Over-the-top dialogue, larger-than-life characterization, epic musical sequences, cheesy and often unrealistic romantic moments, and unbelievable action sequences have all been cornerstones of the Indian entertainment industry for years. The magnificence of Indian cinema makes it endlessly enjoyable, and that’s how so many films have indelible cultural footprints. For example,Sholay, which turns 50 this year, is one of the mostexcellent Asian Western moviesand is often considered to be the biggest Indian action blockbuster, which is still quoted regularly.
The genre that stands out as the most successful inIndia today is action movies,because glorious visual effects and extravagant stunts have made action sequences even more enthralling than ever before. Tollywood action movies likeKalki 2898,Bahubali 2: The Conclusion, andPushpa 2ruled the Indian box office. However,great underrated Indian cinematic gems have come out in the past 10 years too.Many stand apart from the barrage of formulaic movies coming from other entertainment outlets, with producers interested in repeating success by reusing the blueprint.
10Girls Will Be Girls (2024)
Directed By Shuchi Talati
Indian cinema has a history of treating sexual attraction and romantic desire as taboo topics while focusing on them through innuendos and visual metaphors. The subject is particularly contentious, and while many of the most infamous dance sequences in Indian cinema highlight it, there remains a dissatisfying lack of tasteful treatment of the subject, especially from a female-centric perspective. Yet there has been an uptick in such films in recent years, especially in independent cinema, likeShuchi Talati’sGirls Will Be Girls, which deals with female sexual desire and coming-of-age.
It follows a teenager’s experiences during her final year of high school when she experiences her first love and has her first sexual encounter. There is a refreshing use of the female gaze that forefronts pleasure without distorting it, empathizing with the characters' experience, and presenting a nuanced view of the interactions without villainizing anyone. Kani Kusruti’s performance as a supporting character, the protagonist’s mother, is a standout, and considering herlead performance inAll We Imagine as Light, one can only hope her career will grow bigger from here.
9Aavesham (2024)
Directed By Jithu Madhavan
Larger-than-life gangsters in Indian cinema are characterized by charismatic personalities, cheesy dialogue, and an affinity for over-the-top violence. They’re also often mob bosses who dictate gang members' actions from afar and occasionally intervene with moments of heroism that explain the popular myths about them. These moments culminate in celebration and collective jubilation as the gangster reaches heroic, even godly levels of power.
Aaveshamtakes that familiar persona and investigates the effect such a life would have on the characterin question. The protagonist, played to perfection by Fahadh Faasil, feels lonely in his existence as a mob boss whom people fear. He abstains from being violent himself and spends his time socializing and giving favors to those in need while making Instagram reels as a hobby. However, when pushed to the brink, he breaks his oath of non-violence and successfully fends off an army of angry mobsters in an emotional fight scene unlike any other.
8Three Of Us (2022)
Directed By Avinash Arun
Celine Song’sPast Liveswas nominated for the Best Picture and Best Original Screenplay Oscars in 2024, depicting the bond between a man and a woman over a long period as they drift away, come back into contact, and go their separate ways eventually. The emotional tension between them because of their mismatched romantic interest in each other is beautifully portrayed through their various interactions over the years.
The widespread popularity ofPast Livesmakes it feel almost criminal that an Indian movie from 2022, which tells a similar story, flew under the radar. Starring the inimitable Shefali Shah and Jaideep Ahlawat as the two central figures,Three Of Usexplores the emotional bond between friendswho reconnect years later.They shared a deep connection as children and some of that spark is rekindled, but their circumstances don’t allow for further indulgence. Minimalistic and sensitive, the film delves into their camaraderie over this short reunion.
7Kishkindha Kaandam (2024)
Directed By Dinjith Ayyathan
Amnesia thrillers are always exciting to watch and often become big crowd-pleasers. The Aamir Khan starterGhajini, with striking similarities to Christopher Nolan’sMemento, used to be the highest-grossing Indian movie until the next film starring him,3 Idiots, dethroned it. So,it’s no surprise that director Dinjith Ayyathan’s sophomore directorial feature was a big hit at the box office in 2024.It is arguably thebest thriller movie of 2024.
Kishkindha Kaandamis a slow-paced thriller with a character-driven narrative.
Kishkindha Kaandamis a slow-paced thriller with a character-driven narrative that focuses on interpersonal drama over the genre component of the film. The film trudges on gradually, dropping hints of a sinister reveal while developing a character study of an old man who seemingly asks incoherent questions and performs inexplicable rituals. His daughter-in-law is particularly concerned by his behavior because his amnesia could put him at risk. The bond between him and his son is the most compelling dramatic component, though, and adds even more weight to the climax, which breaks viewers' hearts.
6The Great Indian Kitchen (2021)
Directed By Jeo Baby
While there has been an increase in feminist films in India, sensationalism and dramatization are consistent problems in the presentation of patriarchal oppression. It’s mostly extreme situations of harm to women that get represented and addressed, including acid attacks, domestic violence, and sexual assault. Even when events aren’t sensationalized, it’s rare to see films that address the reach and impact of patriarchy on women in their regular lives.
The Great Indian Kitchenwas recently remade in Hindi asMrs., starring Sanya Malhotra as the main character.
Jeo Baby’sThe Great Indian Kitchenis the ideal example of how to write a poignant drama that addresses the systemic nature of misogynyin a country without depicting the most extreme examples. It follows a woman with unreasonable rules set on her behavior by her husband and in-laws after marriage. Their idea of how she should behave as a wife restricts her lifestyle, and she’s met with ungratefulness after toiling hard all day to live up to their expectations.
5Laapataa Ladies (2023)
Directed By Kiran Rao
India’s official entry for the Academy Awards in 2024,Kiran Rao’sLaapataa Ladiesis one of the best romantic dramedies in recent years.It follows two women who accidentally get switched up because they are wearing the same bridal dresses and have the same veil on their faces. The film has a host of compelling characters and spends enough time with all of them to make the world feel lived-in and the people realistic.
The female characters inLaapataa Ladiesare vastly different and help each other in moments of crisis, creating a sense of solidarity. It’s revolutionary in its setting and premise because it takes a simple slice-of-life context to explore the role of patriarchy in the characters' lives and doesn’t sensationalize their experiences. It even explores how men can help against this systemic oppression. A sense of comfort hangs over the film like a warm blanket as it gets considerably dark at moments, but still highlights moments of radical joy.
4Masaan (2015)
Directed By Neeraj Ghaywan
Actor Vicky Kaushal has become a Bollywood star in recent years, most recently appearing inChhava, which has become aNetflix top 10 streaming movie. Nearly a decade ago,Kaushal broke through in the industry with his first-ever leading role in the independent romance dramaMasaan.He stars opposite Richa Chadha, who also got her first leading role in the movie.
Masaanpremiered in the Un Certain Regard section of the Cannes Film Festival in 2015 and won two awards.
Masaanfollows the two characters as they live separate lives of hardships in Varanasi. Chadha’s character Devi is caught in a scandal and given a hefty bribe to stay out of prison, which pushes her father to start gambling in hopes of getting the necessary amount. Kaushal plays Deepak, whose caste-based profession is burning corpses on the riverbank, but his father wants him to move to a different job. His unlikely romance with a woman develops against a backdrop of social injustice in a harsh world, which turns the city of Varanasi into a character of its own.
312th Fail (2023)
Directed By Vidhu Vinod Chopra
Vidhu Vinod Chopra’s3 Idiotsis often considered the best Bollywood movie of all time, following three close friends during their time at the fictional Imperial College of Engineering, where their shenanigans wreak havoc all over campus. 14 years after the film took over the Indian film industry, Vidhu Vinod Chopra returned with another success story with a completely different tone, which also immediately won audiences over.
12th Failis based on the real-life story of IPS officer Manoj Kumar Sharma, who failed his class 12 final exam before clearing it on the second attempt and eventually clearing the UPSC examination to become a civil servant. Played brilliantly by Vikrant Massey, he lives in extreme hardship to make money on the side while preparing for the exam, but his determination keeps him going. A common flaw of rags-to-riches cinema is that the films often depict the protagonists pitifully or dramatize their struggles, but12th Failpresents the character with dignityfrom start to finish.
2Kumbalangi Nights (2019)
Directed By Madhu C. Narayanan
Malayalam cinema has been delivering brilliant indie gems over the years, andthe crowning jewel, arguably, isKumbalangi Nights. It follows the four Napoleon brothers living in the village of Kumbalangi, who have been abandoned by their mother after their father passed away. There is significant internal conflict among the brothers as they struggle through life without parental support and with the reputation left by their mother’s actions, but they function together as a family.
Kumbalangi Nightsshifts between the slice-of-life and suspense thriller genres seamlessly.
A beautiful drama where silence plays as big a part as the dialogue,Kumbalangi Nightsshifts between the slice-of-life and suspense thriller genres seamlessly. The four brothers' lives don’t always cross because of their individuality, but the film brilliantly balances the time dedicated to each of them. There is a warmth in the cinematography and the background score that drowns the narrative in a heartwarming amount of hope. Its exploration of the harmful effects of adhering to society’s normalized version of toxic masculinity is commendable.
The biggest Indian movie, in terms of the impact made on the world in recent years, is undoubtedlyRRR. The film’s song “Naatu Naatu” won the Academy Award for Best Original Song in 2023 and was even performed at the awards ceremony.RRRhas found worldwide acclaim for its energetic filmmaking and storytelling,which win over audiences who can’t help but cheer along and clap as one epic moment follows another.
Rajamouli’s film follows two friends as they become revolutionaries in their country’s fight for freedom from British oppression during the 1920s; the relationship between the two leads evolves over the years as they reach legendary status in their community.RRRwas praised for itselaborate action set pieces with adrenaline-fueled stunt sequences that enthralled moviegoers. While the politics of the film are questionable at times, none can deny that its extravagance pays off in superior fashion when the climax unfolds.
