Estimated reading time: 5 minutes
Of Blockbusters & Awards
It’s been a colorful year for South Asian entertainment. Sabar Bonda (Cactus Pears), a queer Marathi drama by Rohan Parashuram Kanawade, won the World Cinema Grand Jury Prize: Dramatic at Sundance this year, the first Marathi film to do so. Director-editor-producer Geeta Gambhir won the Sundance Directing Award: U.S. Documentary for her true crime nonfiction, The Perfect Neighbor, now a frontrunner in the Oscar documentary feature race. While several independent films by Indian and diasporic filmmakers entertained us, action and fantasy films maintained a tight grip on the desi boxoffice, with the exception of the passionate young-love story, Saiyaara. Critically acclaimed Homebound is headed to the Oscars as India’s official entry. Another desi first at the Oscars next year will be the super hit Mahavatar Narsimha, the first Indian animated film to make it to the 35 eligible titles in the highly-competitive Animated Feature Film category. Directed by Ashwin Kumar (Little Terrorist), Mahavatar Narsimha is the first in a planned series inspired by the 10 avatars of Lord Vishnu.
Our most popular reviews of the year by India Currents writers, however, had a different flavor: less flamboyance, more substance, and multilingual. Here are our top five most read reviews of 2025.
Dragon (2025)
Directed by Ashwath Marimuthu, Tamil movie, Dragon, despite its imperfections, delivers one of the most honest, hard-hitting, and compelling messages about life and the lonely road to redemption, says Anuj Chakrapani. The film is a warning to students about the pitfalls of wrong choices; it’s never too late to fix your life, but it gets harder with time.
I Want to Talk (2024)
Shoojit Sircar’s I Want To Talk might just be the film that turns you into an Abhishek Bachchan fan, says Ashwini Gangal. Based on a true story about courage in the face of impending death, the film chronicles the experience of a successful executive diagnosed with aggressive throat cancer. While exploring themes of death, the movie serves as a powerful testament to life, illustrating the fight of a brave survivor who refuses to cower in the face of a terminal diagnosis.
Kishkindha Kaandam (2024)
For a movie that does not have a “villain,” Malayalam film Kishkindha Kaandam isn’t just a deeply meditative experience, but also a gripping thriller, says Anuj Chakrapani. The film explores the powerful mysteries of the human mind while simultaneously unpacking a tight mystery. It avoids unnecessary drama and focuses on a complex plot, leading to a fascinating exploration of family and human relationships.
The Beatles and India (2021)
Written and directed by Indian political journalist Ajoy Bose and cultural researcher Peter Compton, The Beatles and India documents how the iconic British band’s music and lives were profoundly influenced by Indian spirituality, culture, philosophy, and meditative practices, writes Shalini Kathuria Narang. Featuring rare archival footage and eye-witness accounts, the film chronicles their sojourn at Maharishi Mahesh Yogi’s ashram, which resulted in their most creative songwriting time and helped to bridge Eastern and Western cultures.
Mrs. (2024)
A Hindi remake of the Malayalam sleeper hit The Great Indian Kitchen, Arati Kadav’s Mrs. successfully showcases deep-rooted, everyday patriarchy without fanfare. The film has stirred the proverbial pot through its relatable depiction of domestic responsibilities and subtle acts of male domination, writes Shalini Kathuria Narang. The movie uses the kitchen as a central metaphor for the lead character’s simmering frustration and eventual act of defiance against a stifling household.