Different languages traditions, but at the end of the day, we're Indians... and big Bollywood buffs! Every Indian, no matter how cool, grew up watching Bollywood films. It's one of the things that brings us closer. Well, this and sports.
But there is one genre of film that says "Indian" louder than any other. Yes, patriotic movies. Bollywood has been blessed with a number of outstanding patriotic films over the years. They are one of the greater pleasures of being born in a country that understands sacrifice, freedom and cinema.
So, at the dawn of Independence Day 2021, here's a list of 8 Bollywood patriotic films that will make your day.
1. Rang De Basanti (2005)
IMDb Rating: 8.2/10
Image Courtesy: News18
When a determined English filmmaker quits her job in London to work on a docudrama based on the significant Indian revolutionary freedom fighters, she comes across five young college students miles away from the notion of patriotism. After being asked to act in her film, the fantastic five embark on a journey no different from our revolutionaries 75 years ago. This patriotic movie has laughter, drama, excellent music and a few songs that will break your heart. One of our generation's most celebrated patriotic films, Rang De Basanti is an eye-opener for the youth.
Director: Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra
Starring: Aamir Khan, Siddharth, Kunal Kapoor, Soha Ali Khan, Sharman Joshi, Alice Patten
2. Swades (2004)
IMDb Rating: 8.3/10
Image Courtesy: Desi Martini
Upon a visit to his childhood nanny's house in India, Suraj, an NRI working for NASA in the United States, falls in love with his country all over again. It's an unforgettable Indian film that will allow your patriotic spirit to love, accept and work for your country despite all its imperfections.
Director: Ashutosh Gowariker
Starring: Shah Rukh Khan, Gayatri Joshi, Kishori Ballal
3. Lagaan (2001)
IMDb Rating: 8.1/10
Image Courtesy: Netflix
Dubbed as an Indian modern classic, this patriotic film is the result of a remarkable production, epic storyline and larger-than-life music composition. Set in the early 1890s during the British Raj, the agriculture tax or "Lagaan" was one of the unfair means to extract the blood, sweat and income of farmers residing in small villages of India. The tale takes a turn for good when one such English officer, drunk on power, challenges the protesting villagers in Gujarat for a game of cricket (which, during that period, was alien to Indians) as a wager to invalidate the tax. Now, who'd win? Find out at the end of this movie. Happy watching!
Director: Ashutosh Gowariker
Starring: Aamir Khan, Gracy Singh, Rachel Shelley
4. Lakshya (2004)
IMDb Rating: 7.9/10
Image Courtesy: Netflix
Slightly different from the hardcore patriotic theme, Lakshya is a war drama set against a fictionalised backdrop during the Kargil War in 1999. It revolves around the protagonist who plays a major role in this mission and who, in fact, was a lazy, aimless persona not too long ago. Due to a few life-changing events, he ends up in IMA (Indian Military Academy) only to come out as a changed, fearless and motivated army man. You should expect a climactic war scene, excellent songs, hard-hitting truths, heartbreaks and of course a happy ending.
Director: Farhan Akhtar
Starring: Hrithik Roshan, Preity Zinta, Amitabh Bacchan
5. Parmanu: The Story of Pokhran (2018)
IMDb Rating: 7.7/10
Image Courtesy: Netflix
Parmanu is an entertaining recreation of India’s race to become a nuclear power. Based on true events, the story takes place in 1995, and then in 1998, when an IAS officer from the Research and Analytics wing puts forth the idea of performing a retaliatory nuclear test in response to the recent nuclear missile tests by China. It's a thriller drama that will keep you on the edge until the end.
Director: Abhishek Sharma
Starring: John Abraham, Diana Penty, Boman Irani
6. Phantom (2015)
IMDB Rating: 5.8/10
Image Courtesy: Netflix
The 26/11 attack in Mumbai is still one of the most devastating terrorist attacks in our country. An extension of the event, this patriotic film is a fictional idea of what would've happened if the country went on a mission to find the culprits. It's an action-thriller inspired by Hussain Zaidi's book, Mumbai Avengers, a collection of stories based on unsung heroes of the 26/11 attack.
Director: Kabir Khan
Starring: Saif Ali Khan, Katrina Kaif
7. Madras Cafe (2013)
IMDb Rating: 5.8/10
Image Courtesy: Mint
A political thriller made better with hard-hitting visuals and a heart-clenching background score. One of the most underrated Bollywood patriotic films on Netflix, Madras Cafe is a story of an Indian army officer who is appointed to head covert operations in Jaffna shortly after the Indian peace-keeping force was forced to withdraw. The film is intelligently written and executed.
Director: Shoojit Sircar
Starring: John Abraham, Nargis Fakhri, Rashi Khanna
8. Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose: The Forgotten Hero (2004)
IMDB Rating: 7.5/10
Image Courtesy: The Tribune
Not just another patriotic film but a rather detailed account of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose's life after his resignation from the Indian National Congress under British Raj India in 1941. All the instances in this patriotic film are kept closest to the real events and the stellar performances by all the actors brought history back to life.
Director: Shyam Benegal
Starring: Sachin Khedekar, Divya Dutta, Pankaj Berry
Celebrate Independence Day with the best patriotic films on Netflix. The information is on us!
