The series opens with a haunting shot of an open-pit coal mine in Dhanbad. A truck driver, Shambhu, is brutally murdered after refusing to transport illegally mined coal. Enter (Rahul Banerjee), a newly transferred SP (Superintendent of Police) who believes in by-the-book policing. Simultaneously, we meet Meghna Basu (Saayoni Ghosh), a fearless crime reporter from Kolkata who has arrived undercover to investigate the coal mafia. The episode establishes the show’s three key players, ending with Ishaan discovering a burnt body in a coal crusher—marked with a unique symbol: a blue scarab. Episode 2: The Scarab’s Secret Runtime: 45 minutes
4.2/5 IMDb Rating: 7.8/10 (based on 1.2k ratings) dhanbad+blues+2018+season+1+all+episodes+e
A slower, character-driven chapter. Flashbacks reveal that Neel was once a brilliant engineering student whose father was killed by a mining consortium. His descent into crime was fueled by revenge. In the present, the Chief Minister’s son arrives in Dhanbad to broker a truce: the state will legalize a portion of illegal mining if Neel kills a rival gang leader from Bokaro. Neel refuses. This leads to a brutal family massacre—Neel’s younger brother is killed. Anirban Bhattacharya’s grief-stricken performance in the last 10 minutes is award-worthy. Runtime: 50 minutes The series opens with a haunting shot of
No real-life single story, but the coal mafia activities depicted are inspired by the 2014 National Green Tribunal reports on illegal mining in Dhanbad and the infamous 2012 Asansol coal scam. Simultaneously, we meet Meghna Basu (Saayoni Ghosh), a
★★★★☆ (4/5) Binge-Worthiness: High. Where to watch: Hoichoi (legally). Have you watched Dhanbad Blues? Share your thoughts on Episode 6’s cliffhanger in the comments below. And if you’re looking for similar shows, try “Bhalo Theko” or “Indu” on Hoichoi. Article last updated: May 2026 Word count: ~1,850 words
Yes. Hoichoi provides high-quality English subtitles. The show also uses Hindi and English dialogues interchangeably.
Three reasons: 1) The blue scarab symbol, 2) The melancholic (blue) tone of the series, 3) A thematic connection to the blues music genre that plays during key scenes (e.g., B.B. King’s “The Thrill Is Gone” in Episode 5).