Streaming in May 2023: Dahaad, Fubar, and Saas, Bahu aur Flamingo

May is expected to be an exciting month for audience on the small and big screens with a diverse range of titles set to release. From the quirkily named drama series Saas, Bahu aur Flamingo, featuring Dimple Kapadia and Naseeruddin Shah, to the gritty crime drama Dahaad, there’s plenty of gripping content to keep viewers entertained.

Meanwhile, Fubar, Arnold Schwarzenegger’s first series, is an action, adventure-thriller with a family backdrop. Netflix docuseries Queen Charlotte: Bridgerton Story delves deeper into the world of the period drama genre.

With such an eclectic mix of titles, May is sure to be a month full of must-see TV shows and movies.

Queen Charlotte: Bridgerton Story is a prequel spin-off of Netflix’s popular show Bridgerton. The prequel focuses on the story of the character Queen Charlotte played by actor Golda Rosheuvel. In Bridgerton, Queen Charlotte is shown to be a scheming lady who wants to know every gossip happening in her state. But she is all for love stories. The prequel will showcase how Queen Charlotte came to power and will tell the story of how the young Queen’s marriage to King George. Actor India Ria Amarteifio will play the young Charlotte. Actor Adjoa Andoh returns as Lady Agatha Danbury and Ruth Gemmell as Lady Violet Bridgerton. Corey Mylchreest will be as young King George.

Saas, Bahu aur Flamingo: Disney Plus Hotstar
Streaming on: May 5
Homi Adajania’s Saas Bahu aur Flamingo is backed by an interesting ensemble, including actors Dimple Kapadia, Radhika Madan, Angira Dhar, and Isha Talwar. The story of the series revolves around the matriarch Savitri (played by Kapadia), her daughters-in-law, Bijli and Kajal, and her daughter Shanta. Savitri runs Rani Cooperative which, on the surface, deals in textiles but in the garb of textiles, is producing a drug. Ahead of its release, Adajania has said that the show is “not for the faint-hearted.” So, make your choice accordingly.

Queen Cleopatra: Netflix
Streaming on: May 10

Netflix’s upcoming docudrama Queen Cleopatra stars Jada Pinkett Smith, Adele James, and Craig Russell. The official description of the show reads, “As Egypt’s last pharaoh, Cleopatra fights to protect her throne, family and legacy in this docudrama featuring reenactments and expert interviews.” Ahead of its release, the show has got embroiled in a controversy for showing Cleopatra as a black woman.

Dahaad: Prime Video
Streaming on: May 12

The eight-part crime drama Dahaad, starring Sonakshi Sinha, Vijay Varma, Gulshan Devaiah and Sohum Shah, will premiere on May 12 on Prime Video. Directed by Reema Kagti along with Ruchika Oberoi, the show has Sinha essaying the role of a cop named Anjali Bhaati who is trying to solve a case where 27 women have been murdered. The series had its premiere at the 73rd edition of the Berlin International Film Festival where it recveived a positive response. After watching two episodes of the series, The Indian Express’ Shubhra Gupta wrote that she “really wants to see the rest of Dahaad”.

Taj S2: ZEE5
Streaming on: May 12

The second season of the period drama, Taj: Divided By Blood, titled Taj: Reign of Revenge, was announced by ZEE5 was last month. The second season will happen 15 years after the first season ended and will explore Salim’s determination to take revenge on the Mughal empire after being banished for 15 years and the death of his beloved Anarkali. The series will have Naseeruddin Shah reprising his role as King Akbar, Dharmendra as Shaikh Salim Chisti, and Aashim Gulati as Prince Salim. Actor Sauraseni Maitra will join the cast as Meherunnisa (Noor Jahaan), Jiansh Agarwal as Prince Khusrav and Mitansh Lulla as Prince Khurram. It will start streaming on May 12 with new episodes dropping every Friday.

High Desert: Apple TV Plus
Streaming on: May 17

The eight-episode dark comedy series features Patricia Arquette, Matt Dillon, Christine Taylor, Weruche Opia, Brad Garrett, Bernadette Peters, Rupert Friend and Keir O’Donnell in pivotal roles. It will be directed by Emmy Award-winner Jay Roach. The official synopsis of the show reads, “High Desert follows Peggy (Arquette), an on-again-off-again addict who decides to make a new start after the death of her beloved mother, with whom she lived in the small desert town of Yucca Valley, California, and makes a life-changing decision to become a private investigator.”

AntMan And The Wasp Quantumania: Disney+ Hotstar
Streaming on: May 17

The fifth phase of the Marvel Cinematic Universe began with the new Ant-Man film Ant-Man and the Wasp Quantumania. It received mixed reviews upon its release in the theaters in February this year. The Indian Express’ Shalini Langer gave the film 1.5 stars. A part of the review read, “Well, say goodbye to all that warmth, and dive deep instead into the hot mess that is the “quantum realm”, or as the film itself calls it, “Quantumania”. In a terrible idea, almost the entirety of the film – again directed by Peyton Reed — is shot in this universe “below ours”, which is “somewhere between time and space”, “beyond void and subatomia”. Now, the film, starring Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly, Michael Douglas, Michelle Pfeiffer and Kathryn Newton, is available to stream online.

Kathal: Netflix
Streaming on: May 19
The comedy-drama Kathal, starring Sanya Malhotra in the lead role of a police officer, is directed by the debutant Yashowardhan Mishra. The story of the film is said to be inspired by true events and is set in a fictional town called Moba. It revolves around the mystery of missing jackfruits from the garden of a local politician. Malhotra’s character Mahima has been assigned the case of finding the truth behind the missing jackfruits. The film also stars Rajpal Yadav, Vijay Raaz, Anant Joshi, Neha Saraf, Govind Pandey and Shashi Ranjan.

Platonic: Apple TV Plus
Streaming on: May 24

Actors Seth Rogen and Rose Byrne have come together for the new Apple TV+ comedy series titled Platonic. The two actors essay the role of former best friends “who reconnect after a long rift.” The official logline of the series reads, “The duo’s friendship becomes all consuming—and destabilizes their lives in a hilarious way.” Besides Rogen and Byrne, the series also stars Luke Macfarlane, Tre Hale, Andrew Lopez and Carla Gallo.

Actor-filmmaker Arnold Schwarzenegger is all set to make his debut in the OTT space with the Netflix series Fubar. As per the streamer, the action comedy series revolves around a CIA agent who learns about a family secret just before retirement. He is forced back into his job for the one last time. The official description of the eight-episode series reads, “When a father and daughter discover they both secretly work for the CIA, an already dicey undercover mission turns into a dysfunctional family affair.” The show also stars Monica Barbaro, Jay Baruchel, and Fortune Feimster.