Are you a movie buff? Do you think you have seen all the Bollywood movies? Think again! Beneath the glaze of blockbuster hits, lie some masterpieces which quietly came on the screen. And just as silently, made a mark for few, and slipped away. Though they were unable to break the box office records, their cinematic narration have surely left a mark. Here are some must-watch underrated Bollywood movies which you might have missed, and which deserve your attention.
Masaan (2015)
As the title suggests, the story is set on the cremation grounds of Varanasi. Moreover, it also hints at the themes of destruction, and resurrection. Directed by Neeraj Ghaywan, it weaves together two parallel stories—of Devi Pathak (Richa Chadda), and of Deepak Kumar (Vicky Kaushal). Though they are distinct stories, they are connected through their themes of loss, redemption, and societal pressures. It portrays a realistic, and thought-provoking view of life.
Devi has an illegitimate relation with her student, Piyush Aggarwal. Both have to pay for their affair—Piyush commits suicide on being caught, while Devi’s father, Pathak (Sanjay Mishra), has to pay a bribe of Rs. 3 lakh to the police inspector. The other story is about Deepak who belongs to a Dom family. He works at the cremation grounds, and dreams of breaking the family traditional of working on those grounds. He happens to fall in love with an upper-class Hindu girl, Shaalu Gupta (Shweta Tripathi), and it changes his life.
A fan reviewed the film, saying that the film “touches delicate issues of life, and depicts how expression of those emotions could be dangerous, specially in a small town in India.”
Iqbal (2005)
This Bollywood film shows that disability is not a hurdle in achieving what you truly want. All you need is determination, and persistence to excel. It also shows a beautiful bond between siblings, with the sister, Khadija (Shweta Basu Prasad), helping translate the words into sign language for Iqbal (Shreyas Talpade), a deaf-and-mute boy who has a charm for cricket. Directed by Nagesh Kukunoor, it critiques the politics involved, and delivers an inspiring narrative.
Thrown out of the academies, Iqbal trains under Mohit (Naseeruddin Shah), a former cricketer, who turned into a drunkard. It is not just a film that celebrates cricket. It is a story of hope, dreams, and triumph of one’s spirit to achieve that goal. A fan wrote about the film, “It is a highly inspirational movie which tells us that every dream, no matter how impossible it may be, is worth putting a fight for.”
October (2018)
The film revolves around the character of Danish “Dan” Walia (Varun Dhawan), who is a trainee at a hotel. He has difficulty in keeping up with the internship. His life takes a turn when Shiuli (Banita Sandhu), another intern at the same hotel, accidentally falls from the third floor while having a party with other intern friends, and goes into coma.
Shiuli resembles her namesake flower which blooms in October, only at the night-time, and dies with the arrival of dawn. It hints at Shiuli’s short-lived lifespan because of the accident. Directed by Shoojit Sircar, the movie leaves a void within you after you leave the cinema hall. It isn’t a regular Bollywood love story; it challenges how far you can go for your love, and what you believe in. A viewer notes that the “most beautiful moments of the movie are not those with dialogues, but those with silence that leaves space for you to read between the lines.”
Karwaan (2018)
It is a road-comedy film which revolves primarily around Avinash Rajpurohit (Dulquer Salmaan), who works at an IT company, but has a zeal for photography. The journey begins when his father’s corpse is mistakenly exchanged with that of a lady’s mother (Beena Banerjee). Avinash, who had a tough relation with his father, is left to ponder over his hatred on hearing about his death. He, along with his friend, Shaukat (Irrfan Khan), sets out to meet Tahira (Amala Akkineni) in Kochi, and exchange the corpses. On the way, he’s been asked to find Tanya (Mithila Palkar), Tahira’s daughter, who has gone incommunicado.
The movie takes its viewers on a trip; The journey teaches you to love, and embrace the simple joys of life. The film heals something in its viewers, making it a comfort watch. Shaukat’s hardships are also revealed as the trip progresses, with Irrfan throwing some reality checks in his iconic one-liners. He mocks death when he says, “Hume zinda dafan kar diya soch ke ke hum mar jaayenge” (They buried me alive, thinking that I’d die). A viewer commented about Irrfan’s one liners: “Irrfan was his usual best with his dead pan delivery of witty one liners, and his absolute mortification at the behavior, and apparent value system of today’s millennials.”
Udaan (2010)
Have you ever dreamed of flying out of the cage, but want some motivation? Then, this is for you! This coming-of-age film revolves around Rohan (Rajat Barmecha), who wishes to be a poet, but is forced to work at his strict, and abusive father’s (Ronit Roy) iron, and steel factory. After being expelled from his boarding school, he returns to his oppressive father, and a 6-year-old step brother (Aayan Boradia) he didn’t know about.
It is an emotional story which resonates with those who dream to fly -beyond the set conventions of the family, or society. Rohan’s only support system is his uncle, played by Ram Kapoor. This movie teaches you to chase your dreams, no matter what, and never give up on them. Live life, and unleash the power within.
Sonchiriya (2019)
Set in the 1970s, it narrates the story of the infamous dacoits of Chambal (Madhya Pradesh). The “golden bird”, as the title translates, is a metaphor for the Baaghis (rebels), who aren’t common dacoits who loot people, but those who have a cause for rebellion. Though they are dacoits, they have a conscience.
Directed by Abhishek Chaubey, the group of dacoits grapple with guilt, and redemption. They have been cursed—every one of them will be killed if they don’t find sonchiriya (a ‘savior girl’). On the other hand, it also shows Indumati (Bhumi Pednekar) who fights against the patriarchal norms, and attempts to escape such a household.
Tumbbad (2018)
This movie is different from the rest. Unlike the others, it belongs to the horror genre. Nevertheless, it takes up the theme of greed, and its dire consequences. Its most famous dialogue, “so ja warna Hastar aa jayega” (Sleep, or else Hastar will come), refers to Hastar, who is the greedy son of Goddess of Prosperity. It is used to control the actions of others, indicating that if they don’t comply with a request, they will encounter danger. Directed by Rahi Anil Barve, the story is set in the village of Tumbbad, where the villagers have built a shrine in the name of Hastar.
The movie warns us about the dangers of greed. If ambition is not kept in check, it can destroy not only us, but also our loved ones. It blends the genres of mythology, and horror— just like the recent movie, Maa, has done. It is a spine-chilling movie wrapped in folklore, and dread.
A viewer reviewed that it is “a cinematic gem that seamlessly weaves together mythology, horror, and drama, creating a unique, and captivating viewing experience.”
Tell us about your favorite underrated movie of Bollywood in the comments below.
