Indian filmmakers have given us many masterpieces that not only received praises in our country but were critically acclaimed, abroad as well. However, there are a few movies that received honors at some prestigious film festivals but didn’t get into the limelight in India. We have made the list of these movies for you. Have a look and decide which one would you like to watch.
1. Parched– 2015
Written and directed by Leena Yadav, the film featured Radhika Apte and Surveen Chawla in crucial roles. It was bankrolled by Ajay Devgn under his banner Ajay Devgn FFilms. The movie talked about the lives of four ladies of a rural area and difficulties that they faced. The movie was showcased at the 2015 Toronto International Film Festival.
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2. Chatrak– 2011
The Bengali drama film narrated the story of a successful architect and his girlfriend who wanted to find his lost brother. It was said that the latter was living in the jungle. The movie caused an uproar in Kolkata because of some objectionable scenes. Along with screening at many film festivals, the movie was also showcased at the Directors’ Fortnight at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival.
3. Court– 2014
The Marathi film was premiered at the 71st Venice International Film Festival. It won 19 awards at various film festivals. At the 62nd National Film Awards in 2014, the movie was also honored with the Best Feature Film award. It talked about the Indian legal system and narrated the story of an aging folk singer at a Sessions Court in Mumbai.
4. Gattu– 2011
The 2012 film was about a little boy who was passionate about flying kites. Written by K.D. Satyam and directed by Rajan Khosa, the film was mentioned with a special mention under Deutsches Kinderhilfswerk at the 62nd Berlin International Film Festival.
5. Jai Bhim Comrade– 2011
This documentary talks about the lives and politics of Dalit people in Mumbai. The film started to roll at the time of 1997 Ramabai killings and was released after 14 years in 2011. Along with winning the award of the Best Film/Video at Mumbai International Film Festival, the film was also honored at Hong Kong International Film Festival, the National Film Awards, and the Jean Rouch Film International Film Festival.
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6. Cities of Sleep– 2015
This is a 2015 documentary showcased at the Taiwan International Documentary Festival. It explored sleep and its socio-political dynamics. It was about two beggars who slept in subways, car garages, and other odd places of Delhi for the last seven years.
7. Labour of Love– 2014
A 2014 National Award-winning Bengali-language film focused on the problem of unemployment in Kolkata. It narrated the story f a young couple who had different shifts. It was directed by Aditya Vikram Sengupta. In 2014, the movie was premiered at the 71st Venice International Film Festival and won the Best Debut Director award. It was also honored with the Indira Gandhi Award for Best First Film of a Director. At the 62nd National Film Awards, it won the Best Audiography Award.
8. Aakhri Khat– 1966
This was Rajesh Khanna’s debut film and was released in 1966. It tells the story of a child who gets separated from his mother when she passes away and later came to know about her through the last letter that she left. It was India’s entry as the Best Foreign Language Film at the 40th Academy Awards in 1967 but wasn’t accepted as a nominee.
9. Party– 1984
The film is a satire at the urban people who get ready for the party and later crib before going to it. This Govind Nihalani’s 1984 Hindi film was India’s official entry to the 32nd International Film Festival of India, New Delhi. The movie was also sent to the Tokyo Film Festival 1985 and Asia Pacific Film Festival 1985. It got Best Supporting Actress Award at National Film Award and was also honored with the Best Actress Award at the Asia-Pacific Film Festival in 1985.
10. Unfreedom– 2014
The film by Raj Amit Kumar focused on Muslim and LGBT identities. It showcased a story where a New York-based Muslim fundamentalist kidnaps a liberal Muslim scholar with the intention to kill him and a closeted lesbian from New Delhi who with the intention to love, kidnaps her bisexual lover. The film was in North America in May 2015.
11. Inshallah, Football– 2010
An Oscar-nominated filmmaker, Ashvin Kumar made this film. It is about the story of an 18-year-old footballer, known as Basha, who couldn’t travel abroad because his father was a militant in the 1990’s. The documentary embroiled in a controversy as it didn’t have the necessary censor certificate due to which it was denied public release. The film showcased Kashmir’s beauty, the plight of kids born into war, nuances of relationship, and more. Premiered at the Pusan International Film Festival, the film was also honored with a Special Mention award at the Dubai International Film Festival in 2010.
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12. Ghatashraddha– 1977
It was a 1977 Indian Kannada language film that won three awards at the 25th National Film Awards in 1977, Best Feature Film, Best Music Direction, and Best Child Artist. It was only Indian film among 100 entries that was chosen by the National Archive of Paris during the centenary celebrations of cinema.
13. Sonchidi– 2011
It is a 2011 Indian science fiction film. Sonchidi means the golden bird. It is about travelers who were finding an aircraft as they thought that it would free them from the cycle of births. Directed by Amit Dutta, the movie was screened at the 68th Venice International Film Festival.
14. The Japanese Wife– 2010
Love through letters. Aparna Sen’s film showcased the story of a young Bengali village school teacher (Rahul Bose) who got married and remained loyal to his Japanese pen friend without even meeting her. Released in 2010, the film received positive reviews.
15. Killa– 2014
Directed by Avinash Arun, it was a 2015 Indian Marathi drama film that narrated the story of an 11-year-old boy who was coping with the death of his father. On the other hand, he was also making new friends at an unfamiliar place as his mother got a job transfer. At the 62nd National Film Awards, it won the Best Feature Film in Marathi. Along with winning two awards at the Berlin Film Festival, the film was nominated for the Best Youth Feature Film at the Asia Pacific Screen Awards.
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16. Kharij– 1982
This Bengali film by Mrinal Sen was about the exploitation of a child-servant by a middle-class family that tries to calm down his father after he was found dead. Nominated for the Golden Palm, the movie won the Jury prize at the 1983 Cannes Film Festival. At 1983 National Film Awards, Mrinal Sen won Best Screenplay Award Nitish Roy was honored with the award for the Best Art Direction.
17. Lucia– 2013
An usher in theatre, Nikki suffered from insomnia and after taking a special pill, she gets involved in another dream. The first crowdfunded Kannada film was premiered at the London Indian Film Festival in 2013 and took home the trophy of Best Film Audience Choice award. In the same year, it became India’s entry for Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.
18. Gandu– 2010
The black-and-white Bengali film was about a frustrated teenager whose thoughts were shown through rapping. Directed by Qaushiq Mukherjee, the film was previewed at Yale University. It was released globally at the 2010 South Asian International Film Festival in New York City. Along with screening at the Slamdance Film Festival, the movie was also an official selection at the 2011 Berlin International Film Festival.
19. Om-Dar-B-Dar– 1988
Kamal Swaroop made this film in 1988 but it released only after 26 years in 2014. The film was about the adventures of a schoolboy named Om and then the storyline became absurd with elements of arts, politics, and philosophy. In 1988, the film was premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival. It was honored with the Filmfare Critics Award for Best Movie in 1989. The movie was also showcased at the Rome Film Festival.
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20. Miss Lovely– 2012
It was the story of Duggal brothers who share a destructive relationship and used to produce sleazy sex-horror films. Nawazuddin Siddiqui played the younger sibling who fell in love with a mysterious girl, Pinky which led to his downfall. The film was premiered at the 2012 Cannes Film Festival. At the 61st National Film Awards, the film was honored with National Film Award – Special Jury Award (Feature film), and Best Production Design.
21. Peddlers– 2012
The story is set in Mumbai and focussed on four poor boys who get trapped in the drug trade and a young cop who tracks them. Vasan Bala wrote and directed the film that never got released. However, it was selected for International Critics’ Week.
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