In continuation of my last weekend blog on the best 25 films of the first 25 years of the 21st century, here are the balance 13 films:
13 Gangs of Wasseypur 1 & 2
Anurag Kashyap’s grim multi-generational revenge saga centred on the coal mafia of Dhanbad and gave Bollywood a glimpse of what rural India is really like. Excellent acting by the ensemble cast led by Manoj Bajpai.
Available on YouTube.
14 Kahani
Sujoy Ghosh’s complex thriller had a pregnant woman (Vidya Balan) come from London Kolkata to look for missing husband, and everyone she meets tells her he didn’t exist. A female-centric film, outside of the mainstream format turned out to be huge success, showing that a leading lady couls attract the audience too.
Available on Prime Video.
15 Queen
Vikas Bahl’s charming film had a low-key feminist plot about a woman (Kangana Ranaut), who gets jilted by her fiancé just before wedding, but she decides to proceed solo to Paris on her honeymoon, and discover for herself and life outside her sheltered existence.
Available on Prime Video.
16 Bajirao Mastani
Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s epic historical love between a Maratha Peshwa (Ranveer Singh) and a courtesan (Deepika Padukone) that his dutiful wife(Priyaka Chopra) accepts, was one of his trilogy with Singh (along with Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ramleela and Padmavat), who transformed physically and worked on his Marathi accent.
Available on Eros.
17 Raazi
Meghna Gulzar’s film was a suspenseful, patriotic thriller about young woman (Alia Bhatt) who willingly marry a Pakistani military officer (Vicky Kaushal), so that she can spy for her country during the 1971 war. The film cemented Meghana Gulzar’s career as a capable mainstream director and Alia Bhatt as a confirmed audience magnet.
Available on Apple TV
18 Haider
The strongest of Vishal Bhardwaj’s Shakespeare adaptions (Maqbool and Omkara being the others), this one based on Hamlet and starred Shahid Kapoor in the title role, along with Tabu and Kay Kay Menon. It was set in the conflict-ridden Kashmir of 1990s.
Available on Zee5
19 Bajrangi Bhaijaan
Kabir Khan’s Tiger films may have set spy universe buzzing, but the humanism of an Indian man (Salman Khan), embarking on a journey to return a mute Pakistani girl (Harshaali Malhotra) to her home in Pakistan, was deeply moving.
Available on Netflix
20 Dangal
Nitesh Tiwari’s film based on the true story of the Phogat sisters, starred Aamir Khan as a former wrestler who trains his daughters (Sanya Malhotra and Fatima Sana Sheikh) to become world class wrestler. This is one of the highest grossing Indian films of all time, largely due to its success in China.
Available on Netflix
21 Stree
Amar Kaushik’s horror comedy started the trend for films based on Indian folk legends. Set in small town of Chanderi, the manfolk live in fear of an evil female spirit that abducts men. A local tailor(Rajkumar Rao) falls for mysterious woman (Shraddha Kapoor), who, his friends, may be a ghost. The film’s sequel Stree 2 also did great business.
Available on Prime Video, and JioHotstar
22 Gangubai Kathiawadi
Alia Bhatt plays a woman sold into flesh trade, who refuses to bow down to her circumstances. Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s film gave the actress one of the best role of her career, for which she won a national Award.
Available on Netflix
23 Laapataa Ladies
Kiran Rao tells a sweet, gentle comedy about two brides (Nitanshi Goel and Pratibha Rana) who get exchanged because of their similar ghoonghats. They then find their inner strength and reclaim their fates.
Available on Netflix
24 Homebound
Neeraj Ghaywan’s Massan heralded a brave new voice, but Homeland-long listed for Oscars-is a searing portrayal of caste and religion-based discrimination in India through the eyes of two young men , played by Ishaan Khatter and Vishal Jethwa.
Available on Netflix.
25 Dhurandhar
Divided between those who disliked the violence and political agenda and those who appreciated the story telling and craft of Aditya Dar’s blockbuster tells the story of a spy (Ranveer Singh) who infiltrates the underworld of Lyari, Karachi (Pakistan), to expose the nexus between gangs, cops, politicians, ISI and terrorists. Akshaye Khanna steals the show as Rehman Dakait, a gangster. Part 2 of this film is being released during March 2026.
Should be available on Netflix from 30th Jan 2026.
Anil Malik
Mumbai, India
30th January 2026