MUBI's Essential Indian Cinema

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Created by Fergenaprido.

Favorited 4 times, disliked 0 times, added to 1 watchlist.

Many thanks to user Krish Sanghvi for this list, who says:

“These films cover the entire range of Indian cinema, from early works to contemporary film; from mainstream Bollywood to more art house cinema; and are aimed to be representative of the themes Indian cinema represents, as well as include full length feature films and documentaries. The list, according to me, is what anybody who wants to familiarise themselves with the best of Indian cinema should watch.”

Missing from imdb: #103 Shores of Silence (Mike Pandey 2010). Gangs of Wasseypur is considered two separate films on MUBI, at #106 & #108.

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  1. 1 new

    Raja Harishchandra

    1913, in 3 top lists Check
  2. 2 new

    Neecha Nagar

    1946, in 1 top list Check
  3. 3 new

    The River

    1951, in 9 top lists Check
  4. 4 new

    Do Bigha Zamin

    1953, in 4 top lists Check
  5. 5 new

    Boot Polish

    1954, in 1 top list Check
  6. 6 new

    Pather Panchali

    1955, in 21 top lists Check
  7. 7 new

    Pyaasa

    1957, in 10 top lists Check
  8. 8 new

    Ajantrik

    1958 — a.k.a. Pathetic Fallacy, in 5 top lists Check
  9. 9 new

    Do Ankhen Barah Haath

    1957, in 2 top lists Check
  10. 10 new

    Kaagaz Ke Phool

    1959 — a.k.a. Paper Flowers, in 6 top lists Check
  11. 11 new

    Meghe Dhaka Tara

    1960 — a.k.a. The Cloud-Capped Star, in 12 top lists Check
  12. 12 new

    Mughal-E-Azam

    1960 — a.k.a. The Emperor of the Mughals, in 8 top lists Check
  13. 13 new

    Kanchenjungha

    1962, in 1 top list Check
  14. 14 new

    Charulata

    1964 — a.k.a. The Lonely Wife, in 10 top lists Check
  15. 15 new

    Guide

    1965, in 3 top lists Check
  16. 16 new

    L'Inde fantôme

    1969 — a.k.a. Phantom India, in 4 top lists Check
  17. 17 new

    Bhuvan Shome

    1969 — a.k.a. Mr. Shome, in 4 top lists Check
  18. 18 new

    Mera Naam Joker

    1970, in 1 top list Check
  19. 19 new

    Samskara

    1970 — a.k.a. Funeral Rites, in 2 top lists Check
  20. 20 new

    Anand

    1971, in 2 top lists Check
  21. 21 new

    Pakeezah

    1972 — a.k.a. Pure Heart, in 6 top lists Check
  22. 22 new

    Maya Darpan

    1972 — a.k.a. Mirror of Illusion, in 2 top lists Check
  23. 23 new

    Titas Ekti Nodir Naam

    1973 — a.k.a. A River Called Titas, in 3 top lists Check
  24. 24 new

    Garm Hava

    1974 — a.k.a. Scorching Winds, in 2 top lists Check
  25. 25 new

    Ankur

    1974 — a.k.a. Ankur: The Seedling, in 4 top lists Check
  26. 26 new

    Shaitaan

    1974, in 0 top lists Check
  27. 27 new

    Sholay

    1975 — a.k.a. Embers, in 11 top lists Check
  28. 28 new

    Deewaar

    1975, in 2 top lists Check
  29. 29 new

    Ghatashraddha

    1977 — a.k.a. The Ritual, in 2 top lists Check
  30. 30 new

    Agraharathil Kazhuthai

    1977 — a.k.a. Donkey in a Brahmin Village, in 1 top list Check
  31. 31 new

    Prisoners of Conscience

    1978, in 0 top lists Check
  32. 32 new

    Ek Din Pratidin

    1979 — a.k.a. And Quiet Rolls the Dawn, in 0 top lists Check
  33. 33 new

    Kummatty

    1979 — a.k.a. The Bogeyman, in 2 top lists Check
  34. 34 new

    Satah Se Uthata Aadmi

    1980, in 1 top list Check
  35. 35 new

    Gandhi

    1982, in 15 top lists Check
  36. 36 new

    Namkeen

    1982, in 0 top lists Check
  37. 37 new

    Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro

    1983 — a.k.a. Who Pays the Piper, in 3 top lists Check
  38. 38 new

    A Passage to India

    1984, in 5 top lists Check
  39. 39 new

    Khandhar

    1984 — a.k.a. The Ruins, in 0 top lists Check
  40. 40 new

    Mati Manas

    1985 — a.k.a. The Mind of Clay, in 1 top list Check
  41. 41 new

    Salaam Bombay!

    1988, in 9 top lists Check
  42. 42 new

    Pushpaka Vimana

    1987, in 0 top lists Check
  43. 43 new

    In Which Annie Gives It Those Ones

    1989, in 0 top lists Check
  44. 44 new

    Ek Din Achanak

    1989 — a.k.a. Suddenly, One Day, in 0 top lists Check
  45. 45 new

    Antarjali Jatra

    1987, in 0 top lists Check
  46. 46 new

    Roja

    1992, in 1 top list Check
  47. 47 new

    Charachar

    1994 — a.k.a. Shelter of the Wings, in 1 top list Check
  48. 48 new

    Bandit Queen

    1994, in 5 top lists Check
  49. 49 new

    Bombay

    1995, in 2 top lists Check
  50. 50 new

    Fire

    1996, in 2 top lists Check
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Last updated on Apr 2, 2020; source