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There are some films whose plots are cerebral and fairly intuitive. These films have us thinking, wondering and even introspecting on the impact it holds over us. Then there are those films that leave us bewildered. These films too, have us thinking, but for entirely different reasons with ludicrous plots, wonky storylines, and bizarre characters that sometimes feel relatable but are not so much in line with reality. These films, in my opinion, have the power to both hold the viewers’ attention and leave them perplexed.
The absurdist theatre movement that swept over Europe and the Americas in the 50s and 60s was a non-conformist response to the very rigid and romanticised thinking and literature of the times. It imagined a world of fiction where the chaos and disorder from reality could be bizarrely translated into narratives that are unexpected, outlandish or plain silly.
This particular movement became a powerful means for writers, thinkers and creatives to subvert the audience from what the mainstream media portrayed; giving them a brief respite or an unusual distraction from the realities of life.
Although a significant portion of commercial Indian cinema can be written off as outlandish, the real absurdity lies in the offbeat cinema belonging to the indie space. India as a melting pot of cultures holds plenty of room for absurdity. So much so that it sometimes just appears as a regular occurrence. To find slivers of this absurdity and develop full-fledged narratives out of it is a task that Indian filmmakers have managed to conquer. India does not have a defined genre for absurdist films but then again, certain films in the recent past have formed an unofficial cult of absurdity for themselves.
Here are Homegrown’s picks of absurdist films that should be on your watchlist.
I. Shaitaan, Bejoy Nambiar (Hindi, 2011)
A film that could most definitely be revered as an Indian indie cult classic, this Bejoy Nambiar exploration delves into the lives of young, spoilt delinquents whose only purpose is to indulge in copious amounts of debauchery. A sudden hit-and-run accident on one such escapade turns their lives around forever. Starring an eclectic cast including Kalki Koechlin, Gulshan Devaiah and more, this film certainly needs to be watched for its character-driven plot.
II. Kuthiraival, Shyam Sundar & Manoj Leonel Jason (Tamil, 2021)
Literally translating to ‘a horse’s tail’ this film dives into a day in the life of a man who wakes up from a dream with a horse tail attached to his body. What follows is an anxiety-inducing series of events that he embarks on to detangle the mystery of the new addition to his body. The mind-bending narrative and cinematography in this film are also something to look out for.
III. Kaalakaandi, Akshat Varma (Hindi, 2018)
This black comedy film unfolds over a night in Mumbai in which the lead character played by Saif Ali Khan discovers that he is terminally ill. The story then follows his night of debauchery as he intends to live whatever is left of his life to the very best.
IV. Jil Jung Juk, Deeraj Vaidy (Tamil, 2016)
Tamil cinema’s only foray into a futuristic Western narrative style, Jil Jung Juk is a film that did not create the noise that it deserved. The fairly simple plot revolves around a pink car that is coated with layers of cocaine. The ordeal that follows involves three friends belonging to a gang delivering this car to its rightful owner.
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