In a recently concluded survey by non-governmental organization Indian Film Institute (IFI) to judge the best of Indian cinema in the year 2022, six reputed Indian film critics have recommended their lists of the top ten Indian movies. Consequently, as per the final top 10 films list, it’s a tie between the Kannada blockbuster ‘Kantara’ and Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s period drama ‘Gangubai Kathiawadi’. Check out the full list of the top ten Indian films as per the latest IFI survey and where to stream these films on OTT.
10. Upasharga (Not streaming on OTT)
Directed by Kangkan Deka, the Assamese film revolves around two close friends Kingkar and Anil who are looking to make quick money. After meeting a dim-witted man who works in a poultry farm, the two friends hatch a plan which backfires.
9. Pada (Streaming on Amazon Prime Video)
Helmed by Kamal K.M. and based on a true incident, the movie follows a group of men who identify themselves as Ayyankali Pada and how they execute their plan to hold the District Collector hostage for many hours. Their motive is to negotiate with the government to make them withdraw a newly passed controversial bill pertaining to Adivasi rights.
8. RRR (Streaming on Netflix, Disney+ Hotstar, Zee5)
Helmed by S.S Rajamouli, the period action movie ‘RRR’ features Ram Charan and Jr.NTR in the lead roles and Ajay Devgn, and Alia Bhatt in pivotal roles. The film is a fictional tale set in the 1920s that revolves around two legendary Indian revolutionaries namely Alluri Sitarama Raju (played by Ram Charan) and Komaram Bheem (played by Jr. NTR).
7. Ariyippu (Streaming on Netflix)
Mahesh Narayanan’s slice-of-life drama revolves around an immigrant and struggling married couple Harish (played by Kunchacko Boban) and Reshmi (Divya Prabha) who are from Kerala and presently working near Delhi in a medical gloves factory. They want to go to a foreign country for better job prospects. But, after an old video featuring Reshmi gets manipulated and goes viral, the couple’s relationship and their jobs come under severe stress.
6. Dostojee (Not streaming on OTT)
Set in the early 1990s period and directed by Prasun Chaterjee, the film narrates the tale of an innocent friendship between two eight-year-old kids Palash and Safikul. But after the Babri mosque demolition happens, the incident threatens to break their bond.
5. Rocketry: The Nambi Effect (Streaming on Amazon Prime Video, Voot Select)
Helmed by R. Madhavan, it’s based on the life of former ISRO scientist Nambi Narayanan, who was falsely accused of selling confidential information to foreign entities and how he eventually fought back. It also features Simran (as Meera Narayanan), Rajit Kapur (as Vikram Sarabhai), and Gulshan Grover (as A.P.J. Abdul Kalam) besides special appearances by Shah Rukh Khan and Suriya.
4. Jalsa (Streaming on Amazon Prime Video)
Directed by Suresh Triveni, the film is an investigative thriller whose plotline revolves around a hit and run case where the victim is an 18-year-old girl. The goings-on are narrated from the point of view of an outstanding journalist (played by Vidya Balan) and a distressed mother (Shefali Shah) as they navigate through the legal and moral rigmarole to bring the culprit to justice.
3. Ponniyin Selvan: Part One (Streaming on Amazon Prime Video)
The film is based on Kalki Krishnamurthy’s 1955 novel of the same name and chronicles the account of the early days of Arulmozhi Varman, who later became the great Chola emperor Rajaraja Chola I. Directed by Mani Ratnam, the movie features an ensemble cast that includes Vikram, Aishwarya Rai, Jayam Ravi, Karthi, and Prakash Raj, amongst others.
2. Chhello Show (Streaming on Netflix)
The film’s plot follows a nine-year-old boy named Samay, who lives in a remote village in Gujarat. After discovering the magic of films, he makes it his mission to become a filmmaker himself. It has been directed by Pan Nalin and is India’s official entry for the Academy Awards.
1. Gangubai Kathiawadi (Streaming on Netflix)
Directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, the film follows the story of a woman named Ganga Harjivandas from Kathiawad who belongs to a wealthy family. But, after being sold to a brothel in Kamathipura, she eventually transforms into a formidable power to reckon with and becomes a madame in a red-light area.
1. Kantara (Streaming on Netflix, Amazon Prime Video)
Helmed by Rishab Shetty, the film is set in the fictional village of Kantara and follows the story of a hot-headed henchman named Shiva (Rishab Shetty). When a forest officer Murali (Kishore) tries to stop the local superstitions in the village and save the forest from the residents, Shiva locks horns with Murali with support from his landlord.