The kind of stories that were well thought of, brilliantly written and performed in a manner that outshone most of the blockbusters of the year. 

From stories that shock you to the ones that make you sit up and take notice, these short movies had everything!

1. Juice

Shefali Shah’s portrayal of the average Indian woman stuck working in the kitchen is a story that resonates with numerous people in India, especially the middle-class housewife. What is brilliant about this story by Neeraj Ghaywan is its subtlety. 

There are no loud expressions or shocking dialogues. It is simple and thus powerful. A must watch! 

2. Khujli

Imagine an old-age couple rediscovering sex… find it hard to? Well, this small film by Sonam Nair is nothing more than the story of an older couple getting inspired by a romance story – just not your every day romance story. Imagine 50 shades of grey at the age of 50! 

With talented actors like Jackie Shroff and Neena Gupta, this is one funny and kinky movie that you’ll be hard-pressed to miss. Also, you’ll never look at handcuffs the same way again!

3. Jai Mata Di

If you have ever been in a situation where you wanted to live in together with your partner but the society wouldn’t let you, then you wouldn’t find a more novel, quirky and out of the box solution than the one presented in this short film.

Funny and relatable with a surprise twist in the end, this movie is another gem by Terribly Tiny Tales. 

4. Dekhney Mein Kya Harz Hai

The quintessential question that features in all conversation we have with our parents after the age of 20 – shadi kab kar rahe ho?

But when you have adamant daughters, you come up with innovative solutions. And that is exactly what happens in this short film. It is a humorous take on the arrange marriage practice, and the simple concept really shines through with excellent performances.  

5. Kheer

This movie does what few other can – present a complete story in just 6 minutes and one incident. The setting of the movie could easily have been a small scene, easily ignored, in a conventional three hour long movie.  

But from an introduction to the characters, to back stories and sub-plots, everything exists here. And it still does not leave you feeling unfulfilled. Every thread that the movie unravels, is neatly tied at the end, and all that you’re left with is a smile. 

6. Chhuri

This is another brilliant short story, based on infidelity. 

It is easy to directly accuse someone, it takes a whole new effort to let your accusations ring true without you having to say a word. While it is clearly Tisca’s show, Surveen Chawla and Anurag Kashyap hold their own in this film that is as sharp as its title!

7. Naked

Kalki Koechin has been ruling short web films on strong topics for quite some time now. Thus, it comes as no surprise to see her film on cyber bulling make it to this list. 

Ritabhari is brilliant in her portrayal of the average young woman who messes up her first big opportunity because of society and demanding bosses! The dialogues are direct, the acting flawless, the message clear and the smooth execution of the whole story deserves a watch.

8. Khaney Mein Kya Hai?

Sex and related conversations have been as taboo a topic as ever, what with Government even banning condom ads now. 

But this is a cute and funny take on sex conversations with your mom. Using metaphors for that ‘secret’ conversation is an oft used example (remember the ali baba conversation in Shubh Mangal Saavdhan?). But one look at this movie, and you will never look at cooking the same way! 

Make you sure you send a link for this to your mother as well! 

9. White Shirt

Love is a wonderful feeling, which is perhaps why a break-up hurts so much. But when you see this poignant movie, you will be filled with a melancholy feeling for that last love that hurt you or left you. 

With what can easily be called the most understated performance of their career, Kunal Kapoor and Kritika Kamra shine in this heartbreak drama, that captures the emotions and struggles of moving on more beautifully than many mainstream movies have been able to.  

Blush is really revolutionizing the way mother-daughter conversations exist in this country, and The Good Girl is just one of the many gems from their kitty.

A pregnancy scare for a young, unmarried girl is never an easy pill to swallow, but perhaps society and Indian parents make it really difficult. So what is the novel way to approach this issue? Let this short movie tell you how even the most difficult conversations can be handled in the most mature manner, if only we take a moment to stall our initial reactions. 

Know of any other such hidden gems? Let us know in the comments section below.