Films and cricket are the lifeblood of Indians. With this being said, it comes as no surprise that India has one of the biggest film industries in the world. In a country that produced the great Academy Award Winner Satyajit Ray, Palme d’Or winner Chetan Anand and many more, the marriage between cinema for the masses and cinema for the classes has always been upheld. In recent times, due to the ever-growing reach of OTT platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Disney’s Hotstar, the import-export of cinema has reached an all-time high. Indians now find themselves consuming cinema from across the globe, while the Indian Film Industry has also produced a few gems that transcend the barriers of language and can be enjoyed by the citizens of the world.
When it comes to thrillers, Asia has somewhat of a niche monopoly. With Bong Joon-ho’s recent sweep at the Oscars, South Korea has solidified its claim on the throne for thrillers, but the Indians aren’t far behind. Here are seven Indian thrillers that give South Korea a run for its money.
7 Joji (2021)
Joji is an adaptation of Shakespeare’s Macbeth set in a patriarchal household in Kerala. The plot revolves around Joji (Fahadh Faasil) and his two elder brothers who live under the shadow of their dominating father Kuttappan (Sunny PN). Despite his age, Kuttappan is physically strong and feared throughout the house. He is cruel and harsh on his three sons, especially with Joji. After a constant stream of physical and mental abuse, Joji devices a plan that sets forth a series of events that eventually spiral into chaos. Directed by Dileesh Pothan, Joji is a tense and eerie film that takes the thematic principles of Macbeth and applies them to common Indian traditions.
6 Andhadhun (2018)
After a blind piano player witnesses the murder of a former actor, he finds himself in a series of unfortunate events that could cost him his life. Directed by the legendary Sriram Raghavan, Andhadhun is a fast-paced roller coaster ride filled with twists and turns. Inspired by a French short film The Piano Tuner, Andhadhun builds on the premise of uncertainty layered with narrative tension, which eventually culminates into a string of murders.
5 Ugly (2013)
Ugly is a thriller film directed by India’s poster boy of world cinema, Anurag Kashyap. The plot revolves around a struggling actor (Rahul Bhat) and his search for his missing daughter, Kali. Unable to find her, he reaches out to Kali’s stepdad for help, who happens to be a cop. As the two men get embroiled in the case, they soon start suspecting each other of orchestrating Kali's kidnapping. A tense, whodunit film that has no dull moments, Ugly should be on every thriller lover's list.
4 Jallikattu (2019)
Jallikattu was India’s official entry at the 93rd Academy Awards. The plot revolves around a bull that somehow manages to escape the slaughterhouse where it’s supposed to be slaughtered, only to wreak havoc in a rural village in Kerala. A dark, thrilling commentary on the compulsiveness of man, Jallikattu is the prime example of the result when a strong narrative is married to bold visuals. Directed by Lijo Jose Pellissery, and starring Anthony Varghese, Tiny Pappachan and Chemban Vinod Jose, Jallikattu is touted as a visual revolution in the landscape of Indian cinema.
3 Raman Raghav 2.0 (2016)
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Based on the real-life serial killer of the same name, Anurag Kashyap’s Raman Raghav is a thriller on steroids. Responsible for terrorizing the streets of Mumbai in the '60s, Raman Raghav mostly targeted and bludgeoned poor men, women, and children at random. Kashyap’s film revolves around Raman Raghav, the killer, and his relationship to the cop that’s given the responsibility to catch him. Exploring the bond between an officer and a criminal, one killing out of duty, one out of pleasure, Raman Raghav 2.0 is a deep dive into the dark psyche of a disturbed man. Nawazuddin Siddiqui’s eerie portrayal of the killer Raman Raghav amps up the tension making the film a difficult, yet entertaining watch.
2 Kahani (2012)
A pregnant woman arrives in Kolkata to search for her missing husband. When all clues point to him being dead, the woman realizes there’s more than meets the eye. Directed by Sujoy Ghosh, Kahani is a gripping thriller that on a surface level seems straightforward but keeps the viewer's eyes glued to the screen with its mind-boggling twists and turns. The film stars Vidya Balan, Parambrata Chatterjee, and Saswata Chatterjee in prominent roles.
1 Ajji (2017)
Ajji is director Devashish Makhija’s dark take on the children’s fable — Red Riding Hood. The plot revolves around a grandmother who goes on a spree of vengeance after her granddaughter gets sexually assaulted by a local politician's son. A commentary on classism that presides in India, Ajji is a fierce tale of revenge at the hands of someone you least expect it from.