Despite its popularity and deity-like status its actors enjoy, Bollywood is but a small part of the giant that is Indian cinema. Off-beat Hinglish movies have been gaining some traction and there are some that have set the stage for them. These movies are a must-watch to understand the issues and experiences that are so unique to us and the depth and profoundness of Indian cinema that must be explored.
Monsoon Wedding
A personal favourite is Monsoon Wedding, directed by the incomparable Mira Nair. Set against a chaotic Punjabi wedding, with a vibrant, multi-threaded narrative, the film brings together traumatising family secrets, forbidden love, and difficult decisions. The film’s soundtrack, especially the use of Sufi and folk-inspired music like “Aaj Mera Jee Karda,” perfectly complemented the emotionally charged atmosphere making Monsoon Wedding iconic. With a star cast including the likes of Naseeruddin Shah, Shefali Shah, Lillette Dubey, Vijay Raaz, Tillotama Shome, Kulbhushan Kharbanda, Soni Razdan, Rajat Kapoor, Randeep Hooda and Roshan Seth, this movie should be on your watch list if you haven’t already done so.
1947 Earth
A heart-wrenching Partition-era film based on Bapsi Sidhwa’s novel Ice-Candy-Man, Earth is narrated by a young Parsi girl (Maia Sethna). Aamir Khan in one of his most complex and unsettling roles as the titular Ice-Candy-Man is one of the things that makes Earth unforgettable. Mehta’s sensitive direction that portrays the horrors of communal violence without sensationalising it matched with Nandita Das, Rahul Khanna and Kittu Gidwani’s stellar performance will make Earth stay you long after the last heart breaking scene.
Mr. and Mrs. Iyer
Aparna Sen’s Mr. and Mrs. Iyer (2002) remains one of the most delicately crafted love stories in Indian cinema, set against the backdrop of communal riots. Konkona Sen Sharma delivers a masterclass in restrained emotion as Meenakshi Iyer, a conservative Tamil Brahmin woman who finds herself travelling with a Muslim stranger, played with quiet intensity by Rahul Bose. Their slow-building connection, especially during the tender moment when she pretends he is her husband to protect him from rioters, lingers long after the film ends. The movie’s sparse use of background score only heightens the tension, making silence a powerful tool in storytelling.
English Vinglish
I don’t like calling it a comeback because come on, it’s Sridevi. She never really went anywhere. But Gauri Shinde’s English Vinglish is another milestone in Indian cinema. This gentle yet sharp film explores the determination of a timid homemaker who enrols in an English-speaking course during a trip to New York. Sridevi’s performance as a vulnerable, dignified, and immensely relatable woman devoted to her family who is oblivious of her speaks volumes. Her character’s final speech in English at her niece’s wedding stands out as a triumphant declaration of self-worth that resonated with millions of women who’ve been underestimated in domestic spaces.
The Namesake
In The Namesake, Mira Nair once again showcases her ability to interpret diasporic identity with grace. Adapted from Jhumpa Lahiri’s novel of the same name, the film spans continents and generations, chronicling the life of Gogol Ganguli, played by Kal Penn. The late great Irrfan Khan and the always-phenomenal Tabu as his Bengali immigrant parents ground the story in emotional realism.
Bombay Boys
For those seeking a bold, urban, and offbeat cinematic experience Bombay Boys offers a heady mix. Directed by Kaizad Gustad, the film follows three NRI men—played by Rahul Bose, Naveen Andrews, and Alexander Gifford—as they navigate the madness of Mumbai while chasing their dreams. Irreverent, fast-paced, and layered with satire, the film appealed to the young generation and their youth culture, complete with memorable music and a punk-infused narrative style. Though polarising at the time, it has since earned cult status. And who can forget Javed Jafferey in “Mumbhai”?
