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Entertainment • Television

Paatal Lok

Paatal Lok is an Indian Hindi-language crime thriller television series that premiered on Amazon Prime Video in 2020.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Paatal Lok is an Indian Hindi-language crime thriller television series that premiered on Amazon Prime Video in 2020. Created by Sudip Sharma, it follows Delhi police officer Hathiram Chaudhary as he investigates a high-profile case that exposes corruption, caste, and class tensions in India. The series is based on Tarun Tejpal’s novel *The Story of My Assassins*.

Premise

The series follows Hathiram Chaudhary as a murder and assassination-related investigation pulls him into a wider web of crime and social conflict. The case leads him into different parts of India and reveals hidden links between the suspects and powerful interests.

Production and release

Paatal Lok was created by Sudip Sharma and directed by Avinash Arun and Prosit Roy. It premiered on Amazon Prime Video on 15 May 2020 and was released as a Hindi-language original series.

Themes

The title refers to the underworld in Hindu cosmology, and the series uses that concept metaphorically. It explores inequality, corruption, violence, and the intersection of caste and class in contemporary India.

Source material

The series is based on Tarun Tejpal’s novel *The Story of My Assassins*. While adapted for television, it retains the broad idea of a police investigation that exposes deeper social and political fault lines.

Key facts

  • The series centres on Inspector Hathiram Chaudhary, a weary Delhi police officer who is assigned a major investigation.
  • Its storyline is inspired by the Hindi concepts of Svarga, Dharti, and Paatal, used as a metaphor for different social classes.
  • The show is based on Tarun Tejpal’s novel *The Story of My Assassins*.
  • The series is known for crime, suspense, and social commentary.
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Canadian context

Canadian viewers may know the series through Amazon Prime Video, which streams internationally in many markets, including Canada.

Frequently asked questions

What is Paatal Lok about?
It follows a Delhi police officer investigating a major case that uncovers crime, corruption, and social divisions.
Who created Paatal Lok?
The series was created by Sudip Sharma.
Who stars in Paatal Lok?
Jaideep Ahlawat plays the lead role of Hathiram Chaudhary.
What platform released Paatal Lok?
It was released on Amazon Prime Video.
What is Paatal Lok based on?
It is based on Tarun Tejpal’s novel *The Story of My Assassins*.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paatal_Lok
    Supports: Premise, title meaning, setting, and source inspiration.
  2. Rotten Tomatoes — https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/paatal_lok
    Supports: Creator, directors, network, genre, original language, and release date.
  3. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9680440/plotsummary/
    Supports: Plot premise and main character details.
  4. Tring — https://www.tring.co.in/popular-web-series/paatal-lok
    Supports: Created by Sudip Sharma, based on The Story of My Assassins, language, producer, and release information.