Whether you’re emotionally burnt out by back-to-back OTT thrillers or tired of “massy” remakes, here’s a list of 5 films that deliver pure storytelling—rooted, raw, and real.
1. Court (2014 | Marathi | Directed by Chaitanya Tamhane)
Plot: A folk singer is arrested and blamed for inciting a sewage worker’s suicide through his protest songs. What unfolds is a deep dive into India’s broken legal machinery, and the quiet tragedy of bureaucracy.
Why it’s worth watching:
No dramatic courtroom scenes—just stark, observational cinema.
India's official entry to the Oscars in 2015.
Reflects how the system wears people down, not with action but with silence.
Real takeaway: Justice in India isn’t always loud. Sometimes it’s just delayed—and denied—in slow motion.
2. Masaan (2015 | Hindi | Directed by Neeraj Ghaywan)
Plot: Two parallel stories in Varanasi—a girl shamed after a hotel raid, and a boy from a lower caste falling in love—intertwine in this emotionally quiet but powerful narrative.
Why it’s worth watching:
Every character is deeply human, and no scene feels wasted.
Richa Chadha and Vicky Kaushal (in his debut!) give grounded, moving performances.
No background scores screaming “feel this”—just stories that do it on their own.
Real takeaway: Shame, grief, caste, and love—all coexist in small towns and big hearts.
3. The Great Indian Kitchen (2021 | Malayalam | Directed by Jeo Baby)
Plot: A newlywed woman slowly loses herself in the relentless, unpaid labour of household chores. Her breaking point? Subtle but seismic.
Why it’s worth watching:
Minimal dialogue. The repetition of daily life says everything.
No background music. Just the sound of grinding, chopping, silence.
Shot entirely in a real house with natural lighting.
Real takeaway: Domestic work isn’t invisible—it’s just been ignored. Until now.
4. Pebbles (Koozhangal) (2021 | Tamil | Directed by PS Vinothraj)
Plot: A boy and his alcoholic, short-tempered father walk across a scorching Tamil Nadu landscape to bring his mother back home.
Why it’s worth watching:
India’s official entry to the Oscars in 2022.
Shot with non-professional actors, handheld cameras, and blistering heat.
No frills—just terrain, tension, and emotion.
Real takeaway: Some of India’s most powerful films aren’t heard—they’re felt.
5. Thithi (2015 | Kannada | Directed by Raam Reddy)
Plot: Set in a rural village, the death of a 101-year-old man leads to three generations reacting in very different ways.
Why it’s worth watching:
Shot with real villagers and no professional actors.
Subtle commentary on greed, tradition, and family.
Hilarious and heartbreaking in the most unexpected ways.
Real takeaway: Life in Indian villages is anything but simple—and this film captures that mess beautifully.
