Bollywood enjoys a little of history and has a natural inclination for drama, which can be a little over-the-top at times. It’s no surprise that historical dramas are a common occurrence in a film industry infatuated with grandeur and its song and dance routine.
If you ask what makes a good historical drama, the first thing that comes to mind is one that takes us to another era with dialogue, music, costumes, and larger-than-life settings. The list below includes some of the most successful historical and period Hindi films of all time, whether commercially, critically, or both. Several of these classic Hindi films are available on Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime.
Mangal Pandey: The Rising (2005)
Ketan Mehta and historical dramas are inseparable. With the addition of Aamir Khan’s star power, we have a mouthwatering triumvirate that should have easily won the box office. Unfortunately, this was not the case with ‘Mangal Pandey: The Rising.’ Mehta took a few too many liberties in his depiction of the valour of Mangal Pandey, the perpetrator of India’s first fight of independence.
Naturally, there were protests and ban demands from major political groups, which helped keep the picture in the press prior to its release. Despite negative reviews and disappointing box office returns in India, the picture had a resounding ovation at the 2005 Locarno International Film Festival, where Ketan Mehta won the Best Director Award.
Airlift (2016)
‘Airlift’ deserves all of the accolades and love it received because it brought to light a major but little-known event in Indian history – the 1990 airlift of Indians from Kuwait. It is a fantastic illustration of how movies can both showcase unsung heroes and comparatively less celebrated events while also providing entertaining. Because of the film, a new generation of Indians became aware of and proud of an event that might otherwise have been forgotten in general knowledge books and archival newspapers. Director Raja Krishna Menon took pains to ensure that the film’s popular appeal and the severity of the subject did not conflict, and the result was an absorbing film with tremendous historical significance.
Bajirao Mastani (2015)
It may be some time until we see Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s ‘Padmavati’ on Indian movie screens, but for the time being, let us savour another of his historical epics. ‘Bajirao Mastani’ was released two years ago and has since gained cult status for its visual grandeur and sumptuous recounting of the story of a warrior lover and his second wife. Ranveer Singh was born to portray Peshwa Bajirao, as he gave his all to the job and shone brightly like a silver star.
Deepika Padukone’s unrivalled beauty made her the ideal Mastani, while Priyanka Chopra’s natural intensity made her the ideal Kashibai, a woman craving for her husband’s attention. The film is a typical Bhansali entertainment.
Taj Mahal (1963)
In every sense of the term, ‘Taj Mahal’ is a stunning film. It focuses on an aesthetically rich era of Mughal history, highlighting the romance between Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal and how the Taj Mahal, an enduring emblem of their love, came to be built. Roshan’s ageless tunes enrich the film, and the songs – jewels like ‘Jo Wada Kiya Ho’ – can still melt hearts with their simplicity and melody. Onscreen, Pradeep Kumar and Bina Rai played the eternal lovers, exuding purity and pure love.
Jodhaa Akbar (2008)
When it comes to historical romances, ‘Jodhaa Akbar’ takes the cake, and for the audience, it’s a classic example of having your cake and eating it as well. Simply said, ‘Jodhaa Akbar’ is a simplistic approach to history. The grandeur is found in the subtleties and the unspoken communication between the two major characters. After his international success ‘Lagaan,’ director Ashutosh Gowariker hits big again with history as the backdrop.
The film’s strongest scenes feature Hrithik Roshan and Aishwarya Rai’s hot chemistry, and A.R. Rahman’s musical score keeps the magic alive throughout. If you don’t go in anticipating huge war sequences, the film works well for you; otherwise, it’s a little shaky.
Mughal-e-Azam (1960)
‘Mughal-e-Azam,’ by K. Asif, is a master class in how to build a historical epic. It had everything going for it: a large budget (the most for an Indian picture at the time), a brilliant cast led by Dilip Kumar, Madhubala, and Prithviraj Kapoor, and music by Naushad.
The film, based on the love tale of Mughal Prince Salim/Emperor Jahangir and Anarkali, a slave girl, swept the box office by storm when it was released. It’s the ideal blend of history, romance, and enthralling production design. There are various Bollywood memories related with the film’s production, one of which being that Madhubala was critically ill while filming, which took a heavy toll on her health.
Lagaan (2001)
‘Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India’ is one of just three Indian films to have received an Academy Award nomination for best foreign language movie. Call it a historical picture or a sports film, depending on your preference and opinion, but you cannot dispute that it is a world-class film made by Bollywood companies. Ashutosh Gowariker’s directing and Aamir Khan’s meticulousness, paired with his inventive marketing talents, rendered ‘Lagaan’ a pure cinematic joy to see while also ensuring that it received adequate attention on a global scale.
