Some good Indian films

A quick one, some good Indian films that you might have missed:

Kaksparsh - This Marathi film set in the pre independence times successfully transports you to a bygone era of joint families, child marriages and young widows. A Power packed performance by Sachin Khedekar elevates this haunting tale of love and suffering to another level. The authentic looking Konkan setting and an unconventional love story make this a must watch.

Budhia Singh – Born to Run : This is a heartfelt biopic of Odisha’s wonder-boy Budhia. It is a stirring drama powered by a sparkling chemistry between the lead actors (Manjob Bajpai as the firebrand coach and Mayur Patole's effortless performance as the slum kid). The film uses the usual sports film clichés and mixes it with the loss of childhood theme. The story is refreshingly set in Odisha and most importantly this story needs to be heard as it is based on real life.

Bey Yaar - This slick and witty film rekindled life into an almost dead Guajarati film industry. It is a rare film that seamlessly mixes a con movie plot with a Dil Chatha hai style tale of male camaraderie and centers its emotional heart in a touching father son relationship.

Baandhon - I had liked Jahnu Barua's Hindi film Maine Gandhi Ko Nahin Mara and watched this acclaimed Assamese movie, Barua effectively immerses us into the world of an old couple with the minimalist and unhurried style that the award winning films are known for.

Baise Srabon - Crafty,terrifying serial-killers have long been an obsession for Hollywood, this is a desi serial killer story. An experienced movie buff might be able to predict some of the twists and turns, the film works in spite of that. Intertwining the story with poetry and a Bengali literary movement is what makes the story unfold in a unique fashion.

Antardwand - This remarkable film is based on the weird idea of Groom kidnapping which is actually prevalent in some parts of rural Bihar. It is the performances and the authenticity that sell an idea like this(the plot is at once novel and bizarre)

Punjab 1984 - This emotionally charged Punjabi film depicts the turbulent times post 1984 (and the subsequent Khalistan movement). Apart from Gulzar saab's Maachis not many films have dealt with this theme, hence the story of how one family gets caught in such a political struggle was interesting for me. 2nd half was a bit like a routine masala film but Pawan Malhotra and Kirron Kher's splendid performances managed to keep me hooked.

Lakshmi - I am a fan of Nagesh Kukunoor's 3 Deewarein and feel that no other film of his matched the brilliance of that. Let me say that Lakshmi is his 2nd best work. It is a story about human trafficking and prostitution. If you are faint hearted, you will find the harrowing, gut-wrenching, disturbing realism of the film difficult to swallow. More disturbing than film's graphic violence however is the fact that it is based on a true story.