5 must-watch Indian films of 2021

As a measure of adapting to the pandemic, this year witnessed the growth of Indian cinema over OTT platforms. While theatres reopened embracing the new normal, several Indian films gained appreciation from the box office and critics alike. Here are some outstanding Indian films of 2021.

Mimi

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Directed by Laxman Utekar, "Mimi" featured Kriti Sanon as the titular character. In the film, Mimi agrees to be the surrogate for an American couple, but things turn upside down when they abruptly decide to abandon the child. It presents a rollercoaster ride of emotions while portraying a strong female lead. This film had one of the most unconventional plots Bollywood has ever offered and Sanon delivered an earnest performance.

Shershaah

The biographical film by Vishnuvardhan provided an insight into the life of Captain Vikram Batra, a Kargil war hero. With a strong plot and soundtrack, this film featured Sidharth Malhotra and Kiara Advani as the leads. The film was greatly appreciated for staying true to the soldier's story. It shared glimpses of Batra's valiant moments at the battle and his heart-warming love story with Dimple Cheema.

Jai Bhim

This legal drama portrayed the dark reality of the deeply rooted Indian caste system. Revolving around a true incident from 1993, the film involved a case fought by Justice K Chandru. The T J Gnanavel directorial features Suriya and Lijomol Jose in prominent roles as they addressed the several atrocities faced by minorities, not just a side trope but the main act. The film confronted the audience with difficult questions about social identities, justice and human rights in general. 

Sardar Udham

Directed by Shoojit Sircar, this Vicky Kaushal starrer biopic is based on the life of Sardar Udham Singh, a revolutionary freedom fighter, who assassinated Michael O'Dwyer to avenge the Jallianwala Bagh massacre that took place in 1919. What made this film special was the heart-wrenching massacre sequence, a layered narrative and Kaushal's outstanding performance. With an intriguing storyline, this film is a must-watch.

Sandeep Aur Pinky Faraar

This Dibakar Banerjee dark comedy opens with a suspenseful scene and ends with an impactful gender-defying finale. Sandeep (played by Paineeti Chopra) and Pinky (played by Arjun Kapoor) belong to opposite worlds, and fight for survival and self-respect. The plot revolved around a nuanced story of class divide, powerplay, corporate greed, misogyny and privilege. Chopra's portrayal of a wide emotional range adds a touch of colour to an otherwise typical Banerjee film.

Honourable mentions

Another unconventional OTT film that received love from the audience was Renuka Shahane's "Tribhanga". The film followed three women from three generations in a family, all of them very different from each other. Featuring Tanvi Azmi, Kajol, and Mithila Palkar, it also focused on the diverse roles played by women in our society. Shahane's debut directorial explored the various shades of a woman's life and brilliantly showcased their inter-relationships and perspectives. 

Umesh Bisht's "Pagglait" showed a family grieving the death of their young son. At the centre of the film is Sanya Malhotra, who adds a certain quirkiness by playing a widow who does not mourn her husband's death. Instead of crying, she is seen grieving her loveless marriage, knowing that he had someone else in his life. It is filled with endearing moments of love, laughter and tears as it also extends hope and courage.

Directed by Mari Selvaraj, "Karnan" showcased a powerful story about people who have been wronged for a long time. Led by the supremely talented Dhanush, the plot revolves around the lives of helpless villagers in a remote region, who have been ignored by the authorities. The power-packed film utilises several metaphors to emphasise how the caste system is embedded within our society and is hampering full swing development.

"Drishyam 2", a sequel to the 2013 drama-thriller, revolves around a murder investigation case and a family which feels intimidated by it. Directed by Jeethu Joseph, the film features Mohanlal, Meena, Ansiba Hassan and Esther Anil. This intriguing film received widespread critical acclaim, following which the producer also bought the remake rights to make a sequel to the Hindi adaptation.