The Indian Express 75 Movies That Celebrate The Journey of India
List activity
69 views
• 0 this weekCreate a new list
List your movie, TV & celebrity picks.
75 titles
- DirectorS.S. VasanStarsRajkumariM.K. RadhaRanjanThe two brothers named Veerasimhan and Sasankan, who fight with each other over ruling their father's kingdom and for marrying the village dancer Chandralekha.
- DirectorRitwik GhatakStarsAjit BanerjeeKali BannerjeeGangapada BasuRamu,eldest son a family of migrants to Calcutta,is a fresh graduate searching for a job like many others in post-Partition Calcutta.
- DirectorBimal RoyStarsBalraj SahniNirupa RoyRatan KumarIn the hope of earning enough money to pay off his debts and save his land, a poor farmer becomes a rickshaw puller in Calcutta and faces many difficulties.
- DirectorSatyajit RayStarsKanu BannerjeeKaruna BannerjeeSubir BanerjeeImpoverished priest Harihar Ray, dreaming of a better life for himself and his family, leaves his rural Bengal village in search of work.
- DirectorBimal RoyStarsDilip KumarSuchitra SenVyjayanthimalaThe scion of a wealthy landowner family turns to alcohol and self-pity and slowly self-destructs after class differences force him to break off his relationship with his childhood sweetheart.
- DirectorAmit MitraSombhu MitraStarsPradeep KumarSumitra DeviSmriti BiswasAn innocent guy who has arrived from a village to Kolkata gets himself involved into trouble in search of water after he gets thirsty in the middle of the night.
- DirectorMehboob KhanStarsNargisSunil DuttRajendra Kumar TuliIn this melodrama, a poverty-stricken woman raises her sons through many trials and tribulations. But no matter the struggles, she always sticks to her own moral code.
- DirectorB.R. ChopraStarsDilip KumarVyjayanthimalaAjit KhanWhen the son of a landlord decides to modernize his business by replacing the horse carts with buses, a horse cart rider decides to challenge him.
- DirectorGuru DuttStarsGuru DuttWaheeda RehmanMala SinhaVijay, a talented but indigent poet, struggles for love and recognition in this selfish world.
- DirectorBimal RoyStarsNutanSunil DuttShashikala JawalkarA high caste Brahmin household adopts an orphaned lower caste girl, but when a young man from their caste wishes to marry her without knowing her lineage, caste differences flare up again.
- DirectorSubodh MukherjiStarsShammi KapoorSaira BanuShashikala JawalkarA humorless and pompous businessman goes wild when he falls in love. Now if only his domineering mother could understand his new lease on life.
- DirectorAbrar AlviStarsMeena KumariGuru DuttRehman KhanA lowly servant, Bhootnath gets close to the wife of his employer and narrates her story through his eyes and perspective.
- DirectorSatyajit RayStarsAnil ChatterjeeMadhavi MukherjeeJaya BachchanLife at home changes when a house-wife from a middle-class, conservative family in Calcutta gets a job as a saleswoman.
- DirectorChetan AnandStarsBalraj SahniDharmendraVijay AnandA platoon of Indian soldiers encounters harsh realities while fighting in the Sino-Indian War of 1962.
- DirectorRamu KariatStarsSathyanSheelaMadhuKaruthamma, the daughter of a Hindu fisherman, falls in love with a Muslim fish trader. However, social prejudices seem to ruin their love life and invite the wrath of their communities.
- DirectorVijay AnandStarsDev AnandWaheeda RehmanLeela ChitnisWhen mistaken to be a sage by some villagers, an ex-tour guide reflects on his past and lost love to search for spiritual wisdom to guide the villagers.
- DirectorMrinal SenStarsUtpal DuttSuhasini MulayShekhar ChatterjeeA lonely bureaucrat goes on holiday to a Gujarat village where a young peasant woman helps him see beyond his job and develop a newfound empathy for people.
- DirectorBasu ChatterjeeStarsMadhu ChakravartyRakesh PandeyDina PathakA collegian becomes embittered after being forced to marry.
- DirectorMani KaulStarsGurdeep SinghGarimaSavita BajajA woman waits for her truck driver husband, everyday, with his daily bread. Her concern for their dying relationship and her sister grows fast as she starts to doubt his loyalty.
- DirectorPattabhi Rama ReddyStarsGirish KarnadSnehalata ReddyP. LankeshNaranappa, a man born in the community of Madhwa (a community of Brahmins from Karnataka) is dead in the Agrahara of the village Durvasapura. As per the Madhwa customs, the last rites of the dead man has to be performed at the earliest. But, Naranappa was a rebel who fought against Brahminism, who ate meat, consumed liquor and also, married a Dasi (a prostitute). Since, he doesn't have any family, there is some confusion as to who will do the last rites and fire the funeral pyre. Praneshacharya, the head of the Agrahara, a devout and learned Brahmin, is tasked with providing the solution.
- DirectorBasu BhattacharyaStarsSanjeev KumarTanuja SamarthDinesh ThakurMeeta Sen (Tanuja) and Amar Sen (Sanjeev Kumar) have been married for several years. Due to Amar's hectic work schedule, the couple have not had children, as there was no time for intimacy. Meeta decides to take matters into her own hands, gets rid of the servants, save for Hari (A.K. Hangal), and decides to run the household on her own. This gets the couple to be closer, and eventually they do get intimate. And then Meeta's old flame Shashi Bhushan (Dinesh Thakur) not only re-enters Meeta's life, but also gets employed in the same organization as Amar, throwing their marriage again in jeopardy.
- DirectorSatyadev DubeyStarsArvind DeshpandeSulabha DeshpandeVinod DoshiPolitical and social satire on middle-class society's hypocrisy.
- DirectorShyam BenegalStarsShabana AzmiSadhu MeherAnant NagBelonging to a lower caste, Lakshmi and her deaf-mute husband Kishtayya serve the landlord's son, Surya. When Surya's young wife finds out about his affair with Lakshmi, they all find themselves at crossroads.
- DirectorM.S. SathyuStarsBalraj SahniA.K. HangalGeeta KakIn post-partition India, a Muslim businessman and his family struggle for their rights in a country which was once their own.
- DirectorGulzarStarsSuchitra SenSanjeev KumarOm ShivpuriHotel manager J.K. (Sanjeev Kumar) works there. One day, he bravely steps in to save Aarti, the drunken daughter of a politician (Suchitra Sen). Aarti and J.K. have a small ceremony to celebrate their marriage after falling in love. The married pair decides to separate after a few years because of several issues. Aarti and J.K. eventually cross paths again when she has achieved political success. Both of them sense a connection despite their distance, but Aarti is reluctant to speak up for fear of having her reputation ruined and endangering her profession. However, when the opposing party conducts a rally to disparage and humiliate Aarti Devi, When she gets there, she informs the populace and voters of her decision to leave her husband and family in order to serve this nation's citizens. The public respects her and is deeply moved by her voice and selflessness. J.K. arrives there as well and offers her support; she is overjoyed and moves on. She is elected and goes on to have a fulfilling life.
- DirectorYash ChopraStarsAmitabh BachchanShashi KapoorNirupa RoyVijay struggles as a dockworker and eventually becomes a leading figure of the underworld, while his younger brother Ravi is an educated, upright policeman. This divide causes problems in their relationship.
- DirectorRamesh SippyStarsSanjeev KumarDharmendraAmitabh BachchanAfter his family is murdered by a notorious and ruthless bandit, a former police officer enlists the services of two outlaws to capture the bandit.
- DirectorAmrit NahataStarsShabana AzmiRaj BabbarChaman BaggaThe story of an evil politician.
- DirectorJohn AbrahamStarsS. GopalKrishnarajSri LalithaA donkey strays into a village dominated by the upper caste Brahmins.
- DirectorGirish KasaravalliStarsNarayan BhattRamaswamy IyengarJanganathA young Brahmin Vedic school student, who is from an aristocratic family, befriends his school master's daughter who is a pregnant widow. The boy tries but fails in concealing his friend's pregnancy. The widow has an abortion forced on her, has the eponymous ritual performed on her and is excommunicated. The student returns home as his school shuts down.
- DirectorGovind NihalaniStarsOm PuriNaseeruddin ShahSmita PatilA public prosecutor discovers the harsh realities about life of the scheduled tribes in India during 1980s while defending a case of a tribesman charged of murdering his wife.
- DirectorAdoor GopalakrishnanStarsJalajaKaramana Janardanan NairRajam K. NairThe protagonist is trapped within himself and is unable to comprehend the changes taking place around him.
- DirectorJabbar PatelStarsSmita PatilGirish KarnadShrikant MogheAfter the passing of her husband, Mrs. Mahajan takes care of four institutions, and lives a comfortable lifestyle with her two sons - Dr. Mohan and his wife, Maya; and Advocate Subhash Mahajan, his wife, Savitri, and their daughter, Rani. Savitri is unhappy as she wants a career for herself. She finally gets a chance to prove her skills in social services when she gets a job offer as Superintendent of a Women's Reformatory Home in distant Sangamwadi. Although Rani and Subhash as well as the rest of the family oppose her going, she has made up her mind. She arrives there and soon gets actively involved in the day to day activities of the institute, which is home to many women with a criminal background; who have been abused and beaten by their husbands; those who have been sexually assaulted; and even some with mental problems. After several months of her active involvement, Savitri is faced with a crisis when the Managing Committee, led by Chairperson Sheela Samson blames her for the death of two inmates, who set themselves on fire; her inability to get along with local businessmen; her rude comments to the local M.L.A., Bane; her interference in the personal lives of inmates. And to make matters the State Government appoints a one-man Commission to look into the problems of this institution. Savitri now has a choice - to resign and return home - to a family of virtual strangers; or stay and face the onslaught of charges that may be brought out against her.
- DirectorKundan ShahStarsNaseeruddin ShahRavi BaswaniBhakti BarveTwo photographers, who are employed by a magazine editor to expose the scandalous activities of the rich, come across corruption by a builder and accidentally photograph a murder.
- DirectorNirad N. MahapatraStarsKishori DeviSampad MahapatraManaswiniThe story is of a family, where three generations live under a decaying roof. The film is about certain emotional bonds which make up a way of life and the painful realization that they can not last.
- DirectorGovind NihalaniStarsDeepa SahiIla ArunRaju BarotA planned social gathering is held to commemorate Divakar Barve for the award he receive pertaining his contributions to Indian Arts and films. The social event is greeted by some important public personalities of the community all expect Amrit; an activist. But the atmosphere of the event will come to a drastic change upon the arrival of Avinash.
- DirectorPrakash JhaStarsManohar SinghAnnu KapoorSreela MajumdarDamul (Bonded Until Death) highlights the ill effects of Bonded Labour System while narrating the story of a bonded labour who is left with no choice but to steal by his landlord.
- DirectorMani RatnamStarsKamal HaasanSaranya PonvannanDelhi GaneshA common man's struggles against a corrupt police force put him on the wrong side of the law. He becomes a don, who is loved and respected by many, but his growing power and influence exact a heavy toll.
- DirectorJahnu BaruaStarsIndra BaniaPurnima PathakGaurav BaniaA simple farmer becomes the victim of a greedy landowner in this social melodrama. Rokheshwar is forced to give up the farm his father had paid for when the landowner asks for a mortgage receipt that was never given. He loses his livestock and sends his young son to work as an errand boy to the villainous landlord. Bora's ultimate humiliation occurs when he is forced to put up political banners that espouse the virtues of the man who drove him from his land and ruined his life.
- DirectorMansoor KhanStarsAamir KhanJuhi ChawlaGoga KapoorDespite knowing that their respective families are bitter enemies, Raj and Rashmi fall in love with each other and decide to elope.
- DirectorK. Jyothi PandianStarsCharlieLaxmi
- DirectorShaji N. KarunStarsPremjiArchanaLakshmi KrishnamurthyRaghu, the only son of Raghava Chakyar was born late for him. So he poured his entire love and affection on him. Raghu, studying in an engineering college in a far away city has to arrive at his home to attend the engagement ceremony of his only sister. But he doesn't. The father starts his endless wait for his son. He daily waits at the bus stop till the last bus from the town also returns. Raghava Chakyar comes to know from newspapers that Raghu was taken into custody by the Police for political reasons. He reaches the capital and meets the higher Police officials. But they pretended helpless as there is no proof that Raghu was taken into custody. Raghu's sister comes to understand that he probably would have died in police custody after being tortured, but cannot bear to tell this to her father. The old man's grip on reality slowly slips and he starts dreaming that his son is with him.
- DirectorSooraj R. BarjatyaStarsSalman KhanBhagyashree PatwardhanAlok NathAfter Suman's father leaves her in the care of another family while he travels abroad, she falls in love with Prem. However, in order to for them to marry, Prem has to prove to Suman's father that he is not the same as his own dad.
- DirectorSaeed Akhtar MirzaStarsPawan MalhotraMakrand DeshpandeAshutosh GowarikerAn unemployed Muslim youth aspires to become a big-shot criminal but mends his ways with the help of his educated brother-in-law.
- DirectorRituparno GhoshStarsAparna SenDebashree RoyDipankar DeyPotrays a sentimental mother daughter relation. How a female dancer sets her priority and became famous but loses her relationship with her daughter on the way .
- DirectorSooraj R. BarjatyaStarsMadhuri DixitSalman KhanMohnish BehlPrem and Nisha meet and fall in love at the wedding of their elder siblings, but their plans to be together are put in jeopardy when Nisha's sister dies, leaving behind a baby.
- DirectorAditya ChopraStarsShah Rukh KhanKajolAmrish PuriWhen Raj meets Simran in Europe, it isn't love at first sight but when Simran moves to India for an arranged marriage, love makes its presence felt.
- DirectorMani RatnamStarsArvind SwamyManisha KoiralaNassarA Hindu man and a Muslim woman fall in love in a small village and move to Mumbai, where they have two children. However, growing religious tensions and erupting riots threaten to tear the family apart.
- DirectorMahesh BhattStarsAjay DevgnPooja BhattNagarjuna AkkineniAmidst religious riots, a son deals with his mother's life-threatening injuries, and her last request.
- DirectorKaran JoharStarsShah Rukh KhanKajolRani MukerjiDuring their college years, Anjali was in love with her best-friend Rahul, but he had eyes only for Tina. Years later, Rahul and the now-deceased Tina's eight-year-old daughter attempts to reunite her father and Anjali.
- DirectorRam Gopal VarmaStarsJ.D. ChakravarthiManoj BajpayeeUrmila MatondkarAn innocent man is embroiled in underworld after being falsely charged and sets out to punish the perpetrators who subjected his life to misery.
- DirectorAshutosh GowarikerStarsAamir KhanRaghubir YadavGracy SinghThe people of a small village in Victorian India stake their future on a game of cricket against their ruthless British rulers.
- DirectorFarhan AkhtarStarsAamir KhanSaif Ali KhanAkshaye KhannaThree inseparable childhood friends are just out of college. Nothing comes between them - until they each fall in love, and their wildly different approaches to relationships creates tension.
- DirectorMira NairStarsNaseeruddin ShahLillete DubeyShefali ShahA stressed father, a bride-to-be with a secret, a smitten event planner, and relatives from around the world create much ado about the preparations for an arranged marriage in India.
- DirectorTigmanshu DhuliaStarsJimmy ShergillHrishitaa BhattIrrfan KhanAniruddh, a law-abiding college student, in love with Niharika, gets caught up in college politics and crime and must fight it out for himself when his friend becomes his foe.
- DirectorVishal BhardwajStarsIrrfan KhanTabuPankaj KapurThe intrigue of the Shakespearean tragedy 'Macbeth' is transposed to the Mumbai underworld.
- DirectorOnirStarsSanjay SuriJuhi ChawlaPurab KohliFamous swimmer Nikhil Kapoor (Suri) deals with the repercussions of announcing the fact that he has HIV/AIDS.
- DirectorSudhir MishraStarsKay Kay MenonShiney AhujaChitrangda SinghSet in the backdrop of Indian Emergency 1975, the story revolves around 3 friends whose lives changes drastically after the turn of events.
- DirectorRakeysh Omprakash MehraStarsAamir KhanSoha Ali KhanSiddharthThe story of six young Indians who assist an English woman to film a documentary on the freedom fighters from their past, and the events that lead them to relive the long-forgotten saga of freedom.
- DirectorAnurag KashyapStarsKay Kay MenonPawan MalhotraAditya SrivastavA film about the investigations following the 1993 serial Bombay bomb blasts, told through the different stories of the people involved --police, conspirators, victims, middlemen.
- DirectorShimit AminStarsShah Rukh KhanVidya MalvadeSagarika GhatgeKabir Khan, the coach of the Indian Women's National Hockey Team, dreams of making his all-girls team emerge victorious against all odds.
- DirectorVikramaditya MotwaneStarsRajat BarmechaRonit RoyManjot SinghExpelled from his school, a 16-year old boy returns home to his abusive and oppressive father.
- DirectorAnusha RizviMahmood FarooquiStarsOnkar Das ManikpuriRaghubir YadavShalini VatsaAn impoverished farmer's threat to end his life invites attention from politicians and media.
- DirectorDibakar BanerjeeStarsNushrratt BharucchaAnshuman JhaNeha ChauhanA video camcorder, a store security camera, and concealed cameras candidly expose lives in three loosely-linked tales.
- DirectorUmesh Vinayak KulkarniStarsNana PatekarDilip PrabhawalkarJyoti SubhashKeshya, a simple villager believes that god has arrived in his village but everyone disbelieves him. Later when the politics plays its part things take a drastic change.
- DirectorShoojit SircarStarsAyushmann KhurranaYami GautamAnnu KapoorA man is brought in by an infertility doctor to supply him with his sperm, where he becomes the biggest sperm donor for his clinic.
- DirectorNagraj ManjuleStarsSomnath AwghadeRajeshwari KharatSuraj PawarIt is about a teenager from a Dalit (Oppressed caste) family, who lives at the village fringe, and falls in love with an upper caste girl.
- DirectorVikas BahlStarsKangana RanautRajkummar RaoLisa HaydonA Delhi girl from a traditional family sets out on a solo honeymoon after her marriage gets cancelled.
- DirectorChaitanya TamhaneStarsVira SathidarVivek GomberGeetanjali KulkarniWhen an aging activist is arrested, the lives of the accused, the lawyers, and the judge intertwine to reveal bigotry that underscores the judicial system.
- DirectorS.S. RajamouliStarsPrabhasRana DaggubatiAnushka ShettyA child from the Mahishmati kingdom is raised by tribal people and one day learns about his royal heritage, his father's bravery in battle and a mission to overthrow the incumbent ruler.
- DirectorVetrimaaranStarsDineshSamuthirakaniAnandhiFour labourers are tortured by the police to confess to a theft they have not committed.
- DirectorAmit MasurkarStarsRajkummar RaoPankaj TripathiAnjali PatilA government clerk on election duty in the conflict ridden jungle of Central India tries his best to conduct free and fair voting despite the apathy of security forces and the looming fear of guerrilla attacks by communist rebels.
- DirectorMari SelvarajStarsKathirAnandhiYogi BabuA law student from a lower caste begins a friendship with his classmate, a girl who belongs to a higher caste, and the men in her family start giving him trouble over this.
- DirectorAnubhav SinhaStarsTaapsee PannuRishi KapoorAshutosh RanaOne family member tries to help her own family when they are trapped in a dark controversy.
- DirectorJeo BabyStarsNimisha SajayanSuraj VenjaramooduAjitha V.M.After marriage, a woman struggles to be the submissive wife that her husband and his family expect her to be. The story follows her journey, as she changes herself and, even more so, changes the household.