A traditional noir film emphasizes cynical attitudes and motivations while probing the grit and grime of the human mind. Over the years, Indian cinema has adopted a modern take on this tradition, shaping it through distinct cities, specific forms of corruption, and a persistent interest in moral ambiguity. If you’ve been binge-watching the recently released Spider-Noir on Amazon Prime, here is a list of Indian neo-noir films that explore the genre in interesting and noteworthy ways.
Aaranya Kaandam
A single day becomes a space for storytelling in Thiagarajan Kumararaja's debut, that won the National Award for Best Direction. It is violent and philosophical, where a drug deal goes wrong and the characters are left scrambling about, trying to find a solution.
Johnny Gaddar
Indian neo-noir would be incomplete without Sriram Raghavan, who fills this film with pulpy crime fiction references. It is set in Mumbai and follows a small time criminal who betrays his own gang for money.
Vikram Vedha
Inspired by an ancient Indian mythological folktale, the directorial duo comprising of Pushkar and Gayatri create a. story about a cop hunting a gangster. Each conversation and interaction between them is well-measured and executed crisply by Vijay Sethupathi and R.Madhavan. The film asks who really deserves justice and does not offer a clean answer.
Manorama Six Feet Under
Directed by Navdeep Singh, an investigation into an extra-marital affair sets off a series of events that spiral out of control in Manorama Six Feet Under. Neo-noir travels to small-town India here, and the film is set in Lakhot, Rajasthan, with Abhay Deol in the lead role.
Soodhu Kavvum
Dark and funny, Nalan Kumarasamy's Tamil film centres on a group of low-level kidnappers who lose control of the situation very quickly. Vijay Sethupathi once again return to the genre to play the gang's reluctant leader with real comic and multitudes.
Ishqiya
Vidya Balan and Naseeruddin Shah star in Ishqiya, where two criminals hide out with a widow after a heist goes wrong. Directed by Abhishek Chaubey, the film explores love, trust and betrayal, all essential ingredients in the neo-noir genre.
7th Day
An IPS officer in Kerala, who is suspended, claims to help a group of friends out with a problem, but he is not who he claims to be. Syamdhar, the director, builds a thrilling world ahead of its times, and the movie deals with a crime that takes place on Christmas Eve.
Monsoon Shootout
Starring Nawazuddin Siddiqui and directed by Amit Kumar, a rookie cop joins the crime branch of the Mumbai police department, and on his first assignment is faced with the dilemma of whether he should shoot a murder suspect who is attempting to escape or not.
Anukokunda Oka Roju
This Telugu thriller directed by Chandra Sekhar Yeleti remains relevant years after its release. From drugs and abortion to blind faith and human sacrifice, the film dives headfirst into taboo territory, all while delivering a screenplay that is pure masterclass.
Merry Christmas
We meet Vijay Sethupathi once again in Merry Christmas, along with Katrina Kaif, both of whom meet each other one night, after which we’re exposed to their murky pasts. Sriram Raghavan dishes out an old school styled romantic thriller that is as expectedly dark, deceptive, layered, twisty and suspenseful.
Jigarthanda
Karthik Subbaraj’s Jigarthanda is a wildly inventive gangster drama that blends brutal violence with dark humor in the most stylish way. Slickly written and directed with real swagger, the film moves at breakneck pace in the first half, packed with unexpected twists and layered subplots.
Kennedy
Halfway between thriller and noir, this Anurag Kashyap film premiered at Cannes Film Festival in 2023. It is about a cop who is presumed dead, but continues to serve a corrupt system. It is suspensefully structured, and is a deep psychological character study into morality.
Sunrise
Partho Sen Gupta's Sunrise fixates on a policeman's investigation of a young girl's abduction and enslavement in a nightclub turned brothel, and never adhere's to convention. The lead is played by Adil Hussain, and the narrative surrounds loss and family.
Words Platform Desk
Date 3.6.2026