2020 proved to be an absolute disaster for humanity and a bit of a bummer for the entertainment industry. With cinemas closed, most producers waited for a long time after Lockdown, hoping for things to become normal. However, as the lockdown stretched over months, many chose to release their movies on OTT platforms while many chose to wait out the pandemic and release their movies in 2021. Thanks to the pandemic, we didn’t see as many releases we’d have, but the closing of theatres also gave us the opportunity to watch movies that might have gone unnoticed had they been released in theatres. With that, we present you with our picks for the best Bollywood movies of 2020.
Also read: 20 Most Awaited Bollywood Movies Releasing in 2021
1. Thappad
Amrita is a happy-go-lucky woman married to a man she loves – until he hits her during a heated argument with a colleague. Is a slap reason enough to quit a marriage? Thappad is a thoughtful take on the dynamics of a relationship and dissects usual gender expectations.
Also read: 10 Powerful Dialogues From ‘Thappad’ – A Movie We Needed
2. Raat Akeli Hai
The murder of a politician becomes even more convoluted to investigate because of his secretive family. Jatil Yadav must find out the murderer, even as he feels conflicted himself. With a talented cast including Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Radhika Apte, and Shweta Tripathi, Raat Akeli Hai is one of the best Bollywood movies of 2020.
3. Bulbbul
A young Bulbbul gets married to Indranil, a man much older than her, but fancies his younger brother, Satya instead. When men in the village are murdered under mysterious circumstances, Satya takes it upon himself to find out the killer. With a fresh, unexplored storyline that subverts the horror genre, Bulbbul is easily one of the best Bollywood Movies of 2020.
4. Ludo
Anurag Basu’s Ludo has a stellar ensemble cast with actors playing characters who might seem dissociated from each other’s stories, but the larger narrative is affected by the actions of everyone as a whole. When their worlds collide, chaos ensues.
Also read: 16 Thought Provoking Dialogues From Ludo – The Netflix Film
5. Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan
Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan is pathbreaking for its portrayal of a gay couple in its lead. While other Indian movies have explored LGBTQ characters in the past, this is the first mainstream movie with a gay relationship as its central theme. Not only that, the movie ropes in an A-list actor like Ayushmann Khurrana, which makes sure the story reaches more people.
6. Gulabo Sitabo
The first big release of 2020 after lockdown, Gulabo Sitabo follows the story of an old man named Mirza, who wants to evict his tenant, Baankey. When Baankey realises that the government is interested in Mirza’s mansion, he decides to exact revenge.
7. Dil Bechara
Based on the heartbreaking novel, The Fault in Our Stars, the movie follows the lives of two cancer patients who fall in love with each other. The already tragic movie becomes even harder to watch because of the untimely death of the lead actor, Sushant Singh Rajput.
Also read: 13 Best Dialogues From Dil Bechara – Sushant Singh Rajput’s Last Movie
8. Chintu Ka Birthday
The heartwarming movie follows the story of an Indian family stuck in Iraq as the US invades it. The family must restore some semblance of normalcy for Chintu’s sixth birthday even as the world crumbles around them.
9. Dolly Kitty Aur Woh Chamakte Sitare
Two women, Dolly and Kitty, navigate the damning realities of their imperfect lives as they actively seek freedom from social expectations. With Konkana Sen Sharma and Bhumi Padnekar in leading roles and Vikrant Massey playing a supporting character, the movie isn’t perfect, but it is thought-provoking and memorable.
10. Kaamyaab
Starring the immensely talented Sanjay Mishra in the lead, the movie tells the tale of an overlooked supporting actor who realises that he retired after doing 499 movies. He decides to finish one final movie to hit 500, playing a role people can remember him by.
11. Angrezi Medium
Champak is a middle-class man who’s reluctant to comply when his daughter wishes to go to London to study. He must go through a series of hilarious obstructions to help his daughter fulfill her dream. With great performances from the cast and an endearing story at its heart, the movie is a must-watch. Moreover, it was the last movie to release before lead actor Irrfan Khan’s death.
12. Lootcase
When a middle-class man, Nandan, finds a suitcase full of cash one day, he decides to steal it for himself. However, with several parties looking for the suitcase containing over 10 crore rupees, hilarity ensues.
13. Jawaani Jaaneman
One of the few theatrical releases of 2020, Jawaani Jaaneman follows the story of a forty-year-old man who discovers he has a love child – a daughter who herself is pregnant. The movie has a promising cast with Saif Ali Khan and Tabu, and newcomer Alaya F makes a strong debut. Even though the movie doesn’t have many new things to offer and conforms to the masala movie genre beautifully, the movie is thoroughly enjoyable and is uncomplicated in the entertainment it brings. For that, the movie makes it to our list of the best Bollywood movies of 2020.
14. Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl
The movie follows the story of Gunjan Saxena, who dreams of becoming an airforce pilot despite people’s reservations against her abilities. With encouragement from a supporting father, she joins the airforce and is deployed during Kargil. Pankaj Tripathi as Gunjan Saxena’s endearing dad shines in the movie.
15. Choked
A middle-class wife and mother, Sarita, who’s struggling to earn her daily bread, discovers a source of seemingly unlimited cash. However, the cash becomes useless overnight when the Prime Minister demonetizes the 500 and 1000 rupees notes.
16. Chhapaak
Based on the life of acid attack victim Laxmi Agarwal, Chhapaak follows the protagonist’s life as she struggles to mentally heal from trauma while in the process of seeking legal aid.
17. Shikara
The first directorial venture by Vidhu Vinod Chopra in five years, the movie focuses on the plight of the Kashmiri Pandits forced to leave their houses in Kashmir Valley. The movie is loosely based on the moving memoir by Rahul Pandita, Our Moon Has Blood Clots.
18. Malang
When Advait meets a free-spirited girl, Sara, at Goa, he’s enamoured by her carefree nature and they both fall in love. However, once they cross paths with two cops, their lives take a turn for the worse.
19. Shakuntala Devi
Based on the life of Shakuntala Devi, famously known as the “Human Computer”, the movie follows the story of her rise to fame. When she begins to travel all over the world for her work, her daughter begins to feel increasingly alienated.
20. Cargo
Cargo follows the story of Pushpak, a demon who helps freshly dead people get adjusted to after-life and rebirth. Even though he’s been doing his job all by himself for the longest time, one day he’s taken aback when a female astronaut joins him.
We hope you like watching these movies as much as we did. Did we miss out on any of your favourite movies from last year? Comment below!