Police officer Shivajirao Jende and his friend, Retired journalist Peter Fernandes plunge into a murder investigation in Mumbai's underbelly. In a thrilling tale adapted from Jerry Pinto's critically acclaimed book, they uncover secrets of desire, greed, despair and also confront the shadows of their long lost friendship.
A moody Mumbai crime drama with strong performances and a literate, socially aware premise, but it plays more like a restrained investigation than a propulsive thriller. It’s worth it if you like character-driven noir and urban underworld stories; less so if you want a tightly plotted, high-tension mystery.
Best for
Viewers who like grounded Indian crime dramas
Fans of slow-burn investigations and moral ambiguity
People interested in Mumbai-set stories with social texture
Audiences drawn to veteran character actors and subdued performances
Skip if
You want a fast, twist-heavy thriller
You prefer glossy, high-energy crime procedurals
You need a deeply satisfying whodunit payoff
You’re not in the mood for a somber, downbeat tone
Overview
Murder in Mahim has the bones of a compelling noir: a murder case that opens into questions of class, sexuality, resentment, and the private compromises people make to survive in Mumbai. The adaptation’s biggest strength is its atmosphere, and the cast gives it weight, especially in the scenes that lean into the uneasy friendship at the center of the story.
Worth noting
The tradeoff is pace. This is a compact series, but it often feels more reflective than suspenseful, and the investigation can move in fits and starts. Rather than building relentless momentum, it favors mood, social observation, and melancholy over procedural fireworks.
Bottom line
If you appreciate crime stories that use the case as a lens on the city and its hidden fractures, it’s a solid watch. If you’re expecting a gripping mystery with sharp escalation and a big payoff, it may feel restrained to a fault.
2012 · Curator 9.3/10 (80.8K ratings) · Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV, Peacock Premium, Acorn TV, BritBox, Spectrum On Demand, Acorn TV Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Peacock Premium Plus, Pluto TV, Plex, Amazon Prime Video Free with Ads, Tubi TV
If what you want most is procedural tension, interrogation scenes, and institutional suspicion.
1997 · Curator 8.2/10 (44.8K ratings) · Where to watch: fuboTV, Acorn TV, Spectrum On Demand, Acorn TV Apple TV, Pluto TV, Plex, Amazon Prime Video Free with Ads, Xumo Play, Tubi TV
Only if you want a long-running murder-investigation format, though this is much lighter and more cozy than Murder in Mahim.
Topics
crime drama, Indian television, slow burn, mystery, noir, social realism, moody, adaptation, urban setting, character-driven