Embark with us on a captivating journey through the realms of Indian cinema, as we unveil the hidden gems that graced screens in 2023. In a landscape often overshadowed by blockbuster hits, there exists a trove of underrated masterpieces waiting to be discovered. This is our ode to storytelling excellence, a celebration of the top underrated Indian movies that captured hearts with their distinctive narratives, exceptional performances, and artistic brilliance. Join us in venturing beyond the mainstream, as we spotlight films that may have slipped under the radar but have left an indelible mark on discerning audiences. It’s time to explore the extraordinary in the world of Indian cinema that deserves its moment in the limelight. Here are our top 5 underrated Indian movies of 2023.
1. 12th Fail
12th Fail is an Indian Hindi-language biographical drama film produced, written and directed by Vidhu Vinod Chopra. The film stars Vikrant Massey in the title role, alongside Medha Shankar, Anant V Joshi, Anshumaan Pushkar, and Priyanshu Chatterjee.
Released theatrically on 27 October 2023, 12th Fail received widespread critical acclaim grossing over ₹66 crore (US$8.3 million) worldwide. At the 69th Filmfare Awards, the film received 12 nominations, including Best Film and Best Director.
It is based on the 2019 eponymous non-fiction book by Anurag Pathak about the real-life story of Manoj Kumar Sharma, who overcame extreme poverty to become an Indian Police Service officer. Although it might not be as underrated as other movies on this list, it just goes to show the power of word of mouth that acknowledges something brilliant. 12th Fail is a must-watch for those who enjoy emotional and inspirational stories.
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2. 2018
2018 is a 2023 Indian Malayalam-language survival drama film based on the severe 2018 Kerala floods that devastated Kerala. Jude Anthany Joseph directed the film, while Akhil P. Dharmajan co-wrote the screenplay. Venu Kunnappilly, C K Padmakumar, and Anto Joseph produced the movie under the banner of Kavya Film Company in collaboration with P K Prime Production Producers. The film stars Tovino Thomas, Kunchacko Boban, Asif Ali, Vineeth Sreenivasan, Narain and Lal with an ensemble supporting cast.
This film manages to exceed all expectations having a meagre budget of 20 crores with its exceptional cinematography, direction and an amazing cast who come together to give some of their career-best performances yet. This film showcases the human spirit to work together to survive and thrive in extremely adverse conditions. Furthermore, it also portrays that no religion, caste, or race is above humanity.
3. Chithha
Chithha is a 2023 Indian Tamil-language drama film directed by S. U. Arun Kumar and produced by Siddharth, who stars in the lead role alongside Nimisha Sajayan (in her Tamil debut) plays the female lead, in addition to Baby Sahasra Shree and Baby S. Aafiyah Tasneem in the prominent roles.
Usually, movies like Chithha turn into a revenge thriller halfway into the movie. However, this movie is a much more nuanced and mature take on its underlying theme of child abuse. Furthermore, the highlight of the movie is the beautiful child actor’s performance as well as the relationship between the child actor and our main character.
4. Gulmohar
Gulmohar is a 2023 Indian Hindi-language drama film written and directed by Rahul V. Chittella. The film stars Sharmila Tagore, Manoj Bajpayee, Simran, Suraj Sharma, Amol Palekar, and Kaveri Seth. The Disney+ HotstarOTT platform released it on 3 March 2023. It was featured in the mainstream section of the 54th IFFI Indian Panorama.
Gulmohar focuses on the Batra family through the matriarch of the family Kusum Batra who sold their family home in Delhi and moved to Pondicherry. The conflict that arises due to this situation is the basic premise of Gulmohar. As with the other films on this list, the performances in this film are some of the best in business. Some of the best scenes present in the film occur during the interaction of the mother-son duo played by Sharmila Tagore and Manoj Bajpayee respectively. The movie is a must-watch for those who enjoy drama happening due to interpersonal relationships.
5. Sapta Sagaradaache Ello – Side A
Sapta Saagaradaache Ello – Side A is a 2023 Indian Kannada-language romantic drama film directed by Hemanth M. Rao and produced by Rakshit Shetty. It stars Rakshit Shetty and Rukmini Vasanth in the lead roles. Charan Raj composed the music for the movie, while Sunil S. edited it. Advaitha Gurumurthy also made contributions to the project. Bharadwaj and Hemanth M. Rao handled the cinematography. On 1 September 2023, the movie “Sapta Saagaradaache Ello – Side A” was released and critics highly praised it. Despite being a Kannada film, many consider it to be one of the most underrated Indian movies.
Sapta Saagaradaache Ello is a film that doesn’t establish the relationship as we go further in the movie. Rather the relationship has already been established believably and naturally. This film stands out because it doesn’t follow a particular formula. Additionally, the dynamic between the aspiring singer who wants a simple life by the sea and a driver who has material ambitions is the highlight of the film.
Very well written👌👏👏