15 Exceptionally Well Directed Indian Short Films on Youtube

Not everyone is a fan of watching movies because not everyone wishes to invest 2-3 hours in one go. This is the reason why we have short films. They tell a story within a really short period. Mind you, from a director’s perspective, it is much more difficult to make a short film as compared to a normal movie. It is because he needs to deliver a message in such a short period. These short films deliver great entertainment. They show you how one can achieve such perfection in such a short period.

I am listing below 15 Indian short films which according to me are their directors’ masterpieces:

 

Amazing Indian Short Films on Youtube

 

1) Devi

Director: Priyanka Banerjee

Release date: 2 March 2020

Recognition: Royal Stag Barrel Select

IMDB Rating: 8.5

Devi is a suspense-drama which tells the story of 9 women locked in a room. Suddenly, there’s a knock on the door. They start bickering with each other about not letting any other woman get in. It is only, in the end, you realize why they are locked in the room.

 

2) Juice

Director: Neeraj Ghaywan

Release Date: 22 November 2017

Recognition: Filmfare Award for Best Short Film (fiction)

IMDB Rating: 8.5

The story depicts the frustration of a middle-class housewife and her iconic rebellion with a glass of juice.

 

3) El’Aiychi

Director: Devashsih Makhija

Release Date: 14 February 2015

Recognition: None

IMDB Rating: 6.6

El’Aiychi is a twisted dark comedy about a woman getting irritated with the constant presence of her dead husband.

 

4) Chutney

Director: Jyoti Kapur Das

Release Date: 28 November 2016

Recognition: Royal Stag Barrel Select

IMDB Rating: 7.8

This is a hilarious yet spine chilling flick where a wife tells a ridiculous story to her husband’s mistress in a creepy way.

 

5) Kheer

Director: Surya Balakrishnan

Release Date: 13 February 2017

Recognition: Nominated for Filmfare Awards

IMDB Rating: 6.4

Kheer is a very simple story of a widower who is living with his girlfriend. His grandchildren visit him and find out that he is preparing kheer which he used to prepare for his deceased wife. There’s a slight conflict between his grandchildren and him but in the end, he explains that even if he finds new love, it won’t replace the love that exists for them.

 

6) Ahalya

Director: Sujoy Ghosh

Release Date: 20 July 2015

Recognition: Royal Stag Barrel Select

IMDB Rating: 8

The movie is set in Kolkata where an inspector is investigating a missing man named Arjun. He visits the house of a famous artist to inquire about Arjun. The plot takes a ridiculous turn when the inspector a doll at the artist’s house resembling exactly like Arjun.

 

7) Going Home

Director: Vikas Bahl

Release Date: 17 October 2014

Recognition: None

IMDB Rating: 7.5

Going Home is an edgy film that always keeps you in suspense about what is going to happen next. It shows the story of a girl stranded on a road as her car broke down. A bunch of guys approaches her with the intention to rape her but eventually end up dropping her home.

 

8) That Day After Everyday

Director: Anurag Kashyap

Release Date: 29 October 2013

Recognition: Royal Stag Barrel Select

IMDB Rating: 7.5

This is the story of three women who are daily harassed by some roadside goons. One fine day, they plan to take things in their own hands. This short film will give you goosebumps.

 

9) Taandav

Director: Devashish Makhija

Release Date: 5 February 2016

Recognition: Filmfare for Short Film Award

IMDB Rating: 7.4

Taandav is a story of a constable who is frustrated with his financial issues. His dissatisfaction in life makes him dance at a Ganpati pandal with his gun out.

 

10) Interior Café Night

Director: Adhiraj Bose

Release Date: 20 September 2014

Recognition: Have won and been selected in many film festivals like Mumbai Women’s International Film Festival, Cincinnati Film Festival, etc.

IMDB Rating: 7.8

Two lovers meet at a café after 30 years of separation. Their past plays parallelly in the same café right next to them. The man looks at his past and ponders if he could stop his love from going away this time.

 

11) Khamakha

Director: Aarti Bagdi

Release Date: 13 September 2016

Recognition: Filmfare Award

IMDB Rating: 8.2

Khamakha is a romantic tale of two lovers who meet on a bus ride and discuss how society decides its judgment basis for your language. It is among the best directed Indian short films.

 

12) Khujli

Director: Sonam Nair

Release Date: 31 March 2017

Recognition: Filmfare Award for Best Actor Male

IMDB Rating: 6.7

It is the story of a middle-aged couple who try to spice up their sex life by experimenting with BDSM. The result of which is quite hilarious.

 

13) The School Bag

Director: Dheeraj Jindal

Release Date: 31 March 2017

Recognition: Have won many international film festivals like the Fastnet Short Film Festival and Free Spirit Film Festival.

IMDB Rating: 8.3

The story is for a mother whose child only wishes to get a new school bag on his birthday. She finally gets him that on his birthday, but eventually his birthday turns out to be his last day.

 

14) Khaney Mein Kya Hai?

Director: Akanksha Seda

Release Date: 9 July 2017

Recognition: None

IMDB Rating: 7

The film is about a conversation between a newly-wed daughter and her mother in the presence of their maid. The daughter talks about her sex life whereas the mother complains that hers is stuck in a furrow. The funny thing is that they have compared their sex lives with Indian dishes. This might be one of the underrated Indian short films.

 

15) Listener

Director: Tarun Dudeja

Release Date: 2015

Recognition: Has won in many film festivals

IMDB Rating: 7.4

This is a really interesting film about a guy who works as a listener at the restaurant. His sole work is to sit at a table with a guest when they order him and listen to them speak. He does this all day, every day. Towards the end, you get to know that the listener is deaf and that’s the reason why he can listen to everyone patiently.

This was my list of some exceptionally well-directed Indian short films. You can have yours! Send in your favorite short film and we’ll watch it.

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