A Guide to Modern Bollywood Cinema

Trigger warning: brief reference to abuse

In November of 2022, I returned from a trip to India with my life changed. I had rediscovered the world of Hindi cinema — also known as Bollywood — a vast industry of movies just waiting for me to dive into. I had grown up watching these movies as a child of Indian immigrants, but I had lost touch with this aspect of my culture throughout middle and high school. Coming back from this trip, I realized that I had missed out on years of high quality films, and I made it my mission to refamiliarize myself with them. After months of catching up on a thriving era of movies, I decided to create a comprehensive guide to the essentials of Hindi cinema — focusing more on the modern era — though one can never fully encapsulate all of the various genres, perspectives, and stories of this decades-long industry. 

One genre that Bollywood always excels at is coming of age romance films, and “Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani” (transl. “This Youth is Crazy”) is one of my favorites. It’s a story of a shy girl named Naina who goes on a trekking trip with some childhood friends and discovers her more spontaneous nature. Eight years later, when one of the friends is getting married, they reunite once again, causing old feelings and tensions to resurface. This movie has it all — comedy, romance, heartwarming friendships, and, most importantly, incredibly catchy songs. While Hollywood has a specific, niche genre for musical films, a vast majority of Bollywood movies are “musicals.” Don’t be surprised if the characters look directly at the camera and burst into an expertly choreographed dance routine as a song kicks in, regardless of the movie genre. These songs are an essential aspect of Hindi cinema, often adding to the emotional arcs and mood of the films, and “Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani” is no exception. Another major reason why this movie succeeds is because of the balance it displays between genders when it comes to the character development. The first half shows the reserved Naina learning to be more carefree through Bunny, a restless adventurer and childhood friend who never wants to stop exploring. But instead of following the usual misogynistic tropes and criticizing Naina’s more family-oriented priorities, the second half of the film reverses the roles and shows a more confident and mature Naina eight years later teaching him the value in settling down. This equality that “Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani” portrays as both love interests learn from each other elevates the film beyond sexist cliches. “You’re not right or wrong,” Naina says to Bunny in Hindi as they ponder their different goals in life. “We’re just different.” Another high quality coming of age film is “Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara” (transl. “You Won’t Get a Second Life”), which is directed by Zoya Akhtar. It follows a group of three friends who go on a bachelor party trip to Spain and each gain a new perspective on life through the people they meet there and the adrenaline-seeking activities they have planned. The female representation is weak though, portraying the only female lead as solely a love interest and a “manic pixie dream girl” meant to teach the male character a lesson without gaining any development for herself. Some feel-good romantic comedies with slightly more developed female leads include “Bareilly Ki Barfi” (transl. “Bareilly’s Sweets”), a small town story with comedic twists and strong character arcs, and “Khoobsurat” (transl. “Beautiful”), a fun romance between a bubbly physical therapist and a rule-following prince. 

Family is an essential value in Indian culture, with extended families often having close relationships, levels of higher respect for one’s elder relatives within different Indian languages, and the common occurrence of college students still living at home, so it’s no surprise that this is a major theme in the Bollywood industry. When it comes to family dramas, “Kapoor and Sons” stands out among the rest. This film follows the Kapoor family as two brothers return home to India to stay with their parents when their grandfather falls ill. Conflicts that had been simmering for years eventually spring to the surface, as the parents experience marital problems, the brothers seemingly fall for the same girl, and long-held secrets come to light. But at the end of the day, this movie is just about the highs and lows of family. While it can reach some heavy lows, with plenty of arguments, tears, and shockingly sad moments, the lighthearted side of “Kapoor and Sons” is just as impactful. I felt incredibly seen in the scenes where the characters’ relatives would come together and have family reunions filled with laughter, jokes, and reminiscing about the past — it vividly reminded me of my family and the loving camaraderie that comes with those connections. The dialogue and romances also are highly natural and authentic, with the director opting for longer shots and awkward silences, making the intersecting stories feel less scripted and more real. Despite the heartbreaking moments of “Kapoor and Sons,” the characters’ familial ties prove to be stronger than their conflicts and the sweet ending leaves viewers with a sense of hope. Some other heartwarming examples of family dramas include the more lighthearted “Dil Dhadakne Do” (transl. “Let Your Heart Beat”), which includes complex female characters that redeem Zoya Akhtar’s misfalls with “Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara,” and “Badhaai Ho” (transl. “Congratulations”), which focuses on the theme of standing by your family no matter what.

Bollywood isn’t just focused on romance and family, though; its action blockbuster industry is an ever growing genre. One of the most notable examples of this category is the 2023 film “Pathaan.” This movie marks a comeback after a four year hiatus from one of the most famous Indian actors in the industry: Shah Rukh Khan. He also plays alongside stars John Abraham and Deepika Padukone in this spy thriller that centers on his character Pathaan, a rogue spy for India who is called in to stop a group of mercenaries from committing acts of terrorism on the country. Pathaan is a clear example of what many Bollywood action movies tend to include: dramatic music, exaggerated slow motion shots, unbelievable action scenes, and not-so-subtle patriotic messages. When Padukone’s character started ice skating in the middle of a motorcycle chase between Pathaan and Abraham’s villain Jim, I couldn’t help but laugh a little at the ridiculousness of it. But these action films aren’t meant to have profound messages or complex social commentaries; they’re meant to be an over the top, thrilling adventure where you’re never bored, and in this, “Pathaan” definitely succeeds. This film was also highly important for the Hindi film industry because of its major financial success. At the moment, it has grossed over ₹1000 crore or $120 million worldwide, breaking several records and becoming the highest grossing original language Hindi film of all time. “A Gentleman” is another fun but underrated action flick with elements of mistaken identity and clever expectation subversions, while “Don” is a star-studded spy thriller complete with doppelgangers, revenge plots, and murder.

Bollywood is an incredibly diverse film industry with an endless variety of genres and themes, including stories revolving around crime or comedy. When it comes to engrossing mysteries and thrillers, “Badla” (transl. “Revenge”) and “Ittefaq” (transl. “Coincidence”) are prime examples, with both films revolving around a suspect’s various potential versions of what really happened during the night of a murder and an investigator’s attempts at determining who is guilty. As for the dark comedy genre, “Stree” (transl. “Woman”) is a fun supernatural flick about a female ghost who kidnaps men, while “An Action Hero” is a non-stop suspenseful story about an actor who gets himself wrapped up in a murder and has to prove his innocence with a politician and the police on his tail. The latter of the two also provides an entertaining satire on the media, criticizing how they can often jump to extreme conclusions or switch sides in a story in a heartbeat. Another essential crime drama and comedy is “Ludo,” a Netflix original based on an Indian board game with four separate storylines that intertwine because of their connection to one cunning criminal. Each storyline also gets a distinct color — red, yellow, green, or blue — through subtle costume and production design choices, which correlates with the colors of the Ludo game pieces. This film is a perfect example of calculated chaos — there’s always something wild going on, with characters getting into hilariously complicated messes and going to extreme lengths to reach their goals, and the amount of times a character gets randomly hit by a car is more than you would expect. But beyond the fast paced and intricate plot threads that constantly weave in and out, “Ludo” tugs at the viewers’ heartstrings with its representation of unconditional loyalty, father-daughter relationships, modern romance, and more. 

Hindi cinema also excels at the films that take themselves more seriously and involve social commentary. “Gully Boy” (transl. “Street Boy”) follows a young man named Murad living in poverty who dreams of becoming a rapper and uses his poetry as an outlet to express his frustrations at the world’s injustices. This film was the first Bollywood movie to tackle the subject of India’s rap industry and became India’s official submission to the 2019 Oscars, though it was not nominated. It also includes nuanced messages about class discrimination, the cycle of abuse, and the setbacks that living in poverty can bring. Every character is complex and well rounded, from Murad’s abusive father, to his strong-minded but aggressively jealous girlfriend, to his mother who has to deal with her husband bringing home a second, younger wife. Despite the harsh realities of classism that are portrayed in “Gully Boy,” the film still ends with a feeling of empowerment and hope for a better future. “Gangubai Khatiawadi” is another film with an important message. This biopic is about a real-life woman named Gangubai who, after being sold to a brothel, takes control of her life and demands respect for sex workers like her. Gangubai is unapologetically fierce and endlessly loyal to the women in her town, amplified by Alia Bhatt’s stunning performance, as she becomes a politician and fights to legalize prostitution, get the girls from her brothel into schools, and prevent them from becoming homeless. 

Many people actually dislike the name “Bollywood” because of its implication that Hindi movies are just a derivative of Hollywood. While the name is catchy and still lives on today, it’s important to acknowledge that this film industry is a powerhouse on its own, regardless of any comparisons to the Western world. For those of you who are looking to get into Hindi cinema, these are just a few of many high quality films that have come out of this movie industry in recent years. I’ve had to leave out so many essential examples, especially beloved classics from before this modern era such as “Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge” (transl. “The Big-Hearted Will Take the Bride”) and “3 Idiots,” so think of this guide as just a stepping stone into a world of cinema. These movies can give you an insight into Indian culture, shape your perspective on the world, or maybe just make you laugh or smile — but regardless, this industry is one you don’t want to miss out on.