Intro

While the cinema scene is considerably dominated by commercial films, there also exists a subgenre—that of arthouse movies, defined by raw and rooted realisticness.

Meaning

Art films are made keeping in mind a niche audience and are generally appreciated by film critics, film students, etc. They are often devoid of songs and unnecessary melodrama.

Characteristics

Art movies share common elements of social realism, authenticity, subtle storytelling, and nuanced approach. Achal Mishra's film 'Dhuin' on MUBI is a recent example.

International examples

MUBI offers a unique collection of arthouse films such as 'Bicycle Thieves,' 'Dogtooth,' 'The 400 Blows,' 'In the Mood for Love,' etc.

Indian examples

Some Indian examples are 'The Apu trilogy,' 'Pyaasa,' 'Neecha Nagar,' 'Manthan,' 'Bhuvan Shome,' among others. The old classics are often available on YouTube.