When Udaan was first released on July 16, 2010, it wasn't a roar, but a whisper. Nevertheless, the low whisper gradually changed into a deafening echo, subtly altering how Indian film portrays youth, oppression, defiance, and finally, liberation. Although other coming-of-age movies have been filmed in India, Vikramaditya Motwane, Anurag Kashyap, and Sanjay Singh's Udaan is generally regarded as among the most genuine. Through its protagonist, 17-year-old Rohan Singh, who was trying to find his voice in the face of authoritarian parenting, Vikramaditya Motwane's directorial debut shaped what an entire generation had silently experien

The effects and enduring memory of Udaan are still very strong 15 years later. A collection of movies that are just as powerful, whether made in India or elsewhere, reflect the turbulent, liberating, depressing, and optimistic journey of growing up.

These eight films, like Udaan, successfully utilize storytelling to portray the turbulence and clarity of adolescence.

Films about coming of age that you should watch out for

JioHotstar on OTTplay Premium is where you can find the 2019 film Chhichhore

In contrast to Udaan, which was an isolated rebellion, Chhichhore is a shared memory. Through flashbacks to his college days and into the present, Nitesh Tiwari's depressing drama shows how a person's tenacity is built upon friendships, failures, and practical jokes. Unlike classic adolescent dramas, Chhichhore welcomes misfits and underachievers, thus life is not defined by a single test or event. Despite the genuine nostalgia, the film's success is not lauded; rather, its emphasis on effort, emotion, and resilience is what makes it work.

OTTplay Premium by ZEE5 is the platform through which Sairat (2016) is available

Nagraj Manjule's Sairat is a harsh coming-of-age story that hides behind a romantic facade. The tale of Archi and Parshya starts with an innocent romance, but soon turns into a terrible confrontation with patriarchy, caste, and the fight for survival in rural Maharashtra. Parshya's loss of innocence and Archi's transformation from a feisty young woman to a tough mother are painful reminders that not all coming-of-age tales conclude with liberation. Even if the conclusion is sometimes sad, you can't help but notice it.

Z5 via OTTplay Premium offers Nil Battey Sannata (2015)

Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari's Nil Battey Sannata retells the coming-of-age narrative by highlighting the relationship between a mother and her daughter. Chanda, a housekeeper, enrolls her daughter Apu in school in order to inspire her to realize her full potential. Coming of age is an emotional awakening as well as a physiological one, as the tale subtly yet powerfully reminds us. Apu's experience centers on knowing ambition, while Chanda's experience centers on regaining respect. The movie invites audiences to see the classroom as a vibrant environment for self-improvement rather than a fixed place for rote learning.

JioHotstar via OTTplay Premium is the source of Masaan (2015)

Neeraj Ghaywan's Masaan is a reflection on themes of loss, guilt, caste, and redemption, not a coming-of-age tale. However, the touching narrative of Deepak (Vicky Kaushal), a young man from a lower caste who falls in love with a member of a higher caste, is concealed among its Banaras ghats. His voyage from misery to maturity and, ultimately, understanding is one of the most understated yet memorable plots in Indian cinema. Like Udaan, Masaan is muted, allowing its silences to speak for themselves.

The movie Dead Poets Society (1989) is available on JioHotstar through OTTplay Premium.

"Seize the day, lads. Make your lives amazing." The iconic Dead Poets Society by Peter Weir, which stars Robin Williams as the compassionate and idealistic English teacher Mr. Keating, is defined by this one sentence. The movie examines themes of conformity, innovation, and the terrible repercussions of disobedience in the setting of a traditionalist all-boys school. Similar to Rohan in Udaan, Neil Perry, the main character, wants to express himself, but his quest for independence is sadly cut short. As the movie so powerfully reminds us, adolescence is a period of tremendous promise and great vulnerability.

Boyhood (2014) - JioHotstar on OTTplay Premium

One of the simplest coming-of-age movies ever made is Richard Linklater's "Boyhood." It chronicles Mason's (Ellar Coltrane) life from the age of six until he is eighteen, all the way through. Without any dramatic plot twists or rebellious outbursts, the everyday, ever-changing pace of growing is portrayed. In "Boyhood," you walk down memory lane as if you were looking through an old picture book, but each frame is alive, painful, and full of fresh perspective. It captures the spirit of leaving home in the final scenes of Udaan: the emotional and philosophical aspects, not the actual place.

Call Me By Your Name (2017) - Netflix & Sony LIV via OTTplay Premium

In Luca Guadagnino's version of André Aciman's novel, which takes place in the sun-dappled Italian countryside, we witness a summer of love and longing that will live long in the memory. Elio, a talented seventeen-year-old, has his first real heartbreak after falling in love with Oliver, an older man. Timothée Chalamet's raw emotion and vulnerability in his performance brings back Rohan's wordless cries in Udaan. The two main characters are connected by a silent longing to be recognized, understood, and loved. The agony of growing up is ubiquitous, albeit in diverse situations.

JioHotstar via OTTplay Premium, Lady Bird (2017)

Greta Gerwig's Lady Bird is one of the most nuanced mother-daughter stories ever written. Christine "Lady Bird" McPherson's (mother's) practicality and hard work are in contrast with her ambitious and restless daughter. Like Udaan, the movie centers around a teenager's quest for self-identity as well as her complicated love-hate connection with her parents. As Lady Bird humorously and truthfully demonstrates to us, growing up may not always bring clarity, but it always brings perspective.

Adolescence was set against the claustrophobic reality of Udaan. It honored the agony, poetry, and tranquility of youth instead of romanticizing it. Even after all these years, it remains a cultural touchstone for individuals who were taught to be modest and not think too hard as children.

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