Bollywood is often the butt of jokes with its insane drama and random song insertions. Though there’s plenty of that, some Bollywood movies are too golden to pass up. The following is a list of must-watch Bollywood movies, not just for Hindi-speakers, but for anyone who wants to enjoy a good movie.
There may be spoilers in this article.
3 Idiots
This is, by far, the number one Bollywood movie everyone should watch. From young children to seniors, this movie touches the hearts of everyone. It’s a coming of age movie that takes place in a prestigious engineering university of India. The students are either forced to take up the ruthlessly competitive profession, and very rarely, some have a true passion for learning. One of those rarities is Rancho, a mischievous, yet brilliant student that rams heads with the college dean. He quickly becomes friends with fellow students, Farhan and Raju, and hence comes the name 3 Idiots. Rancho helps his friends reach their fullest potential through heartbreaking tragedy, turbulent drama, and lots and lots of tears.
This movie touches upon many sensitive subjects such as college student suicide, dowry, poverty, and parent expectations. Combined with witty humor, characters you just can’t help but love, and a beautiful ending, this movie is truly a masterpiece.
Best Song: “All Izz Well”
Whimsical metaphors come together to craft a hilarious, yet meaningful song about the uncertainty of the future.
Devdas
Devdas is a heartbreaking film about love, class conflicts, alcoholism, and regret. This movie documents the life of two star-crossed childhood lovers, Paro and Devdas, in their epic, tragic love story. The movie is filled with emotional monologues, beautiful imagery, and poetic excellence. It’s a type of movie that makes you both believe in love and lose faith in love.
Best Song: “Dola Re Dola”
The graceful choreography combined with classical aesthetics provides a surreal experience. Also, Aishwarya Rai and Madhuri Dixit are queens.
Taare Zameen Par
Learning disabilities are not subjects widely talked about in South Asian society. Many people refuse to believe they exist and others just label the child as “crazy”. This movie depicts the life of a dyslexic child named Ishaan. He gets sent to boarding school due to his consistent low grades and there he begins struggling with depression. The new art teacher, Ram, notices his behavior and helps Ishaan escape his life of solitude, self-doubt, and sadness.
Best Song: “Maa”
If this song doesn’t bring tears to your eyes, you’re not human. This is backed by highly credible scientific research, I swear…
Kal Ho Naa Ho
It’s a classic Shahrukh Khan movie, but for good reason. The movie revolves around a terminally-ill man named Aman. Despite his illness, Amaan lives life with a carefree attitude and brings joy to every life he enters, especially Naina’s, his bitter neighbor. The movie is filled with romance, humor, and most importantly, crucial lessons about life. The title itself translates into “Whatever is today, may not be there tomorrow,” which is a theme revealed throughout the movie.
Aman is a character you will fall heads over heels in love with. Despite his cheesy pickup lines and playboy exterior, he is gentle and sweet deep down. He helps many characters in this movie reach their full potential from a neglected child to a body-conscious young woman.
Best Song: “Pretty Woman”
These films will make you forget the hours of the “boy meets girl” plot, the fifty background dancers, and the magical transporting to Switzerland that other Bollywood movies feature, and will instead provide an enjoyable and reflective movie-watching experience. If you haven’t seen these movies, you’re truly missing out.
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