Movies are releasing every week, and sometimes several movies go unnoticed. The independent movies or regional movies that are made on a low budget and don’t get the digital exposure we as an audience often tend to lose them.
Today, in this blog post, I shall be sharing such exemplary yet extraordinary movies that you might have missed.
With the ongoing buzz of streaming platforms, these small movies are finally getting a space and reach the audience. Several independent and regional movies are worth not only your time, but they are incredibly good movies.
As a movie buff, I always look for good movies that have meaning, portray a slice of life, and have good direction and screenplay. I am fortunate enough to watch them and the work of the artists who we hardly know.
Best of Indian Movies You Might Have Missed
Nagarkirtan – Bengali (IMDB rating: 8.6)
Director – Kaushik Ganguly
Streaming Platform – Hoichoi
National Film award-winning “Nagarkirtan” is indeed one of the most beautiful yet heartbreaking films that portray the life of Parimal, a trans woman from rural Bengal played by Riddhi Sen.
The film has two main characters Parimal and Madhu, a flute player played by Ritwick Chakraborty. The love story between a flute player and a trans woman seems to be so pure and real, but the harsh, judgemental society will never accept who they are.
What’s beautiful about the film is its screenplay and brilliant direction. Of course, Riddhi Sen is the heart and soul of the film.
To Let – Tamil (IMDB Rating: 8.0)
Director – Chezhiyan
Streaming Platform – Amazon Prime Video
National Film Award-winning Tamil language movie “To Let” portrays the struggle of a family of three husbands, wives, and sons staying in a rented house.
Their trouble started when the house owner told them to vacate within a month—their endless search for a rented house within a limited budget pushing them further to become houseless.
The movie shows the reality and the harsh truth of low-income people living in the city and facing issues when looking for a rented house.
Nude – Marathi (IMDB Rating: 7.4)
Director – Ravi Jadhav
Streaming Platform – Zee5
The film’s title might sound offensive to some, but it is a great film to watch. The film is the mirror of our hypocritical and double standard society.
The story portrays a young mother, Yamuna moves to Mumbai to get rid of her abusive husband. Her posing as a nude model in an art school is the subject, but the story further intensifies the meaning.
Definitely, I would say one of the best of Indian movies that have been overlooked by the wider audience.
Court – Marathi (IMDB Rating: 7.7)
Director – Chaitanya Tamhane
Streaming Platform –
Marathi language movie “Court” is a National Film award-winning for Best Feature. It is a great satirical film on the legal discourse of our country. The film greatly follows the Indian legal injustices and mishandling of a social activist who got arrested on a false accusation.
Watch this movie for its sheer simplicity yet portrays a poignant message.
Thithi – Kannada (IMDB Rating: 8.2)
Director – Raam Reddy
Streaming Platform – Netflix
It is unbelievable how a cast of non-professional actors from villages acted with such originality and dedication. The story is a documentary life of a 101-year old-man in an Indian village and three generations of men’s reaction about his death.
It is one of those movies that will make you think about how different Independent cinemas are from commercial ones.
The Apu Trilogy – Bengali (IMDB Rating: 8.5)
Director – Satyajit Ray
Streaming Platform – Youtube (Not Sure)
Legendary Bengali director, Satyajit Ray’s The Apu Trilogy, consists of three Indian Bengali films – Pather Panchali (1955), Aparajito (1956), and The World of Apu (1959).
It is hard to say if the movies are available online anywhere now. I am fortunate enough to watch them. There isn’t a Bengali who hasn’t watch all the iconic three films.
Have you watched it? If not, you can try them on YouTube.
Aamis – Assamese (IMDB Rating: 8.0)
Director – Bhaskar Hazarika
A friend of mine suggested this movie with a link, and I happened to like it so much. The Assamese language film has flavors of romance, drama, emotion, overall a complete package of a good screenplay, acting, and direction.
The story unwinds between two individuals and their insatiable desire for one another. It’s different, unique, and takes the audience to the climax slowly without boring them.
The Japanese Wife – Bengali (IMDB Rating:7.6)
Director – Aparna Sen
Streaming Platform – YouTube
Aparna Sen has directed several great Bengali movies, and all have been different from each other. Movies like 15 Park Avenue, Mr. and Mrs. Iyer, Goynar Baksho each movie are unique. Her “The Japanese Wife” is no different; the plot revolves around an unusual relationship between a Bengali man played by Rahul Bose and his Japanese pen friend Miyage (Chigusa Takaku).
Vinci da – Bengali (IMDB Rating: 7.4)
Director – Srijit Mukherji
Streaming Platform – Amazon Prime Video
Srijit Mukherji’s Bengali thriller film “Vinci Da’ is about an extremely talented make-up artist played by Rudranil Ghosh as the titular character. He is proud of his profession and perfection, but he struggles to fit in the industry because of his straightforward and arrogant behavior.
The story takes an abrupt dark turn when another unpredictable character Adi Bose enters.
Jallikattu – Malayalam (IMDB Rating: 7.5)
Director – Lijo Jose Pellissery
Streaming Platform – Amazon Prime Video
2019 Malayalam language Indian movie “Jallikattu” is one of the most enthralling regional movies I have ever seen. It is a bit complex film to understand, but the film’s climax and cinematography are near to perfection.
If you do not want to waste your time in watching some irrelevant and meaningless film, I recommend watching ‘Jallikattu’ will change your perception of Indian cinema.
Tumbbad – Hindi (IMDB Rating: 8.3)
Director – Anand Gandhi
Streaming Platform – Amazon Prime Video
I have heard several people saying that they didn’t like one of the most amazing Hindi language thriller movies, “Tumbbad” and that really shocking for me. Tumbbad is one of the most visually attractive and a great metaphoric psychological horror drama film.
The cinematography, the setting, the focus on a climax, and Vinayak’s character development everything is so pleasing to watch.
There is a lot of suspense, personal tragedy, a sinister moment in the film that drives you to understand the inner meaning. But to understand the film you have to give your 100% attention, it will amaze you.
I bet even though it is a Hindi language film, people might have missed it.
Helen – Malayalam (IMDB Rating: 7.7)
Director – Mathukutty Xavier
Streaming Platform – Amazon Prime Video
Malayalam language Indian film ‘Helen’ tells a wonderful story of a young girl Helen lives with her father and wishes to relocate to Canada. She works in a fast food center in a mall, and one night takes a brutal turn that changes her life experience forever.
It is a thriller film that begins with a beautiful note about the life of Helen and her dream.
With the easy availability of streaming platforms, regional films are beginning to get more exposure, and audiences find them way better than mainstream Bollywood films.
Killa – Marathi (IMDB Rating: 7.8)
Director – Avinash Arun
Streaming Platform – Netflix India
“Killa” is a National Film award-winning Marathi film in the Best Feature category. It tells such a sensitive, subtle, and sublime story of an 11-year old boy who lost his father and moves to a new place with his mother.
He is struggling to settle down and making new friends. The movie’s USP is the young boy’s psychology and how sensitively the makers of the film have tried to connect with the audience.
Indeed, a highly recommend and commendable film to watch.
Vikrithi – Malayalam (IMDB Rating: 7.4)
Director – Emcy Joseph
Streaming Platform – Netflix India
Yet another Malayalam language Indian movie that is worth your time. The movie tells the story of two very ordinary village people. The film’s theme is relevant with today’s digital era, where people post pictures online of others’ suffering and then troll them or make funny memes. The movie took an incident that may happen with anyone and tried to show us what’s happening around us.
It is a neat and clean film that conveys a great social message.
Uyare – Malayam (IMDB Rating: 8.0)
Director – Manu Ashokan
Streaming Platform – Netflix India
Malayalam language Indian film ‘Uyare’ is about a girl who has been attacked by her boyfriend with acid on her face. The story shows her fight for survival and her fight against all odds of society.
Bollywood also has a similarly themed movie, ‘Chaapaak,’ but ‘Uyare’ is a way lot better film to watch. Parvathy Thiruvothu acted brilliantly.
Unishe April – Bengali (IMDB Rating: 7.6)
Director – Rituparno Ghosh
Streaming Platform – Amazon Prime Video
Rituparno Ghosh’s National award-winning Bengali film ‘Unishe April’ is a film with a plot that revolves around mother-daughter relationship complications. Aparna Sen, Debasree Roy, Prosenjit, and other supporting casts acted with such sincerity and dedication, making this film so special even today.
A Death in the Gunj – Hindi (IMDB Rating: 7.5)
Director – Konkona Sen Sharma
Streaming Platform – Amazon Prime Video
One of the most underrated Bollywood movies that nobody talks about is Konkona Sen Sharma’s directorial film ‘Death in the Gunj.’ The film’s story is so delicate, and it’s like storytelling from the beginning of the film. Every character is important to justify the protagonist Shutu played by Vikrant Massey.
I genuinely feel Konkona Sen Sharma is a better director than an actor.
Ek Hazarchi Note (1000 rupee note) – Marathi ( IMDB Rating: 7.3)
Director – Shrihari Sathe
Streaming Platform – Netflix India
The story of the movie is so overwhelming. It is about an older woman who travels to the market to purchase things with the 1000 rupee note that a politician gives her. Instead of helping the older woman with the money, the money became a headache for her.
The story mirrored when the country was going through the demonization situation.
Ratsasan – Tamil (IMDB Rating: 8.5)
Director – Ram Kumar
Streaming Platform – Disney + Hoststar
Tamil language Indian movie ‘Ratsasan’ is a psychological thriller movie that is thrilling to watch. The movie is unlikely the best I have ever seen.
Once you watch the movie, the thriller level the movie has will amaze you.
Axone – Hindi (IMDB Rating: 7.0)
Director – Nicholas Kharkongor
Streaming Platform – Netflix India
The Netflix movie is about a group of friends from Northeast India lives in Delhi are preparing a small party for their friend who is getting married. They want to cook a traditional Naga food at the party, ‘Axone,’ which is a fermented food product; hence, while preparing, they have to make sure that it doesn’t smell.
The movie portrays how the rest of the country reacts and behaves with the Northeast Indian people.
Hamid – Hindi (IMDB Rating: 7.8)
Director – Aijaz Khan
Streaming Platform – Netflix India
National film award-winning ‘Hamid’ tells a beautiful yet heartbreaking story of young Hamid looking for his deceased father amidst Kashmir’s unrest environment.
The movie depicts the political turmoil of Kashmir and Kashmir from the perspective of a 7-year-old boy who knows nothing of the harsh reality of the land of beauty, Kashmir.
Rasika Dugal played a poignant role as a lost and helpless mother and wife searching for her husband and waiting in the local police station’s queue.
Maryan – Tamil (IMDB Rating: 7.1)
Director – Bharat Bala
Streaming Platform – YouTube
I don’t know how many have watched this amazing film of Dhanush and Parvathy. The movie is about the lives of fishermen and the love story of both actors’ characters.
Dhanush played the titular character Maryan goes to Sudan to work in an oil company; while returning to India, he and his co-workers are held hostage by the Sudani terrorists.
Peepli Live – Hindi (IMDB Rating: 7.4)
Director – Anusha Rizvi, Mahmood Farooqui
Streaming Platform – Netflix India
The movie ‘Peepli Live’ is a documentary film that depicts the harsh reality of farmers’ lives and the village people’s condition. The plot revolves around how the media and politicians in India take privileges of village people’s struggles by fooling them.
The movie is greatly underrated and worth to be called the best of Indian movies.
Conclusion:
The streaming platforms have indeed brought a vibrant change among the audience. Today, more than the glamourous and meaningless Bollywood commercial films, people love to watch the story’s originality and uniqueness.
The independent moviemakers are getting encouragement and assurance from the streaming partners.
In my view, these are the best of Indian movies that you might have missed and should watch because of their authenticity.