Being Indian myself, I absolutely love Bollywood movies. There are so many amazing, catchy, and often meaningful songs that are played throughout the movie that make it so much fun to watch, whether with family or friends. There are some Bollywood movies (usually made in the late 1990s or early 2000s) that are so touching and absolutely heartwarming. I can't even begin to describe the amount of love I have for these movies just because they have such incredible stories yet are also entertaining to watch. Although understanding Hindi makes it easier to watch these movies, it is not necessarily required because you can turn on subtitles for most of these movies depending on the website you watch it on.
For any of you that have not watched these movies, I highly recommend you do at some point in your life because they are incredible. And for those of you that have watched them, I'm sure you loved them to the point where you have grown attached to these 8 classic Bollywood movies.
1. Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham
My absolute favorite of all time. This movie is so heartwarming and heartbreaking at the same time. It teaches about the importance of family and how love should not be discriminating. When watching this movie, make sure you have a box of tissues near you at all times. This movie is not only touching, but also very funny at the right times. Also, Rahul is played by Shah Rukh Khan and Anjali is played by Kajol, just as in Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, bringing back the greatest on-screen couple of all time. Rahul's younger brother Rohit grows up and brings a family back together that should have stayed intact from the beginning. Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham (also known as K3G) is a classic: a must-watch.
2. Kal Ho Naa Ho
Kal Ho Na Ho is a very emotional movie with such a touching plotline. We learn to live life to the fullest because we don't know whether "tomorrow will be or not" ("kal ho na ho"). This movie is about a family with many internal issues that is trying to keep their family together no matter what. A new neighbor then comes and teaches this family how to live life to the fullest because you never know, this day might be your last.
4. Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani
Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani is mainly directed towards a younger audience: a group of people with ambitions to live it up and fulfill their desires to experience new things and new places while meeting new people. A group of four young friends go on a trip to Manali and have the time of their lives. These people, previously opposed to marriage or falling in love, start to understand what love is and change their minds as their lives go on.
5. 3 Idiots
3 Idiots is an extremely funny movie about a group of 3 friends that are in engineering school together. Rancho (Aamir Khan) teaches lessons to many people that he encounters in the school and emphasizes that it is more important to be kind and happy than to get a degree in engineering for the sake of it. This movie has many jokes and laughable moments, but it is also very serious and meaningful and is definitely a classic.
6. Lagaan
This takes place in the time period where India was still under British rule. Bhuvan is a man in a small village who witnesses a cricket game that the British were playing and gets into an argument with one of them, Russell. After some time, Russell challenges Bhuvan to a game of cricket and says if Bhuvan and his people win, he will lift the unfair tax (Lagaan) imposed on them for 3 years. However, if they lose, they have to pay 3 times as much the original tax. Bhuvan accepts and the entire village is angry at him until slowly a group of men agree to join his team. This movie is about teamwork and learning to work together to accomplish a seemingly impossible task.
7. Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge
Growing up in a home run by her strict father, Simran has very little freedom to do as she wants. She wants to meet the man of her dreams. She convinces her parents to let her go to Europe on a trip, where she meets Raj. At first, Simran despises Raj but slowly they fall in love. Her father has already planned for Simran to get married to someone else, so Raj has to win over her father's approval as just a friend of Simran's first. This movie is about love and the lengths you have to reach to show how much love you have for someone. This unexpected love story will take you on a rollercoaster of emotions, all throughout Europe and India.
8. Jodhaa Akbar
Jodhaa Akbar takes place in the time period of the Mughal Empire. An Indian princess, Jodhaa, has to marry the Mughal king, Akbar, to avoid war between Amer (the country Jodhaa's father rules) and the Mughals. Jodhaa is welcomed into the family by everyone except Akbar's nanny, who tries to cause problems. Jodhaa wants no relations with Akbar, even though he is her husband, but slowly starts to form a friendship with him as she learns that Akbar is very respectful and kind to her. They both fall for each other over time. This movie shows that even with differences in religion and culture, two people can fall in love, especially during a time where this was not common.
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I am sure that those of that haven't seen any of these movies, you will love them each individually for their amazing stories and bouts of comedy and romance. As for all of you that have seen these movies, I am sure you can agree when I say that they're absolutely incredible and ultimate Bollywood classics.