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Indian films are among the most entertaining you’ll ever see, and some of them are quite good and underappreciated. We’ve provided list of the best Hindi movies available on Netflix.
- Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham (2001)
Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham (Sometimes there is joy, sometimes there is sorrow), one of Karan Johar’s best films, is set in a traditional Indian patriarchal society. The film, which stars some of India’s finest and most famous actors from the Bollywood industry, demonstrates how and why some traditional Indian perspectives must be changed. My one of the Favorite movie ever.
The film shows a wealthy Indian family that is patriarchal and strictly adheres to tradition. The family is made up of a conservative father, a meek but loving mother, and two sons, the elder of whom is adopted. The adopted son falls in love with a girl from a low-income family, which is against traditional family rules, and is thus disowned by his father after refusing to give up on her. After witnessing the pain hidden behind his parents’ pride, the younger son devises a plan to bring them all together ten years later. The film’s well-timed comedy and emotional scenes will melt your heart and is well worth a watch.
2. Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998)
Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, one of the most famous rom-com Indian films of all time, was Karan Johar’s directorial debut and a huge success. The plot combines two love triangles that occur nearly a decade apart. The first involves two college best friends, Rahul (Shah Rukh Khan) and Anjali (Kajol). Anjali falls for Rahul, but he falls in love with someone else and is unaware of Anjali’s feelings. Fast forward ten years, and the guy is a widower with a young daughter who learns about her father’s best friend and embarks on a quest to bring them back together in a more romantic way. The second half, however, includes another love triangle, this time involving the duo and Anjali’s fiancé. The film’s sweet and emotional ending leaves you with a strange sense of content and delight,
3. Khoobsurat (2014)
Khoobsurat is the Indian equivalent of a Disney princess tale. Yes, you read that correctly! Khoobsurat, produced by Walt Disney, is loosely based on the 1980 film of the same name. The story follows a young and energetic physiotherapist who is offered a job working for an Indian royal family, but the dull and strict environment at the palace depresses her. With her hard work and cheerful demeanour, she tries to bring joy into their sad lives, but things don’t always go her way. She falls in love with the young prince while working at the palace but is rejected.
However, her efforts begin to bear fruit as the family gradually reassembles in a fairy-tale fashion, bringing a smile to everyone’s face.
4. Dangal (2016)
Dangal is an honest portrayal of a true-life story about a family of Indian wrestlers who defied the stereotype that “women aren’t as strong as men.” It tells the story of Mahavir Singh Phogat, an Indian amateur wrestler who was once the national wrestling champion but had to abandon his dream of winning an Olympic medal for India due to a lack of financial backing. So, under the tagline “Mhari Chhoria Chhoro se kum hai ke,” he devotes his life to training his daughters in the sport (My daughters are no less talented than boys). They manage to stay and work together after years of hard work and patience, going through various ups and downs, and at times falling out, and his daughters fulfil his lifelong dream of securing an Olympic medal. The film has both emotional and comedic moments, and it will make you want to go back to the gym to keep your New Year’s resolution.
5. Jodhaa Akbar (2008)
Jodhaa Akbar, a historical film at heart, combines elements of fiction and romance to transport you to the mediaeval period when the Mughals ruled over much of India. It tells the story of Mughal Emperor Jalal-ud-din Muhammad Akbar and Hindu Princess Jodhaa Bai, who marry as a result of diplomatic relations and territory expansion between the Mughals and a section of the Rajputs (warrior kings of Rajasthan, an Indian state). In history books, Akbar has been depicted as a ruthless conqueror by some and a brilliant statesman by others, but here you see his romantic demeanour as he gradually falls in love with Jodha Bai. The film has great action, VFX, amazing music, and an intriguing plot line, making it one of the best Indian historical films to date.
6. Taare Zameen Par (2007)
Taare Zameen Par is a psychological drama that served as an educational film about dyslexia at a time when the disorder was not widely known in India. The film tells the story of an 8-year-old dyslexic boy who is misunderstood by his family for failing in school and is labelled as a no-good by them, his teachers, and his friends. As punishment, he is sent to a boarding school, where his life changes after he makes a friend and meets a new teacher who has experienced the same problem. Working together, the teacher discovers his hidden potential in the arts and brings out the best in him by acting as a guiding light. This film is an eye-opener to the difficulties that dyslexic people, particularly children, face in everyday life.
7. Kal Ho Naa Ho (2003)
Kal Ho Naa Ho is a romantic drama with a tragic subplot. It tells the story of a depressed young woman studying in the United States whose father committed suicide when she was young. Her life is altered by the arrival of her new next-door neighbor, who teaches her the meaning of life and influences her viewpoints. They both fall in love, but he refuses to admit it because he has a fatal heart condition and will die soon. He tries to set her up with the girl’s best friend, who he knows is secretly in love with her and believes will look after her after he leaves. The tone of the film shifts from bleak to comic, hopeful to tragic, but it ends on a sweet note: “Make the most of your life today, because there may not be a tomorrow.”
8. Mom (2017)
Mom is a crime thriller drama that focuses on an issue that has long been a source of concern for women around the world: their safety. The film depicts what victims and their families are thinking and why stricter laws are needed to prevent crimes against women. Mom tells the story of a mother’s crusade to seek justice for her young stepdaughter after she is sexually assaulted by a group of men following a party. The justice system fails her after criminals are released due to a lack of evidence. She goes after them herself, exacting revenge for her daughter with some assistance, and demonstrates why a mother’s love is unparalleled.
9. Main Hoon Na (2004)
Bollywood is Famous for its masala movies, which are films that do not belong to a specific genre but feature action, romance, comedy, drama, and iconic item songs. The film tells the story of a young Major in the Indian Army who is sent back to college on two missions: one, to protect his senior officer’s daughter, and two, to reconcile with his stepmom and stepbrother after his father’s death. His journey takes him through several amusing, romantic, and Rambo-like adventures until he discovers who killed his father. Main Hoon Na will make you miss college or wish you had gone to one, and the amazing dance numbers will make you want to get off the couch and shake a leg with your loved ones!
10. Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl (2020)
Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl is a wartime story that staunchly advocates the meaning of gender equality and women empowerment. It is set in the 1990s, when women in the military were still a far-fetched idea in India. It’s a biographical drama about an Indian Air Force pilot who proves her worth in a situation where most men would fail. Gunjan Saxena is a young and ambitious woman who defies stereotypes and realises her lifelong ambition of becoming a pilot. She becomes one of the first female Indian combat air-force pilots after rescuing dozens of soldiers during the Kargil War, one of India’s most famous wars. Her story is reminiscent of Hacksaw Ridge’s Desmond T. Doss in some ways, and it will inspire you to be brave even in the most difficult of circumstances.
11. Om Shanti Om (2007)
Om Shanti Om begins as a rom-com before shifting to a slightly darker tone with supernatural elements. It is set in the 1980s and tells the story of a background artist who has a huge crush on a rising Bollywood superstar who has a dark secret. He witnesses her death in a mysterious fire set by the actress’ lover and producer, who kills her and their unborn child out of fear that the affair will tarnish his reputation.
The extra dies while attempting to save the actress and is reborn as the son of a famous actor. He grows up to become a Bollywood superstar, but whenever he sees fire, he is reminded of his previous life. He learns about his past life through a series of events, vividly recalling the murder and his death, and sets out to bring the producer to justice.
12. Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara (2011)
Consider taking a long road trip with your best friends to a scenic location and doing the most daring things on your bucket list. That is exactly what Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara is. Three childhood friends embark on a long road trip to Spain as part of a pact they made in elementary school; they’ll embark on an adventurous journey together when one of them is about to marry, a three-week bachelor party road trip. During their tour, they learn to value their lives more than their jobs, come to terms with what they truly want in life, and learn to accept it rather than run away from it. The film has its Hangover moments, but it handles the characters in a much more mature manner, inspiring you to live life to the fullest!
13. Jab Harry Met Sejal (2017)
Don’t be surprised if the title sounds vaguely familiar. Yes, it appears to be a knockoff of When Harry Met Sally, but it is not. It follows a completely different plot but has a similar theme. Harry is a friendly and flirtatious tour guide in Amsterdam who joins Sejal’s family on a trip to Europe, where she loses her engagement ring. The pair sets out on a quest to retrieve it, which frequently gets them into trouble. They gradually realise they are falling for each other but try to hide it at first. They finally give in to their feelings after several emotional roller coasters and share a long-awaited romantic kiss.
14. Queen (2013)
Queen is a film about women set in a conservative society. It’s all about women’s empowerment, demonstrating the kinds of changes that are needed in the Indian community’s mindset, which has traditionally followed patriarchy. Yes, India is changing and developing, but most Indian women still do not feel as free as women in more developed countries. Rani (Queen), the story’s protagonist, is dumped by her fiancé because she is too “conservative” for him.
She goes on her own solo trip to Paris and Amsterdam, learning what it means to be self-sufficient. She feels something she has never felt before: freedom. She visualizes how she wants to live her life near the end of the film and decides to live it like a Queen.
15. 3 Idiots (2009)
3 Idiots is one of the best educational films in Indian cinema. Rajkumar Hirani directed this film, which is based on Chetan Bhagat’s novel Five Point Someone: What Not to Do at IIT. The story follows three friends (Rancho, Farhan, and Raju) as they study in an Indian engineering college, and it is a satire on the social pressures that exist in the current Indian education system. This film can teach us many valuable lessons.
The film is loosely based on the novel Five Point Someone, written by one of India’s most famous novelists, Chetan Bhagat, and tells the story of three young engineering students who, after passing one of India’s most difficult entrance exams, are admitted to a prestigious engineering college called the ICE (Imperial College of Engineering).
