Pictured: Ghost Stories and Lust Stories
Anthology movies and series can be a great way to sample the work of a variety of new directors without committing to watching an entire TV series or feature film. Fortunately, Netflix has you covered with anthologies featuring works from some of India’s most exciting filmmakers.
From the beginning, Netflix India has been bullish on anthologies. When the streamer started releasing original content from India in 2018, the third original project it released was the anthology. lust stories – an offshoot of the 2013 theatrical release mumbai talkie, presenting the four directors who participated in that anthology that celebrates 100 years of Indian cinema. Since then, Netflix has published nine more anthologies in Hindi, Tamil and Telugu, with a Malayalam anthology in progress also.
Netflix sources the best talent to participate in these anthologies and often works with the same directors on multiple projects, so they can be an easy way to find your next favorite filmmaker.
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Below are some of the directors who have been involved in Netflix anthologies, along with the story they directed for a particular anthology, plus a few other movies and series to watch on Netflix once you’re hooked.
Zoya Akhtar
anthology segments: Ghost stories (Story #1), Lust Stories (Story #2), Bombay Talkies (Story #3 – “Sheila Ki Jawani”)
Other titles to watch: Dil Dhadakne Do, Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, Luck by Chance
Netflix is crazy about Zoya Akhtar, and for good reason. He has a knack for creating relatable characters and placing them at pivotal decision points in their lives, from friends on a bachelor party road trip to Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara to a wealthy family struggling to keep their perfect facade on Dil Dhadakne Do. He only Netflix India project at June Tudum event was Akhtar’s next period musical The Archies (based on the comics), which talks about the streamer’s trust in Akhtar. While we wait for it to launch, take a look at his lovely Bombay Talkie entry, «Sheila Ki Jawani,» about a young boy’s obsession with actress Katrina Kaif.
Anurag Kashyap
anthology segments: Ghost stories (Story #2), Lust Stories (Story #1), Bombay Talkies (Story #4 – “Murabba”)
Other titles to watch: Sacred Games (Netflix Original Title), Choked (Netflix Original Title), AK vs AK (Netflix Original Title)
Another Netflix favorite is Anurag Kashyap, one of the men who brought the hit series sacred games to life in 2018. You are drawn to troublesome characters and people caught up in dangerous activities. Kashyap contributed short films to the same three anthologies as Akhtar, as well as making the Netflix Original Movie. drowned. The most unusual of his Netflix original projects is one he stars in but didn’t direct: the fantastical black comedy. Ak against Akin which Kashyap plays a twisted version of himself in a battle of wits against actor Anil Kapoor.
Karan Johar
anthology segments: Ghost stories (Story #4), Lust Stories (Story #4), Bombay Talkies (Story #1 – “Ajeeb Dastaan Hai Yeh”)
Other titles to watch: What the Love with Karan Johar (Netflix Original Title), Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, Ae Dil Hai Mushkil
The third entrant in the same trio of anthologies as Kashyap and Akhtar is Karan Johar, whose production company Dharmatic Entertainment has a development with Netflix. Johar himself has appeared in episodes of The fabulous lives of Bollywood wives (a Dharmatic production), and hosted her own dating reality series What love with Karan Johar. As a director, Johar has played a huge role in defining what the term «Bollywood» means globally, making films with couture characters experiencing love, loss and family drama in exotic locales, accompanied by luxurious musical numbers. You can get an idea of Johar’s aesthetic with his entry on Ghost stories or dive in deep with Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham.
Konkona Sen Sharma
anthology segments: Lust Stories 2 (Story #2 – “The Mirror”), Ajeeb Daastaans (Story #3 – “Geeli Pucchi”)
Other titles to watch: Dolly Kitty Aur Woh Chamakte Sitare (Netflix Original Title), Luck By Chance, Talvar
While Konkona Sen Sharma only has one project on Netflix that she is serving as a director on: her short film «The Mirror» in the recently released Lust Stories 2 — her presence on the streamer as an actress is too big to ignore. She stars in a segment of the anthology. Ajeeb Daastaansdirected by Neeraj Ghaywan (who directed all the episodes of sacred games Season 2), and also starred in Zoya Akhtar’s film luck by chance. Watch for Sen Sharma in the Upcoming Original Series Soup by director Abhishek Chaubey (more on him below).
Gautham Vasudev Meno
anthology segments: Paava Kadhaigal (Story #3 – “Vaanmagal”), Navarasa (Story #9 – “Kambi Mele Nindru Guitar”)
Other titles to watch: Sahasam Swasaga Sagipo, Don, Kannum Kannum Kollaiyadithaal
Gautham Vasudev Menon is another actor/director, though he has more behind-the-camera credits than Sen Sharma. Menon works in multiple languages, but all of his projects on Netflix are in Tamil, including his two acting roles in Don and Kannum Kannum Kollaiyadithaal. She acts in the segment that she directed for the anthology. paava kadhaigal, and appears in the credits of navarasa twice: as director of the «Guitar Kambi Mele Nindru» segment and as an actor in Karthik Subbraj’s «Peace» segment (more on him below, too).
Abhishek Chaubey
anthology segments: ray (Story #3 – “Hungama Hai Kyon Barpa”), Ankahi Kahaniya (Story #2)
Other titles to watch: Kaminey, Raat Akeli Hai (Netflix Original Title)
Although director Abhishek Chaubey’s best-known movies aren’t available on Netflix, the streamer is clearly interested in working with him in the future. Chaubey created and directed the upcoming original series Soup: A black comedy starring Konkona Sen Sharma as an aspiring restaurateur who gets mixed up with the wrong people. In addition to the two short films that Chaubey directed for the anthologies Ray and ankahi kahaniyayou can see his work as a screenwriter in the police thriller kaminey. He also produced the Netflix original police drama. Raat Akeli Hai.
Sujoy Ghosh
anthology segments: Lust Stories 2 (Story #3 – “Sex with Ex”)
Other titles to watch: Typewriter (Netflix Original Title), Badla, Anaamika
Another filmmaker with a project underway for Netflix is Sujoy Ghosh, who is finalizing the adaptation of the Japanese novel The devotion of suspect X. In addition to his contribution to Lust Stories 2 – showcasing his penchant for mysteries with a unique visual style – Ghosh’s other Netflix original project is the 2019 horror series. Typewriter. the 2014 film Anaamika is a Telugu remake of Ghosh’s best-known film, kahaani (which isn’t streaming anywhere right now, unfortunately).
Vasan Bala
anthology segments: ray (Story #4 – “Highlight”)
Other titles to watch: Monica O My Darling (Netflix Original Title), Mard Ko Dard Nahin Hota, ’83
Sujoy Ghosh is not the only Indian filmmaker to adapt a Keigo Higashino Novel for netflix. Vasan Bala’s fantastic neo-noir comedy thriller Monica O my dear is based on Higashino Burutasu no Shinzou. While you can ease your way into Bala’s filmography with the short story she contributed to the anthology. Ray or watching sports drama ’83which he co-wrote, I recommend going straight to his bananas martial arts movie Mard Ko Dard Nahin Hota («The man who feels no pain“). This action comedy about a guy who can’t feel pain and who grows up on a diet of karate movies is totally hilarious and unlike anything you’ve seen before.
priyadarshan
anthology segments: Navarasa (Story #2 – “Summer of ’92”)
Other titles to watch: Sometimes (Netflix original title), Billu, Chup Chup Ke
Prolific director Priyadarshan works in multiple languages, but his two Netflix original projects so far have been in Tamil. His contribution to the collection. navarasa – which is made up of short films, each based on a different feeling or emotion – is themed «haasya» («laughter»). Its theatrical releases in Hindi billu and Chup Chup Ke are also available for streaming.
Anand Tiwari
anthology segments:Feels like Ishq(Story #3 – “Star Host”)
Other titles to watch: Love Per Square Foot (Netflix Original Title), Udaan, What the Fish?
Anand Tiwari is responsible for Netflix’s first Indian original production (not counting stand-up comedy specials): 2018’s upbeat romantic comedy. love per square foot. The only other venture of his as a director on Netflix is his contribution to the anthology. feels like ishqbut he can be seen acting in a couple of Hindi movies: What the fish? and Udan (which was written by Anurag Kashyap).
arvind swami
anthology segments: Navarasa (Story #6 – “Rowthiram”)
Other titles to watch: Minsara Kanavu, Mumbai, Thalaivii
Arvind Swami appears in navarasa twice: in front of the camera in the third segment, «Project Agni», and behind the camera in the sixth segment, «Rowthiram», his directorial debut. Although Swami mainly performs in Tamil, as he does in navarasa and theatrical releases Mumbai and Minsara Kanavu — act in Hindi in political drama Thalaivii.
Karthik Subbaraj
anthology segments: Navarasa (Story #5 – “Peace”)
Other titles to watch: Jagame Thandhiram (Netflix Original Title), Petta, Boomika
Karthik Subbaraj has directed some of the biggest stars in the Tamil film industry, from Superstar Rajinikanth in Petta to Dhanush, aka Chris Evans’ “sexy Tamil friend” in the gray man – in the Netflix original crime drama Jagame Thandiram. Once you’ve gone through those movies and the navarasa story “Peace”, watch the eco-thriller boomikawhich Subbaraj produced.
Which of these anthologies and directors do you plan to watch? Are you already a fan of any of these filmmakers? Let us know in the comments below!