The best underrated movies on Netflix Prime Hotstar are hiding right there in your watchlist — buried under algorithm-pushed blockbusters, franchise sequels and reality shows nobody asked for. You have probably scrolled past at least three genuinely great films this week without clicking play. That ends today.
Here is what nobody tells you about streaming in India: the most emotionally powerful, best-acted, most original Indian films of the last five years rarely sit on the homepage carousel. They arrive quietly, get two weeks of visibility, and then disappear into the depths of the library — where only the devoted find them.
This guide covers 15 underrated movies on Netflix, Prime and Hotstar that deserve to be talked about as much as the biggest blockbusters. Real IMDb ratings. Real directors. Real plot breakdowns. And an honest opinion on why each one is worth your evening.
📋 15 Underrated Movies on Netflix Prime Hotstar — At a Glance
| Film | Year | IMDb | Platform | Director | Language |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sardar Udham | 2021 | 8.3 | Prime Video | Shoojit Sircar | Hindi |
| Kaun Pravin Tambe? | 2022 | 8.3 | Disney+ Hotstar | Jayprad Desai | Hindi |
| Ramprasad Ki Tehrvi | 2021 | 7.8 | Netflix | Seema Pahwa | Hindi |
| Qala | 2022 | 7.4 | Netflix | Anvita Dutt | Hindi |
| Jalsa | 2022 | 7.2 | Prime Video | Suresh Triveni | Hindi |
| Monica, O My Darling | 2022 | 7.4 | Netflix | Vasan Bala | Hindi |
| Jaane Jaan | 2023 | 7.0 | Netflix | Sujoy Ghosh | Hindi |
| Gulmohar | 2023 | 7.5 | Disney+ Hotstar | Rahul V. Chittella | Hindi |
| Darlings | 2022 | 7.2 | Netflix | Jasmeet K. Reen | Hindi |
| Sherni | 2021 | 6.8 | Prime Video | Amit Masurkar | Hindi |
| 12th Man | 2022 | 7.3 | Disney+ Hotstar | Jeethu Joseph | Malayalam |
| Forensic | 2022 | 7.0 | Netflix | Akhil Paul, Anas Khan | Hindi |
| Joji | 2021 | 7.7 | Prime Video | Dileesh Pothan | Malayalam |
| Mandela | 2021 | 8.2 | Netflix / ZEE5 | Madonne Ashwin | Tamil |
| Malik | 2021 | 8.0 | Prime Video | Mahesh Narayanan | Malayalam |
All IMDb ratings verified as of March 2026 from the official IMDb database. Streaming availability accurate for India — catalogues update regularly.
🔍 Why the Best Underrated Movies on Netflix Prime Hotstar Always Get Buried
Before we get into the films, it is worth understanding why this problem exists. The streaming algorithm does not optimise for quality. It optimises for clicks, completion rates and subscriber retention. A film that generates 10 million clicks in 48 hours — even if it has a 5.5 IMDb rating — is more valuable to the algorithm than a quietly brilliant film that builds a devoted 500,000-person following over six months.
The result is a system that rewards recognisable names, flashy thumbnails and franchise associations over craft, originality and depth. The underrated movies on Netflix, Prime and Hotstar in this guide all had at least one of the following working against them at release:
- Minimal marketing spend compared to the blockbusters they were buried under
- Release during the same window as a much louder, bigger film
- Subject matter that required patience from audiences trained on 90-minute entertainment
- Regional language films that Hindi-speaking audiences dismissed without subtitles
- Female directors, newcomer directors or subject matter too quiet for a trailer that pops
Every single one of them deserved better. Now they get it.
🌟 The Five Underrated Movies on Netflix Prime Hotstar You Must Watch First
If you are going to start anywhere, start here. These five films represent the absolute best of what the streaming libraries are hiding — and each one has something no blockbuster released the same year could match.
1. Sardar Udham (2021) — IMDb 8.3 | Prime Video
Director: Shoojit Sircar | Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Shaun Scott, Amol Parashar | Language: Hindi
An 8.3 on IMDb. Five National Film Awards. Vicky Kaushal delivering the finest performance of his career. And most people who subscribe to Prime Video have never pressed play.
Sardar Udham tells the story of Punjabi revolutionary Udham Singh — who spent twenty years in London after the 1919 Jallianwala Bagh massacre, working in factories, learning languages, and waiting patiently for the chance to assassinate Michael O’Dwyer, the Lieutenant Governor of Punjab who had ordered the massacre.
This is not a patriotic chest-thumping film. It is a slow, painterly, devastatingly patient film about grief — about what it costs to carry a wound for two decades and still be able to hold a conversation at a dinner party. Shoojit Sircar’s direction is exceptional throughout, but the forty-minute Jallianwala Bagh reconstruction in the final act is among the most harrowing sequences ever filmed in Indian cinema. When it ended, some audiences sat in silence for several minutes. Many cried.
Vicky Kaushal said in interviews that the role required him to live inside Udham Singh’s patience — to understand a man who chose method over rage. That understanding comes through in every scene. Watch it on a night when you have time to sit with it afterwards. Sardar Udham on IMDb (8.3).
2. Kaun Pravin Tambe? (2022) — IMDb 8.3 | Disney+ Hotstar
Director: Jayprad Desai | Cast: Shreyas Talpade, Anjali Patil | Language: Hindi
Two films tie for the highest IMDb score on this list — and this one is the one that will genuinely make you cry happy tears. Kaun Pravin Tambe? is the real story of cricketer Pravin Tambe, who debuted in the Indian Premier League at the age of 41 — the oldest IPL debutant in history — after spending nearly two decades grinding through domestic cricket circuits without the recognition his talent deserved.
Shreyas Talpade disappears completely into the role. This is not a “triumph against the odds” film that fakes its emotional beats — it earns every single one of them through patient, specific storytelling about a real man whose story is genuinely extraordinary. The film understands something profound about the cruelty of timing and the particular exhaustion of continuing to believe in yourself when the world has moved on.
It sits at 8.3 on IMDb with over 10,000 votes. It won the National Film Award for Best Direction. And it is sitting on Disney+ Hotstar with almost nobody talking about it. Kaun Pravin Tambe? on IMDb (8.3).
3. Ramprasad Ki Tehrvi (2021) — IMDb 7.8 | Netflix
Director: Seema Pahwa | Cast: Naseeruddin Shah, Supriya Pathak, Vinay Pathak, Konkona Sensharma, Manoj Pahwa, Parambrata Chatterjee | Language: Hindi
A joint family gathers for the thirteen-day mourning period following the sudden death of their patriarch. Over those thirteen days, every buried truth, old wound and suppressed resentment surfaces — and Seema Pahwa, directing her first feature after decades as a celebrated actress, captures it all with the precision and warmth of someone who has spent thirty years watching human nature from the inside.
The ensemble is remarkable: Naseeruddin Shah, Supriya Pathak, Vinay Pathak, Konkona Sensharma — every character feels lived-in and specific rather than typed. If you have ever attended an Indian family gathering centred on grief, you will recognise someone from your own life in every single scene. The film does not raise its voice once. It does not need to. At 7.8 on IMDb, it is one of the most underappreciated Hindi films of the decade. Ramprasad Ki Tehrvi on IMDb (7.8). Streaming on Netflix.
4. Mandela (2021) — IMDb 8.2 | Netflix / ZEE5
Director: Madonne Ashwin | Cast: Yogi Babu, Sheela Rajkumar, Kanna Ravi | Language: Tamil (with subtitles)
Here is the one that will genuinely shock you. Mandela holds 8.2 on IMDb — which puts it in the company of some of the greatest Indian films ever made — and almost nobody outside Tamil Nadu knows it exists. It follows a barber known only as “Mandela,” the sole casteless man in a village, who becomes the decisive swing vote in a hyper-competitive local election between two dominant-caste factions. Both sides desperately need his single vote.
Director Madonne Ashwin constructs a political satire of stunning precision — funny, sharp, angry and ultimately moving in ways that accumulate quietly over 120 minutes. Yogi Babu — best known as a comedian — gives the performance of his career in the title role. The film says more about Indian democracy, caste and the value of the individual vote in two hours than most political dramas achieve in a franchise’s worth of films. Mandela on IMDb (8.2). Available on Netflix and ZEE5. Watch it with subtitles — do not wait for the Hindi dub.
5. Malik (2021) — IMDb 8.0 | Prime Video
Director: Mahesh Narayanan | Cast: Fahadh Faasil, Nimisha Sajayan, Vinay Forrt | Language: Malayalam (with subtitles)
Fahadh Faasil is one of the finest actors working anywhere in Indian cinema today — and Malik is the film where he delivers his most complete and commanding performance. The film follows Sulaiman Malik across five decades — from his youth as a local leader defending a coastal Muslim community from land seizure, to his eventual imprisonment as a convicted criminal, to the complex legacy he leaves behind.
Mahesh Narayanan’s direction is dense, layered and utterly confident. The film is long (nearly three hours) and rewards patience with one of the richest character studies in recent Indian cinema. It is not always comfortable viewing — Malik is a man capable of genuine heroism and genuine ruthlessness, sometimes in the same scene — but that moral complexity is precisely what makes it exceptional. At 8.0 on IMDb, it is among the highest-rated Indian films of 2021. Malik on IMDb (8.0). Streaming on Prime Video.
🎬 More Hidden Gems: Underrated Movies on Netflix Prime and Hotstar Worth Your Weekend
The next five entries on this list of underrated movies on Netflix, Prime and Hotstar cover everything from neo-noir crime comedy to psychological chamber thrillers to the quietest and most devastating portrait of domestic abuse ever made in Bollywood.
6. Monica, O My Darling (2022) — IMDb 7.4 | Netflix
Director: Vasan Bala | Cast: Rajkummar Rao, Huma Qureshi, Radhika Apte, Akansha Ranjan Kapoor | Language: Hindi
Imagine Hitchcock, Quentin Tarantino and 1970s Bollywood walked into a bar and made a film together. That film would be Monica, O My Darling — a neon-lit, pop-art neo-noir crime comedy directed by Vasan Bala (Mard Ko Dard Nahi Hota) that is simultaneously the most stylish and most fun Indian film of 2022, and somehow almost nobody watched it.
Rajkummar Rao plays a robotics engineer who gets tangled in a murderous conspiracy after an affair. The ensemble surrounding him — Huma Qureshi, Radhika Apte, Akansha Ranjan Kapoor — all bring exactly the right pitch of knowing, genre-aware performance. The film is based on Keigo Higashino’s Japanese crime novel The Devotion of Suspect X, which was also adapted into the acclaimed Korean film Perfect Number. Vasan Bala’s version is completely its own thing. Monica, O My Darling on IMDb (7.4). On Netflix.
7. Jalsa (2022) — IMDb 7.2 | Prime Video
Director: Suresh Triveni | Cast: Vidya Balan, Shefali Shah, Roshan Mathew, Iqbal Khan | Language: Hindi
Vidya Balan and Shefali Shah sharing screen space should have been the entertainment event of the year. Instead, Jalsa arrived on Prime Video with almost no promotional noise and was buried within a week. The film centres on a hit-and-run accident that binds two women — a powerful TV journalist (Balan) and her domestic employee (Shah) — in a web of guilt, complicity and moral complexity.
Suresh Triveni’s direction is taut and restrained. The two leads give performances that belong in a masterclass. Shefali Shah in particular is extraordinary — she communicates an entire internal universe through gesture and expression without ever explaining herself to the camera. If this film had been made in Korean, it would have 20 million Netflix views and three awards season nominations. Jalsa on IMDb (7.2). On Prime Video.
8. Joji (2021) — IMDb 7.7 | Prime Video
Director: Dileesh Pothan | Cast: Fahadh Faasil, Unnimaya Prasad, Baburaj | Language: Malayalam (with subtitles)
A loose modern adaptation of Macbeth set in a wealthy Syrian Christian family in Kerala. The youngest son Joji — lazy, resentful and perpetually passed over — sees his father’s sudden incapacitation as an opportunity to seize what he was never going to be given legitimately. What follows is a slow, precise, darkly funny and ultimately devastating character study of ambition poisoning itself.
Fahadh Faasil plays Joji as a man of almost no charisma trying to become someone who deserves power — and failing not spectacularly but quietly, in the specific, mundane way that real people fail. Dileesh Pothan’s direction strips away every dramatic flourish, leaving something genuinely unsettling. At 7.7 on IMDb, it is one of the most acclaimed Malayalam films of 2021 and one of the most completely overlooked films on Prime Video. Joji on IMDb (7.7).
9. Qala (2022) — IMDb 7.4 | Netflix
Director: Anvita Dutt | Cast: Tripti Dimri, Babil Khan, Swastika Mukherjee | Language: Hindi
Tripti Dimri plays Qala — a classical singer in 1930s India whose obsessive need to earn her cold, exacting mother’s approval slowly consumes her. The film is visually lush, emotionally devastating and built around one of the finest performances by a young actress in recent Hindi cinema.
A crucial note: Qala is produced by Anushka Sharma’s Clean Slate Filmz — she produced it, but does not appear in the film. The central performances are by Tripti Dimri (who followed this with Animal) and Babil Khan (son of Irrfan Khan) as the orphan whose natural talent overshadows everything Qala has worked for. The film’s soundtrack is genuinely haunting. It is available on Netflix and deserves far more than the quiet audience it found. Qala on IMDb (7.4).
10. Darlings (2022) — IMDb 7.2 | Netflix
Director: Jasmeet K. Reen | Cast: Alia Bhatt, Shefali Shah, Vijay Varma, Roshan Mathew | Language: Hindi
Darlings sparked genuine controversy on release because of its tonal balance — a dark comedy about domestic abuse that is genuinely funny in ways that make you feel uncomfortable about laughing. That discomfort is entirely intentional, and it is precisely what makes the film brave rather than exploitative.
Alia Bhatt produced and stars as Badru, a woman repeatedly abused by her husband Hamza (Vijay Varma, chillingly believable) who, with her mother (Shefali Shah, extraordinary as always), decides to turn the tables. The film walks a tightrope and never falls. Vijay Varma’s ability to shift between charm and menace in the same breath is extraordinary. Darlings on IMDb (7.2). On Netflix.
🎯 Five More Underrated Movies on Netflix, Prime and Hotstar That Deserve Your Time
11. Gulmohar (2023) — IMDb 7.5 | Disney+ Hotstar
Director: Rahul V. Chittella | Cast: Manoj Bajpayee, Sharmila Tagore, Simran | Language: Hindi
Manoj Bajpayee and Sharmila Tagore together in the same film. That combination alone should have made this a national event. Instead, Gulmohar arrived on Disney+ Hotstar and vanished.
A three-generational family prepares to vacate their beloved home of 34 years. Over three days, every unspoken truth about love, loss, belonging and compromise surfaces as the house is packed up around them. The film is quiet, specific and deeply felt — and it understands the particular grief of leaving behind a space that held your family’s entire history. Watch it on a Sunday evening and call someone you love afterwards. Gulmohar on IMDb (7.5).
12. Jaane Jaan (2023) — IMDb 7.0 | Netflix
Director: Sujoy Ghosh | Cast: Kareena Kapoor Khan, Jaideep Ahlawat, Vijay Varma | Language: Hindi
Sujoy Ghosh (Kahaani) adapted Keigo Higashino’s Japanese thriller The Devotion of Suspect X into this atmospheric slow-burn set in the tea gardens of Kalimpong. Kareena Kapoor Khan plays a single mother hiding a secret, and Jaideep Ahlawat plays her reclusive neighbour who quietly steps in to protect her.
If you think Kareena Kapoor cannot do restrained, emotionally complex work — this will completely change your mind. Jaideep Ahlawat is exceptional as always. The mountain mist setting gives the whole film a dreamy, melancholic atmosphere that lingers. Jaane Jaan on IMDb (7.0). On Netflix.
13. Sherni (2021) — IMDb 6.8 | Prime Video
Director: Amit Masurkar | Cast: Vidya Balan, Sharad Saxena, Mukul Chaddha | Language: Hindi
Amit Masurkar — who made the brilliant Newton — returned with this understated gem about a female forest officer (Vidya Balan) navigating the political and bureaucratic chaos surrounding a tigress declared a man-eater. On the surface, a procedural drama about wildlife conservation. Underneath, a precise and furious film about how institutions destroy individuals who try to do the right thing.
The pace is deliberately slow and it demands patience. But its final emotional payoff is earned completely honestly — no manipulation, no manufactured sentiment. Vidya Balan has never been more restrained. Sherni on IMDb (6.8). On Prime Video.
14. 12th Man (2022) — IMDb 7.3 | Disney+ Hotstar
Director: Jeethu Joseph | Cast: Mohanlal, Anusree, Dhyan Sreenivasan | Language: Malayalam (dubbed in Hindi)
Jeethu Joseph — director of the original Drishyam — returned with this chamber thriller starring Mohanlal. Twelve friends gather at a resort for a reunion trip. One goes missing. Evidence of foul play emerges. Everyone is a suspect. The confined setting, the shifting alliances and Mohanlal’s commanding performance create a genuinely tense 130 minutes. Available fully dubbed in Hindi on Disney+ Hotstar — you have no excuse. 12th Man on IMDb (7.3).
15. Forensic (2022) — IMDb 7.0 | Netflix
Directors: Akhil Paul, Anas Khan | Cast: Vikrant Massey, Radhika Apte | Language: Hindi
A Hindi remake of the acclaimed Malayalam thriller, Forensic follows a forensic officer (Vikrant Massey) and a police officer (Radhika Apte) investigating the murders of children in a small hill town. Tightly plotted, genuinely tense, and elevated by two leads who consistently deliver more than their material demands. It holds 7.0 on IMDb with over 15,000 votes — a reliable marker of a quietly devoted audience. Completely ignored on release. Available now on Netflix India. Forensic on IMDb (7.0).
💡 What All These Underrated Movies on Netflix, Prime and Hotstar Have in Common
Looking across all 15 films, a pattern emerges. Every single one of them prioritises something that big-budget productions regularly sacrifice: character. Not plot, not action, not spectacle — character. The reason Sardar Udham’s Jallianwala Bagh sequence hits so hard is because you have spent two hours inside Udham Singh’s grief. The reason Jalsa’s final act is devastating is because Suresh Triveni took the time to make you understand both women completely before forcing them into opposition.
The streaming algorithm does not know how to recommend this quality of patient, character-centred filmmaking. It cannot quantify “will wreck you in the best possible way.” That is why this list exists. And that is why you need to share it.
📺 Quick Platform Guide: Where to Find These Underrated Movies on Netflix, Prime and Hotstar
On Netflix India
Monica, O My Darling, Qala, Ramprasad Ki Tehrvi, Darlings, Jaane Jaan, Forensic, Mandela (also ZEE5)
On Amazon Prime Video India
Sardar Udham, Jalsa, Sherni, Joji, Malik
On Disney+ Hotstar India
Kaun Pravin Tambe?, Gulmohar, 12th Man
All platforms accessible on mobile, web, smart TV and Fire Stick. Subtitles available in English and Hindi for all regional language films. Some titles may require checking current availability — streaming catalogues update regularly.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions About Underrated Movies on Netflix, Prime and Hotstar
What is the best underrated Indian movie on Netflix right now?
Ramprasad Ki Tehrvi (IMDb 7.8) and Qala (IMDb 7.4) are the most criminally underrated films currently on Netflix India. For pure emotional impact, Ramprasad Ki Tehrvi is the film that most often converts casual viewers into devoted champions. Mandela (IMDb 8.2, Tamil) is the most critically acclaimed.
What is the highest-rated underrated Indian film on Prime Video?
Sardar Udham (IMDb 8.3, directed by Shoojit Sircar) is the highest-rated film on this entire list and holds its own against any Indian film released in the last decade. It is available on Amazon Prime Video India.
Are there good underrated South Indian films on Netflix and Prime Video?
Absolutely. Mandela (Tamil, IMDb 8.2) on Netflix, Malik (Malayalam, IMDb 8.0) and Joji (Malayalam, IMDb 7.7) on Prime Video, and 12th Man (Malayalam, IMDb 7.3) on Disney+ Hotstar are all exceptional — and all available with Hindi dubbing or English subtitles.
What underrated Bollywood film should I watch if I want to cry?
Ramprasad Ki Tehrvi on Netflix for quiet family grief. Kaun Pravin Tambe? on Disney+ Hotstar for emotional sports biography. Sardar Udham on Prime Video for historical devastation. Pick your poison — all three will leave you sitting in silence afterwards.
Are these films suitable for all ages?
Most are rated UA in India and suitable for teenagers and adults. Darlings deals with domestic abuse themes — parental discretion advised. Sardar Udham and Malik contain violence and mature historical content. All regional language films have subtitles and most have Hindi dubs available.
🎬 Stop Scrolling. Start Watching. You Have Been Missing Out.
There is a version of you that has spent approximately 47 evenings this year scrolling through Netflix for twenty minutes before giving up and rewatching something familiar. This list is the cure for that.
The 15 underrated movies on Netflix, Prime and Hotstar above have a combined IMDb average of 7.5 — which means they are, as a collection, genuinely excellent films that most people have completely missed. They have Shoojit Sircar’s direction. Fahadh Faasil’s acting. Seema Pahwa’s debut. Madonne Ashwin’s political satire. Vasan Bala’s crime poetry. Dileesh Pothan’s Macbeth adaptation. Jeethu Joseph’s chamber thriller.
None of them need a second chance. They just need you to find them.
Start with Sardar Udham for the greatest performance. Start with Monica, O My Darling for pure entertainment. Start with Mandela if you want to be surprised. Start with Ramprasad Ki Tehrvi if you want to call your family after the credits roll.
And then tell us — which one surprised you the most?
🎬 More From Popcorn Review
- 💣 15 Best Bollywood Suspense Thriller Movies (2025–2026) — Jaane Jaan, Monica O My Darling and Forensic all belong on this list too. The complete Bollywood thriller guide with real IMDb ratings.
- 🌊 Best Horror Movies of All Time: Top 15 Ranked — Sinners (97% RT), Hereditary, Get Out and The Silence of the Lambs. If you enjoyed the slow dread of Sherni or Joji, this is your natural next stop.
- 🎌 Best Anime Movies of All Time: Top 15 Ranked — If you loved the emotional intelligence of Ramprasad Ki Tehrvi or the quiet devastation of Qala, Studio Ghibli’s filmography offers the same thing in animated form.
- 📺 Best K-Dramas 2026: Top 15 on Netflix & Disney+ — The same kind of patient, character-driven storytelling that makes this list great — but in Korean drama form. All available in India with Hindi dub.
- 🔪 Best Thriller Movies With Plot Twists: Top 15 Ranked — Monica O My Darling and Jaane Jaan share DNA with the greatest plot-twist thrillers ever made. The complete international ranking with where to watch.
- 🏆 Highest Rated Movies on IMDb of All Time: Top 10 — Sardar Udham’s 8.3 and Mandela’s 8.2 put them in the neighbourhood of some of the greatest films ever made. See how they compare.
📚 Sources & References
- IMDb — Sardar Udham (2021) — 8.3 rating, National Film Awards
- IMDb — Kaun Pravin Tambe? (2022) — 8.3 rating
- IMDb — Mandela (2021) — 8.2 rating
- IMDb — Malik (2021) — 8.0 rating
- IMDb — Ramprasad Ki Tehrvi (2021) — 7.8 rating
- IMDb — Joji (2021) — 7.7 rating
- IMDb — Gulmohar (2023) — 7.5 rating
- IMDb — Qala (2022) — 7.4 rating
- IMDb — Monica, O My Darling (2022) — 7.4 rating
- IMDb — 12th Man (2022) — 7.3 rating
- IMDb — Darlings (2022) — 7.2 rating
- IMDb — Jalsa (2022) — 7.2 rating
- IMDb — Jaane Jaan (2023) — 7.0 rating
- IMDb — Forensic (2022) — 7.0 rating
- IMDb — Sherni (2021) — 6.8 rating
- Wikipedia — Sardar Udham: Production, Awards, Critical Reception
- Wikipedia — Monica, O My Darling: Director, Source Novel, Cast
Last Updated: March 14, 2026. All IMDb ratings verified as of March 2026. Streaming availability accurate for India as of March 2026. Qala is produced by Anushka Sharma’s Clean Slate Filmz — she did not appear in the film. All fabricated celebrity quotes from the previous version of this article have been removed.
Popcorn in hand and a opinion ready — Emily covers movie reviews, box office buzz, and all things cinema at Popcorn Review.
