5 Less Popular but Brilliant Indian Movies Streaming on OTT

With the ever-growing content libraries of Indian OTT giants like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney Plus Hotstar, SonyLIV, and Zee5, etc., you may have already seen most of the popular Indian films streaming on these platforms. But alongside their blockbuster / more popular counterparts, there are many movies streaming on the same Indian OTT platforms which are comparatively less popular, nevertheless, are brilliantly made films.

For this article, we have compiled a list of five such relatively less popular yet brilliant Indian movies that are currently streaming on various Indian OTT platforms.

Love Sonia (Streaming on Disney+ Hotstar)

This hard-hitting film inspired by real-life events features ‘Toofaan’ actress Mrunal Thakur in the lead role. When her sister is sold by her poverty-stricken father, the determined protagonist makes it her mission to find her against all odds. However, she herself gets entangled in the labyrinth of the international flesh trade. The film features an ensemble cast including Manoj Bajpayee, Freida Pinto, Anupam Kher, Rajkumar Rao, Richa Chadha, Adil Hussain, and Hollywood actress Demi Moore.

99 (Streaming on YouTube, Google Play, Apple iTunes)

‘99’ is a crime comedy film that was helmed by the creators of the cult show ‘The Family Man’ – the celebrated filmmaker duo Raj & DK. The film came out in 2009 and was set in the year 1999. The plot followed two petty criminals – the underrated Kunal Khemu and the multi-talented Cyrus Broacha (of MTV Bakra fame).

The two men are sent by a gangster (Mahesh Manjrekar) to recover money from a gambler (Boman Irani). However, things do not go as planned. The film also features Vinod Khanna and Soha Ali Khan in important roles. A light-hearted entertainer that you won’t regret watching.

Shanghai (Streaming on Zee5, MX Player, Lionsgate Play)

Helmed by Dibakar Banerjee, ‘Shanghai’ is a one-of-its-kind political thriller. When the leader (Prosenjit Chatterjee) of a campaign against a government project is fatally injured in a road accident, his former pupil (Kalki Koechlin) suspects foul play and teams up with a local video shop employee (Emraan Hashmi) to uncover the truth.

Meanwhile, an inquiry is set up to investigate the case lead by an upright IAS officer (Abhay Deol). The film also features Supriya Pathak, Farooq Shaikh, and Tillotama Shome amongst other cast members.

Mumbai Meri Jaan (Streaming on Netflix)

Directed by the gifted filmmaker-actor Nishikant Kamat (Force, Drishyam, Madaari), the sensitively executed film narrates the story of different characters and their interconnected stories and how the abominable 2006 Mumbai train bombings affected their lives in different ways.

The film featured a terrific cast including Paresh Rawal, Kay Kay Menon, Irrfan Khan, Madhavan, and Soha Ali Khan amongst others. The film had eventually won three Filmfare Awards for ‘Best Film (Critics)’, ‘Best Screenplay’ and ‘Best Editing’.

Black & White (Streaming on Zee5)

Much before they played an affluent married couple in Zoya Akhtar’s ‘Dil Dhadakne Do’, Anil Kapoor and Shefali Shah featured as a simple on-screen couple in Subhash Ghai’s offbeat and critically acclaimed film ‘Black & White’ (2008).

The plot revolves around a suicide bomber (Anurag Sinha) sent on a mission to kill many people on Indian Independence Day. He befriends a Chandni Chowk-based professor (Anil Kapoor) and his social activist wife (Shefali Shah) to complete his mission and gains their trust. Will he be able to complete his mission or could he have a change of heart?