The pandemic may have made travelling impossible, but don’t let it stop you from experiencing some great places in India in any other form. There are many movies about India, but not all capture the feel and true essence of the country. We’ve jotted down a list of the best movies about India: those that leave you awestruck and wanting for more. Binge your way through this list of must-watch movies about India, and join us in eagerly awaiting the day you can book your tickets to discover this fantastic country in person.
The best movies about India are so gripping, you may just forget your popcorn!
Darjeeling Limited
The lead protagonist convinces his two younger brothers to undertake a pilgrim trip in India. However, they soon realize the true purpose of the trip was to meet their separated mother turned Nun in the Himalayas. The journey is trying, but a situation that makes Good Samaritans of them makes them continue just when they are about to give up and head home.
Fun fact : Natalie Portman travelled to Jodhpur to film for only thirty minutes of shooting. She later spent ten days exploring the country, fascinated by it.
Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (DDlj)
Translating to ‘The Brave-Hearted Will Take the Bride’, this Bollywood blockbuster is a love story about two Non-resident Indians who meet on a trip to Europe. Shah Rukh Khan’s character eventually leaves for India to rekindle their love after finding out that the bride’s father has already arranged for her to marry his friend’s son without her consent or approval.
Fun fact : This movie is a long-standing hit in Indian cinema. It has been running in Maratha Mandir, a 1958 theatre in Mumbai, since its release in the year 1995. It is recorded to have played the film for more than 1200 weeks until Sep. 2019!
Outsourced
A manager from Seattle posted in India gets to know all about India and its culture while training for his replacement. As easy as the job sounds, it turns into multiple events of awkward and funny scenes. It offers an intimate look at the everyday lives of several Indians and an American’s perspective of it all.
Fun fact : Outsourced is also an American sitcom television series set based on the movie, knew that?
Lunch box
This movie is about a series of notes (messages) exchanged inside a tiffin box. The notes are written by an Indian housewife meant for her husband, but accidentally get delivered to a widower due to a mistake by a Dabbawala.
Fun fact : The Dabbawalas of Mumbai rarely ever make a mistake. They are famous for their accuracy in food delivery with the use of minimum technology, so much so that they have been approached by top universities to learn about their flawless system.
Gandhi
With the lead role of Gandhi played by Ben Kingsley, this movie depicts the struggle for the independence of India, with a focus on Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, also known as the Father of the Nation. One of the best movies to watch to learn about the freedom struggle in India.
Fun fact: This movie won 8 Academy awards out of 11 nominations in the year 1983!
Lagaan
In the year 1893, the villagers of Champneer (a small village in the state of Gujarat, India) rebel against the unjust rule of the British, opposing them having levied outrageous taxes. The tyrannical British captain offers a way to settle the problem: a game of cricket. If the villagers win, the tax gets repelled. A favourite with Indians, this is definitely one of the best movies about India.
Fun fact : Even though India has been known for its strong love for cricket, this sport was first founded in England.
The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
Few pensioners depart from their homeland to India for a trip for their own enlightenment when things don’t appear as imagined. Breaking the norms of what to expect during travel, it’s hilarious and heartwarming, and one of the best movies to watch about India.
Fun fact: This movie casts some of the best Hollywood stars: Judi Dench from the Bond franchise, Maggie Smith from the Harry Potter series & Bill Nighy from Pirates of the Caribbean.
Slumdog Millionaire
A classic rags-to-riches story, a young boy from the slums wins the popular Indian version of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire. It displays a glimpse of the struggle in the rugged slum life of Mumbai.
Fun fact: A. R. Rehman is the only Indian to have received more than one Oscar award for the same movie!
Films are no longer just serving the purpose of entertainment; they offer glimpses into countries and cultures and spark the fire of curiosity in us. With the blooming industries of Bollywood and Hollywood, we hope to have more movies to add to the list of best movies about India. If these films have you excited to discover our country for yourself, simply get in touch with us to plan a customized itinerary to match your budget and travel style.
About Joynel Vaz
They say, "Curiosity killed the cat". But it only helped Joy grow. If there's anything that Joy is proud about, it's his beer belly, his unrelenting love for food and his bicycle rides. Our money will always be on him if he gets in an eating competition. We feel that Joynel's love for offbeat destinations come from his ability to quietly go about his work. He might not know where he is going, but he always keeps a watchful eye on his guests and knows their whereabouts.
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