Short films are often missed out on simply because they aren't made on the same budgets as most Bollywood films. The marketing of these is much less and most don't release on paid streaming platforms but instead on video websites like Youtube. But financial limitations can rarely hold backstories and narratives that are thought-provoking, intelligent, and sometimes even life-changing.?
Packed with raw talent, meticulously edited, and free from commercial restraints, these shorts films provide every bit of a superior cinematic experience from the comfort of your home. Watch Radhika Apte's award-winning Ahalya or witness the brilliance of Konkana Sen Sharma in Nayantara's necklace, they are true cinematic gems.?
Here, we list 11 incredible short films that you can stream now for free, created by some of the most exciting directors working today.
Directed and written by critically acclaimed film director Sujoy Ghosh, Ahalya the short film showcases a new rendition of the?mythical woman from the Ramayana, who cheats on her much older husband when god Indra appears before her in disguise. Superbly acted by Soumitra Chatterjee, Radhika Apte, and Tota Rowchowdhury, Ahalya is a splendid 14-minute watch.
You are in for a treat with Adhiraj Bose¡¯s 13-minute film starring Naseeruddin Shah, Naveen Kastruia, and Shweta Basu Prasad.?
The premise? One of our favorites.?Lovers meeting for the last time before one of them leaves the city for good. Despite the assurances of making it work, the heart knows that things won¡¯t be the same anymore. So one of them spell out their worst fear: ¡°What if you meet someone else?" That feeling of love slipping away from your hands and there's nothing you can do about it? The short film captures that emotion brilliantly.?
Directed by Anurag Kashyap and starring his favorite muse, Radhika Apte, the short film That Day After Everyday attempts to showcase how little space is allowed to women in society. The film takes up the sexual harassment, teasing and mistreatment women are subjected to in the form of eve-teasing?
If you thought the legendary duo Irrfan Khan and Nawazuddin Siddiqui only starred together in Ritesh Batra's The Lunchbox, think again.?Back in 2003, the finest actors of Bollywood starred together for the very first time in a silent short film. Bone-chilling, adventurous, and shockingly impressive, it's a film you just can't miss.?
Manoj Bajpayee certainly doesn't need a full feature film to showcase his mastery. His award-winning short film Ouch is a testament to that fact. Directed by Neeraj Pandey, this 14-minute long short film is based on the premise that no matter how 'happy' and 'relaxing' an extramarital relationship might be, it definitely leads you to an ugly situation someday. It stands for an amazing watch!?
This exceptional short film directed by?Jaydeep Sarkar features India's finest actresses- Konkana Sen Sharma and?Tillottama Shome.Sen Sharma plays Nayantara, an upwardly mobile and flashy woman, who is always made-up and shiny. Shome plays Alka, a simple housewife whose life revolves around her domesticity. The two meet because their sons go to the same school and because they¡¯re neighbors. The film eloquently brings forward female desire.?
Produced by Ronnie Screwvala & Vidya Balan and directed by Shaan Vyas, Natkhat is a 33-minute short film that showcases a mother-son relationship and how it is nurtured in a patriarchal home.The short film has been hailed as the Best of India Short Film Festival that?Natkhat?was announced as the Winner and eligible for Oscar 2021 qualification.?
Neeraj Ghaywan¡¯s latest short film starring the exceptional Shefali Shah in the lead covers large issues such as internalised patriarchy and misogyny supremely well.?The 14-minute short is a snapshot of what every middle-class Indian home is like at some point or the other, particularly when it comes to the gender dynamic between husband and wife.
A true masterpiece!
This 5-minute short film will have you at the edge of your seat.? Starring an incredible ensemble of cast Nimrat Kaur, Divyendu Sharma, and Vibha Chibber will change the way you look at relationships no matter how 'happy' they appear at the surface.
?Sonam Nair¡¯s short film Khujli?is a charming cinematic gem that casts Jackie Shroff and Neena Gupta in the lead. What exactly is their itch? Well, the need to have fun and love each other sexually after decades of being married. When they decide to get with the times, their roleplay session is amusing and empowering. Watch away or maybe recommend it to your parents.?
A busy couple- where the wife is the homemaker and her husband the sole breadwinner. There is a father-in-law who manages to get his daughter-in-law's attention only after the rigorous banging of a teaspoon against his bedstead. If you're expecting this short film to be yet another sappy household drama, you are so wrong!??