#BingeRewind: Films that stirred our hearts and stretched our minds!

2025 had a varied genre of films that stirred the right conversations and made us fall in love with the world of cinema all over again! 

There’ve been many films this year that made us want to fall in love with them. The operative word here is want, because while Sitaare Zameen Par, Metro In Dino, Aap Jaisa Koi, 120 Bahadur, Nishaanchi, and even the much-debated Dhurandhar stirred strong feelings and lingered on our minds, they also left us too conflicted to fully give in to their charming lures. So here’s a list of films that, in our view, hit every note perfectly across from craft, emotion to storytelling and allowed us to fall for them completely.

Also Read: #BingeRewind: Content that we honestly didn’t need in 2025!

Check it out!

Homebound - Netflix 

It is India’s nomination to the Oscars, sure but it’s also a film that not only makes you witness the struggles of the marginalized, showing just how bad things can get for them, but places you right inside the story of two friends and their undying bond. It shows how deeply the seed of hatred can be sown within us, making us forget how easy we have it, calling out our privilege in the most effective way possible.

Saiyaara - Netflix

A classic tale of love that gives you all the feels you’ve been missing, but one that flips the script just when you’re least expecting it. It goes beyond the clichés, turning a simple boy-girl story of sacrifice into an aching reminder of what it truly means to love each other even when it’s about the boy changing for the girl, rather than her being the one who always sacrifices for him.

The Mehta Boys - Amazon Prime Video
Father and sons are as complicated as parent–child relationships can get. So when two equally stubborn men, a father and his son are pushed to live together, the cracks in their walls begin to speak. And as the roof finally gives in, so does everything they’ve kept buried inside. What emerges is space to rebuild a renewed, more honest bond. It’s a film that explores the tumultuous shifts in a parent–child relationship as it moves into a new phase.

Haq - Not available on OTT yet

Haq shows us Shah Bano’s case exactly how it happened. It focuses only and only on her journey, her turmoil and not the nation’s reaction to it at that point. It also does not blame the religion for it, in fact it blames the people who refuse to understand the real meaning of it and half heartedly, through versus and their interpretation of it, justify patriarchy and keeping women suppressed in the shadows. It is the ultimate story of standing up for your right!

Dhadak 2 - Netflix

Dhadak 2 is a poignant and hard-hitting film about the struggles of the Dalit community. Siddhanth Chaturvedi and Tripti Dimri bring their absolute A game to this intense film. Part romantic and partly based on social issues that need our attention, Dhadak 2 definitely was an important watch this year!

Kaalidhar Laapata - Zee5

Kaalidhar Laapata is a film that’ll definitely leave you feeling a lot this year. The sense of what does ‘family’ even mean, the people who we met along the way, and just finding joy in the little things, no matter what kind of situation life puts you in! While it was underrated, the film leaves a lasting impression on you to say the least!

Mrs. - Zee5 

One rarely comes across a woman centric Indian film that questions patriarchy in a nuanced, subliminal and non-preachy manner and Arati Kadav's ‘Mrs’, the Hindi remake of Jeo Baby’s ‘The Great Indian Kitchen’ is just that. Starring Sanya Malhotra, the film offered a hard-hitting look at the subtle, yet pervasive, patriarchy and gender roles that exist within many modern Indian households, underlining the emotional and psychological toll domestic servitude takes on a woman.

Chhaava - Netflix

Released earlier this year, Chhaava had the entire country hooked to it. Based on the life of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, son of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Chhaava gave us a glimpse into a chapter in history that was not quite well-known to many. The gut-wrenching story, the adrenaline rush from the action and the detailed look of the Maratha era was definitely a spectacle to watch on the big screen.

Phule - Not available on OTT yet

Phule chronicles the lives of 19th-century social reformers- Jyotirao Phule (Pratik Gandhi) and Savitribai Phule (Patralekha) from Maharashtra, who fought against caste discrimination, gender inequality, and social oppression under British colonial rule. The film despite its shortcomings is an important watch as it renews your sense of pride and responsibility towards the causes they weathered every storm for and makes you understand the rot that social evils like casteism, patriarchy and communalism inflict on the fabric of our society. 

Tanvi The Great - Not available on OTT yet

Albeit a tad overwritten, this film normalises autism without overcomplicating its message and that’s precisely why it works so well. The movie focuses solely on Tanvi Raina and her journey in spite of being surrounded by seasoned actors. Shubhangi Dutt has done a spectacular job in her debut as Tanvi Raina. We might not be the best judge of whether or not Tanvi: The Great portrayed autism well; all we can say is - we left the theatre with more awareness and a full heart.

Which of these titles was your favourite this year? Let us know in the comments below!

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