A huge portion of 2021 was spent inside our homes due to the pandemic but the OTT platforms saw a steady rise in the number of content produced. Though movies were traditionally created for the big screen, we can only be thankful that they can now be accessed at the comfort of our homes in these rough times.
2021 saw the release of many web movies that excelled in every way and brought us entertainment in these turbulent times. Here is a list of the top 10 Indian web movies of 2021.
10. Toofaan
Available on: Amazon Prime Video
Cast: Farhan Akhtar, Mrunal Thakur, Paresh Rawal
This sports drama does not only tell us the story of the protagonist, his mentor and his journey but also about the world that these characters live in.
This movie has all the elements of a sports film like, training montages, the hero’s struggle to the top, loosing and winning and yet this movie is unique in its own way and is memorable. The actors do a phenomenal job as well.
9. Ankahi Kahaniyan: Madhyantra
Available on: Netflix
Cast: Rinku Rajguru, Delzad Hiwale
This anthology makes it to the list because of the short movie Madhyantra. The main theme of all of the three short movies is Mumbai and the love and loneliness the city of dreams fosters.
Madhyantra, based on a Kannada story by Jayant Kaikini, revolves around the connection formed between Manjari and Nandu, both of whom are lonely and empty in their own ways. They are trapped in the realities of their lives and are bound by them. Though their lives are less colourful than the movies that they watch, they try to find happiness in the small things in life.
8. Haseen Dilruba
Available on: Netflix
Cast: Taapsee Pannu, Vikrant Massey, Harshvardhan Rane
‘Haseen Dilruba’ uses many stereotypes and conventions and flips it over the head. The story is set in the fictional small town of Jwalapur which sets on the banks of a river which adds a charm to the setting.
What in the first half seems to be a movie about arranged marriage between two strangers who will eventually form a bond, makes a total 180 degree turn to catch us off guard; everything soon turns bloody and messy. Though these flip flops may become a little inconsistent, but manages to break the audience’s expectations.
7. Sandeep Aur Pinky Faraar
Available on: Amazon Prime Video
Cast: Parineeti Chopra, Arjun Kapoor, Jaideep Ahlawat, Neena Gupta
Though ‘Sandeep and Pinky Faraar’ did release in the theaters, not many got to see it because of the pandemic. Thankfully, the internet exists. This film grabbed everyone’s attention from the very first scene, breaking every ones’s expectations.
We get to see both the actors in one of their best performances in their career with Parineeti Choprs as Sandeep and Arjun Kapoor as Pinky. The movie successfully brings out the nastiness of politics, power and the police system while also making us laugh. The movie is filled with small details which makes the settings and the story feel more real. This slow burner is very breezy and an easy watch.
6. Meenskahi Sudareshwar
Available on: Netflix
Cast: Sanya Malhotra, Abhimanyu Dassani
‘Meenakshi Sundareshwar’ is a beauty; visually and musically. While, it does portray a very Bollywood representation of the Tamils, we cannot the deny the beautiful shots of Bangaluru and Madurai.
The actors do a splendid job and appear very convincing as Sundar and Meenakshi. Forced to live in two different cities after their arranged marriage, Sundar and Meenakshi form a bond over phone calls and video calls but the stresses of a long distance relationship soon starts to show.
5. Pagglait
Aailable on: Netflix
Cast: Sanya Malhotra, Sayani Gupta & Ashutosh Rana
Another banger by Sanya Malhotra, ‘Pagglait’ is a very unconventional dark comedy. This is also Arijit Singh’s debut as a music composer.
Instead of commenting on various problems like, orthodox families and superstitions, the movie touches on them subtly. After the death of Sandhya’s husband, just five month after arranged marriage, she is left in a home full of people joint family. People expect her to grieve, unlike how she is actually feeling. The movie accounts tiny, mundane and sad details of the things that happens after one passes, so that the darker aspects seem funny.
4. Ajeeb Daastaans: Geeli Pucchi
Available on: Netflix
Cast: Konkona Sen Sharma, Aditi Rao Hydari
This anthology film of twisted short stories makes it to the list because of ‘Geeli Pucchi’. The short film not only talks about gender stereotypes and cast but is a brilliant piece because of its representation.
Bharati Mondol, played by Konkona Sen Sharma, is beaten down again and again because of her caste, sexuality and gender; in short, she is the bottom of the barrel. Priya, played by Aditi Rao Hydari, is also tied in the shackles of her caste identity, her family while questioning her sexuality.
3. Sardar Udham
Available on: Amazon Prime Video
Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Shaun Scott, Stephen Hogan, Banita Sandhu, Kirsty Averton
Though the runtime is 2 hours and 42 minutes, ‘Sardar Udham’ manages to keep the audiences engaged throughout. The story and the ending is known to everyone and yet this movie is special.
It is hard to forget the shots of this movie, thanks to it’s production design and music. The sets, costumes and props don’t seem out of place for once. The non linear plot gives us the glimpses of Shaheed Sardar Udham’s life and his journey through various places to ultimately take revenge for the Jallianwala Bagh massacre.
2. Sherni
Available on: Amazon Prime Video
Cast: Vidya Balan, Vijay Raaz, Neeraj Kabi
Shot in a documentary style hand held camera, Sherni tells the story of a man eating tigress. The trees, the streams and the jungle in itself has been shot in a very picturesque manner. Knowing that this film is based on the actual killing of the tigress, Avni, it leaves a very unsettling aftertaste.
Vidya Balan, playing Vidya Vincent, is at her best as usual. The turmoils of her character are portrayed well through the actors expressions and the way the script positioned the character. Metaphorically, the actual sherni is Vidya Vincent herself.
1. The White Tiger
Available on: Netflix
Cast: Adarsh Gourav, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Rajkummar Rao
‘The White Tiger’, with all its complex characters and plot points, on the story of a driver Balram and how he came to own a small business; a story of his struggle to success. Scraping the surface, one can find themselves reflected and represented in at least on way or another.
Balram is tied to his circumstances but he dreams big. But why should a person from a “lower standing” not have big ambitions? And to help elevate an already good plot, the casting for this movie is near perfect. Many call this movie an amalgamation of Slum Dog Millionaire and Parasite but ‘The White Tiger’ stands tall on its own.
Also Read: Top 10 Indian web series of 2021 (Ranked)