Filmmakers and literary writers across the globe have been fascinated with the notion of revenge dramas for a long time. Indian filmmakers too had their fair share of tryst with the emotionally stirring sub-genre. ‘Baahubali’ films are a prime example of a revenge drama executed in a magnificent way, with the impressive critical and commercial outcomes.
Concurrently, there have also been some well executed Indian movies that left an impact when they were released but didn’t manage to achieve blockbuster status like Baahubali and other films. In this article, we have compiled a list of five such rather underrated movies which you can watch on various Indian OTT platforms.
Mom (Streaming on Netflix and Zee5)
This film featured Late actress Sridevi’s last performance and truly a terrific one. After her stepdaughter is brutally assaulted by four persons and left for dead, her stepmother (Sridevi) makes it her mission to bring the culprits to justice in an equally ruthless way. To complete her mission, she takes the help of an eccentric but resourceful private detective (Nawazuddin Siddiqui). This gritty revenge thriller also featured Akshaye Khanna in an important role.
Madaari (Streaming on Zee5)
Sadly, the two main persons (Irrfan Khan and Nishikant Kamat) involved in the project are now deceased. Directed by Nishikant Kamat, the story centres around how a common man (Irrfan Khan) exacts revenge from those who he thinks are responsible for the death of his son in an accident he believes is caused by corruption. Irrfan Khan’s brilliant performance in a scene shot in a hospital alone is worthy enough to check out this film.
Fan (Streaming on Amazon Prime Video)
The film helmed by Maneesh Sharma (Band Baaja Baraat) had superstar Shah Rukh Khan’s earnest act and an intriguing premise. When an ordinary boy from Delhi who is an extraordinary fan of a Bollywood superstar he bears a resemblance to, goes to meet him on his birthday, he receives a disappointing reception. He then makes it his mission to turn the superstar’s life upside down with disastrous consequences for both the star and the fan.
Rakta Charitra (Streaming on Zee5, Sun NXT, and MX Player)
The film is an engaging political drama that narrates the story of former politician Paritala Ravindra (essayed by the supremely underrated Vivek Oberoi). The story revolves around how the protagonist avenges his father’s death and eventually contests an election. The movie was directed by maverick filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma, who had previously collaborated with Vivek Oberoi in the underworld drama ‘Company’.
Ek Hasina Thi (Streaming on Amazon Prime Video, Lionsgate Play)
This riveting romantic revenge thriller was ‘Andhadhun’ director Sriram Raghavan’s feature film directorial debut. It starred Urmila Matondkar as a regular Mumbai-based working woman who falls in love with a debonair businessman played by Saif Ali Khan. But soon, romance takes a backseat when she is falsely accused of a crime she did not commit. Her personality undergoes a drastic change, and she decides to deliver justice to all those responsible for her terrible situation.