Thanks to Ott platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime, Zee5 among others, we are able to witness the best of world cinema. These include the latest Bollywood films, classic Hollywood and the best of regional cinema. Over the last few years, the viewing culture has also changed. We have started to look beyond stars and banners, to a universe of stories. Content truly has become king and finally good cinema no matter its budget is getting its due.
With this in mind, let's take a look at some of the Netflix and other OTT platforms' hidden gems that you can watch with your friends and family this weekend-
The Lunchbox-Netflix
Ritesh Batra wrote, directed, filmed, and edited the film, which is one of the most well-known in late actor Irrfan Khan's filmography. Irrfan Khan portrayed Saajan Fernandes, an accountant, alongside a talented cast that included Nimrat Kaur as Ila in this slow-burn unique story about life and love. Nawazuddin Siddiqui as Shaikh was the perfect ensemble. The film was a box office success, becoming the actor's highest-grossing film while also being nominated for a British Academy Film Award in 2015.
Also read | Best Hollywood movies of 2021 on OTT
Masaan-ZEE5
Masaan was released on July 24, 2016. The film, set on the banks of the Ganges in Varanasi is a love song to the city. It explores the stories of two different people who eventually converge at the end. Vicky Kaushal, Richa Chadda, Shweta Tripathi, Sanjay Mishra, Pankaj Tripathi, and others play pivotal roles. It had its world premiere in May 2016 at the Cannes Film Festival.
Sir-Netflix
The treatment of the Indian domestic worker in Bollywood has frequently been superficial — they are either objects of lust for lecherous men or simply too one-dimensional, cardboard figures. Rohena Gera's film humanises the complicated relationship a domestic worker has with her employer. The brilliant work of Tillotama Shome and Vivek Gomber is worth praise.
Kaagaz- ZEE5
This Pankaj Tripathi-starrer film is a powerful satire on the labyrinth of Indian bureaucracy, following the journey of a man who has been declared dead by the government but is alive. The film's plot revolves around his efforts to prove his existence.
Dhobi Ghat -Netflix
This was Kiran Rao's directorial debut, and while it was well-received by critics, it was not a commercial success. The plot follows the lives of four people in Mumbai: a washerman who aspires to be an actor, a banker-turned-photographer, a painter, and a newly-married immigrant who vlogs her daily activities.
Stanley Ka Dabba-Amazon Prime
This heartwarmingly innocent film follows Stanley, a young boy who is humiliated by a ruthless teacher who refuses to let him attend school until he brings his own Dabba.
Lipstick under my burkha- Amazon Prime
Lipstick Under My Burkha is set in the crowded bylanes of small-town India and follows the secret lives of four women in search of freedom. Despite being suffocated and trapped in their worlds, these four women claim their desires through small acts of courage and stealthy rebellion.
Tu Hai Mera Sunday- Amazon Prime
Tu Hai Mera Sunday tells the story of five friends looking for a place to play football in Mumbai, a game that brings them together every Sunday. Until a minor mishap renders the beach inaccessible, Juhu beach is their preferred playground. Alternative sites include crowded housing society compounds, rain-soaked terraces, and less-than-deserted lanes, but none of them has the potential to be permanent. The movie starring Varun Sobti is a pleasant and entertaining watch.
We are sure the sea of OTT has many other hidden gems. Let us know your favourite unheard Bollywood gems available on OTT in the comments.
