11. Theeran Adhigaaram Ondru (H. Vinoth, 2017)
It is clear from the film that H. Vinoth has gone through extensive research on the Operation Bawaria Dacoity by Tamil Nadu Police. The history of the Bawariya clans is shown through animated sequences, keeping the mystery around them. Throughout history, the British rulers and later the Indian Government were hard on their clan, which resulted in making them into a brutal hunting clan. (Jithin Mohan)
12. Ajji (Devasish Makhija, 2017)
The narrative of the movie is impressive (although the script takes some creative freedoms), as it parallels with Ajji's preparations for revenge, with only a few breaks where Makhija reveals Dhavle's character, and some flashbacks of the relationship the girl had with her grandmother before the incident. In this, (almost completely) linear progress, Makhija has included a number of scenes that will definitely stay in the memory of the spectator. The visit of the policeman in the house in the beginning, the scene with the plastic doll, the ones where Ajji is cutting meat, the one where the girl talks about blood, the one where Dhavle and Mastur meet, and the finale, are as shocking as they are artful, strengthening the impact of the film even more. (Panos Kotzathanasis)
13. Soni (Ivan Ayr, 2018)
“Soni” touches on so many hot themes and problematic issues of Indian society, harassment, corruption, gender divide and the constant pressure from antiquated traditions, that it gets dangerously close at times to feel slightly didactic, like a sort of educative film. However, with great measure, the movie stays firmly focused on the two protagonists and it explores their mutual interaction and their personal struggles in dealing with these adversities in everyday life. (Adriana Rosati)
14. Vinci Da (Srijit Mukherji, 2019)
Srijit Mukherji is a master story-teller and came up with couple of brilliant crime thrillers before including “Baishe Srabon” and “Chotushkone”. He was poetic in “Baishe Srabon” but in “Vinci Da” he plays with the minds of an artist and a criminal with a touch of killer instinct and ends up with a brilliant thriller. The best part of the movie lies in the last scene where the director makes a mask the real face of one of the protagonists whereas the creativity behind the mask is always used to cover up the real face of the person in the movie. “Vinci Da” is a brilliant psychological thriller from Srijit Mukherji and team and a must watch. (Sankha Ray)
15. Joji (Dilessh Pothan, 2021)
Human nature, and particularly how people can be led to crime emerges as another rather interesting comment, as much as how the behaviour of a harsh patriarch can shape his children and the relationships among them. This aspect essentially presents the most interesting element of the context, the eternal question of if crimes against criminals are justified, and in the case of interfamilial cases, even expected. (Panos Kotzathanasis)
