The whodunnit film will also leave viewers on the edge of their seats.
Netflix feels like a new age staple, especially with an extensive movie library that includes some amazing Indian films.
The OTT (over-the-top) platform is also great because there are no adverts or screen time limitations. The streaming provider has increased its popularity by producing their own original Indian films as well.
Netflix also provides a fantastic opportunity for anyone to start watching Indian films through a subscription fee.
As one of the leading entertainment service, fans have a wide range of genres to choose from. These include action, romance, thrillers and biographical dramas. These Netflix Indian films are celebrated in all their glory.
Many top Bollywood stars also feature in these Netflix Indian films including late Rishi Kapoor, Janhvi Kapoor, Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Shabana Azmi.
DESIblitz compiles a list of 15 Netflix Indian films and originals that fans will enjoy across the globe.
Love per Square Foot (2018)
Director: Anand Tiwari
Stars: Vicky Kaushal, Angira Dhar, Alankrita Sahai
Love per Square Foot is a rom-com Hindi film ideal for a gloomy evening.
Tackling social taboos in India, this film centres around two co-workers, Sanjay Kumar Chaturvedi (Vicky Kaushal) and Karina D’souza (Angira Dhar). The two want to buy their own home.
Uncovering a housing scheme their workplace offers, this unlikely pair set out to seize this opportunity with both hands.
However, as their personal lives clash, their parents and partners find out. Consequently, their hopes are shattered as well.
This Indian film also courageously and elegantly discusses issues many young couples in India face. Heart-warming and feel good, this film is perfect to invest your time in.
Love per Square Foot is a special Valentine’s day release, coming out on February 14, 2018.
Brij Mohan Amar Rahe (2018)
Director: Nikhil Bhat
Stars: Arjun Mathur, Nidhi Singh, Sheetal Thakur
Action-comedy, Brij Mohan Amar Rahe centres around an unusual situation. Can you be sentenced to death for your own murder?
Brij Mohan (Arjun Mathur) owns a mediocre hosiery shop in Delhi. He lives a dampening life, with debt up to his eyeballs. He has an aggressive wife and a mundane shop.
Seeing light and hope at the end of the tunnel, he concocts a shallow plan. He grabs his girlfriend, Simmi (Sheetal Thakur) and changes his identity. However, he butchers the most important thing of all – his own murder.
What happens to a man arrested for his own murder? Can he untangle himself from this sticky web of lies?
Watch this film to find out more. This Hindi Netflix film came out on August 3, 2018.
Rajma Chawal (2018)
Director: Leena Yadav
Stars: Rishi Kapoor, Anirudh Tanwar, Amyra Dastur
Rajma Chawal is a Hindi action-comedy that takes catfishing to a whole new level. Following the death of his wife, Raj Mathur, (Rishi Kapoor) feels estranged from his 20-year-old son, Kabir Mathur (Anirudh Tanwar).
Thus, Raj makes a spontaneous decision about moving back to his hometown, dragging Kabir with him.
The two men clash, with generational differences being the main source of tension. Raj prefers eating with his hands, but Kabir asks for utensils.
Raj’s family band together to teach him the importance of social media and how he can connect with his son using a fake profile of Tara (Amyra Dastur).
But issues arise when Kabir spots Tara across a bar, instantly feeling a connection with her.
After having a premiere at the BFI London Film Festival, the film made its way to Netflix on November 30, 2018.
Soni (2019)
Director: Ivan Ayr
Stars: Geetika Vidya Ohlyan, Vikas Shukla, Saloni Batra
Soni is a haunting Hindi film that reveals the sorry state of Delhi’s crime rate, especially towards women.
Inspiration for this film came from the 2012 Delhi gang-rape case, reinforcing just how unsafe the capital is for women.
This film revolves around female police officer Soni (Geetika Vidya Ohlyan), who lives alone following her divorce. Her ex-husband Naveen (Vikas Shukla) attempts to rekindle their relationship but to no success.
Her friend, Kalpana Ummat (Saloni Batra) is a senior superintendent in the police, who deals with her own share of harassment within the force.
Viewers will also get to witness how Soni and Kalpana struggle to navigate around their jobs including the repercussions they face for defending themselves.
Soni released via Netflix on January 18, 2019, with positive reviews all round.
Drive (2019)
Director: Tarun Mansukhani
Stars: Sushant Singh Rajput, Jacqueline Fernandez, Naufal Azmir Khan, Pankaj Tripathi
Filled with glitz and glamour, Hindi Indian film Drive has it all. This includes luxurious cars, speed racing, black tie balls and heisting.
The film is about a thief who pairs with a stunt driver, attempting to reach Samar ‘King’ Sharma/Kirit Ojha (Sushant Singh Rajput). Hence, an elaborate heist is planned, playing a game of cat and mouse with authorities.
But little do they know that the authorities are not all they seem to be. This intriguing and thrilling film will also attract those who like to wind down on a Friday night.
Despite many negative reviews, many fans love this film for Sushant. An IMDb user reviewing the film posted:
“10/10 Only For #SushantSinghRajput & His Performance… We Love You Bro.”
Releasing on November 1, 2019, Drive is virtually two hours long in duration.
Ghost Stories (2020)
Director: Karan Johar, Dibakar Banerjee, Zoya Akhtar, Anurag Kashyap
Stars: Sobhita Dhulipala, Mrunal Thakur, Janhvi Kapoor, Surekha Sikri, Sukant Goel
Ghost Stories is an Indian anthology horror movie that may just keep you up at night. Four separate stories make up this film. It is also a collaboration project between four directors.
Story 1 is about a nurse Sameera (Janhvi Kapoor) who arrives at an eerie house to care for Mrs Malik (Surekha Sikri). She is a bedridden old lady.
Between her shifts, Malik’s son is supposed to take care of her, but is everything as it seems?
Story 2 shows losing a sister is hard for anybody. Nevertheless, Neha (Sobhita Dhulipala) finds herself looking after her nephew, who proves overly affectionate. As reality becomes more distorted, can Neha save herself?
Story 3 focuses on how an abandoned town leads a man (Sukant Geol) to confusion and horror. This includes creatures lurking in the distance.
Despite being warned by a council man from the next town over, he tries to save those remaining.
Story 4 highlights supernatural forces combined with familial love. This leads to Ira (Mrunal Thakur) facing the wrath of her husband’s dead relative.
This Hindi film became available on Netflix from January 1, 2020.
Yeh Ballet (2020)
Directed: Sooni Taraporevala
Stars: Julian Sands, Achintya Bose, Manish Chauhan
Yeh Ballet is a unique Hindi Indian drama that demonstrates how far the film industry has come.
Ballet is a classical dance, known for its grace and elegance. Lots of sheer hard work and dedication goes into every rehearsal.
The film revolves around two boys, Amiruddin Shah (Achintya Bose) and Nishu (Manish Chauhan). They find inspiration and their life meaning in ballet.
Besotted with the dance, they train relentlessly after finding hope through eccentric ballet master Saul Aron (Julian Sands).
But both boys live in poor areas of India, leading to the ultimate question. Can they battle their personal lives and make it in a world, which seems just out of reach?
Based on a real story, Yeh Ballet had its Netflix release on February 21, 2020.
Guilty (2020)
Director: Ruchi Narain
Stars: Kiara Advani, Akansha Ranjan Kapoor, Gurfateh Singh Pirzada, Taher Shabbir
Guilty is a heavy watch Hindi Indian film that touches upon the #MeToo movement. The steep film has many twists and turns, revealing an ending no one can see coming.
Set in a college, this film also captures a university culture filled with parties, drugs and copious amounts of alcohol.
After a series of events, Nanki Dutta (Kiara Advani) finds out that her boyfriend, VJ (Gurfateh Singh Pirzada) is accused of raping fellow student, Tanu Kumar (Akansha Ranjan Kapoor).
Tanu reveals the crime took place on Valentine’s day in 2018. She announces this through Twitter.
As Nanki tries to zoom into details of the case, she unravels the truth, with the help of defence lawyer, Danish Ali Baig (Taher Shabbir).
A worthwhile watch, Guilty premiered via Netflix on March 6, 2020.
Mrs. Serial Killer (2020)
Director: Shirish Kunder
Stars: Jacqueline Fernandez, Manoj Bajpayee, Mohit Raina
Mrs. Serial Killer is an Indian crime thriller on the lines of Gone Girl (2014) and Before I Go To Sleep (2014).
Sona Mukherjee (Jacqueline Fernandez) reveals fantastic news to her husband, Dr Mrityunjoy ‘Joy’ Mukerjee (Manoj Bajpayee) over a video call. Sona tells her hubby that she is pregnant.
But happy moments turn to misery when Sona’s ex-husband and police detective, Imran Shahid (Mohit Raina) comes to collect evidence against Joy.
Joy is accused of murdering six unmarried pregnant girls. As a famous gynaecologist, he has the tools, knowledge and equipment to be the notorious serial killer the police are hunting down.
Facing a big dilemma, Sona has a huge decision to make.
Shirish Kunder is the director of this film. He is the husband of famous Bollywood director and choreographer, Farah Khan.
With a running time of 106 minutes, this Hindi film released on May 1, 2020.
Raat Akeli Hai (2020)
Director: Honey Trehan
Stars: Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Radhika Apte, Shweta Tripathi, Aditya Srivastava
Raat Akeli Hai is a crime thriller, which looks at how far one can separate personal and business.
A small-town police officer, Inspector Jatil Yadav (Nawazuddin Siddiqui) is known for his blase attitude towards his job.
He reluctantly sets out to investigate the murder of a respected family member. As the case proceeds, he hits a wall. The family won’t talk.
Without getting any information, can Inspector Yadav solve the crime his family so desperately needs him to? This Indian film was also a hit amongst critics, with Saibal Chatterjee giving it 4.5 stars. She states:
“The film does to the crime and punishment genre what Bulbbul did to the supernatural revenge fantasy – lifts it many notches above the ordinary.”
The whodunnit film will also leave viewers on the edge of their seats. Coming out on July 31, 2020, this gripping Hindi film is over two hours long.
Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl (2020)
Director: Sharan Sharma
Stars: Janhvi Kapoor, Pankaj Tripathi, Angad Bedi
Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl is a biographical Hindi movie based on a heroic and pioneering figure for women from the Indian Air Force.
Flight Lieutenant Gunjan Saxena, played by Bollywood actress Janhvi Kapoor finds inspiration to be a pilot from a young age. She wants to follow the footprints of her brother and father.
This inspiring and emotional film retells the life of Gunjan Saxena, highlighting her admirable actions during the Kargil war.
The film also focuses on the difficulty and determination faced by women attempting to be a pilot. It specifically touches on how women find alternative routes when their dreams are squashed due to their gender.
This film sets out to show what women are capable of doing and their achieving potential.
In addition, the film explores how women must fight to break glad ceilings.
In her review, Anna MM Vetticad of Firstpost describes the film as a “deeply moving account of a remarkable woman’s heartbreaks and soaring triumph.”
Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl is a Netflix film, which saw its release on August 12, 2020.
Dolly Kitty Aur Woh Chamakte Sitare (2020)
Director: Alankrita Shrivastava
Stars: Konkona Sen Sharma, Bhumi Pednekar
Dolly Kitty Aur Woh Chamakte Sitare is a new age Hindi film that attempts to tackle social taboos buried deep beneath the fabric of Indian culture.
Two women Radha Yadhav ‘Dolly’ (Konkona Sen Sharma) and Kajal Yadav ‘Kitty’ (Bhumi Pednekar) try and discover who they are.
Kitty attempts to carve a life out for herself but winds up working for a call centre. She soon finds out that men call the centre to speak with their fantasy women.
Dolly faces her own internal struggle. She is worried about her hyperactive sex drive and how her husband does not satisfy her.
As these two women attempt to steer their lives, they clash and bond. They also have adventures they never thought possible.
This heart-warming, feel-good film, great for pick-me-up nights had a Netflix premiere on September 18, 2020.
Serious Men (2020)
Director: Sudhir Mishra
Stars: Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Indira Tiwari, Nassar, Aakshath Das
Just how far can you keep up a lie? Ayyan Mani (Nawazuddin Siddiqui) works as an assistant to a famous astronomer in comedy-drama, Serious Men.
His place of work is The National Institute of Fundamental Research in Mumbai. This is a prestigious institute in the capital of Maharashtra.
Tired of always being seen as a moron and idiot, Ayyan incompetently tries to turn his life around. He lives with his wife, Oja Mani (Indira Tiwari) and son, Adi Mani (Aakshath Das) in a poor area of Mumbai.
However, his life changes, following a grand lie that his son is a genius. Later, Ayyan becomes overwhelmed with the situation and attention he receives.
Considered to be “wickedly funny” by the Hindustan Times, this film also casts light on class issues still prevalent in India.
Serious Men is an enjoyable Hindi satire that began streaming on Netflix from October 2, 2020.
Ginny Weds Sunny (2020)
Director: Puneet Khanna
Stars: Yami Gautam, Vikrant Massey
Ginny Weds Sunny is a Hindi rom-com film that is perfect after a long, aching day. The film takes a slice out of South Asian culture and turns it into a hilarious plot.
After meeting to be paired for an arranged marriage, Satnam ‘Sunny’ Sethi (Vikrant Massey) falls head over heels for independent Simran ‘Ginny’ Juneja (Yami Gautam).
With, Ginny turning him down, Sunny does the next best thing. He teams up with Ginny’s mother, trying to woo the woman of his dreams.
Off-beat and fun, this Indian film emphasises how arranged marriages are still strongly imbedded into South Asian culture. But it also shows what people do for love.
Ginny Weds Sunny is a Netflix India original, which released on October 9, 2020.
Kaali Khuhi (2020)
Director: Terrie Samundra
Stars: Shabana Azmi, Sanjeeda Sheikh, Riva Arora, Satyadeep Mishra, Leela Samson
Kaali Khuhi is a terrifying Hindi horror film, which may lead to a sleepless night for some people.
At 1 hour and 30 minutes long, this film dabbles in supernatural horrors, children’s innocence and long-lasting town curses.
A young girl, Shivangi (Riva Arora), lives in a town rife with a history of female infanticide.
Shivangi is the only one who can save the town. The big question is can one recover from karma?
On October 30, 2020, the film began airing on Netflix across the world. The film also stars veteran actress Shabana Azmi as Satya Maasi.
There are many other Netflix Indian films and originals, which are not listed in our 15 but movie lovers may want to watch.
Notable omissions include Lust Stories (2018), Chopsticks (2019, Upstarts (2019), Maska (2020), Bulbbul (2020), Choked (2020) and Class of ’83 (2020).
Overall the above list of Netflix Indian films shows a wide range that the platform offers. Each is worth a watch for any mood.
It is the perfect way to sink into the sofa, grabbing some popcorn and acquainting yourself with Netflix Indian films.
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