15 Indian short films you should watch to restore your faith in Bollywood

We grew up with Bollywood, but sadly, Bollywood did not grow up with us. At some point, the misogyny and dumb plots became clearer; all the glittery shine that drew us in now fails to cast its charm over us. But even amid an industry filled with ‘Grand Masti’s and ‘Housefull’s, we are sometimes blessed with some rare, precious gems. Even better, the filmmaking industry has now taken to social media to bring these gems directly to us, and we could not be happier. Short films are already a win -I do not have to commit 3 hours to a movie? Sweet!- but Indian Short films are really at the top of their game. So get ready to make your day instantly better by watching these 15 Indian Short Films on Youtube:

1. Ahalya

   

   When this Bengali short film came out in 2015, it blew everyone’s minds. Loosely based on the story of Ahalya from Hindu Mythology, this masterpiece puts the thrill in the thriller. Also, Radhika Apte plus Soumitra Chatterjee is already a win. If you’re in the mood for a mindfuck story, go watch  one of the best Indian short films out there: Ahalya

2. Interior Cafe Night

   This short film very beautifully connects two parallel stories. Naseeruddin Shah plays the old owner of a Cafe when one day, his love from the past walks into the cafe, and we get a toothache from the sweetness that follows – but in a good way. Watch it here.

3. Ouch

   What a witty title, because when you reach the end, that’s all you’ll wanna say – Ouch. Starring Manoj Bajypayee, this hilarious film revolves around a man whom you can call dhobi ka Kutta ’cause he’s na Ghar ka na ghat ka. If you wanna laugh at someone else’s misery for a change, watch this man’s life fall apart in one of the funniest Indian short films: Ouch.

4. Nayantara’s necklace

   Tillottama Shome and Konkan Sen Sharma play two completely opposite women. One is your usual middle-class housewife while the other is a worldly woman who teaches the former to pronounce chardonnay. The two develop an unlikely friendship full of aspirations, desires and influences. In a small duration of 20 minutes, this movie reminds you of many morals we learned as children but forgot somewhere along the line. Watch this short film here.

5. Juice

   You’ll feel a lot of feelings after watching this short film, but the one that really comes up is the sense of familiarity. We have all been at these household Indian parties but now with an outsider’s view, we finally see how the women of the house are treated (and how they treat each other). Watch this masterpiece to reflect on our society and the status it gives to our women here.

6. Kriti

   I do not appreciate scary movies – why would I give myself nightmares? On purpose? – unless it’s really, really good. Kriti falls in that category. This Manoj Bajpayee, Neha Sharma, and Radhika Apte starrer psychological thriller manages to blow your mind. With an absolutely incredible story and just enough jump cuts, this short film may or may not haunt you at night. If you’re in the mood for some eye-widening plot twists, watch Kriti.

7. Devi

   This short film stars many big names – Kajol, Neha Dhupia, Mukta Barve, Shruti Hasan, Neena Kulkarni, and some more. Devi follows a discussion among 9 (and more n the back) women compelled to live together, debating whether or not one more like them should be let in. When you’re done watching this hard-hitting film and are sitting there with goosebumps on your body, it’s the ironic name that really pushes the tears out of your eyes. Watch it here.

8. Ghar ki Murgi

   If being a housewife was treated as a real job (like it should be), ‘taken for granted’ would be sneaked in the Terms and Conditions of the contract. Most Indian housewives learn to live with it. Except they don’t have to. Seema Bhatia (played by the awesome Sakshi Tanwar) realizes just that and decides to take a break from it all. The short film follows the family trying to keep up with the ensued chaos. Watch this eye-opener to finally apologize for all those times you were rude to your mom here. 

9. Glitch

   Actions have consequences. But what if you could avoid them by going back in time? Little Karan accidentally discovers time travel and decides to use it to save his parents’ marriage, which is about to implode over a lost diamond ring. Follow the cute 12-year old on his adventure that ends with a pretty awesome twist here. 

10. Suno

    Suno is about a young couple, played by Sumeet Vyas and Amrita Puri, who is coming to terms with an “incident” in very different ways. While the husband has moved on and believes it’s all okay, the wife cannot come to terms with it as quickly ’cause it’s not okay. Domestic violence – even if it seems like a small incident (it’s never too small) – is not okay. This short film portrays the gut-wrenching truth of society so accurately, but the final line will break your heart. Watch it here.

11. Sisak

    Keep your tissues ready, because you will cry; oh you will cry so much after watching this beautiful gem of a film. Don’t even think about skipping it, we are done skipping their stories. Sisak is India’s first silent LGBTQ+ love story. Without saying a word, they portray so much emotion through amazing actors and outstanding sound design, it breaks your heart. You can watch this heart-wrenching short film here.

12. That day after every day

    The world’s not the safest place, but the extent to which we are okay with something as horrible and demeaning as eve-teasing is beyond logical reasoning. Like women in real-life, the three women in this short film (Sandhya Mridul, Radhika Apte, and Geetanjali Thappa) try their best to avoid such disgusting situations. Except for one day when they decide that they have had enough. If you’re in the mood for a satisfactory ending, watch this short film here. 

13. Little Terrorist

    Little terrorist – India’s only Oscar-nominated short film – came out in 2004 and is still one of the best short films you’ll ever watch. It revolves around a 10-year old Jamaal who while playing cricket crosses the Indo-Pak border and is spotted by the Indian Security forces. He finds an unusual ally in Bhola, a Hindu Brahmin. This thought-provoking jewel of a film manages to show the sad realities of our society so beautifully, you’ll never forget it. Watch little terrorist here. 

14. Karma Cafe

    Probably the most unique story on the list. A young man stumbles upon a cafe where you are served what a mystical machine thinks you deserve. This short film really makes you think about your actions, your karma, and whether what you have is what you deserve. Visit the Karma Cafe here. 

15. Khujli

    If you think middle-aged couples don’t experiment with sex, Neena Gupta and Jackie Shroff are to prove you wrong. Girdharilal is outraged to find handcuffs in his son’s room but is more shocked to find that his wife Roopmati is actually into kinky stuff. Pro tip: Watch this awesomeness unfold alone or with friends – NOT WITH PARENTS. Expect your cheeks to hurt from smiling and squealing with joy. And dont forget to stick around for a hilarious post-credit scene. You can find it here.  

Indian Short Films are truly a minefield of gems. Watching these masterpieces will definitely restore your faith in Bollywood. Let us know in comments below which is your favorite short film.