From Homebound to Superboys of Malegaon to Sabar Bonda and Amazon Prime Video’s Stolen, these movies were an exploration where directors and actors chose authenticity over applause and dared to tell stories rooted in what is reflective of our society.
For the year2025, we can proudly say that we saw a dramatic shift in storytelling. Not just big blockbusters like Aditya Dhar’s Dhurandhar, starring Ranveer Singh, we saw a lot of good independent Indian cinema which didn’t scream for attention, but made their presence felt. Below are the movies that question, disrupt and heal.
Here’s our pick:
Homebound
Neeraj Ghaywan’s directorial Homebound, starring
Ishaan Khatter, Vishal Jethwa and Janhvi Kapoor, needs to be celebrated for its brilliant craftsmanship. The true story behind Neeraj’s Homebound is inspired by a pandemic-era New York Times essay. He handled this delicate subject with utmost honesty, sensitivity and responsibility. If you have keenly observed Neeraj’s filmography, you will be able to make out his profound interest in the human condition, the socio-political dynamics and casteism in India, and Homebound is no exception.
Sabar Bonda (Cactus Pears)
It is a Marathi-language film written and directed by Rohan Parashuram Kanawade. The story is a semi-autobiographical tender romance set against the backdrop of tradition and mourning in rural India.
Superboys of Malegaon
Zoya Akhtar and Reema Kagti’s biopic, ‘
_Superboys of Malegaon_’ is a tribute to the simplicity of filmmaking and friendship that we hardly get to see these days. It’s a must-watch for the brilliant performances of all the actors Adarsh Gourav, Vineet Kumar Singh, Shashank Arora, Manjiri Pupala and Muskkaan Jaferi. The movie emphasises on resilience and the burning desire for filmmaking. It’s about a group of young men in Malegaon who are crazily in love with movies.
The film shows the journey of Nasir Shaikh and his friends striving to bring their unique, locally-made films to the screen, showcasing their dedication to their craft despite numerous challenges.
Stolen
Backed by Kiran Rao and Vikramaditya Motwane, Abhishek Banerjee’s film is a thriller but has a restrained way of storytelling. Backed by Kiran Rao & Vikramaditya Motwane, Abhishek Banerjee’s film is a thriller but has a restrained way of storytelling. No unnecessary melodrama, Stolen shows how powerplay is real in our society. There is a constant conflict between two brothers, Raman (Shubham Vardhan) and Gautam (Abhishek Banerjee) who love each other dearly, but they think differently. Stolen will steal your heart to see the plight of a mother in search of her baby Champa. This crime thriller tells the story of two brothers who are entangled in a scary search for a baby that has been kidnapped.
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