Bollywood Film Recommendations

[SanFranBear]

I've recently joined an international movie club and its been fab.. this month, to celebrate Diwali, we focused on movies from India and I have fallen in love with Bollywood films.

So far, on recommendations from friends I've watched:

• Sholay - what an absolute belter of a film, the most fun I've had in ages.. so multi-faceted with a beautiful friendship at it's heart! Just wonderful!
• Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge - another really fun movie and I loved the transition from Europe and the UK to the traditions and celebration in India
• Grand Masti - didnt realise this was a sequel and not sure I'll be watching the first one as all a bit dated and misogynistic but there were some really daft bits in it and a couple of banging songs
• Kalki 2898 AD - epic, big screen blockbuster which I got really sucked into and really looking forward to the next installment
• Kuck Kuch Hota Hai - just pressed play on this one.. its got 5 stars on Prime so am hoping it'll be fab although off to a pretty tragic start!

Thanks so much - I'm really looking forward to exploring more. I think some of the above are described as Masala movies (mixture of all genres) but I'd love more recommendations (and where they can be watched if you know).

Here’s my suggestions:

Kabhie Kushi Kabhie Gham 2001
Devdas 2002
Sangam 1964
Hero 1983
Shakti 1982
Henna 1991
3 Idiots 2009

I think some will be on Netflix or even Youtube.

Hope you enjoy them!

I'm particularly interested in Bollywood films with big musical numbers - can anyone help me with recommendations for this please?

Most films have this, is there anything specific you’re looking for? For example Devdas has traditional classical dance numbers, is that the type of thing you mean?

Yes I loved Devdas. I guess I mean the all singing all dancing big production numbers rather than say romantic love songs. All the girls in their fabulous outfits singing to all the boys in their fabulous outfits!!

Bride and Prejudice! So fun

OK you might like Dil To Pagal Hai and Mohabbatein.

Bajirao Mastani is similar in style to Devdas.

You might also enjoy Taal.

Fab. Will check them out. Thank you

Maybe not a traditional Bollywood film but I highly recommend Dunki on Netflix. Starts off quite funny then very poignant!

Like Djchickpea, I love it when the entire screen is dancing - reminds me of very old fashioned musicals! - so will definitely look into those. But I also love the romance and the story-telling and the whole, over the top, joyfullness of it all.

I'm like a kid in a candy store with an entire back catalogue of fantastic films that I've not even started to scrape the surface of in every genre imaginable!

Thank you for your recommendations - can't wait for the weekend!

Salaam Bombay

The Lunch Club.

Kabhi khushi khabie ghum and Dil Dhadakne do

I agree with all of these- especially Dunki- but RRR on Netflix is particularly mind-blowing if you enjoy ever more fantastical Bollywood action sequences.

Salaam Bombay
The Lunch Club

Rocky aur Rani is a very musical movie. Lots of fun!

The other one I love is Gangubai Kathiawadi--about a girl who is forced into prostitution and rises to become a powerful figure in the red light area.

Other films that people have recommended seem older. Try these...
Queen.
Hasee Toh Phasee
Mimi

Also if you have time, I would recommend k dramas...korean dramas..if you enjoyed bollywood then trust me you will enjoy k dramas. Queen of Tears is a must!

K dramas sound very intriguing.. never enough hours in the day sadly!

But you've all been fabulous.. so many choices!

As a non Asian, I liked Devdas and Lagan.

as a non Indian - devdas is absolutely epic - it was released in mainstream uk cinemas and did very well

the other classic is khabbi kushi khabbi gam

For good dance numbers, look for ones starring any or all of SRK, Salmaan Khan, Hrithic Roshan, Tiger Shroff, Aishwarya Rai, Katrina Kaif, Deepika Padokone.

Devdas is a must, but you will cry.

Jodhaar Akbar for a marvellous historical epic.

Om Shanti Om, of course.

Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-leela is the best version ever of Romeo and Juliet. The 'holy palmers' speech is done entirely in mime, and is hilarious.

Crime caper very much along Ocean's 11 lines - Happy New Year, or the less caper-y Jawaan.

Spies and action, you're spoiled for choice - Ek Tha Tiger, War (with a Tiger/Hrithic dance off!), Bang Bang, the Doom series (Doom 2 is the best) ...

Really dance focused, even by Bollywood standards - ABCD, and ABCD2.

OMG is a nice multireligion spin on The Man Who Sued God.

Padman and Toilet are both social issue films, but lightly done.

Has anyone mentioned Lagan yet- a brilliant film.

Lagaan is another good one, definitely.

And Jab Tak Hai Jaan.

War, incidentally, is part of the Spy universe - Bollywood's attempt to 'do a Marvel' (but not with superheroes). I've enjoyed all the ones I've seen in that series, and Marvel never gives us anything to compare with this:

Any movies by Sanjay Leela Bhansali ( director) , a couple have been mentioned above.
If you would like to check out some older black and white movies try those by directors Guru Dutt and Satyajit Ray.

Guide 1965.
Piku 2015 in fact nearly any film with actor Irfaan Khan ( sadly now demised) .

Can I ask you what streaming service you use to watch these movies? I also love watching international movies of most genres and languages and have recently joined the BFI in London .

Piku 2015 in fact nearly any film with actor Irfaan Khan ( sadly now demised)

I couldn’t agree more, he was such a talent taken from us far too early.

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Oh my goodness - THANK YOU!

I can't wait to look into these and think Sunday will definitely be Devdas - the full movie with subtitles is on YouTube (hooray!)

cheekaa - Prime is excellent and the first place I check but Netflix isn't too bad and there's lots on YouTube.

Can you link the YouTube Devdas with English subtitles? I’d like to watch it too.. but have only found Hindi subtitles. Aishwarya rai is unbelievably beautiful. She’s also in Bride and Prejudice if you decide to give that a watch too.