If you are looking beyond the biggest mainstream releases, this list has several Indian movies worth discovering. From the investigative tension of Reporting Live and the courtroom drama of Haq to the warm family story of Daadi Ki Shaadi, these underrated picks bring crime, romance, comedy, sports and emotional drama together.
12 Best Underrated Indian Movies of 2026
1. Reporting Live (Netflix)
Journalist Sandhya believes she has found an important story when she begins looking into illegal sand mining with experienced cameraman Vinod. Their reporting soon exposes links to a powerful criminal syndicate, putting both of them in serious danger while they continue trying to bring the truth out. Parineeti Chopra and Deven Bhojani lead the investigative thriller alongside Shekhar Suman, Adil Hussain and Amol Palekar.
2. Haq
A woman decides she will not quietly accept injustice and takes her demand for dignity and equal rights into court. Inspired by the Shah Bano case, her legal fight raises difficult questions around personal law, fairness and the social resistance faced by women asking for basic rights. Her individual battle gradually becomes a much larger story about standing up against an unequal system.
3. System (Prime Video)
A complicated legal case brings a public prosecutor and an intelligent courtroom stenographer into the same difficult situation. As the case develops, ambition, class differences, hidden motives and personal pressures begin affecting both their work and their lives. The mix of courtroom tension, emotional conflict and mystery makes this an interesting pick for viewers who enjoy legal thrillers.
4. Daadi Ki Shaadi (Netflix)
A grandmother begins thinking about love and marriage again while her family is already busy preparing for another wedding. Her unexpected decision brings old disagreements, loneliness and very different opinions about companionship into the open. Behind the family confusion is a warm story about wanting love and happiness at any stage of life.
5. Vishwanath & Sons (Netflix)
Sanjay Vishwanath has built a successful and carefully controlled life, but family duties and his growing connection with the much younger Maddy begin changing everything he had planned. Their bond develops naturally, yet circumstances repeatedly stop the relationship from taking an easy path. When the two meet again years later, they are forced to consider whether there is still a future for them.
6. Gatta Kusthi 2 (Netflix)
Veera and wrestler Keerthi are now dealing with a marriage under pressure from parenting differences, misunderstandings and constant judgment from people around them. Their problems become more serious just when Keerthi is preparing for the biggest competition of her career. The sequel explores whether the couple can balance family responsibilities while still making space for each other’s ambitions.
7. Pooja Meri Jaan (ZEE5)
Pooja finds herself facing a serious criminal accusation after a man whose feelings she rejected dies by suicide. Lawyer Sana agrees to defend her even though she has a personal connection to the dead man, making the case emotionally difficult as well as legally complicated. The courtroom drama places grief, blame and the search for justice at the centre of Pooja’s fight.
8. Governor: The Silent Saviour (Prime Video)
Manoj Bajpayee plays RBI Governor A. Ramanan, who must help protect the country during a severe balance-of-payments crisis that brings India dangerously close to national bankruptcy. Loosely inspired by former RBI Governor S. Venkitaramanan, the financial thriller focuses on the difficult decisions required to steer the economy through the emergency. Its unusual economic setting gives the film a very different kind of suspense.
9. Made in Korea
Shenba travels from India to Seoul expecting an exciting new experience, only to be betrayed and left alone in a country she barely knows. With the support she expected suddenly gone, she has to learn how to face the situation and rebuild her life independently. What begins as a painful setback gradually becomes a story of confidence, resilience and self-discovery.
10. Kartavya
Police officer Pawan is deeply affected when a journalist is killed despite being under his protection. His attempt to identify those responsible takes him towards corruption, political influence and powerful people who do not want the truth exposed. The case becomes even more urgent when the danger begins moving closer to his own family.
11. Mandaadi (Netflix)
Competitive boat racing forms the heart of this sports drama, but winning on the water is only one part of the struggle. The racers’ ambitions, personal conflicts and relationships bring another layer of tension to a competition that carries much more meaning than the final result. Soori and Suhas play key roles in a story where battles outside the race can matter just as much as the race itself.
12. Maa Behen (Netflix)
A widowed mother and her daughters suddenly have to deal with a dead body they cannot afford to let anyone discover. Every attempt to hide what happened creates another complication, while suspicious neighbours and growing panic make keeping the secret increasingly difficult. The dark comedy turns an ordinary household into the centre of a strange mix of crime, family chaos and suspense.
From courtroom battles and investigative thrillers to family comedies and emotional romances, these underrated Indian movies deserve more attention on your watchlist.
