The 50 best Bollywood movies of all time

Everybody dance now!

If your only exposure to Bollywood is Bride And Prejudice and Slumdog Millionaire, you need some serious exposure to real Bollywood right now. More than a genre, Bollywood is a cinematic force of nature, a colourful culture reimagined in vibrant sound and vision, melodrama and melody fused into a spectacle of song and dance, with stories that twist and turn and often resolve in ways western cinema wouldnt even consider. Bollywood isnt just musicals with subtitles, its pure cinema.

3 Idiots (2009)

Stand-Out Moment: The touching reunion scene, as the trio of college buddies are finally reunited as adults.

Bobby (1973)

Stand-Out Moment: Aruna Irani's mesmorising dance for key musical number Main Shair To Nahin.

Rang De Basanti (2006)

Stand-Out Moment: The mantra of Aamir Khans young firebrand: There are two ways to live life one's to accept things as they are and tolerate them or take the responsibility to change the trend.

Awaara (1951)

Stand-Out Moment: Kapoors character steals Nargis a necklace, unaware that the man he has pinched it from is her father. Doh!

Coolie (1983)

Stand-Out Moment: Bachchans attempts to follow a recipe for an omelette from a radio thats on the blink.

Udaan (2010)

Stand-Out Moment: Young Rohan finally snaps, taking his frustrations out on his fathers beloved car

Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995)

Stand-Out Moment: The moment when Khan dispenses with his shirt is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser.

Om Shanti Om (2007)

Stand-Out Moment: The arrival of a bona fide ghost in the films final act. By that point, nothing will surprise you

Fanaa (2006)

Stand-Out Moment: The helicopter-set action sequence and the parachute-assisted getaway performed by star Aamir Khan.

Fashion (2008)

Stand-Out Moment: The following scathing assessment of life as a model: Meghna, dont think. The less you think, the more you make.

Lagaan (2001)

Stand-Out Moment: Khan smashes one for six in the final over, leaving the British captain on his arse as the locals claim the victory. Woohoo!

Devdas (2002)

Stand-Out Moment: The bittersweet finale in which Devdas and Parvati are reunited once more for the briefest of moments

Swades (2004)

Stand-Out Moment: The building of the reservoir, in which our hero gets the opportunity to give something back to his fellow villagers.

Taare Zameen Par (2007)

Stand-Out Moment: The heartwarming scene in which Khans character tells the young boy of how he faced similar challenges when he was a child.

1942: A Love Story (1993)

Stand-Out Moment: The scene in which the British troops (acting on a tip-off from the Raj-supporting father) track down the activist, and kill him in his home.

Salaam Namaste (2005)

Stand-Out Moment: The couples fearsome break-up when it is revealed that Preity Zintas character was lying about having had an abortion.

Pakeezah (1972)

Stand-Out Moment: The touching note Kumars character leaves his intended after a chance meeting: Saw your feet; they are very beautiful. Don't place them on the ground, they will get dirty.

Sholay (1975)

Stand-Out Moment: One of the pair of heroes shoots a stick of dynamite with his last remaining bullet, wiping out a horde of bandits in one fell swoop. Score!

Dil Chahta Hai (2001)

Stand-Out Moment: The heartbreaking bedside scene in which alcoholic Tara finally succumbs to a chronic case of cirrhosis.

Kal Ho Naa Ho (2003)

Stand-Out Moment: The inevitable deathbed scene, attended by the other two thirds of the aforementioned triangle. Stirring stuff.

Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam (1999)

Stand-Out Moment: The final twist, in which Nandini (the bride) realises her arranged husband is probably her best bet after all. Make up your mind!

Mother India (1957)

Stand-Out Moment: Discovering her son has become a criminal, Radha shoots him in accordance with the greater good. Thanks mum!

Agneepath (1990)

Stand-Out Scene: The shocking lynching of young Vijays father that sets the whole bloody tale in motion

Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak (1988)

Stand-Out Scene: The finale, which wisely doesnt attempt to water down the tragedy of the source material.

Sarfarosh (1999)

Stand-Out Scene: An assault upon the HQ of a notorious gun-running operation makes for a pulse-quickening set-piece.

Tezaab (1988)

Stand-Out Moment: The villainous Shyamlal outlines how far he is willing to go to keep himself in drink: If I get a good price, I can even sell my blessing

Andaz Apna Apna (1994)

Stand-Out Moment: The deliriously OTT rescue scene at the films conclusion.

Bunty Aur Babli (2005)

Stand-Out Moment: The duo take their scamming antics to the next level by impersonating a pair of priests. For shame

Silsila (1981)

Stand-Out Moment: The concluding song and dance routine, in which the power of love appears to absolve Bachchans character of his infidelities. Phew!

Peepli Live (2010)

Stand-Out Moment: One of the farmers suffers a chronic bout of diarrhoea, much to the chagrin of the journalist charged with following his every move.

Kaagaz Ke Phool (1959)

Stand-Out Moment: The haunting final scene in which Sinha dies alone in his directors chair. Not your typically cheery Bollywood ending

Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998)

Stand-Out Moment: The climactic wedding scene, where our star-crossed lovers finally get their act together. Even the jilted groom gives them the thumbs-up!

Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna (2006)

Stand-Out Moment: The adulterers share an embrace in public, and are promptly caught by their respective partners. Oops.

Black (2005)

Stand-Out Moment: Michelles gradual capacity to recognise her parents is a guaranteed tear-jerker.

Amar Akbar Anthony (1977)

Stand-Out Moment: The hair-raising car chase that leads to the improbable discovery of a consignment of gold bullion.

Hum Aapke Hain Kaun? (1994)

Stand-Out Moment: The distinctly shocking death scene featuring the luckless sister. Watch your step too late!

Border (1997)

Stand-Out Moment: The final, grand-scale clash at Longewala post provides a suitably adrenaline-soaked conclusion to the film.

Mughal-E-Azam (1960)

Stand-Out Moment: The aforementioned skirmish, which required legions of real soldiers, as well as some 2,000 camels and 4,000 horses!

Salaam Bombay! (1988)

Stand-Out Moment: The downbeat but hopeful ending offers no easy answers. This is an endemic problem no song and dance routine can fix.

Dil To Pagal Hai (1997)

Stand-Out Moment: The plays opening night, the ending of which Rahul tweaks to confess his love for new girl Pooja.

My Name Is Khan (2010)

Stand-Out Moment: The racially motivated schoolyard brawl that claims the life of Rizwans brother Sameer.

Mohabbatein (2000)

Stand-Out Moment: The fearsome headmaster steps down, allowing Khan to take his position. Thats how the hiring process tends to work in a Bollywood happy ending

Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi (2008)

Stand-Out Moment: Khans first transformation into the flamboyant Raj Kapoor.

Dostana (2008)

Stand-Out Moment: The pair are forced to stage a kiss on a packed beachfront, as hundreds of passers-by look on

Baazigar (1993)

Stand-Out Moment: Having bumped off one of his enemies. Khan proceeds to dispose of the body by stuffing it into an old suitcase. Nice.

Mr. India (1957)

Stand-Out Moment: Sridevis fountain-assisted song and dance routine, in which her sari becomes clingier with every passing verse

Lage Raho Munna Bhai (2006)

Stand-Out Moment: Gandhis first appearance, as a ghostly apparition who shows the lead character the error of his ways.

Dil Se (1998)

Stand-Out Moment: The truly shocking ending scene which manages to be violent and romantic in equal measure.

Do Bigha Zamin (1953)

Stand-Out Moment: Lead character Shambu learns that his son has turned to crime, and does his level best to impress upon the boy that poverty is preferable to criminality.

Chak De! India (2007)

Stand-Out Moment: The challenge match that pitches the girls against the boys, and ends up with the womens team heading to the World Championships.

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