The weekend is almost here! And if you want intriguing stories to keep you company over the next two days, we have you covered. From the fictional account of a historical migration in Bheed to the gripping mystery of a missing mother in Missing, we bring you five films that explore the complexities of human emotions and the pursuit of truth, making them essential additions to your weekend watchlist. While a couple of these Netflix films are intense watches, there are a few in this list that will entertain and make you laugh along the way.
Bheed, written, directed, and produced by Anubhav Sinha, depicts a fictional account of the largest migration in Indian history (since the 1947 partition) during the 2020 Covid-19 quarantine. The film explores the stories of various characters as they navigate the lockdown and embark on a journey to find a safe haven.
In Missing, a film written and directed by Will Merrick and Nick Johnson, June Allen, a teenager, sets out to find her missing mother, who disappeared while on vacation in Colombia with her new boyfriend. Storm Reid stars as June—joined by Joaquim de Almeida, Ken Leung, Amy Landecker, Daniel Henney, and Nia Long—as she unravels the mystery and uncovers the truth behind her mother’s disappearance.
Kathal – A Jackfruit Mystery, a satirical comedy-drama film written by Ashok Mishra and directed by Yashowardhan Mishra, follows the disappearance of two exotic breeds of kathals (jackfruits) from the garden of an MLA’s house in a small Indian town. Police inspector Mahima (Sanya Malhotra) is tasked with solving the case, but her focus is challenged when she discovers a missing girl whose case has been overlooked by her colleagues. The film serves as a lighthearted comedy and a satire on the absurd government systems we have to deal with.
Searching, a 2018 American screenlife mystery thriller directed by Aneesh Chaganty, tells the story of a father’s desperate search for his missing 16-year-old daughter. John Cho portrays the father, aided by a police detective played by Debra Messing, as they navigate through computer screens and smartphones to unravel the mystery. Notably, the film marked a milestone as the first mainstream Hollywood thriller with an Asian-American actor in the lead role. Its success led to the release of the standalone sequel, Missing, in 2023.
Then we have the fun and kitschy Bollywood comedy-mystery Om Shanti Om, directed by Farah Khan. In this romantic fantasy film that spans three decades, Shah Rukh Khan stars as Om Prakash Makhija, a struggling film artist who falls in love with star Shantipriya, portrayed by Deepika Padukone. When tragedy strikes, Om is reborn as a wealthy superstar and seeks revenge on Shantipriya’s partner, played by Arjun Rampal. The film blends elements of romance, revenge, and the supernatural. And has tons of Indian pop culture references.
Five movies on Netflix to watch this weekend:
- Bheed (2023)
- Missing (2023)
- Kathal – A Jackfruit Mystery (2023)
- Searching (2018)
- Om Shanti Om (2007)
