Gyaarah Gyaarah: The Indian Time-Travel Thriller That’ll Make You Check Your Watch at 11:11 (And Wonder Where Season 2 Is)

Description: A walkie-talkie connects cops across decades at 11:11 PM. It’s brilliant, it’s binge-worthy, and yes, you’ll be waiting for Season 2 forever.

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When 11:11 Becomes More Than a Wish

You know that thing where you glance at your phone and it’s 11:11, and you’re supposed to make a wish? Well, what if instead of wishing for a promotion or true love, you could actually talk to someone from 26 years ago and prevent crimes before they happen?

Welcome to Gyaarah Gyaarah, the Indian thriller that takes the 11:11 phenomenon and turns it into a mind-bending crime drama that’ll have you checking your watch every night at exactly that time—just in case a mysterious walkie-talkie decides to connect you with a cop from the 1990s.

Released on August 9, 2024, on ZEE5, this eight-episode series quickly became one of the platform’s most-watched shows of the year. It earned an impressive 8.2/10 on IMDb and ranked as the 4th most popular Indian web series of 2024 on the platform. Not bad for a show that most international audiences had never heard of until they stumbled upon it while desperately searching for something new to binge.

But here’s the thing: Gyaarah Gyaarah isn’t just another time-travel show. It’s the official Indian remake of the legendary Korean drama Signal (2016), which means it comes with high expectations and an army of K-drama fans ready to compare every frame. And somehow, against all odds, it actually works.

So let’s dive into what makes this show tick, where you can watch it, why the ending will leave you screaming at your screen, and most importantly—where the hell is Season 2?

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The Premise: Time-Travel Crime-Solving 101

Here’s the setup: Imagine you’re a cop in 2016, and you’ve been haunted your entire life by a childhood memory—watching a little girl get kidnapped at a village fair. Everyone blamed a local man, but you knew he was innocent. Nobody believed you then, and nobody believes you now. You’ve grown up angry, disillusioned, and constantly butting heads with your superiors.

That’s Yug Arya (played by Raghav Juyal, in a surprising dramatic turn from his usual comedy roles). He’s our protagonist in the present day (well, 2016), working as a police officer in Uttarakhand, India.

Now, add a mysterious walkie-talkie that sits in the police station’s evidence room. Every night at exactly 11:11 PM, this walkie-talkie—which has no batteries, by the way—crackles to life for exactly one minute. And on the other end? A cop from 1990 named Shaurya Anthwal (Dhairya Karwa), who’s investigating cases that are ancient history to Yug but happening in real-time for Shaurya.

Oh, and there’s ACP Vamika Rawat (Kritika Kamra), Yug’s superior officer, who becomes his ally as they realize this impossible connection might be their chance to solve cold cases and prevent crimes that have already happened—or haven’t happened yet, depending on which timeline you’re in.

Confused? Good. That’s the point.

The show operates across three timelines: 1990, 2001, and 2016. The walkie-talkie connects 1990 and 2016, allowing Yug and Shaurya to share information, change the past, and deal with the consequences of those changes in the present. It’s Back to the Future meets True Detective, with a distinctly Indian flavor.

The core concept is simple but brilliant: What if you could prevent a crime before it happens by telling someone in the past what you know? But here’s the catch—every change creates ripples. Save one person, and someone else might die. Solve one case, and another might never get solved. It’s a temporal Jenga game where pulling out the wrong piece could collapse everything.

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The Plot: What Actually Happens (Spoiler-Lite)

Over eight episodes, Gyaarah Gyaarah weaves together multiple cases, but the central mystery revolves around that childhood kidnapping that haunted Yug. As a kid, he witnessed a girl being abducted at a crowded village fair. A local man was arrested and convicted, but Yug always believed the wrong person was blamed.

When the walkie-talkie connection begins, Yug realizes he can work with Shaurya to investigate the case from both ends of the timeline. What starts as an attempt to clear an innocent man’s name spirals into something much bigger—a web of connected crimes spanning decades.

The cases they tackle include:

1. The Childhood Kidnapping Case: The one that started it all. Yug and Shaurya work together to uncover the real kidnapper and understand why the wrong man was convicted.

2. The 26-Year-Old Serial Killer Case: A cold case from Shaurya’s time that has connections to crimes happening in Yug’s present.

3. Multiple Cold Cases: As the two cops build trust, they start tackling other unsolved crimes, each one revealing more about the mysterious connection between them.

But here’s where it gets really interesting: Yug and Shaurya discover they have an unknown connection. There’s something linking these two men across time beyond just the walkie-talkie, and the show drops hints throughout without fully revealing what it is.

The Big Mystery: The walkie-talkie itself. It has no batteries. It shouldn’t work. Yet every night at 11:11, it comes alive for exactly 60 seconds. Why? How? The show doesn’t answer this in Season 1, which is either brilliant setup for Season 2 or incredibly frustrating, depending on your perspective.

The Ending: Without spoiling too much, the season ends on a cliffhanger. Multiple plot threads are left dangling. Questions are raised but not answered. It’s the kind of ending that makes you immediately Google “Gyaarah Gyaarah Season 2 release date” at 11:12 PM, only to find… nothing.

Viewers have been vocal about wanting “a more concrete ending” and feeling that “all the questions raised during the series should be answered.” But that’s also what makes it compelling—it leaves you wanting more.

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The Comparison Game: Signal vs Gyaarah Gyaarah vs Frequency

Let’s address the elephant in the room: Gyaarah Gyaarah is a remake of Signal, one of the most acclaimed Korean dramas of all time. So how does it stack up?

The Korean Connection: Signal (2016)

Signal was a phenomenon. It combined real unsolved Korean crimes with a time-travel twist, creating a show that was both socially conscious and thrilling. The Korean version used a police radio to connect detectives from 2000 and 2015, tackling cases inspired by actual events like the Hwaseong serial murders.

Gyaarah Gyaarah takes the same core concept but adapts it for an Indian context. The walkie-talkie replaces the radio, the timelines shift to 1990 and 2016, and the cases are reimagined for Indian audiences.

What’s the Same:

• The core mechanic: A communication device connecting cops across time
• The time-travel paradox: Actions in the past change the present
• The emotional weight: Both shows explore how unsolved crimes haunt investigators
• The social commentary: Both tackle real issues (though Signal was more directly based on actual cases)

What’s Different:

1. Visual Style: This is the biggest change. Signal was dark, gritty, and visually oppressive—all gray skies and shadowy rooms. Gyaarah Gyaarah is… bright. Like, really bright. It’s shot in the beautiful landscapes of Uttarakhand, with vibrant colors, local festivals, and folk dances. Where Signal felt like a noir thriller, Gyaarah Gyaarah feels like a thriller that happens to take place in a tourism brochure.

2. Scale and Scope: The Korean version filmed a kidnapping scene outside an empty school. The Indian version? A crowded village fair with hundreds of extras. Where Signal showed a lone protester, Gyaarah Gyaarah shows dozens of people with signs. It’s bigger, louder, and more chaotic—which is very on-brand for Indian cinema.

3. Complexity: Signal was intricate, with plot threads that wove together in satisfying ways by the end. Gyaarah Gyaarah simplifies some of this complexity but compensates with faster pacing. It’s the difference between a slow-burn mystery and a thriller that keeps you hitting “next episode.”

4. Cultural Context: The Indian version introduces concepts like “statute of limitations” (which doesn’t actually exist in Indian law, but adds dramatic tension) and explores issues specific to Indian society.

The Verdict: Fans of Signal have called Gyaarah Gyaarah “a rare successful adaptation that completely respects the legendary Korean drama.” Others feel it’s “interesting in concept but boring in execution.” Your mileage may vary depending on whether you’ve seen the original and how much you value faithful adaptation versus creative reinterpretation.

The American Cousin: Frequency (2016)

Interestingly, 2016 was apparently the year of time-travel cop shows. Frequency, the American series (based on the 2000 film), also premiered that year with a similar premise: A detective in 2016 communicates with her father in 1996 via a ham radio, working together to solve crimes and prevent tragedies.

All three shows—Signal, Frequency, and now Gyaarah Gyaarah—share the same DNA:

• A communication device (radio/walkie-talkie) as the time-travel mechanism
• Law enforcement protagonists
• The butterfly effect of changing the past
• Personal stakes (family connections or traumatic memories)

The main difference? Frequency was canceled after one season (RIP), Signal got a second season years later (premiering in 2026!), and Gyaarah Gyaarah… well, we’ll get to that.

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Where and How to Watch (Because You’re Definitely Googling This)

So you’re sold on the concept and want to watch it. Here’s the deal:

Primary Platform: ZEE5

Gyaarah Gyaarah is a ZEE5 original, which means it’s exclusive to that platform. ZEE5 is one of India’s major streaming services, and while it’s primarily aimed at the Indian market, it is available in multiple countries.

How to Access:

• In India: Easy. Just sign up for ZEE5. They offer various subscription tiers, including a free tier with ads.
• Outside India: ZEE5 is available in many countries, but content libraries vary by region. You might need a VPN if it’s not available in your location, though we’re definitely not officially recommending that. Wink wink.

Alternative Options:

• JioTV: If you’re in India and have a Jio connection, you can watch it here.
• VI Movies and TV: Another option for Indian viewers.
• Some of these platforms offer free viewing with ads, so you don’t necessarily need to pay.

The International Viewer Dilemma:

Here’s the frustrating part: Unlike Netflix or Amazon Prime, ZEE5 isn’t as globally accessible. If you’re outside India and don’t have access to ZEE5 in your region, your options are limited. You can:

1. Check if ZEE5 is available in your country (it’s in the US, UK, Canada, and several other markets)
2. Use a VPN (again, not officially recommending, just stating facts)
3. Wait and hope it gets picked up by a more global platform (unlikely but possible)

The Piracy Question:

Look, we’re not going to tell you what to do. But we will say that if you enjoy the show and want to see Season 2, supporting it through official channels is the best way to make that happen. Streaming numbers matter, and they’re how platforms decide what to renew.

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The Big Question: Where’s Season 2?

Alright, let’s talk about the elephant-sized walkie-talkie in the room: Is there going to be a Season 2?

The Short Answer: As of January 2026, there’s no official announcement.

The Long Answer: It’s complicated.

Gyaarah Gyaarah ended with a massive cliffhanger and multiple unresolved plot threads. The walkie-talkie mystery remains unsolved. The connection between Yug and Shaurya is still unclear. There are loose ends everywhere. It’s the kind of ending that screams “Season 2 is coming!” except… nobody’s confirmed that.

What We Know:

• The show was a hit on ZEE5, becoming one of their most-watched series of 2024
• It ranked #4 on IMDb’s most popular Indian web series of 2024
• Fans on Reddit and social media are actively campaigning for a second season
• The Korean original, Signal, did eventually get a second season—which premiered in 2026, ten years after the first season!

What We Don’t Know:

• Whether ZEE5 has officially greenlit Season 2
• If the cast and crew are interested in returning
• When we might realistically see new episodes

The Reality Check:

Here’s the thing about Indian streaming shows: Renewal decisions can take a while, and announcements don’t always come quickly. Unlike American networks that announce renewals within weeks, Indian platforms sometimes take months or even years to confirm next seasons.

Add to that the fact that Signal Season 2 took a decade to materialize, and you start to see the pattern. Time-travel shows about time are, ironically, very slow to continue.

What Fans Are Saying:

On Reddit, one viewer noted: “The Korean version Signal Season 2 is being made, but it will be a long time before it airs.” (Update: It actually premiered in 2026!) Another commented: “I need Season 2 ASAP. The ending left too many questions.”

The sentiment is universal: People want more, but nobody knows if or when they’ll get it.

My Prediction:

Based on the show’s performance and the cliffhanger ending, I’d say there’s a decent chance Season 2 happens eventually. But “eventually” might mean 2027 or later. If you’re waiting to start the show until Season 2 is confirmed, you might be waiting a very long time.

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Final Verdict: Should You Watch It?

Let’s cut to the chase. Is Gyaarah Gyaarah worth your time?

You Should Watch It If:

• You loved Signal and want to see an Indian take on the concept
• You enjoy time-travel stories that actually think about consequences
• You’re a fan of crime procedurals with a twist
• You don’t mind cliffhanger endings (or you’re an optimist about Season 2)
• You appreciate strong performances (Raghav Juyal’s dramatic turn is genuinely impressive)
• You’re looking for something different from the usual streaming fare

You Should Skip It If:

• You need complete, wrapped-up endings (this ain’t it)
• You’ve seen Signal and don’t want to watch what’s essentially the same story
• You’re not into shows that require paying attention (the timeline-hopping can be confusing)
• You’re impatient with slow-burn mysteries
• You hate being left on cliffhangers with no Season 2 in sight

My Rating: 8/10

Gyaarah Gyaarah is a rare example of a remake that respects its source material while adding its own flavor. It’s not perfect—the pacing can be uneven, some supporting characters feel underdeveloped, and that ending will frustrate you—but it’s compelling, well-acted, and genuinely clever in how it handles the time-travel mechanics.

The 11:11 gimmick could have been cheesy, but it works. The walkie-talkie mystery is intriguing. The cases are engaging. And most importantly, it’ll make you think twice about what you wish for at 11:11.

Just don’t wish for Season 2 to come quickly. That’s one wish that might take a while to come true.

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Quick Facts

• Release Date: August 9, 2024
• Platform: ZEE5 (exclusive)
• Episodes: 8
• Runtime: ~45 minutes per episode
• IMDb Rating: 8.2/10
• Language: Hindi (with subtitles available)
• Based On: Korean drama Signal (2016)
• Season 2 Status: Not officially confirmed (as of January 2026)
• Main Cast: Raghav Juyal, Kritika Kamra, Dhairya Karwa
• Director: Umesh Bist
• Producers: Karan Johar, Guneet Monga

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Image Credits

1. Character Posters - Gyaarah Gyaarah (2024), ZEE5/Behance
2. Trailer Launch Photos - Bollywood Hungama
3. Walkie-Talkie Scene - ZEE5 Official
4. Signal Poster - tvN/IMDb
5. ZEE5 Logo - ZEE5 Official

All images used for editorial/review purposes. Official photos available at ZEE5, IMDb, and through official social media channels.

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Final Thought: Every night at 11:11, somewhere in India, fans of Gyaarah Gyaarah are making the same wish: “Please let there be a Season 2.” And somewhere, a mysterious walkie-talkie with no batteries is probably laughing at all of us.

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