From the colourful, awe-inspiring musicals of the masala genre to the hyper-real films of parallel cinema, Bollywood has produced some of the most stunning and lavish movies (and everything in between). Whether you’re seeking for action, drama, romance, or comedy, these Bollywood and Indian film masterpieces will provide you with all of that and more.
Below are the few gems that you might have missed but were extremely wonderful.
5 bollywood movies that were made ahead of time:
1. Pyaasa (1957)
Director: Guru Dutt
Pyaasa was the first film to address issues such as artistic dissatisfaction. Because of cultural expectations, so many of us are compelled to give up on our aspirations.
Gulabo, a sex worker, reaches out to him in Guru Dutt’s excellent film and offers him solace in the form of admiration for his efforts. She embodies everything warm and inviting that the rest of the world could not provide. He discovers his freedom in her gratitude.
2. Gehrayee (1980)
Director: Vikas Desai and Aruna Raje
While the mediocre approach meant it didn’t get much attention when it came to traditional horror, it did take some risks and dared to reveal a few things on screen that were considered taboo at the time.
Padmini Kolhapure, Sriram Lagoo, Anant Nag, Rita Bhaduri, and Amrish Puri were among the talented cast members. Gehrayee unwittingly paved the road for following filmmakers by exploring topics that he studied 40 years ago.
On the surface, it appears to be about a family in which the father Chennabassappa (Dr. Shreeram Lagoo) has a scientific approach to life. On the other hand, the god-fearing mother (Indrani Mukherjee) believes in the ritualistic side of religion.
Their adolescent daughter Umakka (Padmini Kolhapure) is possessed by a spirit one day, and they don’t know what to do. Their older son Nandu (Anant Nag) is reasonable, but he can’t stay that way when he watches his sister’s condition deteriorate despite medical intervention.
It may have been a ground-breaking horror film if the filmmakers had access to today’s technology and equipment, as well as greater delicacy and a stronger background score. Do give it a watch!
3. Khamosh (1986)
Director: Vidhu Vinod Chopra
A movie which also makes this list and probably some of you have never heard of, “Khamosh”. One of Vidhu Vinod Chopra’s finest works.
Khamosh was billed as a mainstream film, yet the cast included Naseeruddin Shah, Shabana Azmi, Pankaj Kapoor, and Sadashiv Amrapurkar, all of whom are known for their roles in art house films. It didn’t have a hero or a detective to solve the mystery, which is unusual for a thriller film. This slick thriller movie was made on a shoestring budget.
It’s a thriller film in which the murderer is one of a group of individuals staying in a hotel, and the identity of the murderer is kept a secret until the very end.
4. Hostel (2011)
Director: Manish Gupta
Film that addresses actual issues is, without a doubt, cinema of substance. The play begins with a no-holds-barred portrayal of the severe ragging that is common in Indian colleges. The first sequences of abuse are genuinely quite gruesome and make you wince.
With lights in his eyes, Vatsal Seth, the protagonist, who is a young engineering student, enrols in a new college. He only wants to focus on his education and establish a good profession.
His first few brushes with ragging, on the other hand, nearly tore him apart. The in-house bullies, led by senior student Mukesh Tiwari, act almost like a gang of thugs, humiliating and abusing the juniors in various ways.
When the authorities turn their backs on the malpractice, the rookie student decides to stand up to the bullies and becomes an on-campus vigilante.
5. Astitva (2000)
Director: Mahesh Manjrekar
Certain films are so frankly presented that you find yourself watching them a dozen times. An extramarital romance has been depicted in Indian films numerous times.
However, there have been a few films that have represented the man-woman relationship with the sensitivity it deserves. Astitva by Mahesh Manjrekar is one such stunning example.
The narration is straightforward but intriguing. The director has told the story in flashbacks, using the diaries that the husband (Sachin Khedekar) keeps as a tool to advance the plot. And the audience yearns for more each time the memory begins. Its crisp screenplay has such an effect!
The film shows an Indian man’s multiple standards; regulations that are different for men and women.
Astitva isn’t your typical song-and-dance film with top stars and high production values. However, it is a thought-provoking film that defies commercial cinema’s standards.
