Even if you’re unfamiliar with Bollywood, you’ve probably heard of it in some capacity. Maybe you think it simply means Indian cinema, maybe you have a fuzzy recollection of seeing a Shahrukh Khan film on TV one time, or maybe you’ve avoided the whole thing like the plague due to its reputation for campy musicals. There are many misconceptions about Bollywood in the West. Most Westerners aware of the term tend to think that it refers to all of Indian cinema, or maybe to a very specific genre of campy Indian musical films. In actuality, “Bollywood” solely refers to the Hindi-language film industry based in Mumbai, and can encompass films of any genre as long as they are produced in that industry. But sadly, Bollywood isn’t usually taken seriously in the Western world. Like many domestic film industries of the Global South, it typically gains much less international attention than the cinema of Europe and the United States. Well reader, I aim to change all of that. I personally became highly interested in Bollywood years ago, and have been trying to convert the masses ever since. In that spirit, here’s a list of ten of my favorite Hindi films, particularly ones that I feel will play well to newcomers to this category of cinema.
1. Lagaan (2001)
Lagaan is one of many iconic sports films in the realm of Hindi cinema. It chronicles a small village in colonial India dealing with harsh droughts and unjust taxation from the British. Eventually, the proud local British government officials challenge the village to a game of cricket, leading to a series of patriotic training sequences and emotionally intense cricket matches. The film was well-executed and popular enough to garner a Best Foreign Language Film nomination at the 2002 Oscars, and the nod is well-deserved. Lagaan is a tense, romantic epic that subverts the frequently neocolonial undertones of many Western films about triumphs of the Global South.
2. Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998)
Kuch Kuch Hota Hai marks the directorial debut of Karan Johar; a writer, director, producer, and occasional actor who would eventually become one of the most important voices of mainstream Bollywood in the 21st century. Kuch Kuch Hota Hai is arguably one of his best films, and certainly puts his signature style on display. The story begins as Rahul, a young groom, buries his beloved wife Tina, who died in childbirth. From there, the film spends half of its runtime on an elaborate college-era flashback detailing Rahul’s love triangle between Tina and his tomboy best friend Anjali, then embarks on a flash-forward to the present day as Rahul’s eight-year-old daughter (also named Anjali) tries to set him up with his former best friend. Predictably, romantic comedy hijinks ensue. Worth a watch for the chemistry between actors Shahrukh Khan and Kajol, the beautiful melodies of composers Jatin-Lalit, the over-the-top camp, and the ever-unique romantic scenarios Karan Johar is able to conjure up.
3. Devdas (2002)
In this film, director Sanjay Leela Bhansali crafts an intricate adaptation of Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay’s famous Bengali novel, the story of a privileged young man who takes refuge in alcohol when he is forbidden from marrying his true love Paro, as she comes from a lower caste. Bhansali is a prominent filmmaker in Bollywood, known for his ornate sets and song sequences. This skill is on display in Devdas, with many impressive, memorable scenes supporting the narrative. Songs Dola Re Dola and Maar Dala stand out, as does the scene in which Devdas returns from abroad, and his famous death scene (spoilers. Sorry.) The romance is palpable and tragic, the songs memorable and catchy. What more could you ask for?
4. The Lunchbox (2013)
The Lunchbox falls into a slightly more ‘conventional film festival fare’ category than the previous entries; it’s a film that plays well to audiences that may not typically go for Bollywood on principle. The Lunchbox is realistic and well-structured; it explores the dabba delivery system in Mumbai, a complex arrangement that sees thousands of lunchboxes delivered to their respective owners at work each day. As Ila, a dissatisfied housewife, accidentally starts writing to Saajan, an older, widowed office worker, through the lunchboxes exchanged between the two, an unlikely romance blossoms. Ritesh Batra’s writing and direction shine in his feature directorial debut.
5. Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham (2001)
Another Karan Johar joint, Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham tells the story of the wealthy Raichand family as it intersects with the lower-class Sharma family. When rich heir Rahul falls in love with poor Anjali (yes, they have the same names and are played by the same actors as the leads in Kuch Kuch Hota Hai), the couple must endure a married life ostracized from their family. Rahul’s younger brother Rohan’s attempts to mend the rent family constitutes the latter half of the film. Though you’ll have to endure a 3.5 hour runtime, Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham’s soundtrack, characters, dialogues, set pieces, and costumes are just too iconic not to name on a list of essential Bollywood films.
6. Kal Ho Naa Ho (2003)
Kal Ho Naa Ho, the film that started it all. It was in my tenth grade film studies class in which I first watched this film; the film that would serve as the catalyst for my entire Bollywood obsession. In Kal Ho Naa Ho, depressed New Yorker Naina lives a humdrum life with her best friend Rohit until mysterious, charismatic stranger Aman arrives in the neighborhood. Frankly, I don’t want to give away much as to the plot of this film, but if you’re interested in riding an emotional rollercoaster truly unlike any other, this may well be the film for you. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll cringe, you’ll fall in love.
7. Salaam Bombay! (1988)
Salaam Bombay! is another film like The Lunchbox which may appeal to the more ‘serious’ cinephiles that tend to shun Bollywood cinema. The film is a gritty, neorealist view of 1980s Mumbai; in which characters succumb to addiction, fall victim to sex trafficking, and generally lose their innocence. Mira Nair, largely a documentary filmmaker before Salaam Bombay!, shows her skill for the realistic representation of India in this poignant portrait of youth coming of age in Mumbai’s slums. The film is sure to elicit emotion, particularly from Western viewers.
8. Jaane Tu… Ya Jaane Na (2007)
I like to recommend Jaane Tu… Ya Jaane Na to newcomers to Bollywood, as in my eyes, it is sorely underrated. Abbas Tyrewala’s mid-2000s romcom offers a rare depth and nuance to the Bollywood romance genre. The realistic depiction of young people accompanied by unusually-competent filmmaking and an irresistible soundtrack by famed composer A. R. Rahman make it a must-see for anyone dipping their toes into the Bollywood canon. Imran Khan makes an emotional debut as Jai, while Genelia D’Souza gives one of her most memorable performances as Aditi. Worth it for more than the song ‘Pappu Can’t Dance.’
9. War (2019)
Alright. I’d be lying to you if I said that I wasn’t recommending this film largely on the basis of its homoerotic undertones. But why should that be a bad thing? War depicts the classic action-movie tale of an agent gone rogue, in this film, an agent from RAW (the Indian Research and Analysis Wing.) Kabir, said rogue spy, must negotiate with his protégé Khalid, while encountering numerous twists and turns along the way. The tension between the two is palpable, the songs catchy beyond belief, and the action sequences impeccably executed.
10. Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa (1994)
Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa is unique for its focus on an antihero. In the period in which this film was released, most Bollywood films were very much focused on the classic idea of a hero; strong, triumphant, heterosexual. However, Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa allows its protagonist, Sunil, to be pathetic, and even more importantly, in the wrong. Sunil is an obsessive lover who mistreats his love interest. Typically in Bollywood, that equals a successful suitor. But in this film, Sunil’s love interest Anna takes a stand. She chooses the considerate boy that she truly loves. Sunil’s acceptance that not every filmi lover will get the girl marks a significant stride for Bollywood. It signifies a shift towards realism, towards feminism, towards modernism. It’s engaging and ahead of its time.
I hope this list offers a bit of a starting point for your Bollywood journey. These films are somewhat varied in genre, so whether you’re seeking a romantic musical, a gritty art film, or an inspiring sports movie, you should have at least one recommendation here. I’m passionate about increasing international consideration for cinema from non-Western countries, particularly popular cinema, which tends to get an even worse rap. If we can tolerate and even critically laud the dozens of generic American biopics released every year, surely we can all handle a couple of Indian musical melodramas.
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