Watched ‘The Kerala Story’? Now don’t miss these 5 underrated political thrillers

Despite heavy criticism and a series of controversies ‘The Kerala Story’ continues its stellar box office run. Those who have already watched the film have a mixed response. While some have lauded the Sudipto Sen-directed film many have also called it a propaganda film. In a country mired by scams, corruption, and exploitative politics, the genre ‘Political thriller’ is constantly relevant and treads on precarious grounds for the fear of censoring. What really matters though is that despite all these challenges, there are some truly hard-hitting films about real issues and policies and their direct impact on society. If you have already watched ‘The Kerala Story’ then you can’t just miss these 5 underrated political thrillers as well. Take a look.

'The Kerala Story’ not the first one, these films also faced trouble in West Bengal

Raj Chakraborty’s crime thriller ‘Proloy’ raised questions about a burning social issue that has plagued Bengal over the years, a common man’s fight against evil politicians. The common people’s fight against corrupt political leaders has been a great source of cinematic material for Bengali cinema but with Barun Biswas (played by Parambrata Chatterjee) in 'Proloy', Raj brings in a real-life protagonist whose courage and heroism struck the right chord among the masses. In ‘Proloy’, Saswata Chatterjee appears as Animesh Dutta, a realistic cop fighting against the crime-prone suburb area. He gets to know a name Barun Biswas, who was brutally killed for protesting the corrupt politicians in the small town. While Animesh plans to control the entire situation but suddenly the serial killing of the criminals gives him a new challenge.

Set in the troubled Naxalite period of Bengal, 1971, Byomkesh Bakshi gets involved in a story of revenge when he decides to attend a play at the theatre and becomes witness to a crime unfolding on the center stage. Based on a story that was never completed, director Arindam Sil and writer Padmanabha Dasgupta drafted the screenplay of Byomkesh Hatyamancha from late novelist Saradindu Bandopadhyay’s unfinished story Bishupal Bawdh.

Set against the backdrop of the infamous Emergency era in '70s Bengal Kaushik Ganguly’s ‘Kaberi Antardhan’ is a story that chronicles relationships from a small town, surrounded by the serene tea-gardens and hills of North Bengal. Arghya Sen who takes Mrinmoy's son Amartya's art classes, visits their house when the mystery unfolds. On his arrival, he learns that not only has Mrinmoy been killed, but Kaberi Bhattacharya, Mrinmoy's beautiful sister, is also missing. What happens next forms the crux of the story.

The Raj Chakraborty directorial revolves around a small town of Ismailpur, which suffers an apocalyptic night as the town descends to anarchy as a sudden communal riot breaks out. Four victims, rivals to each other, take shelter in an old woman’s home, who awaits her son’s arrival. Conflicts break out within the four members as the outside anxiety grips all of them, with the old woman playing the role of a pacifier throughout the fateful night. As dawn cracks, the four members are met with conscience as the old woman’s crestfallen truth unravels upon them; thus bringing upon the realization that humanity is the foremost religion.

The Indranil Ghosh-directed film starring Swastika Mukherjee, Saswata Chatterjee, and Jisshu Sengupta in the lead revolves around Abhin and Anandi whose peaceful life is shattered when he decides to cover a dreaded terrorist. As the cameraman of a prominent news channel, Abhin makes it his mission to uncover as many details as possible of his elusive foe, with his attempts leading him to grave danger. With their lives turned topsy-turvy, Anandi decides to step in and walk a perilous path that would change her life forever.