Indian Cinema Series 1 - Thriller Movies

Indian Cinema Series 1 - Thriller Movies - My Favorites

I am not a movie buff. I watch selected movies in theaters as well as at home. But last few days, I spent time exploring movies in other languages and realized that Indian cinema does have an amazing library of movies, if one chooses to expand their territory.

So here's the list of thriller movies I enjoyed watching.

They top my list of best thrillers because they stick to the genre, no unnecessary songs (some don't have a single song), no unwanted scenes, style of storytelling, makes your mind think, surprises till the end, suspense is well maintained and more beautifully revealed. (And am not a fan of grotesque murders)

I understand Kannada, Telugu, Tamil, Marathi, and a bit of Malayalam; so I enjoyed watching these more. But if you don't know the language, you will also find these movies in Amazon Prime, Netflix, Einthusan etc... with subtitles.

1. Mumbai Police - Malayalam - 2013

IMDB - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2924472/
Trailer - https://youtu.be/95_TzrQpiwc
Plot excerpt from IMDB - ACP Antony is the only one who knows the truth behind ACP Aaryan's murder. Antony meets with an accident, losing his memory and is unable to reveal the killer. He is forced to investigate the murder again hoping that he remembers something.
Director - Roshan Andrews
Highlights - Performance, Climax, No songs, Not Commercial. Tops my list for amazing storyline and climax.

2. A Wednesday - Hindi - 2008

IMDB - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1280558/
Plot excerpt from IMDB - A retiring police officer reminisces about the most astounding day of his career. About a case that was never filed but continues to haunt him in his memories - the case of a man and a Wednesday.
Director -  Neeraj Pandey
Highlights -  Storyline, Performance, Not Commercial - my all time favorite.

3. Dhruvangal Pathinaaru (D16) - Tamil- 2016

IMDB - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6380520/
Trailer - https://youtu.be/xpt2jfiL5GY
Plot excerpt from IMDB- A police officer retires after he loses his right leg in an accident while investigating a case. Five years later, he is forced to relive his past as he narrates the story to his friend's son.
Director - Karthick Naren
Highlights - Storyline, Style of storytelling, Direction, No songs, Not Commercial
(Karthick's first movie of his Thriller Trilogy. Naragasooran is the second which will be released next month this year, https://youtu.be/vKy__q_MMYw)

4. Kahaani - Hindi - 2012

IMDB - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1821480/
Trailer - https://youtu.be/j1wEeuAosNM
Plot excerpt from IMDB - A pregnant woman's search for her missing husband takes her from London to Kolkata, but everyone she questions denies having ever met him.
Director -  Sujoy Ghosh
Highlights - Storyline, Performance, Direction, Commercial movie, Climax

5. Drishyam - Malayalam - 2013 (Remade in Hindi, Telugu, Tamil)

IMDB - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3417422/
Trailer - https://youtu.be/eMASubc1y_k
Plot excerpt from IMDB - A man goes to extreme lengths to save his family from punishment after the family commits an accidental crime.
Director - Jeethu Joseph
Highlights - Storyline, Direction, Performance, Climax

6. Manorama Six Feet Under - Hindi - 2007

IMDB - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0920464/
Trailer - https://youtu.be/ocT2Wrq3v9Y
Plot excerpt from IMDB - Satyaveer, proud author of a tawdry and thoroughly unsuccessful crime novel, is approached by a woman named Manorama to investigate her husband, whom she suspects of having an affair. As in the best noir thrillers, things go pear-shaped for Satyaveer as he becomes embroiled deeper in the intrigue.
Director - Navdeep Singh
Highlights -  Storyline, Performance

7. Imaikkaa Nodigal - Tamil - 2018

IMDB - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6186910/
Trailer - https://youtu.be/Q0QoCgbwPjs
Plot excerpt from IMDB - A suave CBI officer (Nayanthara), is in search of a serial killer who kidnaps and kills the children of important people. The killer, however, is targeting his nemesis next.
Director -  R A Gnanamuthu
Highlights -  Storyline, Commercial movie (so expect action, romance, songs, drama)

8. Table No 21 - Hindi - 2013

IMDB - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2229842/
Trailer - https://youtu.be/RUC3SZgo_DA
Plot excerpt from IMDB - A couple is drawn into a game show with a whooping winning prize. However the game turns into more than a survival for them with no escape.
Director - Aditya Datt
Highlights -  Storyline, Performance, Commercial

9. Rangitaranga - Kannada - 2015

IMDB - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4432480/
Trailer - https://youtu.be/L8wWqg2oYiQ
Plot excerpt from IMDB - Mysterious events begin to unfold after a reclusive novelist and his wife move back to her ancestral village, followed by a journalist.
Director -  Anup Bhandari
Highlights -  Direction, Performance, Cinematography (And my soft corner for my hometown Mangalore :) )

10. 7th Day - Malayalam - 2014

IMDB - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3661988/
Trailer - https://youtu.be/HHVdXbNQI1Q
Plot excerpt from IMDB - A suspended crime branch officer gets involved in the investigation of a twisted case after he suspects a group of 5 friends of weird behavior
Director - Syamdhar
Highlights -  Not commercial, Storyline

11. Thani Oruvan - Tamil - 2015 (Remade in Telugu - Dhruva)

IMDB - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4987556/
Trailer - https://youtu.be/r5Lih8rKd6k
Plot excerpt from IMDB - Siddharth Abimanyu, an influential scientist, is involved in various illegal medical practices. Mithran, an efficient IPS officer, decides to expose him.
Director - M Raja
Highlights -  Direction, Commercial movie (so expect action, romance, songs, drama), (and my childhood crush Arvind Swamy :) His style in negative role is commendable.)

12. Vettah - Malayalam - 2016

IMDB - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5324456/
Trailer - https://youtu.be/MtdZTYHTCt0
Plot excerpt from IMDB - Two police officers trapped in a web of deception and lies from everyone they trust after they take up a case involving a mysterious man who is arrested for a double homicide.
Director - Rajesh Pillai
Highlights -  Direction, Performance

13. Memories - Malayalam - 2013

IMDB - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3124456/
Trailer - https://youtu.be/3m-o_PTxZvw
Plot excerpt from IMDB - Sam Alex, a drunkard ex-cop, is forced to investigate a series of murders which are committed in the same pattern. His search leads to a serial killer, and something more than what he expected.
Director - Jeethu Joseph
Highlights -  Performance, (For people who watched Breathe webseries on Amazon, you will be surprised :))

14. Theevram - Malayalam - 2012 (Dubbed in Tamil - Aaththiram)

IMDB - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2568760/
Trailer - https://youtu.be/39T4fJGQys0
Plot excerpt from IMDB - A missing auto-rickshaw driver and unidentifiable mutilated body parts found at different places stir up an investigation revealing the history of the auto-rickshaw driver and his murderer.
Director -  Roopesh Peethambaran
Highlights -  Storyline, Direction

15. Ittefaq - Hindi - 1969

IMDB - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0064506/
Trailer - https://youtu.be/1zGNihbRT8k
Plot excerpt from IMDB - Taking place almost entirely over the course of one stormy night, a woman is terrified when an accused murderer escapes from a mental hospital and seeks refuge in her home.
Director - Yash Chopra
Highlights - Storyline (This was remade in 2017, a disaster; no where close to this original movie)

16. Aamir - Hindi - 2008

IMDB - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1241195/
Plot excerpt from IMDB - A doctor of Indian origin returning to Mumbai from London is forced to participate in a terrorist plot
Director -  Raj Kumar Gupta
Highlights -  Storyline, Perfromance (Rajeev Khandelwal was just mind blowing in this debut film)

I have not watched Andhadhun - Hindi - 2018, but have a feeling that will be a good thriller too. Mera Saaya, Gumnaam, 100 days were good Hindi thrillers too for their time. Since am not huge fan of grotesque murders; so Vettaiyadu Vilayadu, Ratasasan, Raman Raghav etc... I have not included them in my list, but they are quite popular movies :)

Dedicated to my friend, who loves watching movies, and I hope you watch these non bollywood movies too, so you get a feel of real Indian Cinema. My next set will be on Spy movies :)

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