I have previously posted on Telugu cinema that sought to explore (and provide commentary) on the other India - the non-shining kind. B. Narsing Rao's critically acclaimed, and award winning movie "Dasi" is another excellent addition to this list of cinema (vs. 'fillums' churned out by Tollywood/ Bollywood).

In brief, this 'painterly' movie (Mr. Rao is also a painter and music composer) is set in 1920s feudal Telengana, and powerfully brings to the viewers the life of a bonded housemaid or dasi, who forms a part of the dowry to a rich Zamindar. Archana, who plays the lead role of the 'dasi' Kamalakshi (or Kamili) is brilliant in portraying how women are, literally, dirt in such a screwed up social system. While one wishes all that is seen in this movie has disappeared, the country of a thousand mutinies continues to be a witness the same, or nearly equivalent versions, of such shame.

You may watch this movie (with English subtitles) here:

Part 1 Part 2