For anyone who’s been living under a rock, Indian movies are must picks during an adventure of watching global cinema. Easily at par with Western films, Indian cinema is a unique mix of films of multiple languages. Here’s a beginner guide to set you off on films ranging across genres and languages, to further chart your way into the diverse and beautiful world of Indian Cinema.
Pather Pachali (Bengali, 1955)
A journey into Indian cinema is a failure if Pather Pachali is missed out on. The film is a timeless Indian cinematic gem, which placed Satyajit Ray among global cinematic greats of the time. With Ray, the film also put India on the cinematic map as a region to look out for. Contrary to what most Western audiences think, the film’s theme is not poverty. It is essentially the origin story of the young boy, Apu, tracing his beginnings in a tiny Bengali village. Apu’s sister, Durga, has a significant role to play in his development, which is reflected in the later films of the Apu trilogy. Pather Pachali leaves its viewers mesmerized by its story, characters, and visuals – pure Satyajit Ray mastery on screen. The film is a cinematic experience – no one remains the same after watching Pather Pachali.
Masaan (Hindi, 2015)
Masaan is usually frequented by Indie-Indian cinema lovers, but it is a gem that is still underappreciated by many. Directed by Neeraj Ghaywan, Masaan is the story of a young man and woman, both caught up in their own struggles of social life in India. The film centers around the relationship of death and grief, and the repercussions both bring in life. Ghaywan weaves the two plotlines into a beautiful singular story, using sorrow as the thread. Masaan is the best portrayal of the modern, urban middle class of India, set in the religious city of Varanasi. The film premiered at the 2015 Cannes Film Festival, and also ended up winning two awards that year. Masaan quickly became one of the best Indian films of the decade, a huge feat for a directorial and actor debut film.
Devdas (Hindi, 2002)
For us Indians, Devdas is our Romeo-Juliet. This stunning spectacle of Indian nobility and epic-esque love remains fresh, even after 21 years. The film is an adaptation of a 1917 book by the same name, written by Sarat Chandra Bose. Starring the phenomenal Aishwarya Rai, Shahrukh Khan, and Madhuri Dixit, Devdas is a love triangle that is futile but passionate at all ends. At the time of its release, the film was the costliest movie made in Bollywood. The jaw-dropping sets and costume are proof enough, which is a regular in Sanjay Leela Bhansali filmography. Devdas is Indian drama at its best, with extraordinary performances from all three stars.
The Lunchbox (Hindi, English, 2013)
The Lunchbox is an easy film for Western audiences to begin their foray into Indian cinema. The film is essentially an international film; a co-production between Indian, American, German and French studios. The story seems very simple, like its title, on a superficial level. But it is packed with drama and emotion in its layers. The film is devoid of any showstopper elements. It is the story of a government employee, in his 50s, who gets the wrongly delivered lunchbox, or dabba, of a woman’s husband. They ignite a unique correspondence, sending letters in the dabba to each other. Irrfan Khan works his magic as always, alongside an elegant Nimrat Kaur. The film is also memorable for its portrayal of Mumbai, a city dear to all lovers of Indian cinema alike.
Kantara (Kannada, 2022)
Kantara is folk storytelling at its best. An art form extremely dear to Indian culture, folklores are re-told in a myriad of ways – through textiles, theatre, literature, and visual art. Rishab Shetty takes the folk art of Buta/Bhoota Kola of Karnataka and retells it to a modern audience. Shetty takes a seemingly simple tale and tweaks it into a feast for the eyes (and mind). The reception made the film one of the biggest successes that year, beating Bollywood films that year. Kantara was a huge critical success as well, as it charmed viewers into trance with its seasoned storytelling. The film is both visually striking yet haunting, and also leaves a message for viewers to ponder.
3 Idiots (Hindi, 2009)
3 Idiots is a revolution in Indian cinema. Based on the novel Five Point Someone, the film has acquired a cult following, and remains relevant even today. It stars the now iconic trio of Aamir Khan, R Madhavan, and Sharman Joshi. A lot of India’s meme material comes from this film. Rajkumar Hirani feeds the bitter truth of the higher education system in India, doused in the syrup of comedy. It is what he does best. The movie will make you laugh like you’ve never, and also shed tears a little. 3 Idiots is an ode to undying, selfless friendship – the kind you make films about. It serves as the no. 1 motivation for students both in schools and colleges to pursue their wishes, and not give in to other influences. 3 Idiots is enough to make a bad day good, it’s that powerful.
Gangs of Wasseypur (Hindi, 2012)
Gangs of Wasseypur is the best Indian film to satisfy the crime geeks. But unlike Western gangster films, Indian gangs operate in a completely different way. And this Indian-ness is what makes Gangs of Wasseypur so memorable. The star of Anurag Kashyap’s filmography, the film also has a sequel that has the final climax. It follows the story of the gang network in small-town Wasseypur, where gangsters wield about guns and weapons like nothing. Despite having big ambitions, they still tie themselves to their small-town roots. An Indian gangster is the most fun gangster there is, and Gangs of Wasseypur is testament to that.
Tumbbad (Hindi, 2018)
Tumbbad is for the horror and thriller fans. There are, of course, other films that belong to these genres, but Tumbbad is a class apart. This Telugu film is a huge critical and popular success. Made by Rahi Anil Barve, the film is based on a folktale, featuring the Maharashtrian village of Tumbbad. The lore exists in real life as well, about a hidden treasure with a rebel deity. Tumbbad may possess a moral that exists in children’s fairy tales, but also shocks adults with its pure craftsmanship on screen. The film has an excellent story and mind-blowing visuals, which are proof to the talent that Indian cinema possesses. It is also the first Indian film to be screened at the Venice International Film Festival, and amassed more than twice of its overall budget in theatres.
Sholay (Hindi, 1975)
Bollywood in the 70s was ruled by Amitabh Bachchan, and Sholay is his most iconic film from the decade. The film has characters that are instantly recognized by the youth of today. Sholay had everything a 70s Hindi film was supposed to star: not one, but 2 rugged, dashing heroes, a bubbly and charming heroine, and a frightening, bearded dacoit. Dacoits were the go-to villains for Bollywood films of the past, and existed full-fledged in reality until the 80s. Sholay is the story of two petty thieves, Jay and Veeru, who are recruited by an old man for an odd job. The old man, Thakur¸ was a former policeman who arrested the notorious dacoit Gabbar Singh. Ask any Indian about this film, and they will go off on a rant about its iconic status. True Bollywood lovers will also have certain dialogues of this film memorized, and cheer for it like any new movie.
Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge (Hindi, 1995)
Making an Indian cinema guide is just not possible if there isn’t enough Shahrukh Khan in it. And what better film there is besides his most loved one, Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge. The film cemented Khan as the king of romance in Bollywood. The film broke romantic stereotypes of the time, and was a breath of fresh air in Indian romance. Khan’s character Raj – a name that he takes up in later films as well – is not some dashing fellow that had heads turning. It was his persistent, annoying, and charming self that made him seem adorable. Not only is he respecting his partner – SImran, played by Kajol – he also makes it a point to respectably earn her hand from her family. Raj-Simran became India’s most loved on-screen couple, more than any other pairings of the Sharukh-Kajol duo. If you’ve been able to resist the Shahrukh charm before, you’re bound to surrender to him in this movie.