Cinema and viewing audience has always been unpredictable. While one film storms the box office, another quietly slips through the cracks despite strong storytelling and performances. In 2025, Hindi cinema saw massive theatrical wins from the roaring start with Chhaava to the intense finish with Dhurandhar, which is yet expected to have a lonegr run. But yet, somewhere between big-ticket entertainers and loud releases several meaningful films were left in the shadows.
Commercial cinema will always dominate headlines but parallel and mid-budget films often struggle to find space, even when backed by solid actors and honest storytelling. What makes this more bittersweet is that many established performers like Paresh Rawal, Manoj Bajpayee, Abhishek Banerjee, Nawazuddin Siddique, Radhika Apte and others continue to support such cinema alongside mainstream projects.
As the year draws to a close, here are the 10 underrated Hindi films of 2025 that may not have made box-office noise but deserve your time and attention.
Underrated Hindi Films Of 2025 That Deserve Your Attention
1. Stolen
Abhishek Banerjee, widely loved for his comic timing, surprised everyone with this raw survival thriller directed by Karan Tejpal. Stolen follows two brothers whose attempt to help a woman find her kidnapped child pulls them into a moral nightmare.
The film’s stripped-down treatment and emotional intensity earned praise at several international festivals including the Venice Film Festival but its theatrical run in India (August 31, 2025) went largely unnoticed. While critics called it one of the most emotional films of the year, even if audiences missed it.
2. Sister Midnight
Radhika Apte once again proved why she remains one of the most fearless performers of her generation. Sister Midnight, a dark and trippy black comedy revolves around an arranged marriage confined within a cramped Mumbai home and a woman’s quiet rebellion against expectations.
Premiering at global festivals and winning Best Feature at Fantastic Fest, the film also earned Apte a BAFTA Outstanding Debut nomination. Released in India on May 19, 2025 – it sadly failed to find a wider audience despite its bold storytelling, strong performances and striking visuals.
3. Jugnuma – The Fable
Manoj Bajpayee delivered a deeply moving performance in this mystical drama set in the late-1980s Himalayas. Jugnuma – The Fable explores themes of ecological decay, inherited privilege and fading traditions.
The film travelled across international festivals and even won Best Film at the Leeds International Film Festival. Released in India on September 12, 2025 its haunting mood and layered storytelling made it a critic favourite but mainstream attention did not follow.
4. Homebound
Despite being shortlisted in the prominent list of 98th around the Academy Awards, Homebound didn’t receive its due in Indian theatres. Set around the hard-hitting phase of COVID-19 lockdown, the film tells the story of two village friends chasing stability through a police job amid caste and class struggles.
With powerful performances by Ishaan Khatter, Vishal Jethwa and Janhvi Kapoor, the film premiered at major festivals including Cannes, before releasing in India on September 26. Its emotional depth resonated strongly, though it remained limited to niche audiences.
5. Humans In The Loop
This quiet yet impactful film focuses on an Indigenous woman working as an AI data labeler in rural India. Humans In The Loop offers a thoughtful look at technology, labour and identity.
After winning awards at several international film festivals, it released theatrically on September 5, followed by a Netflix release on October 31. Still, it got lost amid other louder digital releases, despite strong word-of-mouth from critics.
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6. The Storyteller
Paresh Rawal returned to his subtle, thoughtful best in The Storyteller directed by Anant Mahadevan and adapted from a legendary Satyajit Ray’s short story. The film follows an aging storyteller hired to cure a businessman’s insomnia, slowly blurring the lines between fiction and reality.
Though it premiered at festivals years ago, its India release finally happened on January 28, 2025 both in theatres and on OTT. Its gentle pace and literary humour were widely praised, yet it flew under the radar for casual viewers.
7. Nishaanchi (Parts 1 & 2)
Aaishvary Thackeray’s debut shockingly came with no promotion and an unusual release, which helmed by none other than Anurag Kashyap. Nishaanchi Part 1 released in theatres on September 19, while Part 2 dropped directly on OTT.
Despite strong performances and a grounded narrative, the movie struggled at the box office. Many reviewers felt it would have worked better as a web series. Director Anurag Kashyap reportedly faced challenges securing a proper release which hurt its reach.
8. Ground Zero
Emraan Hashmi continued his shift away from romantic roles with this grounded thriller based on real events linked to the Kashmir conflict. Released on April 25, 2025, Ground Zero earned steady appreciation for its restrained storytelling and performances.
The film screened at global platforms like TIFF and Cannes (parallel section) but still didn’t get the recognition it deserved back home.
9. Chidiya
Directed by Mehran Amrohi, Chidiya is a tender children’s film that quietly touched hearts. It tells the story of two brothers in a Mumbai chawl dreaming of playing badminton despite limited space and resources.
Released on May 30, the film travelled widely across festivals but failed to attract box-office attention even with strong critical praise.
10. Raat Akeli Hai: The Bansal Murders
Featuring Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Radhika Apte and Chitrangada Singh, this mature crime thriller premiered at the 56th IFFI. Addressing themes like caste, power and morality, the film impressed critics with its layered narrative.
However, it was overshadowed by louder thrillers released around the same time.
2025 reminded us that good cinema doesn’t always come with noise. Many of these films quietly pushed boundaries, explored human emotions and told stories that deserved more love. As viewers, revisiting such films is perhaps the best way to celebrate meaningful storytelling beyond box-office numbers.
ALSO READ: From Chhaava, Mrs. To Homebound: The Most Talked-About Performances Of 2025
source https://lehren.com/bollywood-underrated-hindi-films-of-2025-homebound-the-storyteller-nishaanchi/
