got any good Bollywood movie recommendations for someone who's never see it before?

I tried getting some DVDs from the library by searching Bollywood but all I got were dancercise like "The Bollywood dance workout [DVD video] : with Hemalaya."  (which was nice, but I don't think it's a real Bollywood movie)

I'm going to need something smarter than a computer to help me learn what Bollywood movies to watch.

So what's your favourite?  Where should I start?

I am not sure if I have a list for you. Ill be looking forward to what people respond with.

One film I really enjoy is 3 Idiots


Funny, interesting...

"all is well"

Baahubali

I don't know any Bollywood movies to recommend but can recommend a free site Beamafilm that you just need your library membership number to log in to. It has a good selection of international and art house films, old classics and documentaries.

They add new movies all the time. I could only find one Indian movie but it wasn't a true Bollywood one.

Worth checking the site in case they add a Bollywood movie.

One of the Indian restaurants that we used to go to used to play movies back to back with music videos. If there's a local Indian restaurant you could call in and ask the staff for recommendations of titles.

You could also search IMDB for famous Indian actresses and actors and look up their movies.

Once you have a list of the most popular actresses/actors you could search for their movies on you tube.

I can understand why you were given dance ideas.

A reality show that I watch has a couple who live in India, the wife talked about how she loves Bollywood dancing.

When I asked Mr. Google:



https://ignitebollywood.com/about/what-is-bollywood/

I can't recommend any of these movies as I don't think I have seen any of them:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lists_of_Hindi_films

What is your favorite Bollywood movie?

RRR is the latest greatest over-the-top in a good way film. Although it's more "Tollywood" than Bollywood, the distinction being Tollywood films more often portray Indian culture and the Telugu language where Bollywood is trying to be more like Hollywood.

Also big fan of Baahubali!

jordan barton wrote:I am not sure if I have a list for you. Ill be looking forward to what people respond with.

"all is well"

I like "3 idiots" too. Also " slumdog millionaire".

I haven't watched Singham 8 yet. But it features this stunt. So it is only a matter of time before I do.

My favorite is Veer-Zara. You have to give up the idea that a tightly edited movie is the standard and just enjoy the ride!
For silliness and a sweet story Jab We Met or Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi .

jordan barton wrote:I am not sure if I have a list for you. Ill be looking forward to what people respond with.

One film I really enjoy is 3 Idiots


Funny, interesting...

"all is well"

This was quite often the first movie recommended to me when I lived in India….still haven’t watched it.

I’m not a big Bollywood movie fan since they make Hindi films. The “B” is for Bombay. Every state in south india has their own film industry in the native language. I will recommend a movie in the state of Kerala’s language, Malayalam. It’s called Vikruti. It’s the true story of a deaf man whose life was impacted when a viral video made him appear drunk in permies. Very easy watch. It has a little bit of all the emotions, including comedy.

I’d also recommend the film adaptation of Siddartha. I haven’t seen it in a very long time, and it’s not a typical Bollywood film either. I just remember it drew me to the book, which I use in my signature.

Bride and Prejudice is a Bollywood movie that I really enjoyed.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bride_and_Prejudice
https://www.amazon.com/Bride-Prejudice-Naveen-Andrews/dp/B008RPRNGE/ref=sr_1_1

I think RRR is the greatest action movie ever made.

I would search by actor names if you can:

Aamir Khan
Shah Rukh Khan
Salman Khan

...and even some actors not named Kahn such as Akshay Kumar and Hrithik Roshan.

For actresses, we have Priyanka Chopra (Jonas), Anushka Sharma, Alia Bhatt, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, and Sonam Kapoor.

Rab ne bana de jodi(funny)
Swades (more serious)
Jab we met (both funny and serious 😊)
Queen
Om Shanti Om

I am shocked to find this thread in Permies but I am not complaining.

This should be the successor to Oppa Gangnam Style and Little Green Apple.

Try this during the prom or wedding. A sure Tik Tok hit.

If you have not seen

Lagaan

…you have yet to watch a Bollywood movie.

**Must watch**

My adult kids still listen to the soundtrack after growing up with it.

I've only watched a few, but my fave is Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham (K3G). It's got 3 generations of super stars, and the songs are sooo catchy! It's a dramedy. The drama is dialed way up, so be ready for that. The film doesn't take itself seriously half the time, which I find charming in this case. It's well done.


Another one that I really enjoyed is My Name Is Khan. It shares 2 of the stars from K3G. The tone is much more serious - especially in the second half. Somber and hopeful. Part Forrest Gump, part 9/11.

S Windlass wrote: Lagaan

I have the video CD. That's how I learnt to appreciate Cricket.

Aamir Khan is dependable although there are a few are duds like Thugs Of Hindostan.
You would think that with Amitabh Bachchan, it was a surefire hit but it turned out
to be a "I want my money back" kind of film.  

A westerners guide to Indian Cinema by a westerner.

This is essential if we are to have an accurate conversation.

Anything with Shah Rukh Khan, Aamer Khan, Salman Kahn, Karina Kapoor, or Hritik Roshan.

First one I watched from start to finish was Kesari IMDB: Kesari It's based on the true story of the Battle of Saragarhi in 1897, in which 21 Sikh soldiers stood against 10,000 Afghan tribesmen. Currently watching RRR.

A secret you might appreciate . . . or not.

I present, not as an example this thread requests, but something you can
mine and someday strike the mother load.

This year, we watched DNA.  Among the 5 number 1 films I would
not hesitate to recommend, this is among them. I wrote
"DNA  - Happy Ending when all hope was lost. Karma is a bitch."

Someone switches her baby at the hospital. She insists that despite
the name tag that what they handed to her is not her baby. Because
she has mental problems, nobody believes her including her husband
until he has a DNA test done.

It started screening on 20Jun2025 in local cinemas.

Guess what?, It is available to watch on YouTube right now.



So, whatever recommendations you find in this thread, there is a chance you
might find it on YouTube. Maybe months or years down the road.

Finding English subtitles is the hard part. You need to download this
movie first and search to see if anyone has ripped the subtitles from
the DVD or BluRay. I have written a couple of programs to retime the
subtitles and stretch the duration to 2 seconds.

VLC can then play the movie and display the subtitles.

Eventually, YouTube will have realtime transcripts and translations.

People who watched this only mention the title.

It is enough.

Like audiences of Agatha Christie's The Mousetrap,
you should keep the sledgehammer of an ending secret
because it is a movie you would only want to watch once.

The trailer was unappetizing. The posters were forbidding.
The synopsis was unhelpful. It is like they DON'T want
you to watch this at all.

I had to do so much digging just to decide if I should
watch or give it a miss.

What did I uncover?

Lakshmi is the name given to a metal rubbish
bin which sits in its own altar at home.

Why?
Because when a house collapsed, it fell over a
baby girl saving her life.

One day it is stolen and the father gives the police
grief unless they recover this revered object.
Such is the father's love for his daughter. It is
this theft that triggers a series of events you do
not expect. I can't explain any more.

I am glad I went. It is a life-changing movie.

WARNING You are not the same person leaving the
       theatre as the person who entered.

It is a long movie. Over 2 hours of pieces of
a jigsaw and disjointed story arcs and flashbacks
yet in the final movement, the denouement,
all the pieces slide. rotate and click
into place and then the realization slams into you
like a runaway freight train.

If there is only ONE Indian Movie you are able to
watch, this is it.

Remember the name. Vijay Sethupathi.
Unlike Aamir Khan, he has yet to have a dud movie.

It was actually Anhadhum shown at a movie club
which opened my eyes to Indian Cinema and the
stories even give Christopher Nolan a run for his
money but that is another post altogether.