Bollywood churns out innumerable movies every year but few leave a mark.
Today, we share the the best Bollywood Movies of All Time, in no particular order
Mughal-e-Azam : One of the most expensive films of Hindi cinema, Mughal-e-Azam is considered as one of the milestone films in the history of Indian cinema. Directed by K Asif, the film starring Dilip Kumar, Prithvi Raj Kapoor and Madhubala in the lead roles portrayed an eternal love of Mughal prince Salim and courtesan Anarkali. Prithviraj Kapoor, who played the legendary role of King Akbar, immortalised the character on celluloid.
Sholay : Directed by Ramesh Sippy, Sholay is one of the most successful movies in the history of Indian cinema. With Dharmendra, Amitabh Bachchan, Sanjeev Kumar, Hema Malini, Jaya Bhaduri and Amjad Khan in the lead roles, Sholay broke every box-office record and still is fresh and entertaining. The impact of this adventure movie was such that every single character of the movie is remembered till date. And for the first time in the history of Indian cinema, people loved an on-screen villain Gabbar Singh played by Amjad Khan.
https://youtu.be/cfm0Y5RR8P0
Masoom : A cinematic jewel from Shekhar Kapur, Masoom, was based on a very sensitive subject and touched every heart. Stellar performances by Naseeruddin Shah, Shabana Azmi, and Jugal Hansraj (as a child artist) added to the charm of the movie. The film is one of the most acclaimed ones from that time and is the winner of many awards for its actors as well as for its music.
Do Bigha Zameen : This 1953 movie was directed by Bimal Roy. This is a tragic drama about how a zamindar threatens to seize two acres of land owned by a humble family as they haven’t repaid their debts. The father of the family then works as a rickshaw puller in Kolkata to earn money. Do Bigha Zameen, exposes the vice-like grip that ruthless zamindars/moneylenders have on agriculture in this country. It is regarded as one of the earliest and finest film to bridge the art-commerce chasm. The movie had Balraj Sahni, Nirupa Roy, Murad, Jagdeep, Nana Palsikar in lead roles.
Pyaasa : Directed by Guru Dutt in 1957, Pyaasa is inspired by Saratchandra’s novel, Srikanta, Guru Dutt’s Pyaasa is the story of struggling poet Vijay who is trying to get his work published but faces constant rejection. He meets Gulabo a good-hearted prostitute who falls in love with him and his work and tries to help him. and he is suddenly hot property. As his earlier critics pay tribute to the ‘dead’ poet, he barges in and denounces this corrupt and materialistic world. The cinematic mastery on display in Pyaasa has rarely been replicated in mainstream Hindi cinema.
Bhuvan Shome : This 1969 movie, directed by Mrinal Sen is set in the early years of Independence. Bhuvan Shome, a widower and a dedicated civil servant — strict, uncompromising – takes a holiday which transforms him irreparably though at the same time heightening his sense of isolation. The movie had Utpal Dutt and Suhasini Mulay in lead roles.
Garam Hawa : Set in Agra, the movie is directed by MS Sathyu. The story is about an elderly shoe manufacturer and his family who are faced with a crucial question: should they continue to live in India or migrate to the newly-formed state of Pakistan? The scenario looks bleak and there is little hope of a future in an environment of distrust and hate.
Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron : Directed by Kundan Shah, Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro, with all its silliness, implausible plot and excessively theatrical acting, was an absurd take on the builder-administrative mafia, which is still relevant. Two bumbling jobless photographers are given an assignment by the hard-boiled editor of a newspaper whose sole goal is to catch the erring on the wrong foot. The Mahabharat scene towards the end of the movie is simply outstanding with great comical dialogues. This is arguably the funniest scene in HBJY
Gol Maal : Gol Maal is one of Hrishikesh Mukherjee’s most famous and successful movies. Ramprasad (Amol Palekar), a graduate, works for a company owned by Bhavani Shankar (Utpal Dutt), a quirky man who equates a man’s moustache with his character. He also discourages his employees from pursuing any kind of hobby. When Ramprasad is caught by his boss at a football match, he has to invent a twin brother, the clean-shaven Laxman Prasad, to save his job. The movie is a hilarious roller-coster ride with Amol Palekar and Utpal Dutt.
Guide : Directed by Vijay Anand, this is a story based loosely on a RK Narayan novel and is about a tourist guide, Raju who rescues a wannabe dancer from a loveless marriage to an archaeologist and helps her achieve stardom. He makes money in the bargain but is convicted for forgery. When he returns from jail, he wanders about the countryside and is mistaken for a holy man. Due to drought he is forced to fast for 12 days so that it rains.
Madhumati : This 1958 movie was directed by Bimal Roy and is a classic reincarnation story written by Ritwik Ghatak. The stars, Dilip Kumar and Vyjayanthimala, play multiple roles alternating between the present and a past life. The story is about Devendra who takes shelter in a mansion when a landslide blocks his route to the railway station. He finds the mansion eerily familiar and soon learns about the story of his previous birth.
Anand : Another classic movie directed by Hrishikesh Mukherjee. The film was a story of a lively person suffering with a fatal disease, who passes every single moment cheerfully and brings smile on every face. Rajesh Khanna and Amitabh Bachchan played their roles to such perfection that brought tears in almost every eye when the movie ended.
Mother India : Directed by Mehboob Khan, Mother India is one of the greatest films ever made in India. It rightly enjoys the status of a timeless epic. In its grand narrative, it captures aspects of Nehruvian India that are both positive and negative. Radha, a poor but righteous woman, struggles to raise her kids while going up against Sukhilala, a greedy moneylender. Despite the many hurdles she faces, she refuses to sacrifice her integrity.
Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge : Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge gave a superstar to the Indian cinema. Yes, that’s none other than Shah Rukh Khan. The film once again brought back the era of love stories and introduced Indian audiences to the scenic beauty of Europe and desi land. After smashing many records at the box office, the film became the longest running film in Indian theatres after Sholay.
Lagaan : Lagaan was based on the story of a village that united against the British rule to play cricket and achieve freedom from paying tax. One of the movies that re-introduced Indian cinema to the west, it was also voted in the top five films for the Oscars. Lagaan also established Aamir Khan amongst the most versatile actors of Bollywood.
https://youtu.be/4JVfzrkIVbE
Damini : Raj Kumar Santoshi’s Damini was the tale of a small time stage dancer’s struggle and fight for a poor rape victim. The issues of domestic violence, raping a minor, judicial system were very well reviewed and presented in the movie. Powerful performances by Sunny Deol and Meenakshi Sheshadri along Amrish Puri as with evil scheming lawyer and brilliant screenplay by Santoshi packed a punch for this movie.
Kahaani : Vidya Baghchi, a pregnant software engineer, comes to Kolkata from London in search of her missing husband Arnab. Police officer Satyoki decides to help her in her mission. In Kahaani, Vidya Balan takes on her role with power and pride. The movie has that perfect shock value that a thriller rightly demands. The story totally grips you and leaves you at a dramatic high.
3 Idiots : 3 Idiots is coming of age and comedy-drama film co-written, edited, and directed by Rajkumar Hirani. It was loosely adapted from the novel Five Point Someone by Chetan Bhagat. In college, Farhan and Raju form a great bond with Rancho due to his refreshing outlook. Years later, a bet gives them a chance to look for their long-lost friend whose existence seems rather elusive. The film is distinctive for featuring real inventions by little-known people in India’s backyards.
Munnabhai MBBS : Another comedy directed by Rajkumar Hirani. Munna is a goon who sets out to fulfil his father’s dream of becoming a doctor. With help from his sidekick Circuit, he enrols himself in medical college and drives Dr. Asthana up the wall.
Which is your favourite Best Bollywood Movie of All Time? Do share with us.
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