The 26 Bollywood Movies You Need to Add to Your 2021 Watch List
Guess we'll be glued to our couches this year, too.
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We don't know who needs to hear this, but if you're not watching Bollywood movies, then you're truly missing TF out. The Hollywood of the east def gives American movies a run for their money, producing Hindi-language Indian movies in all sorts of genres. In fact, Bollywood is the world’s largest film industry, with more than 1,000 films (!!) released yearly—practically double the number of movies Hollywood churns out. But with so many titles released each year, it's hard to know which ones are actually worth your precious viewing time. Wanna know the best Bollywood movies of 2021? Right this way pls.
From an Ava DuVernay co-produced social thriller starring Priyanka Chopra to a Hindi-language adaptation of Paula Hawkins's 2015 novel The Girl on the Train, Bollywood has really delivered in 2021—and lucky for us, tons of great titles are available to stream on Netflix and Amazon Prime. Whether you're into sappy rom coms, action-packed thrillers, or adorably cheesy musicals, these are the 26 Bollywood movies you need to see in 2021 (and tbh, they even have the best Bollywood movies of 2020 beat). Happy streaming, friends!!
Shershaah
Directed by Vishnuvardhan in his Hindi film debut, this epic biographical war drama revolves around the life of Vikram Batra, a former officer of the Indian Army who was posthumously awarded the Param Vir Chakra, India's most prestigious award for valor.
Thalaivii
Based on the real-life experiences of Jayaram Jayalalitha and starring Kangana Ranaut, this biopic follows the actor-turned-chief minister's swift and v complicated rise to power.
Meenakshi Sundareshwar
What happens when two newlyweds (who already don't know each other well) are forced to live apart due to a unique job opportunity? They try their best to make the dysfunctional arrangement work, and that's exactly what happens in this quirky rom-com.
Mumbai Saga
Action lovers have got to check out Mumbai Saga, which takes place throughout the '80s and '90s, showing the gradual transition of Mumbai into a major city and one man's journey from a simple commoner to a feared gangster.
Sandeep Aur Pinky Faraar
In this dark comedy, a bank executive and a suspended cop with nothing in common—save for the fact that someone wants them both dead—decide to team up to escape, and it's a wild good time.
Sherni
A badass female Indian Forest Service officer (Vidya Balan) and a team of locals and trackers set out to capture an unsettled tigress loose in the wilderness in this seriously tense thriller.
Ankahi Kahaniya
An anthology of three short films, Ankahi Kahaniya is all about unconventional love stories unfolding in the big city, including—bizarrely enough—a tale of love between a man and a mannequin.
Dybbuk
In this (truly terrifying) horror flick, a newly married woman brings an antique Jewish box into her home...only to realize it's a dybbuk box possessed by evil spirits that wreak all sorts of freaky paranormal havoc.
Chehre
Inspired by the German novel A Dangerous Game by Friedrich Dürrenmatt, this thriller follows an ad agency executive who, after taking shelter in an old man's home during a snowstorm, finds himself trapped in a living nightmare.
99 Songs
Love musicals? Then this is the movie for you. 99 Songs (which finally got its long-awaited theatrical release in 2021) is a visually stunning romance about a singer-songwriter who's challenged to compose 100 songs before he can marry the girl of his dreams.
The White Tiger
This Ava DuVernay co-produced movie is based on a New York Times bestseller of the same title. The White Tiger follows Balram (Adarsh Gourav), a man who comes from poverty and aspires to become a wealthy heir's chauffeur. And a Parasite-esque turn of events paired with Balram's street smarts and cunning cause things to get wild.
Sardar Udham
Yet another winning biographical drama, Sardar Udham tells the real-life story of Udham Singh, a freedom fighter from Punjab, starting from his early days in the HSRA and leading up to his eventual assassination of Punjab's former Lieutenant Governor Michael O'Dwyer.
Tribhanga
After her estranged writer mother falls into a coma, actress and single mom Anuradha (Kajol) reflects on their strained relationship and the choices she's made as she deals with a rough patch between her and her own daughter Masha (Mithila Palkar).
The Girl on the Train
Like the movie of the same title starring Emily Blunt, The Girl on the Train is based on Paula Hawkins's 2015 novel. Mira (Parineeti Chopra) is a divorcée who, on her daily commute, fantasizes about a couple she sees through the train window. But one day, she sees something shocking happen. Soon, her trauma and personal life unravel.
Ramprasad Ki Tehrvi
Though this film premiered at the Mumbai Film Festival in 2019, it is now getting the theatrical release it deserves in 2021. Ramprasad Ki Tehrvi tells the story of Ramprasad's (Naseeruddin Shah) family as they all gather under one roof to perform a 13-day ritual following his death. And in those 13 days, they have some realizations about their family.
Master
Alcoholic professor John "JD" Durairaj (Joseph Vijay) falls out of favor with his colleagues and the school administration because of his popularity. He then becomes a teacher at a juvenile prison and goes head-to-head with Bhavani (Vijay Sethupathi)—a vengeful man with a troubled past—who takes advantage of the kids.
Pagglait
A young woman becomes widowed just five months after her wedding day, and while the death shocks her entire family, she is unable to grieve herself. After finding out she's the sole beneficiary of her husband's five million-rupee insurance policy, she goes on a journey to explore her new life...but also makes a discovery about who she married.
Saina
This movie tells the inspiring true story of professional badminton player Saina Nehwal and how she came to be one of the top players in her sport.
Roohi
Two friends are hired to kidnap a bride as part of their village's tradition, but then one of them falls in love with the abductee and the other falls for the spirit who ends up possessing her.
Ajeeb Daastaans
Ajeeb Daastaans is an anthology of four beautiful short films that look into the unexpected relationships—from a loveless marriage to a story of caste discrimination in the workplace.
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