakshy! gets a fifth week at the South Barrington 30.

Other Indian movies showing in the Chicago area this weekend include both the Tamil and Telugu versions of Uttama Villain at the Muvico Rosemont 18 in Rosemont and MovieMax, which also carries Vai Raja Vai (Tamil), Ganga (Telugu), Dohchay (Telugu), Bhaskar the Rascal (Malayalam), Oru Vadakkan Selfie (Malayalam), OK Kanmani (Tamil), and OK Bangaram (Telugu).