10 Movie Musicals to Kickstart Your Bollywood Journey

It’s Musicals Week at IndieWire. With “Wicked” about to sparkle over theaters, we’re celebrating the best of the movie-musical genre. 

With all due respect to my colleagues, I feel crazy talking about movie musicals at work.

Every year since I’ve been a full time entertainment reporter, Disney has released an underwhelming live-action version of one of its delightful animated musicals. I witnessed the hype and joy surrounding Jon M. Chu’s “In the Heights” and tepid reception for Steven Spielberg’s “West Side Story,” and continue to live in uncertainty about whether or not there will be a third “Mamma Mia!” film (please!). These days, it seems like every movie musical is anticipated with more than a healthy dose of fear, in case it struggles to recapture the magic of on-screen song-and-dance that was once so easy for this industry.

The reason I feel crazy is that I grew up on movie musicals, just not Hollywood ones. While Western cinema strayed from Gene Kelly’s light, I was living through the heyday of performers like Shah Rukh Khan and Aishwarya Rai. In India, achieving hit status requires that a movie have irresistible songs and equally charming on-screen sequences to match them. Even bad movies are usually guaranteed to have a few toe-tappers and fun dance sequences.

More often than not, my musical-obsessed friends are completely open to checking out some Bollywood, but they don’t know where to start — and I suspect you may feel the same, dear reader. So to celebrate “Wicked,” and to celebrate Hollywood viewers’ definitely-real interest in Indian cinema since “RRR” (which is Tollywood, not Bollywood, but I digress), I’ve handpicked a variety of Hindi movie musicals that you can stream right now to get a taste of the magic. These were chosen specifically with uninitiated viewers in mind, with emphasis big musical numbers that unfortunately disqualified those with minimal or pared down songs. (What I’m saying is you should definitely watch “Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara,” even though it’s not on here.)

Below, here are ten Hindi movies to kickstart your Bollywood journey.

1. “Dliwale Dulhania Le Jayenge” (1995, dir. Aditya Chopra)

There’s a reason that Aditya Chopra’s 1995 classic still runs in theaters almost 30 years later. “DDLJ” is the quintessential Bollywood romance, a movie whose mere existence created a before and after within Indian cinema. On one hand it epitomized the family values and tradition of 20th century India and its movies, but it also primed the audience and filmmakers for movies about youth, freedom, and globalization that would start to rise in the years that followed. Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol play Raj and Simran, two children of Indian immigrants growing up in London and crossing paths on a trip through Europe. They butt heads at first — a classic enemies-to-lovers formula — and eventually fall in love, but then Simran’s family leaves for India, where she will soon be wed. Raj crosses the globe in a final attempt to win his love and her family’s approval.

The film marked Khan’s overnight transformation into a once-in-a-generation romantic lead overnight and cemented his iconic pairing with Kajol, which Bollywood fans cherish to this day. Chopra’s debut put him the map as a hell of a writer and director (as well as the son of Hindi film powerhouse Yash Chopra), ahead of a production career that reshaped the industry with his vision. “DDLJ” has romance, comedy, adventure, drama, and even a dash of action, and simple story at its core that needs no help making the audience fall in love.

Available on Prime Video.

2. “Lagaan” (2000, dir. Ashutosh Gowariker)

Ashutosh Gowariker’s gargantuan piece of historical fiction may have an Oscar nomination to its name, but this ambitious work was a feat of filmmaking long before that. Gowariker — known for lengthy films with epic productions — spent close to a year months planning and filming “Lagaan” in India’s deserts, pushing the cast and crew to the edge before producing one of the most memorable, entertaining, and visually masterful films of the first century of Indian cinema. During a year of unbearable drought during Britain’s colonial rule, the villagers of Champaner place a bet on a cricket match; if the villagers win, they won’t pay farm taxes for three years, but if the British win — “teen guna lagaan” (triple tax).

The only catch is that cricket is a British game, so Bhuvan (Aamir Khan) sets out to assemble a team and learn the game, with the help with Englishwoman Elizabeth (Rachel Shelley) behind her brother’s back (Paul Blackthorne). It’s an underdog sports movie, revisionist history, and a damn good musical thanks to A.R. Rahman and choreographers Raju Khan, Vaibhavi Merchant, Saroj Khan, and Ganesh Hegde. Khan leads one of the biggest ensemble casts of the era, one that still made space for Shelley and Gracy Singh to carve out their own roles.

Available on YouTube.

3. “Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham” (2001, dir. Karan Johar)

I was inclined to include Johar’s first film, “Kuch Kuch Hota Hai,” currently IndieWire’s pick for the best romcom on Netflix, but this list needed a big family drama and nothing scratches that itch like “K3G.” The ultra wealthy Yash (Amitabh Bachchan) and Nandini (Jaya Bachchan) Raichand dote upon their two sons; adopted Rahul (Shah Rukh Khan) and the younger Rohan (Kavish Majmudar) — but when Rahul wants to marry the lower-class Anjali (Kajol), Yash disowns him on the spot. Ten years later, adult Rohan (Hrithik Roshan), aided by Anjali’s sister Pooja (Kareena Kapoor) embarks on a mission to unite his broken family.

And though it’s primarily a film about parents and children, “K3G” contains multitudes within; the love story of Rahul and Anjali (and Rani Mukherjee’s Naina, op), details of life in Chandni Chowk and later in London, the iconic character and dialogues embodied by Kapoor’s “Poo.” Not only is “K3G” an immensely enjoyable (and emotional) film and movie musical to boot, it’s also a crash course in cultural literacy that will give context to gifs and memes that have surely crossed your timeline while existing on the social internet. So what are you waiting for — Christmas?

Available on Netflix.

4. “Sholay” (1975, dir. Ramesh Sippy)

Modern Bollywood is known for its romance and joy, but the 1970s and ’80s of Hindi cinema belonged to anger, violence, and poignant action-adventure. Initially panned by critics, Ramesh Sippy’s “Sholay” (“Flames”) follows Jai (Amitabh) and Veeru (Dharmendra), two best friends and small time thugs who are enlisted by former police inspector Thakur (Sanjeev Kumar) to track down a vicious criminal named Gabbar Singh (Amjad Khan). What follows is a tale of friendship, love, tragedy, and revenge, an Indian masala Western that defined an era largely ruled by writers Salim Khan and Javed Akhtar. The songs add extra joy and vigor to a take if tragedy and terror (and Jai being extremely dramatic about his love life), with dance performances by Hema Malini and a Holi celebration. The first song, “Yeh Dosti,” became an instant anthem for close friendship, especially between men, so embedded in the DNA of Indian cinema now that you’ll instantly clock the parallels to “Dosti” from “RRR” (the title was deliberate — one of the soundtrack’s Hindi songs is even called “Sholay”).

Available on Tubi.

5. “Om Shanti Om” (2007, dir. Farah Khan)

A few years ago I would have firmly maintained that “Om Shanti Om” is not a film for beginners; after all, it’s a movie about the movies, with 30 years of Bollywood inside jokes, irony, and lore baked into the plot about background actor Om (Shah Rukh Khan) who falls in love with superstar Shanti (Deepika Padukone).

But facts are facts, and it is a fact that “Om Shanti Om” is one of the most raucously entertaining, edge-of-your seat Hindi film of its generation, that I could probably watch it on a loop for a very long time before I get bored, and that when I did show it to a couple of Bollywood newbies a few years ago, it killed. Khan’s second feature as director is heart-wrenching, goofy, and dazzling — the kind of movie that will have you screaming at twits and laughing through tears (sad and happy). Do yourself a favor and don’t look up the plot, but you can watch the trailer here (no subtitles, just vibes).

Available on Netflix.

6. “Bunty Aur Babli” (2005, dir. Shaad Ali)

Before I there was a “Bonnie and Clyde musical” there was “Bunty Aur Babli,” an equal parts irreverent and sincere movie musical about two small-town dreamers who find their calling as criminals. Rakesh (Abhishek Bachchan) and Vimmi (Rani Mukherji) meet while on their way to make it big in Mumbai, but when they start engaging in a few harmless heists to raise extra funds for the journey, they can’t get enough of the thrill. All seems well in love and larceny, but they’ll have to outrun D.C.P. Dashrath Singh (Amitabh Bachchan) if they want any hope of a future.

Bachchan and Mukherji crackled on screen together in the 2004 hit “Yuva,” but they really shine in the specific blend of heart and humor that thrums within “Bunty Aur Babli.” Bachchan was already known to be a gifted comic actor, while Mukherji pushes classic filmi melodrama to the exact point that it becomes comedy gold. Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy’s soundtrack kicks the film off with the propulsive “Dhadak Dhadak,” then goes on to deliver hits like the title song, “Nach Baliye,” and “Kajra Re” featuring Aishwarya Rai. The only thing this film is guilty of stealing is millions of hearts.

Available on Prime Video.

7. “Dil To Pagal Hai” (1997, dir. Yash Chopra)

There is a special joy in movie musicals that are about musicals. Rahul (Shah Rukh Khan) is the director of a theatrical company working on their next big production while fate seems to be pushing him to cross paths with Pooja (Madhuri Dixit-Nene). When lead dancer Nisha (Karisma Kapoor) — who happens to be in love with Rahul — bows out from an injury, Pooja steps in and sparks fly in rehearsal, but no one in the company knows that she’s engaged. Uttam Singh’s soundtrack was an instant classic, from the brilliant opening number (choreographed by Shiamak Davar) to sweet melodies like “Bholi Si Surat” and “Dholna” and the irresistible hook of “Arre re Arre,” which echoes throughout the film on different instruments and Rahul’s signature whistle.

It’s a movie that takes place largely on sets and in studios, where character and chemistry hurtle into the spotlight and never leave. If you need convincing, check out this sequence where Rahul first sees Pooja dancing; with no words exchanged and not a single shared frame between them, the characters find an instant rhythm while Khan and Dixit-Nene exude Bollywood intrigue and desire through just their eyes and body language.

Available on Prime Video.

8. “Omkara” (2006, dir. Vishal Bhardwaj)

Should “Othello” be a musical? How the heck would that even work? Allow the answer to come from Hindi cinema’s Bard whisperer, who also adapted Macbeth into “Maqbool” and Hamlet into “Haider.” “Omkara” is the superior entry in Bhardwaj’s Shakespeare trilogy, starring Ajay Devgn as the titular antihero who runs off with a woman of a higher caste (Kareena Kapoor). Only two musical numbers actually take place in the movie (I’m stretching the rules but heck, I made the rules): “Beedi” and “Namak,” both performed by Bipasha Basu as the performer Billo — and both advancing the plot of the film’s criminal activity while its personal drama hurtles toward certain doom. Bhardwaj marries arthouse and mainstream cinema in this movie, and you really haven’t experienced true culture until you watch a woman shimmy to suggestive lyrics while Iago (Saif Ali Khan’s Ishwar a.k.a. Langda) tries to frame Cassio (Vivek Oberoi’s Kesu) at a child’s birthday party.

Available on Prime Video.

9. “Devdas” (2002, dir. Sanjay Leela Bhansali)

If you’re going to dive into the Bollywood deep end, why not do it in style? I’ve compared Bhansali to Baz Luhrmann for those unfamiliar with his work, a master of visual splendor even when his stories aren’t as strong. “Devdas” is a strong enough script, based on the novel by Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay, the story of childhood sweethearts Dev (Shah Rukh Khan) and Paro (Aishwarya Rai) who are torn apart by their families. With Rai in the lead and Madhuri Dixit-Nene playing the courtesan Chandramukhi, the dancing was always going to be magnificent — and then there’s Ismail Darbar’s soundtrack, Nitin Chandrakant Desai’s production design, and a team of talented costumers encasing our leads in glorious, glittering finery. Even the less flashy songs are bangers, from the sexy “Morey Piya” (intercut with some embarrassing mom antics) to the anthem of any night out with the boys (except maybe that ending).

Available on Apple TV (I recommend splurging on the HD).

10. “Kal Ho Naa Ho” (2003, dir. Nikhil Advani)

Though he’s not in the director’s chair, Karan Johar’s stamp is all over this packed feature, which gets darker with the family drama, more complex with the romance, and is full of absurd side quests like a blind date comedy of errors, gold digging marriage setup, and homophobic housekeeper. Do you hear, me, musical fans? It’s CAMPY. It’s INTENSE. It’s — well, as I describe this bizarre juxtaposition, it sort of sounds like “Glee?” Let’s get back on track.

Naina (Preity Zinta) is a serious and focused M.B.A. student in New York City whose life is upended by the arrival of new neighbor Aman (Shah Rukh Khan) — “upended” here meaning “significantly improved” in that he brings joy to her entire family and even teaches Miss “Chashmish” how to smile again. But as Naina falls for Aman, he tries to set her up with best friend Rohit (Saif Ali Khan), all while harboring a secret that will destroy his entire makeshift family. It’s another album full of Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy bops, filmed to showcase the New York of dreams (not to mention an eclectic night club and engagement ceremony for the ages).