Several of India’s best-loved web series started as free shows on YouTube. TVF Pitchers, Permanent Roommates, Tripling, Kota Factory, Aspirants and Dice Media’s Little Things all released their first seasons on YouTube. Most later moved to paid apps, but their early seasons can still be found on the creators’ official channels.
The list below covers 13 shows, what each is about, and where the story continued. Availability on YouTube can change when a studio signs a new streaming deal, so check the official channel of the production house before you start.
- Why YouTube mattered for Indian web series
- 1. TVF Pitchers
- 2. Operation MBBS
- 3. Permanent Roommates
- 4. TVF Tripling
- 5. Little Things
- 6. Cubicles
- 7. TVF Bachelors
- 8. What The Folks
- 9. Girl in the City
- 10. Adulting
- 11. Home Sweet Office
- 12. Kota Factory
- 13. Aspirants
- Quick guide: where later seasons stream
- Tips for watching safely
- Frequently asked questions
Why YouTube mattered for Indian web series
Before Netflix and Prime Video built large Indian catalogues, studios such as The Viral Fever (TVF) and Dice Media, a Pocket Aces label, used YouTube to reach young viewers directly. Their shows were short, set in hostels, offices and rented flats, and written in the everyday Hindi and English that college students and young professionals speak.
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That success pulled the bigger platforms in. Many of these titles were later picked up by Netflix, Prime Video, SonyLIV or ZEE5, which is why the first season is often free while the rest sits behind a subscription. For more on what is streaming now, see our entertainment section.
1. TVF Pitchers
Four friends quit their corporate jobs to build a startup, and the show follows the money, the arguments and the self-doubt that come with it. Season 1 premiered on TVF Play in 2015, with episodes put on YouTube a week later. Naveen Kasturia, Arunabh Kumar, Jitendra Kumar and Abhay Mahajan play the founders.
Season 2 arrived seven years later, on ZEE5 in December 2022.
2. Operation MBBS
This Dice Media series follows a group of medical students through lectures, exams and hostel life, mixing comedy with the real stress of studying medicine. Its second season, which streamed on YouTube, placed the characters in the middle of the Covid-19 pandemic.
3. Permanent Roommates
Mikesh and Tanya, played by Sumeet Vyas and Nidhi Singh, are in a long-distance relationship when marriage suddenly comes up. Season 1 released on YouTube in 2014 and is widely seen as one of India’s first popular web series.
Season 2 moved to TVF Play in 2016, and Season 3 released on Prime Video in October 2023.
4. TVF Tripling
Three siblings, Chandan, Chanchal and Chitvan, take a road trip that forces them to deal with old fights and new problems. Sumeet Vyas, Maanvi Gagroo and Amol Parashar lead the cast. Season 1 came out on TVF Play and YouTube in 2016.
Season 2 streamed on SonyLIV in 2019, and Season 3 on ZEE5 in 2022.
5. Little Things
Dhruv and Kavya, a live-in couple in Mumbai, deal with ordinary moments: groceries, work stress, lazy Sundays and small arguments. Created by Dhruv Sehgal, who also stars opposite Mithila Palkar, the first season released on Dice Media’s YouTube channel in 2016.
Netflix took over from Season 2 in 2018, and the show ended with its fourth season in 2021.
6. Cubicles
Piyush Prajapati, played by Abhishek Chauhan, joins an IT company for his first job and learns how office life really works. Season 1 released on YouTube and TVF Play in December 2019.
The next three seasons streamed on SonyLIV, with Season 4 arriving in December 2024.
7. TVF Bachelors
Each episode puts four flatmates in a new mess, from landlord trouble to dating disasters. It is light, episodic and easy to dip in and out of, which makes it a good pick for short breaks.
8. What The Folks
A young husband moves in with his wife’s family and has to adjust to their routines and expectations. The Dice Media series looks at in-law relationships with humour rather than drama, and many viewers relate to it.
9. Girl in the City
Meera, played by Mithila Palkar, moves from Dehradun to Mumbai to work in the fashion industry. The Bindass series follows her through a tough internship, rent worries and friendships, and ran for more than one chapter.
10. Adulting
Two flatmates in Mumbai, both in their early twenties, try to handle bills, careers and relationships. The Dice Media show returned for a second season and remains a favourite among young working women.
11. Home Sweet Office
Two cousins start a wedding-film business, which puts them at odds with the family’s older trade. This TVF series is about the friction between running a startup and meeting family expectations.
12. Kota Factory
Vaibhav moves to Kota to prepare for the IIT entrance exam and meets Jeetu Bhaiya, a teacher played by Jitendra Kumar. Shot in black and white, Season 1 released on TVF Play and YouTube in 2019.
Netflix picked up the show from Season 2 in 2021, and Season 3 streamed on Netflix from June 2024.
13. Aspirants
Three friends preparing for the UPSC civil services exam in Delhi’s Old Rajinder Nagar form the core of this TVF drama. Season 1 released on TVF Play and TVF’s YouTube channel in April 2021.
Season 2 moved to Prime Video in October 2023, followed by Season 3 in March 2026. Naveen Kasturia plays Abhilash, the aspirant who becomes an IAS officer.
Quick guide: where later seasons stream
| Show | Season 1 | Later seasons |
|---|---|---|
| TVF Pitchers | TVF Play and YouTube (2015) | ZEE5 (2022) |
| Permanent Roommates | YouTube (2014) | TVF Play, Prime Video |
| TVF Tripling | TVF Play and YouTube (2016) | SonyLIV, ZEE5 |
| Little Things | YouTube (2016) | Netflix |
| Cubicles | YouTube and TVF Play (2019) | SonyLIV |
| Kota Factory | TVF Play and YouTube (2019) | Netflix |
| Aspirants | TVF Play and YouTube (2021) | Prime Video |
Tips for watching safely
- Search the creator’s official channel, such as TVF or Dice Media, instead of random uploads.
- Avoid sites that offer full paid seasons for free. They are usually pirated and may carry malware.
- If a free season has been removed, check the app that holds the later seasons. It often carries Season 1 too.
If you enjoy shows about students and young professionals, our education section covers exams like UPSC and JEE that several of these series are based on.
Frequently asked questions
Which Indian web series are free on YouTube?
The first seasons of TVF Pitchers, Permanent Roommates, Tripling, Cubicles, Kota Factory and Aspirants, along with Dice Media shows like Little Things and Operation MBBS, were released on YouTube. Availability can change, so check the official channel.
Is Kota Factory still on YouTube?
Season 1 was released on TVF Play and YouTube in 2019. Seasons 2 and 3 are on Netflix, which now distributes the show.
Where can I watch Aspirants Season 3?
Aspirants Seasons 2 and 3 stream on Amazon Prime Video. Season 3 released in March 2026.
Why did these shows leave YouTube?
Once a show became popular, studios signed deals with paid platforms that funded bigger budgets. Later seasons usually stay exclusive to that platform.
Sources: Kota Factory, Wikipedia, Aspirants, Wikipedia, Cubicles, Wikipedia, Film Companion.
