The lockdown has been a stressful affair, and returning to work after a long while now has only added on to that. Most of us need to relieve the stress after a long day’s work, and what better way to do that than to kick back on the couch and find a movie on one of the biggest OTT platforms, Amazon Prime Video. To help you with choosing this film, here are 25 of our choices for the must-watch Bollywood movies on Amazon Prime Video.
Also read: 15 Best TV Shows On Netflix You Can Binge Watch
1. Hera Pheri
To start off the list is Hera Pheri by Priyadarshan which propelled the trio of Akshay Kumar, Paresh Rawal, and Suniel Shetty to instant success as comedy stars. The hilarious scenes with a sprinkling of emotions make this movie a must-watch for all who are looking for a hearty laugh. Also featuring in this movie are Tabu, Om Puri, and Gulshan Grover, among others.
2. Dil Chahta Hai
Dil Chahta Hai is a movie about friendships and explores interpersonal human relationships. It’s one of the pioneers in Bollywood in the genre of road movies. The lead characters are played by Aamir Khan, Saif Ali Khan, and Akshaye Khanna, ably supported by Preity Zinta, Dimple Kapadia, among others. The movie also features path-breaking music by the trio Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy, making the album an evergreen classic as well.
3. Newton
As the political situation of the country becomes more and more volatile, Newton is a relevant watch that caters to the current situation of the country. In this movie, an honest government officer, played by Rajkummar Rao, tries his best to let the voting process be conducted smoothly and fairly when he is assigned election duty at a sensitive, war-torn area, where residents are unaware of the very concept of an election. The conflicts he faces due to internal and external corrupt forces form the crux of the story.
4. Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jaayenge
The movie took Bollywood by storm and announced the arrival of perhaps the most celebrated romantic couple in the Indian film industry, Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol. DDLJ also starred Amrish Puri, Farida Jalal, and Anupam Kher in important roles. The film saw unprecedented success and is still seen as one of the best romantic dramas ever made in Bollywood. The movie that ran for 25 years at the Maratha Mandir is now available for watching in the comfort of your home on Amazon Prime, and this is an opportunity that must be taken advantage of.
5. Zindagi Naa Milegi Dobara
Farhan Akhtar, Hrithik Roshan, and Abhay Deol star in this movie that changed the convention of Bollywood movies with its youth-centric theme, focussing on the interpersonal relationships shared by a group of three old friends with very different personalities who go on a trip together, rediscovering themselves and learning to face their fears in the process. Javed Akhtar’s poetry recited by Farhan Akhtar is a treat to the ears and the eyes.
6. Tumbbad
Tumbbad, a horror-drama featuring Sohum Shah as the protagonist Vinayak Rao, is more of a visual experience than just a movie. The horror element in the film doesn’t rely on jump scares. It relies instead on the strong plot points and performances to make it a critics’ favourite. The cinematography deserves extra applause for the sheer brilliance.
7. Gangs of Wasseypur Parts I & II
Gangs of Wasseypur was the breakthrough movie for director Anurag Kashyap, featuring an ensemble cast with Manoj Bajpai, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Richa Chadda, Huma Qureshi, and Tigmanshu Dhulia in the lead roles. The crime drama, shot as a whole and then divided into two parts due to time constraints, received international acclaim. The raw portrayal of the coal mafia, and the rivalry between crime families. Music by Sneha Khanwalkar was widely appreciated for its freshness and authenticity.
8. Yeh Jawani Hai Deewani
Ranbir Kapoor and Deepika Padukone share the stage in this production, along with Kalki Koechlin, Aditya Roy Kapur, and others. While Ranbir and Deepika steal the show with their fiery chemistry on screen, Kalki and Aditya match up too with their respective characters. Self exploration makes up an important part of the movie, be it for the bespectacled medical student Naina, the free-spirited Bunny, or the sensitive tomboy Aditi.
9. Gully Boy
India’s official entry into the 92nd Academy Awards for the category of “Best International Feature Film”, the musical drama saw all of its performers at their best. The film is based on the ascent of an aspiring street rapper from the slums of Dharavi on the path of success. The movie broke records at the Filmfare awards by sweeping off the awards for all the acting categories. It stars Ranveer Singh and Alia Bhatt in the lead roles, but Siddhant Chaturvedi, Amrutha Subhash, and Vijay Verma shine in their respective roles, too.
10. Chak de India
Shah Rukh Khan came out of his romantic hero image to play a strict hockey coach who instilled in the demotivated women’s national team a sense of unity and national pride. The sports movie has inspired millions with its story of a man misunderstood by the entire nation gaining his reputation back and one of the best Bollywood movies on Amazon prime video platform.
11. Gulabo Sitabo
Sharing screen space in this comedy drama is the iconic Amitabh Bachchan, and today’s superstar, Ayushmann Khurrana. The movie sees the stars in their non-glamorous avatars, portraying the roles of an aged landlord and his impoverished and frustrated tenants who are always trying to inconvenience the other.
12. Meri Pyaari Bindu
Ayushmann Khurrana and Parineeti Chopra star in this film that will remind you of old-school romance. There’s not much happening and yet it manages to arouse nostalgia with old Hindi songs. Parineeti Chopra makes her singing debut in this album, with a beautiful rendition of the song “Maana ke hum yaar nahi”.
13. A Death In The Gunj
Casual bullying by family and friends. Sounds familiar and harmless? Konkona Sen Sharma in her directorial debut shows you that it’s not. The film has an ensemble cast consisting of Vikrant Massey, Ranvir Shorey, Tillotama Shome, Jim Sarbh, Kalki Koechlin, Tanuja, Om Puri, and Gulshan Devaiyah. The film moves you with its careful treatment of a sensitive issue.
14. Jab We Met
“Main apni favourite hoon.” Geet’s dialogues left an indelible impression on everyone who watched this Imtiaz Ali movie. Geet’s mannerisms were portrayed beautifully by the gorgeous Kareena Kapoor Khan, and Aditya played by Shahid Kapoor provided the perfect foil to her extroverted, chirpy character. The soundtrack by Pritam is also celebrated for its variety and freshness.
15. Piku
Piku stars Deepika Padukone and Amitabh Bachchan in the lead roles as daughter and father. Bachchan plays a man suffering from health problems that come with age, and Deepika Padukone plays an independent woman concerned about her father. The movie also has Irrfan Khan as a friend and love interest of Piku, Padukone’s character.
16. Detective Byomkesh Bakshy
Detective Byomkesh Bakshy is a classic whodunnit noir production that follows the sleuth as he attempts to unravel the mystery behind the disappearance of one Bhuvan, with the help of Bhuvan’s son, Ajit. Sushant Singh Rajput’s interpretation of Sharadindu Bandyopadhyay’s famous truth-seeker shows Byomkesh as a normal human with weaknesses and a razor-sharp intellect. A very well-made film, Detective Byomkesh Bakshy certainly deserves its place in the list of the must-watch Bollywood movies on Amazon Prime Video.
17. Dil Dhadakne Do
Dil Dhadakne Do is another presentation by Zoya Akhtar, starring Anil Kapoor, Shefali Shah, Ranveer Singh, and Priyanka Chopra as the lead characters. How a seemingly perfect family may actually just have the bonds hanging by a strand that could tear at any moment and expose all the skeletons buried deep into the closet. Farhan Akhtar and Rahul Bose appear in important supporting roles, while Aamir Khan lends his voice to the family dog, who is also supposed to be the narrator of the story.
18. Thappad
Taapsee Pannu in the lead raises the important question, is just a slap enough to break a marriage? Her character stands her ground and refuses to tolerate domestic abuse even as a one-time affair. The strongly feminist movie directed by Anubhav Sinha also features Pavail Gulati in the role of Amrita(Taapsee)’s husband.
19. Andaz Apna Apna
Andaaz Apna Apna is a timeless comedy that still ranks at the top of the best Bollywood comedy movies made. Andaaz Apna Apna sees the two Khans, Salman Khan and Aamir Khan, cone together for the first time, along with Raveena Tandon and Karishma Kapoor as the female leads. Shakti Kapoor delivers his most memorable performance as Crime Master Gogo, while Paresh Rawal carries his dual roles to perfection.
20. The Last Color
Chef Vikas Khanna brings to us this beautiful movie starring Neena Gupta and the young Aqsa Siddiqui. The movie challenges societal norms while also warming our hearts with the unlikely bond shared by two very different individuals. The film just reminds us of the often-neglected but very important rule, “Everyone deserves to be happy.”
21. Trapped
If the lockdown made you feel claustrophobic, Trapped will make you live an experience where you are completely cut off from the outside world. Rajkummar Rao features as a man who accidentally traps himself in his apartment without outside contact. The film makes for an uncomfortable but interesting watch.
22. Dum Laga Ke Haisha
Ayushmann Khurrana and Bhumi Pednekar made their presence felt with this unconventional story about an ordinary man who unwillingly gets married to an overweight, educated woman. Her not matching up to the conventional beauty standards set by society poison their marriage. How the couple deal with their differences forms the crux of the story.
23. Raazi
Raazi is a movie about an Indian spy, Sehmat, who married into a family consisting of high-ranking Pakistani army officers, trying to gain information about Pakistan’s military actions against India. Alia Bhatt excels in the role of Sehmat, while Vicky Kaushal provides able support in the role of her husband. The progressive take on events without colouring any side with a bias makes this movie one of the must-watch bollywood movies on Amazon Prime video.
24. 3 Idiots
This Rajkumar Hirani film needs no introduction. Loosely based on Chetan Bhagat’s “Five Point Someone”, 3 Idiots is told from the perspective of a middle-aged Farhan, played by the very talented R Madhavan, reminiscing about his experiences when he was in an engineering college, where he befriended a free-spirited, and extremely meritorious Rancho, played by Aamir Khan, and a more conservative Raju, played by Sharman Joshi. This movie, and the character VirUs, played by Boman Irani, brings out the problem with the rat race that has taken over our education system today and criticizes society for normalizing the pressure put on the students.
25. Hindi Medium
Starring Irrfan Khan and Saba Qamar in the lead roles, Hindi Medium addresses the colonial craze that still makes us gravitate towards English medium schools over Hindi medium schools. Deepak Dobriyal features yet again steals the show with his stellar performance.
These are our favourite choices for 25 of the best Bollywood movies on Amazon Prime Video. Did we miss any? Let us know your opinions in the comments.