List of popular Bollywood films
(in reverse chronological order)
No claim is made that these are the best Bollywood movies, though many of fans' all-time favorites will be found on this list. However, the non-Indian explorer of Bollywood cinema will learn a fair bit about Bollywood history and conventions by watching these films. The list is biased towards recent films, but this may be an advantage for some users of the list, as the recent films are more likely to be found in video rental stores. Submissions of notable older films are invited.
The capsule reviews are written in the usual brief television-film-schedule style. More complete reviews, lists of stars and director, &c., can be found by clicking on links to films that have their own pages.
* - (2005) Stars the real life father-son duo Amitabh and Abhishek Bachchan as father and son. Concerns an underworld "don" who is good at heart and helps others. Said to be inspired by the "Godfather" trilogy.''
* - (2005) Stars Rani Mukherji and the father-son duo of Abhishek and Amitabh Bachchan. Bunty and Babli run away from their homes and support themselves with various schemes of deception.
* - (2005) An inspired teacher, played by Amitabh Bachchan , reaches out to a deaf and blind girl played by Rani Mukherji . Inspired by the life of Helen Keller and the film .
* - (2004): Mohan Bhargava, a successful NASA scientist of India / Indian origin, returns to India and visits his childhood nanny in her poor country village. His dismay at conditions there changes the course of his life. Stars Shahrukh Khan .
* (2004): cross-border ( India and Pakistan ) romance starring Shahrukh Khan , Preity Zinta and Rani Mukherji .
* (2004): Film about a how a cop tries to catch a bike gang with the help of a biker.
* (2004): Based loosely on the story of Captain Batra, Param Vir Chakra winner, in the 1999 Kargil war . Stars Hrithik Roshan .
* (2004): A love story starring Rani Mukherji and Saif Ali Khan .
* (2004): A spoof of and a tribute to the formulaic masala movies of the 1970s. Shahrukh Khan plays an army major assigned to protect a general's daughter from terrorists.
* (2003): An Indian living in New York falls in love, then learns that he will die soon. Stars Shahrukh Khan and Preity Zinta .
* (2003): Comedy starring Sanjay Dutt . A Bombay gangster pretends to be a doctor in order to impress his parents. When this fails, he enrolls in medical school.
* (2003): A mentally disabled young man ( Hrithik Roshan ) befriends a cute alien from outer space.
* (2003): Starring Rani Mukherji and Shahrukh Khan, this film explores the difficulties after marriage.
* (2002): Mani Ratnam 's frame-by-frame remake of his Tamil hit explores the often difficult dynamics of marriage. Starring Vivek Oberoi and Rani Mukherjee . Music by A. R. Rahman
* (2002): Yet another film rendition of the classic Bengali novel by Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay . Devdas ( Shahrukh Khan ) loves his childhood friend Paro, ( Aishwariya Rai ), but lets family opposition prevent their marriage. He then dallies with a courtesan, Chandramukhi ( Madhuri Dixit ) while drinking himself to death. Lavish sets and costumes made this the most expensive movie ever made in India, at least as of 2002.
* (2001): Family drama. Amitabh Bachchan as stern patriarch; Shahrukh Khan and Hrithik Roshan as his sons.
* (2001): College friends ( Aamir Khan , Saif Ali Khan and Akshay Khanna ) and their romantic misadventures. Was a superhit in urban centers, but flopped in the rural areas. Noted for slick production quality. Was the first film of young director Farhan Akhtar , son of noted author, screenwriter and poet Javed Akhtar (Who was a co-scriptwriter for Sholay)
* (Tax) (2001) (a. k. a.: Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India): A vicious British colonial officer doubles taxes for drought-stricken villagers. Led by the outspoken Bhuvan ( Aamir Khan ), the villagers protest. The officer offers them a wager: if the villagers can beat the British at cricket , the taxes will be remitted. Ends with a well-filmed, edge-of-the-seat cricket match. The Film was a Academy Award nominee for Best Foreign Film.
* (2000): Police thriller turns on mistaken identity.
* (1999): A romance with mega-hit music by A.R. Rahman . Stars Aishwarya Rai , Akshay Khanna , and Anil Kapoor .
* (1999): Half-Indian, half-Italian music student ( Salman Khan ) and his music teacher's daughter ( Aishwarya Rai ) fall in love. Then Ajay Devgan complicates matters.
* (1998): A romantic triangle, a Karan Johar film. Stars Shahrukh Khan , Kajol and Rani Mukherjee .
* (1997) Yet another love triangle. A Yash Chopra film. Stars Shahrukh Khan , Karishma Kapoor , and Madhuri Dixit .
* (1995): Raj ( Shahrukh Khan ) and Simran ( Kajol ) fall in love during a group tour of Europe. However, Raj must win over the hearts' of Simran's family if he is to win Simran's hand in marriage.
* (1994): Enormously popular family romance. Prem ( Salman Khan ) falls in love with Nisha ( Madhuri Dixit ) when Prem's brother marries Nisha's sister. Lavish wedding festivities, with much singing and dancing.
* (1991): College kids and bike racing. Stars Aamir Khan .
* (1989): Rich boy Prem ( Salman Khan ) falls for poor girl Suman ( Bhagyashree ).
* (1988): Tragic Romeo and Juliet story that launched Aamir Khan 's career.
* (1987): A heartwarming sci-fi drama starring Anil Kapoor and Sridevi .
* (1986): Family drama.
* (1983): Directed by Shekhar Kapur . Had Jugal Hansraj as a child artist.
* (movie) (1983) A take on corruption in Indian society, starring Naseeruddin Shah , Pankaj Kapoor, Satish Shah. It did poorly when released, but gradually acquired a devoted following.
* (1983).
* (1981): Directed by Shyam Benegal.
* (1980): Stars Amitabh Bachchan.
* (movie) (1979).
* (1979).
* (1977): On many people's list of best-loved masala movies. Three brothers are separated by a family disaster, adopted by kind strangers, and raised as a Hindu, a Muslim, and a Christian. Amitabh Bachchan stars.
* (Flames) (1975): Ex-cop Thakur Baldev Singh (Sanjeev Kumar) hires two jail birds ( Amitabh Bachchan and Dharmendra ) to save his district from Gabbar Singh ( Amjad Khan ) and his band of dacoits. Based on American spaghetti westerns, it became the most successful film in Indian film history. Cemented the credentials of the scriptwriter pair Salim-Javed ( Salim Khan and Javed Akhtar ).
* (1975): A good woman is abandoned by her husband and mis-treated by his malicious sisters-in-law, but her devotion to the Hindu goddess Santoshi Maa solves all. This religious B-movie was an unexpected success and elevated a regional deity (Santoshi Maa) to wider fame.
* (1975): Stars Amitabh Bachchan and Shashi Kapoor .
* (1973): Three brothers take revenge on the criminal who killed their parents. Stars Dharmendra and Zeenat Aman. Notable for R.D. Burman 's energetic score ( disco meets filmi ) and especially the song .
* (1973): Amitabh Bachchan as an angry young man.
* (1966): Sunita (Asha Parekh) falls for drummer Rocky ( Shammi Kapoor ) -- then must figure out if he killed her sister!
* (1965): Based on the popular novel, "The Guide" by R K Narayan. A scoundrel becomes a saint despite himself. Stars Dev Anand and Waheeda Rehman .
* (1962): A country boy watches the dissolution of a great family. Meena Kumari turned in a great performance as the long-suffering daughter-in-law.
* (1960): The son of the Moghul Emperor defies him for love of a beautiful dancing-girl ( Madhubala ). A lavish production for its time, featuring a fine score by Naushad and poetic Urdu dialogue.
* (1957): Heroic peasant woman ( Nargis ) does her duty by her husband and sons despite heart-breaking obstacles.
* (1956).
* (1951): A young man ( Raj Kapoor , who directed and starred) is rejected by his father, a judge, and turns to crime. He is redeemed, in the end, by his love for a young lawyer (Nargis).
* (1949): Stars Ashok Kumar .
* (1941): Stars Prithviraj Kapoor .