Among a sea of love stories, action movies, and formula comedies, there are Indian films that take the story-telling envelope and quietly push it. These are the ones that don’t play by the rules — they redefine them. From philosophical brain teasers to reincarnated flies, these films will astonish you, confront you, and linger with you long after the final credits.
Here’s a carefully curated list of 10 Indian movies that had genuinely fresh and original ideas that need so much more attention than they got.
1. Mard Ko Dard Nahi Hota (2018)
Idea: A young man who was born with a rare condition that renders him pain-free decides to be a martial arts hero and combat injustice in his offbeat, retro-themed world.
- Cast: Abhimanyu Dassani, Radhika Madan, Gulshan Devaiah
- Where to Watch: Netflix
- IMDb Rating: 7.3
- Why it stands out: It’s a love letter to 90s action films, full of humor, stylized fights, and an offbeat tone that makes it a fun, original ride.
2. Udaan (2010)
Concept: After being expelled from boarding school, a 17-year-old boy comes home to a controlling and abusive dad who stifles his dreams of becoming a writer.
- Cast: Rajat Barmecha, Ronit Roy, Aayan Boradia
- Where to Watch: Netflix
- IMDb Rating: 8.1
- Why it stands out: This is perhaps the most realistic coming-of-age movie in Indian cinema. It doesn’t idealize rebellion — it faces it with honesty and suffering.
3. Ship of Theseus (2013)
Concept: The movie is a philosophical exploration of the identity paradox within three loosely related narratives: a photographer who has been blind but regains his eyesight, a monk who argues about the morality of testing animals, and a stockbroker looking for pilfered organs.
- Cast: Neeraj Kabi, Aida El-Kashef, Sohum Shah
- Where to Watch: Mubi, YouTube (rent)
- IMDb Rating: 8.0
- Why it stands out: It’s a unique Indian film that is bold enough to pose profound, painful questions regarding self, morality, and transformation.
4. Tumbbad (2018)
Concept: Based on a rain-lashed village, the narrative follows a cursed family who stand watch over a concealed treasure that belongs to an ancient lost god. It is a dark story of greed spanning generations.
- Cast: Sohum Shah, Jyoti Malshe, Mohammad Samad
- Where to Stream: Amazon Prime Video
- IMDb Rating: 8.2
- What makes it special: It combines Indian mythology with horror and fantasy, making for a terrifying, visually breathtaking experience unlike anything else in Indian cinema.
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5. A Death in the Gunj (2016)
Plot: A psychological character study of a sensitive and introverted young man disintegrating on what seems to be a typical family holiday in 1970s India.
- Cast: Vikrant Massey, Kalki Koechlin, Ranvir Shorey, Tillotama Shome
- Where to Stream: Amazon Prime Video
- IMDb Rating: 7.5
- Why it stands out: The movie gradually develops tension under the surface, leading to an ending that’s shocking and heart-wrenching. It portrays emotional loneliness like few Indian movies have.
6. Egga(2012)
Concept: A business tycoon kills a man, then is reincarnated as a housefly. Equipped with nothing but his small wings and large heart, he embarks on a crazy quest for revenge.
- Cast: Nani, Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Sudeep
- Where to Watch: Disney+ Hotstar, YouTube
- IMDb Rating: 7.7
- Why it works: As strange as this sounds, this is a lesson in creative storytelling, demonstrating that even a housefly can transport a film if done correctly.
7. Andhadhun (2018)
Concept: A blind pianist finds himself trapped in a web of murder and lies. Or is he actually blind? The movie keeps toying with your idea of truth and falsehood.
- Cast: Ayushmann Khurrana, Tabu, Radhika Apte
- Where to Watch: Netflix
- IMDb Rating: 8.2
- Why it stands out: With its shocking twists, wicked humor, and multi-layered storytelling, this thriller has you questioning every thing you watch.
8. Super Deluxe (2019)
Concept: A series of strange, surreal tales such as a couple keeping a dead body a secret, a trans parent coming home, children accidentally discovering a porn DVD, and a cult believing in an alien messiah — all conflated into a frenetic yet genius narrative
- Cast: Vijay Sethupathi, Fahadh Faasil, Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Ramya Krishnan
- Where to Stream: Netflix
- IMDb Rating: 8.3
- Why it’s special: It’s never predictable, genre-bending, and completely surreal. You won’t know what hits you — and you’ll adore it for that.
9. Love Sex Aur Dhokha (2010)
Concept: Told in three interwoven tales shot with spy cameras and handheld footage, the film is about voyeurism, web culture, and betrayal in contemporary relationships.
- Cast: Anshuman Jha, Nushrratt Bharuccha, Rajkummar Rao
- Where to Watch: ZEE5
- IMDb Rating: 7.0
- Why it stands out: It was the first found-footage experiment in India and one of the most daring films in terms of form and content.
10. Court (2014)
Concept: A folk singer is detained for his protest song, which supposedly drove a man to take his own life. The trial proceedings that ensue uncover the absurdities of India’s legal and bureaucratic system.
- Cast: Vira Sathidar, Vivek Gomber, Geetanjali Kulkarni
- Where to Watch: Netflix
- IMDb Rating: 7.6
- Why it’s remarkable: It’s a candid, monochrome critique of how the system betrays the common man. Quiet but hugely potent.
Final thoughts –
If you’re a person who feels that Indian cinema is going in circles, these movies are your way out. They defy expectations, embrace offbeat concepts, and provide you with something to discuss — or ponder. Every movie on this list is a testament to the fact that originality is far from dead in Indian cinema. You just have to know where to find it.
So sit back, dim the lights, and let these underappreciated classics take you somewhere new.
