A watchlist to celebrate the sibling bond with your jigar da tukda
Safe space, sanctuary or partner in crime—these movies celebrate every sibling connection
A sibling is like a non-consensual best friend—no matter how much you feud and fume, eventually, you always come together like bees to pollen. They are the ones who patiently endure your 3am rants only to fight you for the TV remote the next day like their life depends on it. Despite the endless bickering, if anyone else dares to make a snarky comment about you, they will instantly stare them down with laser-like intensity. Here lies the perfect paradox of sibling relationships—you love to hate them and hate to love them.
Jigra, starring Alia Bhatt and Vedang Raina, is an ode to this beautiful relationship. Satya (Bhatt), an orphan with a tumultuous childhood, considers only one person to be family: her younger brother Ankur (Raina). When Ankur is falsely accused in a drug case and detained in a foreign country, Satya taps into her protective instincts to fight against all odds (much like these complex literary heroines) and rescues her brother. Fuelled by love and rage, she embarks on a gritty, single-minded mission to bring him home.
Like Satya and Ankur, the siblings in this watchlist share a unique relationship that leads them to unusual situations, from high-stakes quiz shows to twisted murder plots. So, deepen the bond with your jigra by planning a movie night with this watchlist that celebrates the sibling connection.
9 films and TV shows that explore sibling relationships
Bad Sisters (2022-Present)
Your sibling might be your partner in crime but would they actually help you get away with murder? That’s the question posed by this BAFTA Award-winning Irish dark comedy. The Garvey sisters—Eva, Grace, Ursula, Bibi and Becka—are a close-knit band of five living in Dublin who come under the scrutiny of an insurance investigation after the death of Grace’s abusive husband John Paul. The show shifts between two timelines: one before John Paul’s death, where the sisters are secretly plotting his murder, and the other after his death, where suspicion surrounding the sisters intensifies. The show’s highly anticipated second season is set to release this November.
Stream it on Apple TV
The Silent Twins (2022)
Siblings often share a secret language, but can this connection ever run too deep? Set in Wales, this biographical drama is based on the remarkable true story of identical twin sisters June and Jennifer Gibbons, who exclusively communicate with each other. After facing extreme bullying and racism at a young age, the sisters retreat into an inner world of fantasy and develop a unique language only they can understand. Their isolation produces highly creative works of short stories, poems, plays and novels that explore themes of crime and violence. However, after embarking on a series of thefts and vandalism, the sisters are admitted to a psychiatric hospital at the age of 18 where the consequences of their intertwined existence leave them with tough choices.
Stream it on Apple TV
Quiz Lady (2023)
If you and your sibling ever raced to answer all the questions on Kaun Banega Crorepati while growing up, this comedy film will unlock some core memories. Estranged sisters Jenny (Sandra Oh) and Anne (Awkwafina) find themselves in financial distress after their mother flees to Macau leaving behind significant gambling debts. Jenny convinces her trivia-obsessed younger sister to participate in a quiz show to help them clear their dues. What ensues is a hilarious and healing road trip as the sisters, with contrasting personalities, confront past grievances and encounter a host of eccentric characters along the way. Watch it for the delightful chemistry between Awkwafina and Oh as they embody the complexities of sisterhood.
Stream it on Disney + Hotstar
Dhanak (2015)
When it comes to memorable on-screen siblings, this heartfelt Bollywood gem deserves a mention. Set in Rajasthan, Dhanak tells the story of 10-year-old Pari and her younger, visually impaired brother, Chotu. The two are incredibly close, with Pari acting as Chotu’s sister and caretaker. One day, when Pari sees a poster of her favourite Bollywood star, SRK encouraging eye donations, she becomes determined to fulfil her promise of regaining Chotu’s sight. Convinced that the movie star can help them, she talks Chotu into taking a road trip across Rajasthan to meet their hero. Caution: the protective sibling in you won’t be able to hold back the tears as their journey unfolds.
Watch it on Youtube
Kumbalangi Nights (2019)
You might roast your sibling to no end but if anyone else tries stepping on their toes, you instantly transform into the demon-slaying goddess Kali. The brothers in this Malayalam film find themselves in a similar situation—after the death of their father, Saji and his three half-brothers (Bobby, Bonny and Franky) live together in a run-down house with no doors and stormy family dynamics. When Bobby falls for Baby, one of the girls in their village, her brother-in-law Shammi staunchly opposes their marriage. Despite their differences, the four brothers band together to confront Shammi and unite Bobby and Baby. Watching vulnerability and brotherhood subvert patriarchal norms makes Kumbalangi Nights a special watch.
Stream it on Amazon Prime Video
Happy Journey (2014)
If you’ve experienced the awkwardness of reconnecting with a sibling during adulthood, this Marathi movie will hit home. Niranjan is sent to Dubai by his father to help with the family’s financial struggles. While he sends money home, he grows increasingly distant from his family, especially from his sister, Janaki. He returns home after Janaki’s untimely death, burdened by a debilitating sense of guilt for having missed most of her life. In a slightly spooky twist, Janaki’s ghost begins to visit Niranjan, sharing memories of her life to help him cope and realise the importance of family. A unique account of grief, Happy Journey captures the transcendent power of sibling love.
Stream it on Amazon Prime Video
His Three Daughters (2023)
If you’re in the mood for a cathartic sob fest, grab a tub of ice cream and stream His Three Daughters. The film follows three sisters—Rachel (Natasha Lyonne), the stepdaughter and black sheep of the family, the controlling, type-A Katie (Carrie Coon) and free-spirited Christina (Elizabeth Olsen)—who reunite to care for their terminally ill father Vincent. As they share a cramped New York apartment and navigate the grief of potentially losing their father, long-buried tensions rise to the surface causing disagreements amongst them. This intense, emotionally complex account of sisterhood illustrates how loss can sometimes serve as the balm that heals cracks in familial relationships.
Stream it on Netflix
The Swimmers (2022)
This touching biographical drama highlights how your sibling can be your sanctuary in the harshest of times. Based on the inspiring true story of competitive swimmers and sisters Yusra and Sarah Mardini, the film recounts their decision to leave Syria, their home country, as the civil war escalated in 2015 to seek protection in Europe and how Yusra goes on to participate in the 2016 Rio Olympics as part of the refugee team. The Swimmers explores the themes of sisterly love, survival and the harsh realities and discrimination faced by refugees.
Stream it on Netflix
Echoes (2022)
Swapping lives with your twin can be fun, especially if you’re trying to emulate Parent Trap or playing “guess who” with your dadi. But just how far can you take this game? This seven-episode miniseries delivers non-stop thrills and revolves around the lives of identical twin sisters Leni and Gina, who follow a twisted tradition of swapping lives every year on their birthday to experience each other’s worlds. Things get complicated when Leni goes missing, and Gina heads to their family home to investigate her disappearance, only to discover that Leni has been keeping secrets from her. If you thought twins couldn’t get any creepier, this series will prove you wrong.
Stream it on Netflix
