Indian Documentary Movies

This documentary celebrates legendary Bengali singer-songwriter Kabir Suman and his enduring muse, Kolkata. While showcasing a formidable body of Suman's timeless songs, which also construct the narrative of his life, the film demonstrates why he might just be world's greatest unsung singer-songwriter and how easily genius too can slip through the cracks of history.

The second entry in Velu Viswanadhan's series of experimental documentaries. This film traces the Ganges river upstream.

Weeks after the nationwide COVID-19 lockdown, seven migrant labourers, on the verge of starvation, decided to go to their village just like millions of others.

‘Bahattar Hoorain’ is a dark comedy that examines the real consequences of violent extremism and urges that every human life should be treated with dignity and respect.

I Am is a 2011 Indian anthology film by Onir. It consists of four short films: "Omar", "Afia", "Abhimanyu", and "Megha". Each film shares the common theme of fear and each is also based on real life stories. The film was financed by donations from more than 400 different people around the world, many of whom donated through social networking sites like Facebook. There are four stories but the characters are interwoven with each story. "Abhimanyu" is based on child abuse, "Omar" on gay rights, "Megha" is about Kashmiri Pandits and "Afia" deals with sperm donation. I Am was released with subtitles in all regions as six different languages are spoken in the film: Hindi, English, Kannada, Marathi, Bengali and Kashmiri.

In the dense forests of the Eastern Himalayas, moths are whispering something to us. In the dark of night, two curious observers shine a light on this secret universe.

Based on the poetry of R. Raj Rao, Bomgay is a collection of six vignettes that depict the underground and complex nature of the gay identity in urban India. Part Genet, part Bollywood, this film combines acidic verse and insightful imagery to reveal the emerging gay community in the post-liberalized India of the 1990s.

An exploration of the 'respectable' and 'immoral' stereotypes of women in Indian society told from the point of view of two striptease dancers in a Bombay cabaret.

Bomman and Bellie, a couple in south India, devote their lives to caring for an orphaned baby elephant named Raghu, forging a family like no other.

'Rasayatra' presents the life and music of Mallikarjum Bheemarayappa Mansur (1910-92). Visualising the music of the maestro the film explores Mansur's love and passion for music. Using his interviews the film takes us on a journey through his life, starting from his love for music as a child to his greatest achievements. Exploring Indian classical music the film also enters the realm of the poetic meaning of the lyrics and Mansur interpretations of those. Filled with personal anecdotes it talks about his personal life and how his music never got affected by it. The film is a tribute to the music and to the man.

Meru is the electrifying story of three elite American climbers—Conrad Anker, Jimmy Chin, and Renan Ozturk—bent on achieving the impossible.

In Southern India, family disputes are settled by Jamaats—all male bodies which apply Islamic Sharia law to cases without allowing women to be present, even to defend themselves. Recognizing this fundamental inequity, a group of women in 2004 established a women’s Jamaat, which soon became a network of 12,000 members spread over 12 districts. Despite enormous resistance, they have been able to settle more than 8,000 cases to date, ranging from divorce to wife beating to brutal murders and more. Deepa Dhanraj follows several cases, shining a light on how the women’s Jamaat has acquired power through both communal education and the leaders’ persistent, tenacious and compassionate investigation of the crimes. In astonishing scenes we watch the Jamaat meetings, where women often shout over each other about the most difficult facets of their personal lives.

A desperate filmmaker drives a neurotic actress and an aging musician to a village of trauma.

In 1990s Mumbai, a crime boss and his network wield unchecked power over the city — until the rise of "encounter cops," who brazenly kill their targets.

A short film that's about brave women who overcome heartbreaking trials.

L, a student in India witness to the government's violent response to university protests, writes letters to her estranged lover while he is away.

Film on art and life of well-known Kathakali Artist - Kalamandalam Gopi.

A true story, interwoven with a fictional poignant love story between a Rohingya girl and an Indian Special Forces Officer. It focuses on the peril, uncertainty, betrayal and misery of life in the Rohingya refugee camp.

The two poor boys living in misery make their living by collecting the coins that are thrown on the corpses as an act of charity. With a discerning eye they keep watch on funeral processions that would fetch them money. This hard earned money is snatched away from them forcibly and their efforts to make a living becomes futile.

Lakshmi is a professional singer and dancer at funerals. Krishnaveni makes her living by burying and cremating unclaimed dead bodies from the rivers and streets. Sethuraku never went to school and instead took to the sea at an early age.

In a cluttered news landscape dominated by men, emerges India’s only newspaper run by Dalit women. Armed with smartphones, Chief Reporter Meera and her journalists break traditions on the frontlines of India’s biggest issues and within the confines of their own homes, redefining what it means to be powerful.

Manish is a talented and athletic street dancer from Mumbai who dreams of becoming professional against the wishes of his struggling parents. He meets a curmudgeonly Israeli ballet master who gives him the determination to keep going. But when he is pitted against another boy who’s got the attention of the top school in the world, Manish realizes he must push himself to his physical limits if he has any chance to succeed.

Krishnattam or Krishnanattam (Play of Krishna) is a temple ritualistic art performed at Guruvayur Temple (Guruvayur 680101, Trishshur District, Kerala) by a troupe owned by Guruvayur Devasvam. The performance of Krishnattam is based on Krishnagiti, a poetic text in Sanskrit containing verses and stanzas, written by the Zamorin King Manavedan in 1654. The story of Krishna, described in Bhagavata, Mahabharata and Harivamsha is presented in Krishnattam as songs, dance and acting in a sequence of eight plays (Avataram, Kaliyamardanam, Rasakrida, Kamsavadham, Svayamvaram, Banayuddham, Vividavadham and Svayamvaram) in eight days.

To commemorate the anniversary of Operation Sindoor, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh released a documentary film on Operation Sindoor . Iit talks about the nefarious designs of Pakistan over a period of time, against the innocent people of India, and India's national resolve to strike back with precision and accuracy without collateral damage. The whole nation approaches jointness, self-reliance, and indigenisation, ensuring victory. It projects a shining example of political will and integration of forces

The revolution is here. Witness gully rap rises from the streets of Mumbai to the biggest stage in the history of Indian hip-hop. This is an Amazon Prime Exclusive documentary on film Gully Boy's music launch and concert in mumbai.

An in-depth look at the making of S.S. Rajamouli's magnum opus, RRR, with behind-the-scenes footage and exclusive interviews. Explores the vision, challenges, and dedication involved in creating this cinematic phenomenon.

The movie traces three real-life incidents that took place in '80s, 90s and 2000s respectively through the stories titled 'Orphan and the Convict', 'The Farmer and the Nun' and 'The Terror and the Mom'.

Highlights Rajamouli’s influence on Indian and international cinema, with interviews and behind-the-scenes footage.

Two friends, both Indigenous fishermen, are driven to desperation by a dying sea. Their friendship begins to fracture as they take very different paths to provide for their struggling families.

A tragi-comical drama, whose protagonist is no other than a young cock, unfolds in a Mumbai apartment just like thousands of others. Grabbed by an eccentric patriarch to serve as a distraction for the family cat, the chick survived, grew up and now imposes his troublesome presence on everyone, tyrannising the entire household

The story of making "Lagaan," one of the millennium's seminal Indian films, is told from the point of view of production team member Satyajit Bhatkal.

Clips and interviews show that the renowned Satyajit Ray was more than just a filmmaker: He was a sketch illustrator, a music composer, a children's book creator, an all around intellectual.

This special offers a rare glimpse into the Kapoors, Hindi cinema's first family, over an afternoon of conversation, nostalgia and homemade delicacies.

In "Char Shaher Ek Kahani" (1968), K.A. Abbas contrasts official images of India’s industrial progress with stark footage of urban poverty and Bombay’s red-light district. The 16-minute documentary became a landmark censorship case after the Central Board of Film Certification objected to its depiction of prostitution, leading Abbas to successfully challenge the decision in the Supreme Court.

In an effort to improve feminine hygiene, a machine that creates low-cost biodegradable sanitary pads is installed in a rural village in Northern India. Using the machine, a group of local women is employed to produce and sell pads, offering them newfound independence and helping to destigmatize menstruation for all.

This true-crime documentary investigates six shocking deaths in the same family and the woman at the center of the unbelievable case: Jolly Joseph.

Is there more to a baby’s cry? The documentary dwells into the psyche of pediatric doctors and the skills they use to arrive at a diagnosis.

A narrative by Puneeth Rajkumar aka Appu which explores state of Karnataka - the land, its culture and traditions, it's social issues and even it's forests, all through his curious eyes. The film is almost Appu's own journey of discovery as he understands the rich flora and fauna of the state.

The acclaimed work of photographer Antoine d’Agata has mostly been a journey into the heart of darkness, dealing with random and nightly encounters, sex and prostitution. So it's no surprise that the monumental White Noise leads again to the underworld of sex workers, from Cambodia to Norway, from Ukraine to USA. Built around more than 20 monologues, this film delivers trance-like visions of women in rapture induced by sex or narcotics.

In a remote village in Odisha, poverty and illiteracy have fostered dependence on superstition. The villagers have mortgaged their land to the landlord Janrdhan, who forces many of them to become contract laborers and leave the village to earn a livelihood. The story revolves around two villagers, Haria and Bhamar, and Bhamar's daughter, Phoola, who become entangled in Janrdhan's greed and oppression.