Not everyone likes sitting through two hours of a movie, but that doesn’t mean that they should miss out on epic stories. Short films, generally shorter than 30 minutes, are a great way to tell a story in a sharp, concise manner. And the best part is that these films are not limited by the need to employ the 100 crore club stars to gain commercial success. With that restriction gone, the freedom to actually tell a good story increases significantly. With new content hitting our screens every day, take a step back and enjoy these Indian short films on YouTube. These are some of the best YouTube short movies out there!

1. The School Bag

The film tells the heart-wrenching story of the massacre in Peshawar’s Army Public School in December 2014. Shown through the eyes of a mother preparing to surprise her son with a new bag on his birthday, The School Bag won many international accolades when it released.

2. Khujli

Khujli is about a middle-aged couple exploring BDSM. The film has an unusual pairing of Jackie Shroff, who plays Giridharlal, and Neena Gupta, who plays his wife Roopmati. They hilariously try to indulge in kinky sex after coming across Fifty Shades of Grey, the book that brought BDSM into mainstream conversation.

3. Chhuri

Chhuri, starring Anurag Kashyap and Tisca Chopra, is a brilliant short film based on infidelity. All we’ll say is that the movie is as sharp as its title.

4. Naked

Kalki Koechlin doesn’t shy away from controversial topics, as she has demonstrated regularly with her work. Naked is based on online sex scandals and cyberbullying. With flawless acting and sharp dialogues, this film deserves your attention.

5. Death Of A Father

This animated film is a brilliant portrayal of pathos while dealing with the intricacy of a tragedy. It’s a simple story about a Bengali man, reluctantly executing the customs of his father’s funeral. But there are a lot of understated aspects to it that make this one of the best short films on YouTube.

6. Juice

Directed by Neeraj Ghaywan of Masaan fame, Juice stars Shefali Shah in a more middle-class and relatable version of her Dil Dhadakne Do character. While hosting a weekend dinner, the timid housewife discovers the patriarchy around her. The film doesn’t resort to any moral lectures or loud expressions, it’s the subtle dialogues that will pull you in.

7. The Black Cat

Based on a short story by Ruskin Bond, The Black Cat stars Tom Alter in his final role. Interestingly, this ‘children’s film’ features no children, but it does have a mysterious cat, a Mussoorie cottage, and an irritable author with a broom.

8. Jai Mata Di

This one from Terribly Tiny Tales presents an amusing, out-of-the-box solution to an issue that is still considered taboo — live-in relationships. Starring Supriya Pilgaonkar, watch out for its surprise twist at the end.

9. Anukul

What happens when a machine starts questioning our ways of the world? Anukul is a gripping tale of a futuristic world where robots live alongside humans. It is based on a short story by Satyajit Ray and directed by Sujoy Ghosh of Kahaani fame.

10. Kheer

In just six minutes, Kheer tells the story of a lonely grandfather making a fresh start in life and the reaction of his grandchildren. Featuring Anupam Kher, this is a sweet story that will leave you smiling.

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