In the week that follows the quiet unraveling of one of one of the family members is persistently overlooked by the others until the seemingly peaceful atmosphere sees a violent implosion. At the outset it seems like the making of a perfect family holiday are in place but something is amiss. Set in 1979, in an old Anglo-Indian town, a family unites along with close friends. Konkana Sen Sharma’s directorial debut A Death In The Gunj is pure poetry punctuated by bitter-sweet moments of melancholy.
You can watch the film on Amazon Prime Video. Watch it for a much needed reality check, before you enter the new year. Newton is a haunting film of the country’s political reality that still manages to inspire its citizens to shake of their apathy and build a better tomorrow. With his performance Rao proves to be one of the most versatile actors of contemporary Indian cinema he can play the utopian citizen in Newton as convincingly as he plays the chauvinist finance in Queen or the rowdy bridegroom in Bareli Ki Barfi. Rao’s high idealism meets gut-wrenching reality when despite all his efforts the jungle tribals become only a pawn in larger game of vote banks. Newton, played by the talented Rajkumar Rao, is a government clerk sent on election duty to a Naxal controlled town in the conflict-ridden jungles of Chhattisgarh where he struggles to conduct free and fair voting despite the apathy of security forces and the looming fear of guerrilla attacks by communist rebels that hangs over it. The country’s official entry to the Oscars the film is a scathing remark on the crumbling state of Indian democracy. Y ou can watch the film on Netflix or Amazon Prime Video. There is no reason why you should give this one a miss. As for the performances from the 60-year-old Rosy played by veteran actress Ratna Pathak to rebellious teenager Rehana played by newbie Plabita Borthakur the film’s cast is is an exceptionally talented one.
Each female character in the film is fierce, flawed and vulnerable in her own way allowances made for Indian female actresses. What’s even more refreshing is that the film ditches a preachy tone and uses dark humour to reveal the horrifying ways in which patriarchy attempts to control female experiences. Marital rape and slut-shaming are some of the many taboo topics critically scrutinised in the film. The film takes us into the lives of five women who through small acts of courage hope to battle a callous society that won’t let them live life on their own terms. From the feminist wonder Lipstick Under My Burkha, the sensitive portrayal of homosexual love in Loev to the most badass Indian grandmother you will ever meet in Ajji-here is a list of 9 independent films from the country that we personally loved watching this year.įor starters it’s the most powerful films on female experience made in the country this year, so if you still haven’t watched it, we suggest you do just that for your next movie night. Each film on this list has received critical acclaim at film festivals across the globe and has also battled our very own regressive Censor Board to narrate the true sensibilities of love, happiness, grief and violence that equally make our society. So we decided to curate a list of some of the most path-breaking independent Indian films of the year thought provoking stories, talented casts and mindful entertainment. With urban life chewing away your time you might have missed catching them at your nearest cinema hall or perhaps between the dancing cat videos in your news feed, they never showed up. Fortunately, to save you from the frustration of watching mediocre cinematic content, Indian independent cinema has produced some visual gems this year. Are you confused about which films are worthy of your Friday movie nights? Navigating through Netflix’s never-ending roster can be a tiresome process, whilst dealing with yet another predictable Bollywood blockbuster is simply a waste of time and money.