For over 110 years, Indian movies have been fascinating the hearts of countless people worldwide. It started in 1913 when “Raja Harishchandra” was released by Dadasaheb Phalke. If you want to learn about the greatest films in this industry, here’s a list of the top 100 films in India.
Every year, 1,500-2,000 movies are produced in India in 20+ languages, making it the world’s largest film industry. Several top global production houses, including Fox Star Studios, Sony, and Viacom, regularly produce Indian films serve as a testimony to the global success of the Indian film industry.
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A Closer Look at the Top 100 Films in India
Before we delve deeper into our ultimate list of the top 100 Indian films, it’s important to mention that it’s a random list. This means our film experts have picked these movies without following any particular sequence.
Mughal-e-Azam (1960)
Cast: Dilip Kumar, Madhubala, Prithviraj Kapoor
This epic historical drama film encompasses the love affair between a dancer and a Mughal Prince. When Emperor Akbar, the prince’s father, denies admitting the relationship, it results in a war between father and son. It was the highest-grossing Indian film up to that time.
Sholay (1975)
Cast: Amitabh Bachchan, Dharmendra, Amjad Khan, Hema Malini, Jaya Bachchan, Sanjeev Kumar
It tells the story of two criminals who were recruited by a retired police officer to capture a ruthless dacoit. It’s often considered one of the most influential and greatest Indian films of all time. It created new records for continuous showings in many theaters across India.
Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995)
Cast: Shah Rukh Khan, Kajol, Amrish Puri, Anupam Kher
Two young NRIs Raj and Simran fall in love during a vacation in Europe. Raj tries to win over the family of Simran so that he can marry her but Simran’s father Baldev Singh refuses to accept the relationship. DDLJ is among the most successful films in the history of Indian cinema.
Mother India (1957)
Cast: Sunil Dutt, Nargis, Rajendra Kumar, Raaj Kumar
The movie revolves around the story of a poor woman who finds it difficult to raise her sons on her own and survive against a guileful money-lender in the middle of many problems. At that time, it earned the maximum revenue for any Indian film and was among the most expensive Indian productions.
Pather Panchali (1955)
Cast: Karuna Banerjee, Subir Banerjee, Uma Dasgupta, Chunibala Devi
It tells the childhood travails of Apu and his elder sister Durga in the middle of their poverty-stricken, difficult village life. An adaptation of the novel of the same name by Bibhutibhushan Bandyopadhyay, the movie marks the directorial debut of Satyajit Ray. In 1955, it won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film.
Anand (1971)
Cast: Rajesh Khanna, Amitabh Bachchan, Sumita Sanyal
Dr. Bhaskar Banerjee is introduced to Anand who is suffering from a rare type of cancer. Over time, Anand’s condition deteriorates but he helps everyone and roams freely despite knowing the truth that he isn’t going to survive long. This movie has won the Filmfare Award for Best Film.
Guide (1965)
Cast: Dev Anand, Waheeda Rehman, Leela Chitnis
The film depicts the story of a freelancer tour guide Raj and a rich archaeologist’s repressed wife Rosie. It was a highly successful film and received a total of nine nominations at the 14th Filmfare Awards and finally, it won seven of them.
Kabhi Kabhie (1976)
Cast: Amitabh Bachchan, Shashi Kapoor, Rakhee Gulzar, Rishi Kapoor
This musical romantic drama film revolves around the life stories of Amit Malhotra and Pooja and their family members. It received huge critical acclaim and became the eighth highest-grossing Hindi film of 1976. At the 24th Filmfare Awards, it won four awards.
Deewaar (1975)
Cast: Amitabh Bachchan, Shashi Kapoor, Parveen Babi, Neetu Singh
A masterpiece by Yash Chopra, it tells the story of two poverty-stricken brothers who struggle to survive in Bombay’s slums and eventually take the law’s opposing sides. It cemented the “angry young man” image of Bachchan and gained huge success both commercially and critically.
Goopy Gyne Bagha Byne (1969)
Cast: Tapen Chatterjee, Rabi Ghosh, Santosh Dutta
The film encompasses the story of Goopy, who wants to become a singer, and Bagha, who wants to become a drummer and their stay in Shundi. At the 16th National Film Awards, it won the Best Direction and Best Feature Film awards. Its critical reception was extremely positive as well.
Padosan (1968)
Cast: Sunil Dutt, Kishore Kumar, Mehmood, Saira Banu
An innocent man Bhola from a village falls in love with his beautiful new neighbor Bindu and tries to impress her with the help of his friends. It’s often regarded as one of the most entertaining films of all time and is known for its super melodious songs.
Shiva (1989)
Cast: Nagarjuna, Amala Akkineni, J. D. Chakravarthy
This film announced the arrival of Ram Gopal Varma as a unique filmmaker and demonstrated a completely new aspect of student politics and the ideologies that drive it. It won three Nandi Awards along with the Filmfare Award for Best Film – Telugu. It also became the highest-grossing film in the industry.
Kabuliwala (1957)
Cast: Chhabi Biswas, Oindrila Tagore, Manju Dey, Radhamohan Bhattacharya
A middle-aged Afghani fruit seller Rahmat comes to Calcutta and meets Mini who reminds him of his daughter. However, the story takes a unique turn when a local misbehaves with Rahmat, which leads him to imprisonment. The film is remembered as the story of the love of a father for his daughter.
Black Friday (2004)
Cast: Kay Kay Menon, Pawan Malhotra, Aditya Srivastava, Nawazuddin Siddiqui
The film revolves around the investigations of the 1993 Bombay bomb blasts. The film’s premiere took place at the Locarno Film Festival in 2004 but in India, it was released in 2007. It received critical acclaim and several film scholars consider it one of the best films directed by Anurag Kashyap.
Black (2005)
Cast: Amitabh Bachchan, Rani Mukerji, Shernaz Patel
The film tells the story of a deaf-and-blind woman and her relationship with Debraj, her teacher. It became the eighth highest-grossing Bollywood film of the year. At the 53rd National Film Awards, it won three awards. It also became the most-awarded film in Filmfare Awards’ history at that time.
Roja (1992)
Cast: Arvind Swamy, Madhoo, Pankaj Kapur, Nassar
The film tells the story of a simple village girl doing everything she can to find her husband who was kidnapped by militants when on a secret undercover mission. It won three National Film Awards and got international acclaim by receiving a nomination at the 18th Moscow International Film Festival.
Hey Ram (2000)
Cast: Kamal Haasan, Shah Rukh Khan, Rani Mukerji
The epic historical film was made in Hindi and Tamil languages simultaneously. This alternative history film tells the story of Mahatma Gandhi’s assassination by Nathuram Godse and India’s Partition. It bagged three National Film Awards and Kamal Haasan won the “Best Actor – Tamil” award at the 48th Filmfare Awards South.
Mudhalvan (1999)
Cast: Arjun Sarja, Manisha Koirala, Raghuvaran
This Tamil political action film encompasses the story of Pughazhendi, an ambitious TV journalist whose first assignment was to interview the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. Pughazhendi eventually became the CM for a day. In 1999, it became the second highest-grossing movie in the Tamil film industry. It won three Filmfare awards.
Dil Se.. (1998)
Cast: Shah Rukh Khan, Manisha Koirala, Preity Zinta
With the insurgency in Assam as the backdrop, the film tells the story of a producer for Indian news radio, Amar Varma who falls in love with an enigmatic woman Meghna. At the 44th Filmfare Awards, it won six awards and bagged two awards at the 46th National Film Awards.
Maqbool (2003)
Cast: Irrfan Khan, Tabu, Pankaj Kapur, Naseeruddin Shah, Om Puri
Based on the plot of Macbeth regarding characterization and events, the film encompasses the love story of Maqbool, the right hand of a powerful don Abba Ji. It provided director Vishal Bhardwaj with international acclaim and Pankaj Kapur won the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor and a Filmfare Award for Best Actor (Critics).
Kasturi Nivasa (1971)
Cast: Rajkumar, Jayanthi, Aarathi, Baby Rani
The movie tells the story of a widower and a matchbox factory owner Ravi Varma who lost his daughter in an accident. It’s regarded as a milestone in Kannada cinema and with a 100-day theatrical run in 16 theaters across Karnataka, it achieved box office success.
Munna Bhai M.B.B.S. (2003)
Cast: Sanjay Dutt, Sunil Dutt, Arshad Warsi, Gracy Singh
The satirical comedy-drama film is regarded as a cult movie in the Hindi cinema. It revolves around the love story of a gangster Munna Bhai. It became a major commercial and critical success and won the National Film Award for Best Popular Film in 2004. It won four awards at the 50th Filmfare Awards.
Nayak (1966)
Cast: Uttam Kumar, Sharmila Tagore, Jogesh Chatterjee
The film portrays the story of a matinee idol Arindam Mukherjee traveling to Delhi from Kolkata by train to receive a prestigious award. It received massive appreciation from the critics and gave Uttam Kumar international recognition. In 1967, it won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Bengali.
Meghe Dhaka Tara (1960)
Cast: Supriya Choudhury, Anil Chatterjee, Gita Dey
The film encompasses the life story of a young refugee from East Pakistan Nita who ultimately died from tuberculosis after facing several problems because of the Partition of India. Based on a social problem novel written by Shaktipada Rajguru, it’s among the most widely viewed films made by Ritwik Ghatak.
Agantuk (1991)
Cast: Deepankar De, Utpal Dutt, Mamata Shankar, Dhritiman Chatterjee
Notable for being Satyajit Ray’s last film, it tells the story of Manomohan Mitra meeting his only surviving relative Anila Bose. It received critical acclaim and in 1992, ranked 2nd on the Top 10 Films of the Year List by Cahiers du Cinéma. It won three National Film Awards in 1992.
Padatik (1973)
Cast: Dhritiman Chatterjee, Simi Garewal, Bijon Bhattacharya
The Bengali drama film revolves around the story of a political activist who escaped the prison van and took shelter in the upscale apartment of a sensitive young woman. This movie has won the National Film Award for Best Screenplay. It’s regarded as the third film of the “Calcutta” trilogy by director Mrinal Sen.
Geethanjali (1989)
Cast: Nagarjuna, Girija Shettar, Vijay Chandar, Vijayakumar
The film’s story revolves around the dramatic love story of Geetanjali and a carefree student Prakash. It achieved commercial success by running in theaters for more than 100 days. Apart from winning six Nandi Awards, it bagged the National Film Award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment.
Mr. India (1987)
Cast: Anil Kapoor, Sridevi, Amrish Puri, Satish Kaushik
The superhero film portrays the story of a humble violinist Arun Verma who gets a cloaking device and tries to save India from a criminal Mogambo. It was the second highest-grossing film of 1987. In Hindi cinema, it achieved cult status and is regarded by many as among the best Indian films of all time.
Nayakan (1987)
Cast: Kamal Haasan, Saranya Ponvannan, Karthika
It tells the life story of Velu, the son of an anti-government union leader, who is tricked by the police. It attained commercial and critical success and ran for more than 175 days in theaters. Haasan got the National Film Award for Best Actor. It also received the National Awards for Best Art Direction and Best Cinematography.
Thalapathi (1991)
Cast: Rajinikanth, Mammootty, Shobana
The gangster film tells the stories of Surya, who was abandoned by his mother, and Devaraj, a powerful gangster. It received notable commercial and critical success. At the 39th Filmfare Awards South, it won two awards. Rajinikanth won Best Actor – Tamil at the 12th Cinema Express Awards.
Pariyerum Perumal (2018)
Cast: Kathir, Anandhi, Yogi Babu
The story revolves around Pariyan who is from an oppressed caste and faces discrimination from society and his upper-caste classmates in the law college. It got critical acclaim and won four Ananda Vikatan Cinema Awards. It also won two 8th SIIMA Awards and became the Best Film at the 66th Filmfare Awards South.
7G Rainbow Colony (2004)
Cast: Ravi Krishna, Sonia Agarwal, Suman Setty
The film portrays the love story of Kadhir, who is from a lower-middle-class family, and Anita, who belongs to an affluent family. It was commercially successful and received critical acclaim. Ravi Krishna won the Filmfare Best Male Debut (South) and Yuvan Shankar Raja won the Filmfare Best Music Director Award.
Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro (1983)
Cast: Naseeruddin Shah, Ravi Baswani, Satish Shah, Bhakti Barve
The film is a dark satire on the frequent corruption in Indian politics, business, news media, and bureaucracy. Although at the box office, it didn’t achieve immediate success, it was eventually considered a cult classic. Kundan Shah (director) won the Indira Gandhi Award for Best Debut Film of a Director.
Abhimaan (1973)
Cast: Amitabh Bachchan, Jaya Bachchan, Asrani
The musical drama film revolves around the tensions in the marriage life of Subir and Uma, both of whom are professional singers. It received massive recognition for its songs and was a massive hit at the box office. It brought Jaya Bachchan the Filmfare Best Actress Award. S. D. Burman (music director) won the Filmfare Award for Best Music Director.
Gol Maal (1979)
Cast: Amol Palekar, Utpal Dutt, Bindiya Goswami
The comedy film tells the story of Ramprasad Dashrathprasad Sharma who has to play the role of his twin brother to keep his job. It was heavily praised by critics and bagged three Filmfare Awards along with several nominations.
Do Bigha Zamin (1953)
Cast: Balraj Sahni, Nirupa Roy, Ratan Kumar
The film portrays the struggle of a farmer and his family to save their two bighas of land. It’s still considered a benchmark in Indian cinema. It was the first film that won the Filmfare Best Movie Award. At the International Film Festival, it became the first Indian film that won the International Prize.
Kantara (2022)
Cast: Rishab Shetty, Sapthami Gowda, Manasi Sudhir, Kishore
The action thriller film revolves around the story of a Kambala athlete Shiva trying to defend nature and his community. It attained huge commercial success and became the fourth highest-grossing film in India in 2022. At the 54th IFFI, it received the Silver Peacock – Special Jury Award.
Parinda (1989)
Cast: Anil Kapoor, Nana Patekar, Jackie Shroff, Madhuri Dixit
The film tells the story of two orphaned brothers: one works for a gangster and the other one returns to Bombay after finishing his studies in the U.S. According to several critics, it introduced realism into mainstream Hindi cinema.
Unishe April (1994)
Cast: Aparna Sen, Debashree Roy, Prosenjit Chatterjee
The story revolves around the tense relationship of a mother, who is a well-known dancer, with her daughter. It won Best Feature Film at the 42nd National Film Awards.
Salaam Bombay! (1988)
Cast: Shafiq Syed, Anita Kanwar, Raghuvir Yadav
The film depicts the daily lives of Bombay’s street children dealing with different people, from drug peddlers to thieves. It received notable critical acclaim and won the Caméra d’Or award.
Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi (2003)
Cast: Kay Kay Menon, Shiney Ahuja, Chitrangada Singh
The film tells the story of three young people whose lives undergo significant changes after different events. It received positive reviews and went to 12 film festivals in six months.
Taare Zameen Par (2007)
Cast: Aamir Khan, Darsheel Safary, Tisca Chopra
It depicts the story of a dyslexic child and how he discovers his true potential after meeting a compassionate teacher. It won three awards at the 55th National Film Awards.
Dil Chahta Hai (2001)
Cast: Aamir Khan, Saif Ali Khan, Akshaye Khanna
The film is about three friends who travel to Goa by road and face different challenges in their own lives. It got widespread critical acclaim and won two awards at the 49th National Film Awards.
Rang De Basanti (2006)
Cast: Aamir Khan, Sharman Joshi, Soha Ali Khan
The film narrates the story of a group of friends who get involved in active politics following a tragedy. It broke all opening box office records in the country and won the National Film Award for Best Popular Film.
Sivaji: The Boss (2007)
Cast: Rajinikanth, Shriya Saran, Vivek
The action drama film tells the story of a software engineer who comes back to India and faces problems from the system and a political leader. At the time of release, it was the most expensive Indian film.
Virumaandi (2004)
Cast: Kamal Haasan, Abhirami, Rohini, Pasupathy
The story revolves around two prison inmates’ interview where they express their life stories. It won the International Award for Best Asian Film at the 8th Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival.
Thani Oruvan (2015)
Cast: Jayam Ravi, Nayanthara, Arvind Swamy
The film tells the story of an IPS officer who wants to arrest an affluent scientist using illegal medical practices to gain profit. In 2015, it was among the top 10 highest-grossing Tamil films.
Magadheera (2009)
Cast: Ram Charan, Kajal Aggarwal, Srihari
The fantasy romantic action film depicts the story of a warrior who takes rebirth to safeguard his love from a devilish prince. It was the first entrant from the Telugu film industry to the 100 crore club.
Harishchandrachi Factory (2009)
Cast: Nandu Madhav, Mohit Gokhale, Vibhawari Deshpande
It tells the struggles of Dadasaheb Phalke during the making of his film “Raja Harishchandra.” It was chosen as the official entry of India in the Best Foreign Language Film category of the Academy Awards.
Zanjeer (1973)
Cast: Amitabh Bachchan, Jaya Bhaduri, Pran
The story revolves around an honest police officer who clashes with a criminal who happens to be the murderer of his parents. Known for its powerful dialogues, it won four awards at the 21st Filmfare Awards.
Saaransh (1984)
Cast: Anupam Kher, Rohini Hattangadi, Soni Razdan
The film tells the story of an aged Maharashtrian couple coping with the tragedy of losing their only son. It’s still widely remembered for the exceptional performance of Anupam Kher.
Mahanati (2018)
Cast: Keerthy Suresh, Vijay Deverakonda, Samantha Ruth Prabhu
The biographical drama film revolves around the life of actress Savitri, which is seen from the viewpoint of a photographer and a journalist. It won three awards at the 66th National Film Awards.
Kshanam (2016)
Cast: Adivi Sesh, Adah Sharma, Ravikanth Perepu
It tells the story of a man in search of the missing daughter of his ex-girlfriend and finds a network of deception and lies. It received positive reviews from audience and critics.
Shala (2011)
Cast: Anshuman Joshi, Ketaki Mategaonkar, Kaumudi Walokar
The film revolves around a poignant story of freedom, struggle, and loneliness. At the 59th National Film Awards, it won the National Film Award for Best Screenplay and the Silver Lotus Award in Best Feature Film in the Marathi category.
Vanaprastham (1999)
Cast: Mohanlal, Suhasini Maniratnam, Kalamandalam Gopi
It follows the illicit love affair of a lower-caste Kathakali artist and a girl from an affluent family. At the 47th National Film Awards, it won three awards. At the 1999 Kerala State Film Awards, it bagged six awards.
Masoom (1983)
Cast: Naseeruddin Shah, Shabana Azmi, Jugal Hansraj, Urmila Matondkar
It follows the story of a family that goes through difficult times due to a major mistake made by a family member. At the 31st Filmfare Awards, it won five awards.
Jersey (2019)
Cast: Shraddha Srinath, Nani, Harish Kalyan, Sathyaraj
The story encompasses a failed former cricketer trying to make a comeback to fulfill the wish of his son. It received high appreciation from most critics and won two National Film Awards.
Deool (2011)
Cast: Nana Patekar, Sonali Kulkarni, Girish Kulkarni, Dilip Prabhavalkar
The film tells the story of a small village caught in complex situations due to the wishes of the local youth and its development. At the 59th National Film Awards, it won three awards.
Aligarh (2015)
Cast: Manoj Bajpayee, Rajkummar Rao, Ashish Vidyarthi
The biographical drama film tells the story of a suspended professor at the Aligarh Muslim University. It received excellent reviews from the critics and brought multiple awards Bajpayee’s way including a Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actor.
Swades (2004)
Cast: Shah Rukh Khan, Gayatri Joshi, Kishori Ballal
The drama film revolves around the love story of an NRI who returns to India to meet his nanny. It received high critical acclaim and became a cult classic. It bagged two National Film Awards.
Dangal (2016)
Cast: Aamir Khan, Fatima Sana Shaikh, Sanya Malhotra
The biographical sports drama film tells the life story of a former amateur wrestler Mahavir Singh Phogat. It was the first Indian film that made $300 million worldwide and the fourth highest-grossing film of 2017 of Disney.
3 Idiots (2009)
Cast: Aamir Khan, R Madhavan, Sharman Joshi, Omi Vaidya
The film dictates the friendship of three college students and how they get pressurized by the Indian education system. It was a huge commercial success and won 58 accolades in total from Indian film awards.
Lage Raho Munna Bhai (2006)
Cast: Sanjay Dutt, Arshad Warsi, Vidya Balan
The second installment of Munna Bhai M.B.B.S. tells the changes in the life of Munna Bhai after he starts seeing Mahatma Gandhi’s soul. It received widespread critical acclaim and bagged four National Film Awards.
Lajja (2001)
Cast: Madhuri Dixit, Anil Kapoor, Manisha Koirala, Ajay Devgan
In this crime drama film, the story satirizes the honor women receive in society and the restrictions they need to face. It received notable commercial success in overseas and the lead actors’ performances were heavily praised.
Sandesam (1991)
Cast: Sreenivasan, Jayaram, Thilakan
The film is a political satire that tells the story of brothers who become local leaders of different parties. It received good commercial success and is widely considered a classic in Malayalam Cinema.
Satya (1998)
Cast: Manoj Bajpayee, Urmila Matondkar, J. D. Chakravarthy
The story revolves around the ways an innocent man becomes an underworld don. Manoj Bajpayee won the Best Supporting Actor at the 46th National Film Awards. The movie also secured six Filmfare Awards.
Mera Naam Joker (1970)
Cast: Raj Kapoor, Rishi Kapoor, Simi Garewal
The film depicts the life story of a clown in three chapters. It’s among Indian Cinema’s lengthiest films. While it wasn’t able to gain much commercial success, it won five awards at the 19th Filmfare Awards.
Sanju (2018)
Cast: Ranbir Kapoor, Sanjay Dutt, Vicky Kaushal, Sonam Kapoor
The biographical comedy-drama film chronicles Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt’s life, primarily focusing on its varying aspects. At the IFFM, it won four awards and bagged two Filmfare Awards along with several other accolades.
Tiger Zinda Hai (2017)
Cast: Salman Khan, Katrina Kaif, Sajjad Delafrooz
The story of the action thriller film revolves around the way a RAW officer and his wife save nurses who were abducted by a terrorist organization. On its first day, it created a new non-holiday record in the country.
Padmaavat (2018)
Cast: Ranveer Singh, Deepika Padukone, Shahid Kapoor, Aditi Rao Hydari
The historical drama film encompasses the stories of Rani Padmavati, her husband Maharawal Ratan Singh, and Sultan Alauddin Khalji. It’s among the most expensive Indian films and won three awards at the 66th National Film Awards.
Uri: The Surgical Strike (2019)
Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Yami Gautam, Paresh Rawal
The military action film is the dramatized version of the actual event where the Indian Army retaliated to the 2016 Uri attack. It won several accolades including four National Film Awards and three Filmfare Awards, among others.
Bajrangi Bhaijaan (2015)
Cast: Salman Khan, Harshaali Malhotra, Nawazuddin Siddiqui
The film tells the story of an Indian devotee of Bajrangabali who starts a journey to reunite a mute child girl with her mother in Pakistan. It received huge critical acclaim and won many awards including one National Film Award and one Filmfare Award.
RRR (2022)
Cast: Ram Charan, N. T. Rama Rao Jr., Ajay Devgan, Alia Bhatt
The store encompasses the fictional versions of Komaram Bheem and Alluri Sitaram Raju, their friendship, and how they fought against the British Raj. To date, it’s the most expensive Indian film and became the third highest-grossing Indian film during its theatrical run.
Koi… Mil Gaya (2003)
Cast: Hrithik Roshan, Rekha, Preity Zinta
The science fiction film tells the story of a developmentally disabled person who gets connected with an extraterrestrial being using his late father’s computer. At the 51st National Film Awards, it won three awards.
Agneepath (2012)
Cast: Hrithik Roshan, Sanjay Dutt, Rishi Kapoor, Priyanka Chopra
The follows the story of a common man from a village seeking revenge for the humiliation and murder of his father. It created a new record for the highest opening day collections and won several awards.
M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story (2016)
Cast: Sushant Singh Rajput, Kiara Advani, Disha Patani
The biographical sports drama film is based on the life of Mahendra Singh Dhoni, the former ODI and Test captain of the Indian cricket team. It got mostly positive reviews from critics and won several accolades.
Chak De! India (2007)
Cast: Shah Rukh Khan, Chitrashi Rawat, Vidya Malvade, Sagarika Ghatge
The film encompasses the incidents that happen in the life of an exiled hockey player when he tries to turn a group of woman hockey players into an award-winning team. It won one National Film Award and five Filmfare Awards, among others.
Baahubali: The Beginning (2015)
Cast: Prabhas, Anushka Shetty, Tamannaah Bhatia, Rana Daggubati
The film tells the story of an adventurous young person who, with his love, rescues the former queen of an ancient city. It bagged the Best Feature Film at the 63rd National Film Awards and won five awards at the 63rd Filmfare Awards South.
Kabali (2016)
Cast: Rajinikanth, Radhika Apte, Sai Dhanshika
The action drama film dictates the story of an aged gangster who, after being released from prison, tries to take vengeance on his rivals while searching for his wife and daughter. It received mixed reviews and bagged several accolades.
Raazi (2018)
Cast: Alia Bhatt, Vicky Kaushal, Amruta Khanvilkar
It’s an adaptation of a true event of a RAW agent who gets married to a family of Pakistani military officers to pass information to India. It’s among the highest-grossing Indian films that featured a female protagonist.
Jab Tak Hai Jaan (2012)
Cast: Shah Rukh Khan, Katrina Kaif, Rishi Kapoor, Anushka Sharma
The film tells the struggle and whirlwind romance of a bomb disposal expert. It received positive reviews from critics and created records for the maximum opening-day earnings in Pakistan and Singapore. It bagged four Filmfare Awards along with several other accolades.
Pushpa: The Rise – Part 1 (2021)
Cast: Allu Arjun, Rashmika Mandanna, Samantha Ruth Prabhu
The film portrays the story of a coolie who gains fame in the world of red sandalwood’s smuggling syndicate. For day one, it created a post-pandemic record and won two National Film Awards, among others.
Rajneeti (2010)
Cast: Ranbir Kapoor, Ajay Devgan, Katrina Kaif, Arjun Rampal
The political thriller film encompasses the archetypal conflict between opponent political parties and families. It got positive reviews from critics and brought Arjun Rampal the Best Supporting Actor at the 12th IIFA Awards.
My Name Is Khan (2010)
Cast: Shah Rukh Khan, Kajol, Adarsh Gourav
It tells the fictional story of an autistic Muslim who embarks on a journey to meet the U.S. President after his wife suffers from Islamophobic discrimination. It received highly positive reviews and brought Shah Rukh Khan several accolades.
Hindi Medium (2017)
Cast: Irrfan Khan, Saba Qamar, Deepak Dobriyal
The story revolves around a couple’s struggle to admit their daughter to a reputable English-medium school. The performances of the lead actors were particularly praised and the film won two Filmfare Awards.
Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham… (2001)
Cast: Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, Jaya Bachchan, Kajol, Hrithik Roshan, Kareena Kapoor
The film encompasses the troubles and misunderstandings of an Indian multimillionaire family due to the marriage of their adopted son to a girl from a low socio-economic group. At that time, it was the most expensive film and achieved huge commercial success.
Fanaa (2006)
Cast: Aamir Khan, Kajol, Rishi Kapoor, Ali Haji
The romantic thriller tells the story of a blind Kashmiri woman who meets a tourist guide, falls in love with him, and gets separated by a terrorist attack. It takes a strange twist when the two reunite.
Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998)
Cast: Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, Kajol, Rani Mukerji, Sana Saeed
The musical romance film portrays two love triangles with a gap of years between them. It received massive commercial success and won two National Film Awards and eight Filmfare Awards along with many other accolades.
K.G.F: Chapter 1 (2018)
Cast: Yash, Srinidhi Shetty, Ramachandra Raju
The period action film tells the story of a popular mercenary seeking wealth and power to fulfill the promise of his mother. In the Kannada film industry, it received the highest opening and won two National Film Awards among several others.
Kaho Naa… Pyaar Hai (2000)
Cast: Hrithik Roshan, Ameesha Patel, Anupam Kher
The film tells the love story of an aspiring singer and the daughter of a rich businessman. It got highly positive reviews from critics and was included in the Guinness World Records for winning 92 awards in total.
Veer-Zaara (2004)
Cast: Shah Rukh Khan, Preity Zinta, Rani Mukerji, Amitabh Bachchan
It portrays the story of two star-crossed lovers: an Indian Air Force officer and a Pakistani politician’s daughter. It was heavily acclaimed by critics and won many accolades including a National Film Award.
Ek Villain (2014)
Cast: Sidharth Malhotra, Riteish Deshmukh, Shraddha Kapoor
The film tells the story of a ruthless hitman’s search for the murderer of his wife. It got positive reviews from critics with particular acclaim for Deshmukh’s performance and won several accolades including one Filmfare Award.
Badla (2019)
Cast: Taapsee Pannu, Amitabh Bachchan, Tony Luke
The story encompasses an interview between a businesswoman, who tries to establish that she is being framed for her lover’s murder, and a lawyer. It received massive critical acclaim and bagged one Zee Cine Award.
Om Shanti Om (2007)
Cast: Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone, Shreyas Talpade
Spanning three decades, the film tells the story of a junior artist, who loves a secretly-married actress, and his rebirth as a rich superstar. It won one National Film Award along with several other accolades.
Gadar: Ek Prem Katha (2001)
Cast: Sunny Deol, Amisha Patel, Amrish Puri
Set during the Partition of India, the film depicts the story of a Sikh truck driver’s efforts to bring her wife, who is from Pakistan, back to India. It received huge commercial success and bagged seven awards along with many nominations.
Hum Aapke Hain Koun..! (1994)
Cast: Salman Khan, Madhuri Dixit, Mohnish Behl, Alok Nath
The musical romantic drama film highlights Indian wedding traditions. In 1994, it became the highest-grossing film. It’s among the biggest grossers in Indian cinema’s history and won one National Film Award and five Filmfare Awards, among others.
Queen (2013)
Cast: Kangana Ranaut, Rajkummar Rao, Lisa Haydon
The film portrays the story of a different Punjabi girl who goes to Amsterdam and Paris for her honeymoon alone after her fiancé cancels their wedding. It got universal critical acclaim and bagged many accolades including two National Film Awards and six Filmfare Awards.
Sachin: A Billion Dreams (2017)
Cast: Sachin Tendulkar, Mayur More, Anjali Tendulkar
The documentary sports film captures the cricket and personal life and some other aspects of the legendary Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar. At the box office, it was an average grosser and bagged three accolades.
Mohabbatein (2000)
Cast: Shah Rukh Khan, Amitabh Bachchan, Aishwarya Rai
It portrays the stories of a strict principal and a music teacher who loves the principal’s daughter. The film takes a dramatic turn after the daughter commits suicide because of her father’s intolerance of love. It won four Filmfare Awards among other accolades.
Lagaan (2001)
Cast: Aamir Khan, Gracy Singh, Rajendranath Zutshi, Rachel Shelley
Set during India’s colonial British Raj, it tells the story of the people of a village who are challenged to participate in a game of cricket by a British Indian Army offer. At the time of release, it was the most expensive Indian film and won eight awards in both the National Film Awards and Filmfare Awards among many others.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the number 1 greatest film?
The greatest film in Indian cinema is subjective, with contenders like “Sholay,” “Mughal-e-Azam,” and “Pyaasa” often cited. However, “Pather Panchali,” directed by Satyajit Ray, is often revered for its artistic brilliance and narrative depth, earning it a place among the greatest.
What is voted the best movie of all time?
“Mughal-e-Azam” is frequently voted the best movie of all time in Indian cinema. Directed by K. Asif, this epic historical drama is celebrated for its grandeur, timeless romance, and unforgettable performances by actors like Dilip Kumar and Madhubala
What was the first movie in the world?
“Roundhay Garden Scene,” filmed in 1888 by French inventor Louis Le Prince, is widely considered the world’s first motion picture. Although it’s just a few seconds long and lacks a narrative, it marks the inception of cinema as we know it today.
Indian cinema has garnered a distinct position on the global stage because of its many different genres and unique storytelling techniques. The industry has transcended cultural and national boundaries, building a global niche for itself and shaping global cultural trends.
If you enjoyed reading our curation, drop the name of your favourite movie in the comments below.
