For most independent filmmakers, the dream is not merely making a film, but ensuring it reaches an audience. Imagine our surprise when Nukkad Naatak appeared on Netflix last Friday morning. The Hindi film, which hit theatres on February 27, follows two college friends, Molshri and Shivang, as they embark on a journey of redemption.

What drove this indie success story? Directed by Tanmaya Shekhar and produced by Medha Khanna, Nukkad Naatak lacks the typical Bollywood blueprint — stars, studio machinery, and initial access to major OTT platforms. What it did have was a deeply relatable story.