7 underrated yet fascinating Bollywood movies that every cinephile must watch on OTT

Even when moviegoers celebrated flicks like Saiyaara both in cinemas and on digital platforms, several other Bollywood movies have failed to garner much attention. With movies like Paresh Rawal's The Storyteller, Abhishek Bachchan's Kaalidhar Laapata, and Babil Khan's Logout, we got compelling stories and nuanced performances, but these gems did not receive the appreciation they truly deserved. So here’s a look at some of the underrated Bollywood movies that every cinephile must watch on OTT.

Underrated movies from Bollywood

The Storyteller

Where to watch: JioHotstar (OTTplay Premium)

After making its world premiere at the 27th Busan International Film Festival in 2022, this drama movie came to India in January. The Storyteller follows a retired man named Tarini (Paresh Rawal) from Kolkata who has a great talent for storytelling, but he refuses to write them down. But a wealthy businessman, whom he used to tell stories, begins to publish under a pen name and achieves success.

Kaalidhar Laapata

Where to watch: ZEE5 (OTTplay Premium)

This is the Hindi remake of the 2019 Tamil drama KD Engira Karuppudurai, which is streaming on Netflix. Kaalidhar Laapata focuses on a middle-aged man suffering from dementia who feels abandoned by his selfish family and leaves the house to travel to the unknown. During his journey, he meets a little orphaned boy who lives alone and possesses a mature-for-his-age wisdom. He teaches the man how to live life to the fullest and stop conjecturing things.

Logout

Where to watch: ZEE5 (OTTplay Premium)

If you are a Gen-Z viewer, then you must watch Babil Khan's cyber-crime thriller as it focuses on the darker side of social media and the internet. Logout also showcases Babil's versatility which stands out from his previous performances in the coming-of-age Friday Night Plan and the period drama Qala. The movie follows a popular influencer who is on the verge of achieving the milestone of 10 million followers. But things take a turn when one of his fans steals his phone and threatens him.

Superboys of Malegaon

Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video

Set in the backdrop of the late 1990s, the movie follows a group of friends from Malegaon, where Bollywood cinema is their only escape from the daily grind. This inspires the group to make their own movie, Malegaon Ke Sholay, which is a parody of the cult classic Sholay from the 1970s. The story then takes a turn when Malegaon Ke Sholay sees a major success, but leads to other challenges.  OTTplay Premium subscribers can also watch the movie on Prime Video with a top-up option.

The Mehta Boys

Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video

Actor Boman Irani made his directorial debut with The Mehta Boys in February, which was directly released on the digital platform. The Mehta Boys focuses on the struggles of the two adult men coping up with the sudden death of the only woman in their house and how they reform their bond to become each other's support. The drama highlights the deep relationship between a father and his son. While Irani plays the father's role, Avinash Tiwari plays the son's role. OTTplay Premium subscribers can also watch The Mehta Boys by topping up their plan to include Prime Video.

Stolen

Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video

After making its world premiere at the Venice International Film Festival, Stolen was directly released on Prime Video. The movie focuses on two privileged brothers (Abhishek Banerjee and Shubham Vardhan) who get entangled in an unpredictable fight for survival after their one act goes wrong. Stolen is inspired by a real-life mob lynching incident in Assam, and explores the themes of social disparity, mob mentality, and the fragility of trust.

The Diplomat

Where to watch: Netflix

This political thriller drama is based on the real-life story of Uzma Ahmed who was rescued from Pakistan in 2017. John Abraham is seen as Deputy High Commissioner JP Singh who uses his diplomacy skills to bring Uzma back home to India. The film is set against the backdrop of India and Pakistan's tense relations, while exploring the personal conflicts faced by Indian diplomats.