Top 10 Indian Movies That Made Waves Internationally

1. Court (2014)

Embarking on a journey into the heart of India's labyrinthine legal system, Court is a film that many of you might have overlooked. Helmed by Chaitanya Tamhane, this multilingual drama, in more languages than your typical 'swearing in traffic' session, examines the Indian judicial system through the trial of an aging folk singer accused of inciting a suicide.

Racking up an impressive 98% on Rotten Tomatoes (because even Tomatoes love a good courtroom drama), this film went on to win the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in 2015. And fun fact – Court was India's official submission for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 88th Academy Awards. And all this from a debut filmmaker, no less.

2. Thithi (2015)

Not every day do you stumble upon a film where the entire cast has never acted before. Yet, Raam Reddy's Thithi, a Kannada comedy-drama, does precisely that. It charts the story of three generations of a rural Indian family, all reacting differently to the death of their 101-year-old patriarch.

Garnering an impressive 93% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, it swept up awards like kids on an Easter egg hunt, including the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Kannada. Thithi is the only Indian film to be selected for the 68th Locarno International Film Festival, where it won the Golden Leopard in the "Filmmakers of the Present" category.

3. A Death in the Gunj (2016)

It's not often we see an actress transitioning to the director's chair and absolutely smashing it. Konkona Sen Sharma's directorial debut, A Death in the Gunj, is a hauntingly beautiful drama-thriller set in the 1970s. It unspools the tale of a shy young Indian man, Shutu, and his conflicted identity during a family vacation.

The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival, where it was lauded for its atmospheric storytelling. Though it wasn't a traditional box office success, it still managed to make waves with its poignant narrative.

4. Killa (2014)

Ah, to be young and dealing with the pains of growing up and changing schools. Killa, a Marathi drama directed by Avinash Arun, dives into the life of an 11-year-old boy as he grapples with his mother's job transfer and subsequent move. What sets Killa apart is its beautiful cinematography, capturing the enchanting landscapes of rural Maharashtra.

This film, unlike the Hogwarts letter, didn't fly under the radar. It won the Crystal Bear for the Best Film at the 64th Berlin International Film Festival and the Best Marathi Film at the 62nd National Film Awards.

5. Chauthi Koot (2015)

Gurvinder Singh's Punjabi drama Chauthi Koot (The Fourth Direction) is an intense exploration of the Sikh separatist movement in 1980s Punjab. By focusing on ordinary people caught in political crossfire, the film portrays the paranoia and fear during this period. The film premiered at the Cannes Film Festival and won the Singapore International Film Festival's Silver Screen Award for Best Asian Feature Film.

If that isn't enough to make you pause your latest Netflix binge and check it out, it also boasts a 67% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. This film certainly proves that Indian cinema isn't just song and dance – it can be a gut punch of reality too.

6. Ship of Theseus (2012)

You might think you've stumbled onto a philosophy lecture, but no, Ship of Theseus is an actual film, and a pretty spectacular one at that. Directed by Anand Gandhi, this movie tosses you into a labyrinth of profound, rather philosophical questions – is it the same ship if every part has been replaced? Can a person remain the same if every organ is replaced?

Weaving together three separate narratives, the film explores these existential quandaries through a visually impaired photographer, a monk on a do-or-die mission, and a stockbroker with a newfound organ. Winning the Best Feature Film at the National Film Awards, Ship of Theseus also managed to woo the Rotten Tomatoes critics with a whopping 100% rating. The film had its international premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival, where it received a standing ovation.

7. Liar's Dice (2013)

In Geetu Mohandas' Liar's Dice, we follow a young woman and her daughter as they embark on a journey in search of her missing husband. With just a lamb (yep, you read it right) and a gruff army deserter for company, the film manages to keep the narrative engaging against the backdrop of a stunningly captured Himalayan landscape. The movie was India's official entry for the 87th Academy Awards and bagged two National Film Awards. The Rotten Tomatoes score isn't too shabby either, standing at a respectful 71%.

8. I.D. (2012)

When a painter collapses in her apartment, a young woman sets out to find his identity in Kamal K.M's I.D. This film is a stark portrayal of Mumbai, a city of millions where one can remain anonymous even in death. What's remarkable about this film, apart from the riveting story, is its international recognition.

It was the only Indian film to be featured in the official selection at the Rome Film Festival. And although it didn't break any records at the box office, it's a poignant reminder of the anonymous masses that populate the cities we call home.

9. Om Dar-B-Dar (1988)

Often labeled as "too ahead of its time," Kamal Swaroop's cult film Om Dar-B-Dar is an oddball coming-of-age tale of Om in the small town of Ajmer. With a plot that defies logic (think talking frogs and a man who holds his breath until his girlfriend marries him), it's no wonder the film took a whopping 26 years to get a theatrical release! However, once it did, it quickly gained a cult following, with Time Out declaring it as one of the best Bollywood films of all time.

10. Gandu (2010)

Qaushiq Mukherjee's (or Q as he likes to be called) Gandu is as bold as they come. Shot in black and white, this Bengali film traces the journey of a young man and his obsession with rap music as a form of escape. Infamous for its explicit content, the film was banned in India but went on to win the Grand Jury Prize at the Asian Film Festival in 2010.

It was also a significant hit at the Berlin Film Festival. The film's raw depiction of Kolkata's underbelly and its subversive narrative style makes it an unusual and remarkable entry in Indian cinema.