Acclaimed filmmaker Sudhir Mishra has shared his candid critique of the trending Netflix miniseries ‘Adolescence’, questioning its No.1 ranking in India and the local audience’s admiration for it. Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Mishra expressed his surprise at the show’s overwhelming success despite its unconventional storytelling approach.
Sharing his thoughts, Sudhir Mishra wrote: "How come Adolescence is the No 1 show on Netflix India? All conventional wisdom is against it. Indians are not supposed to like slow burners. It violates every rule taught by bad scriptwriting schools. It spirals down instead of soaring up. It’s the best news in years."
Mishra’s Views on the Show's Success
Mishra, known for films like Dharavi (1992), Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi (2003), Chameli (2004), and Serious Men (2020), admitted that he was influenced to watch the series after Hansal Mehta and Shekhar Kapur highly praised it.
A social media user commented that the show's global hype and positive Western reviews might have influenced how people perceived it:
"It became the most talked-about show in the world and had rave reviews from Western critics. So, we already went into it convinced that it is a good show. It is actually good, but as you said, we would have found it difficult to sit through it if we didn't have this pre-conceived notion."
To this, Sudhir Mishra replied: "No, we didn’t. I saw it because @mehtahansal and @shekharkapur were raving about it. In fact, it’s one of those rare shows that was loved simultaneously across the Netflix universe. By the way, I liked Better Call Saul even more."
About ‘Adolescence’
‘Adolescence’ is a four-episode limited series, uniquely shot in a single continuous take. The show stars Stephen Graham and newcomer Owen Cooper and has been receiving rave reviews since its release. Directed by Philip Barantini, the Netflix drama premiered on March 13, 2025, and has remained No.1 in India ever since, taking social media by storm.
While the series has divided opinions, its experimental storytelling and cinematography have undeniably made it one of the most discussed shows of the year.