Hindi cinema has consistently changed and remade itself to both represent and confront the many facets of Indian life and culture, from early twentieth-century silent films to the contemporary surge of extravagant costume drama. Here are eleven films that beautifully depict the contemporary sensibility in Hindi films, ranging from Bollywood to art house.
1. Filmistan
Filmistan depicts the shared passion of cinema that exists between Pakistan and India. The major character in the film is a film fan who effortlessly spouts lines in response to everyday happenings. After failing to obtain a fitting job as an actor, the protagonist becomes an assistant director and is kidnapped by the Pakistani army while filming. When they meet a Pakistani seller of stolen films, the two protagonists bond through film, sharing their joys and sorrows while entertaining the hamlet under the watchful eyes of their guards. The film emphasizes the commonalities between these countries' people and cultures.
2. Ankhon Dekhi
Ankhon Dekhi is a slow and introspective independent film about what happens when a guy resolves to give credit exclusively to what his eyes see. He experiences interesting parts of daily life in Delhi while adhering to this philosophy, much to the chagrin of his friends and family. The protagonist gradually gathers a group of followers with whom he may discuss his ideas and concerns.
It is mellow and character-driven, and sensitively shows the peculiarities and intricacies of family interactions. It takes place mostly in the house and circles of a middle-class family.
3. Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham
Over the course of two generations, Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham explores the events that separate and reconnect a family.
The film brought together the top Bollywood stars of the day to create a drama that swept India. Hrithik Roshan, Shah Rukh Khan, Kareena Kapoor, Amitabh Bachchan, and Jaya Bachchan are among the celebrities on the list. The picture is theatrical and takes its emotions very seriously. It also has a strong family theme and a traditional Indian happy ending.
4. A Wednesday
A Wednesday is a character-driven thriller with thriller elements. It stars two seasoned actors who have previously appeared on stage and in films. Anupam Kher is an honorable police commissioner, and Naseeruddin Shah is an unidentified individual who threatens the cops with arson. The film is ultimately a comment on the country's relatively recent spates of terrorism, a pressing issue for the police and public. It depicts the commissioner's recollection of the memorable and strange events of a Wednesday afternoon. The plot progressively progresses toward a shocking twist.
5. Barfi
Barfi depicts the story of the deaf-mute son of a driver in the vein of films like Forest Gump. The film explores his reactions to everyday life, his love for a woman he meets, and his boyhood friend who is autistic. Ranbir Kapoor's carefree, happy-go-lucky lead character wins hearts for his purity of soul and determination to accept and enjoy life no matter what it throws at him. 'Don't Worry, Be Barfi' was the film's tagline. Ileana D'Cruz and Priyanka Chopra are excellent as the film's female leads, portraying a kind, conscientious woman and a loyal childhood friend, respectively.
6. Omkara
Omkara is a great rendition of Shakespeare's Othello, about a gang leader who works for a local politician. Omkara joins politics after the politician wins a seat and must pick a replacement to his former post. The film stays true to the original play's speech and nuance while gently adapting it for an Indian audience and language. This is the second installment of director Vishal Bhardwaj's trilogy of Shakespearean adaptations.
7. Devdas
Devdas is a literary story adapted into a film. A protagonist is a young man who returns to India to see his family, and it is there that he meets his childhood sweetheart. However, his family objects to their marriage, and she marries another suitor. The film boasts stunningly creative sets and costumes that are packed with jewels while documenting the protagonist's decline into alcoholism, despair, and death. These serve as a backdrop to the actors' in-depth performances. Shah Rukh Khan gives an excellent performance as Devdas.
8. Raho Lage Munna Bhai
Raho Lage Munna Bhai is a lighthearted comedy about a lovable underworld gangster and his sidekick. Munna Bhai woos a radio talk show host by posing as an expert on Gandhi's nonviolent coexistence ideology. He leans on Gandhi's peaceful techniques as he begins to co-host the talk show and deal with callers' problems. He is eventually led by Gandhi himself, who appears to him, and the nation listens and calls out, celebrating kindness, patience, and peace. The picture is lighthearted, with plenty of witty antics.
9. Parineeta
Parineeta is a film and novel adaptation of a famous novel. It follows Lolita, a young orphan who is adopted into the family of her next-door neighbor Shekhar. They have a close connection and respect for one another as they grow up. They are paired up with and wooed by other suitors when they are young adults, and this causes problems. Vidya Balan's performance as Lolita, which communicates a woman of depth and innocence, is particularly charming in the film.
10. Krrish
Krrish is a current Indian superhero film that is a sequel to Koi Mil Gaya, a film in which a youngster meets an alien, befriends it, and eventually gains superhuman abilities. Krrish is his son, who inherited his father's mental and athletic skills at birth. He lives in a remote mountain hideaway, where he disguises himself to hide his true identity. The film, like Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, follows the protagonist's transformation from a simple and loving village boy to a superhero who uses his abilities to help others. It is full of balletic martial arts that accentuate the drama.
