Novel Based Bollywood Movies That Are Actually Worth Watching
Bollywood takes its inspiration from varied areas, and books are still among the top! But, all the book lovers out there know that films hardly do justice to the beauty of written words. Once you have read the book, watching a movie based on it is almost always a disastrous experience! The book is always better right?
Yes. But here are a few movies that have still met the expectations with amazing cast and direction to bring our favorite books to life on the big screen. All things considered, they perform equally well when compared to books, if not better. Here are some novel based Bollywood movies that are actually worth watching.
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3 idiots (Five Point Someone)
This highly entertaining comedy sends a strong message focusing on the rotten education system, where cramming the exact definition seems more important than understanding the concepts. 3 idiots is based on the novel ‘Five Point Someone’ by Chetan Bhagat – where three engineering students struggle to survive college life while fighting the draconian school system. The movie will make you double up in laughter while also expertly showcasing the anxiety and pressure on students who cannot afford just ratta maar the book.
In the end, Aamir Khan as Rancho teaches us the importance of calming the heart by saying, ‘Aal izz well’ and running after self-growth instead of success.
Beta qabil bano qabil. Kamyabi toh sali jhak maar ke tumhare peeche ayegi.
Maqbool (Macbeth)
Maqbool is one of the best film versions of Shakespeare’s Macbeth and is indeed an unforgettable masterpiece. This movie brought together the finest actors in Indian cinema, such as Irrfan Khan, Tabu, Naseeruddin Shah, and Om Puri, along with the brilliance of the filmmaker Vishal Bharadwaj. Set against the backdrop of Mumbai’s underworld, the movie tells the story of the rise and fall of a powerful don. Maqbool, a cinematic treat, made both Shakespeare and Irrfan Khan a household name in India.
This film is a treasure and stands out with its powerful display of emotions and a super engaging script.
Ya toh goli maar ya gale aake mil.
Haider (Hamlet)
Haider is a tragic film that tells the tale of a young poet and student who returns to Kashmir when his father disappears. The movie is inspired by the book Hamlet written by William Shakespeare. Shahid Kapoor does justice to the film’s storyline by adapting a rough-edged attitude and a rugged look that goes with the trauma that follows. The mother-son duo struggles to come to terms with Haider’s father, and the movie expertly shows the dark side of the Kashmir conflict that is mostly left out of films.
Bringing real-life grievance to the big screen, Haider is a story of betrayal, existential crisis, and revenge that leaves the audience gripping the edge of their seat.
Jab tak hum inteqaam se azaad nahi honge na, koi azaadi humein azaad nahi kar sakti.
The Blue Umbrella (The Blue Umbrella)
The Blue Umbrella, which won the National Film Award for Best Children’s Film, is a treat to the eyes. Based on Ruskin Bond’s book of the same name, this movie tells a simple, sweet story of a little girl and her love for her blue umbrella. When some Japanese tourists gift Binya, a little girl, a fancy blue umbrella, she becomes quite famous in her village. Everyone loves the umbrella and is happy for Biniya, except for one old shopkeeper who wants to acquire the umbrella at all costs. Needless to say, the problems begin.
Ruskin Bond has a magical way of telling stories, and Vishal Bharadwaj is skilled in bringing it to the big screen. Combining the two talents made The Blue Umbrella a piece of art.
Aatma ki shaanti mei nafa nukhsan nahi dekha jata.
Devdas (Devdas)
Written in 1917 by Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay, the brilliancy of Devdas can be judged by the sheer number of Bollywood movie adaptions to its name. This story is about two childhood sweethearts and soulmates whose love suffers under India’s rigid class structure. Shahrukh Khan, the king of romance, was perfect as the lead character taking to the bottle after their love crumbled under societal pressure. The end scene, where the married Paro leaves everything and runs up to the dying Devdas, has a lot of hearts bleeding to date.
Devdas is not only a brilliant work of literature but also a cinematic genius. People make great efforts to alleviate their pain, and this movie follows an exemplary path to depict this.
Kon kambakht bardaasht karne ko peeta hai? Hum toh peete hain ki yahan par baith sakein, tumhe dekh sakein, tumhe bardaasht kar sakein.
The Namesake (The Namesake)
The movie brings the first-generation immigrant experiences to the big screen – the cultural shock, the yearning for love, and the fight with lost identities. A truly sad and heart-wrenching film, The Namesake is based on a best-selling novel of the same name by Jhumpa Lahiri. Growing up in a country and moving to a whole new place with basically everything happening quite the opposite to what you are used to is not an easy job. Flipping between both worlds and the emotional toll it causes is the crux of this movie.
The second generation born in a foreign country and growing up with totally different views forms a huge gap in the family – where traditional and modern collide and keeping the family together becomes a task.
Pack a pillow and blanket. Go see the world. You will never regret it, Gogol.
Masoom (Man, Woman, and Child)
Masoom is a tear-jerking story of a man, his wife, and his illegitimate child with another woman. Based on the novel – Man, Woman, and Child by Erich Segal – this Bollywood movie is one of the best ones of its time. Masoom rides an emotional roller coaster, testing the bonds of love and marriage while also showing a child’s existential crisis who has no one to call a family. On the one hand, the kid runs to his father after his mother dies; on the other hand, the wife is naturally not happy with this addition to the family, who serves as a reminder of her husband’s betrayal.
This movie covers the multiple perspectives of the title, showing multiple characters as masoom. While the woman and the child have all the rights to behave the way they do, the man too wears his pain and suffering – portraying a deeply sad character.
Tujhse naraz nahi zindagi, hairan hoon mai.
Kai Po Che (Three Mistakes of My Life)
A story of three friends who are inseparable for life but can their bond survive in the face of adversities? Kai Po Che!, a Gujrati term meaning ‘I’ve cut the kite!’ is a movie based on Chetan Bhagat’s novel – ‘The Three Mistakes of My Life’. The movie talks about everything from aspirations, falling down, and rising back up to love and heartbreak. Kai Po Che is an ode to friendship and young adults who struggle to leave a mark on this world with their dreams and diligence.
When one falls down, the other is present to help him get back up and cheer on along the journey of growth – that is the magic friends possess and the movie showcases.
Jeet kabhi, haar kabhi. Gham toh yaaron honge do pal k mehmaan.
Guide (The Guide)
The guide was a romantic drama that was released in 1965 and is unquestionably one of the best films Bollywood has ever produced. The movie is based on a novel – ‘The Guide’ – written by R.K. Narayan. Starring the best actors in the lead role, Dev Anand and Waheeda Rehman, the popularity of the film gained a cult following. Back in the day, the only options an unhappily married woman had were to either bear it or commit suicide. The movie sheds light on the desperation of women in such circumstances.
Guide splendidly worked to shatter societal rules of the times and turned into a gem we still remember today.
Lagta hai aaj har ichcha puri hogi. Par maza dekho, aaj koi ichcha hi nahi rahi.
Raazi (Calling Sehmat)
This spy thriller film is based on the true story of a young Indian Kashmiri spy married to a Pakistani officer. Calling Sehmat, the book inspiring the movie, was written by Harinder S. Sikka and is set around the Indo-Pakistani war of 1971. Highly inspiring, the young spy played by Alia Bhatt in the movie sacrifices all of herself and the remainder of her family to fulfill her father’s dying wish and serve the nation. The terrific performances and the storyline left a lasting print on the people’s hearts across the borders.
Utterly heartbreaking, the movie showcases the casualties of war that not only destroy people on the outside but also leave them devastated inside.
Jung mei nukhsaan sirf jaan ka nahi hota… Kabhi kabhi casualties in war zinda
bhi reh jaate hain.
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Also, read:
Popular Movie And TV Series Adaptations That Did Justice To Their Original Novels
Bollywood Characters Who Deserve Better On The Romantic Front
Entertainment
The Most Versatile Disney+ Hotstar Web Series
Disney+Hotstar has one of the most varied kinds of catalogs when it comes to web-series. When it comes to choosing a web series for casual viewing or binge-watching, one can get too overwhelmed as to which web series to watch. Recently different kinds of web series streamed on Disney+Hotstar, that you can stream, ranging from spine-chilling thrillers to hilarious comedies.
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The Most Versatile Disney+ Hotstar Web Series
Rudra: The Edge of Darkness
A psychopath goes on a spree targeting Mumbai police, murdering uniformed officers. The only way Rudra can reach him is by rendering himself the killer’s victim. Rudra can review a past case in which a member of a cult suspected of murder resurfaces after more than ten years of hiding, abducting, and murdering women to suck their blood.
The Freelancer
Inspired by the book ‘A Ticket To Syria,’ an ex-police officer turned freelance Avinash Kamath, aka ‘The Freelancer, undertakes the difficult job of rescuing Aliya, a freshly married girl stranded in devastated by war Syria amid the background of increasing ISIS terrorism.
Aarya
The illicit drug mafia and unlawful groups intend to kill his entire family. In reaction, Aarya joined the gangs. The show follows her road towards becoming a crime queen who wants revenge on the people who killed her spouse. In addition, she looks for her three children.
Pam & Tommy
Pam & Tommy tells Pamela Anderson and Tommy Lee’s troubled three-year marriage, with a focus on the burglary and illegal sale and distribution of an iconic sex tape that the pair secretly recorded during their honeymoon.
Criminal Justice
The series follows Aditya Sharma’s (Vikrant Massey) life after he is wrongfully convicted of killing Sanaya Rath (Madhurima Roy). The series is divided into ten episodes. The series begins by presenting Aditya Sharma, a cab driver of a middle-class family.
Saas Bahu Aur Flamingo
A family led by a tough grandmother runs the biggest drug organization in South Asia, deep within the mythological surroundings of Runjh Pradesh. Rani Cooperative, which advertises itself as a homeopathic and doll-making business, is a successful and wealthy business run solely by women.
Special Ops
The narrative features Himmat Singh from the Research and Analysis Wing, who notices identical trends in terrorist incidents and believes a single individual is responsible for all of them. His task force consisting of five agents who reside in different regions of the world seeks to capture the mastermind.
The Great Indian Murder
Popular Vicky Rai, a Delhi industrialist, gets involved in the rape and murder of two underage girls. Vicky throws a celebration after his release from jail. Jagannath Rai is disappointed by the CM and wants Vicky’s assistance in taking revenge. In this current day, police apprehend two killing suspects who have guns on them.
Taaza Khabar
Vasya’s life in the slums is difficult. His sole relief and love interest is Madhu, an illicit prostitute. One day, his charity is repaid as he receives an elderly lady’s blessings. Only Vasya’s buddy Peter trusts in his condition, and they decide to use his newfound authority by attempting to sell an antique vase.
The Night Manager
Shantanu ‘Shaan’ Sengupta, a retired Lieutenant from the Indian Navy, is now employed as a night manager in a five-star hotel in Dhaka, Bangladesh during the Rohingya genocide in 2017. Safina Kidwai, a 14-year-old girl wedded to the famous hotel’s main owner, Freddie Rehman, approaches Shaan for help in escaping to India. After his refusal, she grabs his phone and secretly records a discussion involving Shailendra ‘Shelly’ Rungta and her spouse about purchasing and importing illicit weapons into Bangladesh.
Entertainment
Highest Grossing Indian Movies of All Time
Highest Grossing Indian Movies of All Time
India is the country which produces the highest number of films in the world in a year.
This happens because of the different states and languages that are present in the country, which often help our country to showcase the variation of stories that we have and the range that we have which often end up making a huge mark in the global charts. Today we will discuss these films.
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2.0 (2018)
10th number on our Highest grossing Indian movies of all time list. 2.0 a follow-up to Shankar’s Robot (2010) is called 2.0. In that movie, a robot becomes conscious, believes humans are a lower species, and becomes determined to rule the entire planet. The current movie centers on Chitti’s rebirth during the “fifth force” attack on the planet. The film opens with an elderly ornithologist named Pakshirajan (Akshay Kumar) taking his own life. From that day forward, odd things continue to occur.
People’s mobile phones in Chennai seem to fly away from one another. Subsequently, cell phones are implicated as a killing weapon in two murders: the chief of a wireless service provider and the largest mobile dealer in the city. Investigative support is requested from the scientific community.
Secret Superstar (2017)
Insia comes from a rather traditional household, despite her intense love for music. Her mother quietly permits her to pursue her love of singing, even if her father forbids her from developing her gift.
She starts sharing her songs online under aliases and becomes well-known across the country, even among music business insiders. Her struggle to become independent and pursue her goal of becoming a musician is depicted in the film.
PK (2014)
PK is a situation-driven comedy about an outsider in the city, PK (Aamir Khan) who asks questions no one else has. The questions are innocent, child-like queries, yet the answers are disastrous. People who have been stuck in their ways of life for generations have to rethink the world around them when they see it through PK’s innocent eyes.
In the process, PK makes both devoted friends and powerful rivals. Heals broken lives and enrages the structure of society. P. K.’s naive curiosity leads to a spiritual journey for him as well as hundreds of thousands of others.
The movie is a daring and creative study of complicated philosophical ideas. It additionally serves as a simple and heartfelt story about love, laughter, and letting go. Finally, it’s a touching story about a bond between strangers.
Animal (2018)
Ranvijay Singh Balbir returns after eight years to protect his father Balbir Singh following an attempt on his life, which leads him to discover the darkest secrets of his family.
The film is a love story between the character of Ranvijay Singh Balbir, played by Ranbir Kapoor, and his father, Balbir Singh, played by Anil Kapoor.
Bajrangi Bhaijaan (2015)
Pawan, a devoted Indian Hindu meets a mute Pakistani Muslim girl named Munni. Pawan grows a more accepting, compassionate man as an outcome of Munni’s positive impact. Bajrangi Bhaijaan brings two people from very different origins together in an alternate father-daughter friendship. Of course, Pawan faces numerous challenges in bringing Munni home.
There are as many bitter situations to watch in Bajrangi Bhaijaan as there are good moments. It’s an extremely moving experience that promotes peace among individuals.
Pathaan (2023)
Indian Intelligence agent “Pathaan” (Shah Rukh Khan) learns of a huge upcoming attack on India, carried out by a hired killer squad lead by the brutal mystery Jim (John Abraham), who has his history.
With the doom clock ticking and his only possible friend, agent Rubai (Deepika Padukone), Pathaan must fight multiple deceit and confront destruction as he fights Jim.
Jawan (2023)
A guy is motivated by an agenda to right injustices in society while upholding an agreement he made years before. He encounters a fearless terrible outlaw who has brought immense distress to many.
KGF: 2 (2022)
The blood-soaked kingdom of Kolar Gold Fields now has a new ruler, Rocky, whose name instills dread in his opponents. His allies look to him as a rescuer, the authorities regard him as an enemy, and his opponents demand vengeance.
RRR (2022)
A courageous rebel and a British officer who once had a profound friendship choose to join the forces and create an inspiring road of freedom against dictatorial regimes.
Dangal (2016)
At the top position of Highest grossing Indian movies of all time list is none other than Dangal. Mahavir Singh Phogat, a former professional wrestler, chooses to pursue his goal of earning a gold medal for his nation by training both of his daughters in the Commonwealth Games, despite prevailing social stigmas.
Entertainment
Alia Bhatt’s Stellar Filmography
Alia Bhatt is one of the most prolific Bollywood Actresses in the contemporary space of Bollywood, who has also ventured into Hollywood last year. She has proved her talent through numerous films and started her career at the mere age of 19 with the Karan Johar directorial Student of the Year (2011).
Known for her depictions of women in challenging scenarios, she has won several accolades, including a National Film Award and six Filmfare Awards. She is one of India’s highest-paid actresses of Bollywood, appearing on Forbes India’s Celebrity 100 list since 2014 and receiving the Time100 Impact Award in 2022. Today, on her special day, we will take a look at the most celebrated Alia Bhatt movies in Bollywood.
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Alia Bhatt’s Stellar Filmography
2 States (2013)
A romantic journey of a culturally contrasting couple, Krish Malhotra and Ananya Swaminathan. They meet at IIM-Ahmedabad College and fall in love while participating in the program. Complications emerge when the program ends and they decide to marry. Krish and Ananya are from separate states in India. Krish, a North Indian Punjabi kid from Delhi, and Ananya, a Tamil Brahmin from Chennai.
They make an intentional decision: they will not marry until both of their parents agree. Everything goes wrong once the parents meet. There is a dispute over culture, and the parents are against the wedding.
To turn their love tale into a loving marriage, the pair must confront a difficult challenge. Because it is simple to put up barriers and resist, but far more difficult to persuade.
Badrinath Ki Dulhania (2017)
Badri, the rich man’s son, encounters Vaidehi during a wedding, and flames flare between them. However, when he desires little more than to marry her, she wishes to follow her ambition of becoming an air hostess.
Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahaani (2023)
Dhanlaxmi Randhawa is a prideful businesswoman who considers her spouse Kanwal to be a loser and never allows her son Tijori to get attached to him. Kanwal was involved in an accident and was confined to a wheelchair for the rest of his life.
Years later, he experiences certain occurrences in his life and uses the name Jamini. The doctors encourage them to trace Jamini since it could help them regain their grandfather/father. Rocky, his grandson who is considerably closer to him, tracks down Jamini Chatterjee and discovers that her granddaughter is Rani Chatterjee, a popular anchor.
Rocky sees Rani tells her about Kanwal and asks her grandmother whether she knows him. Rani doesn’t take him seriously, but Jamini reveals the truth.
Raazi (2018)
Raazi is amongst the most critically acclaimed Alia Bhatt movies. During the 1971 India-Pakistan conflict, Hidayat Khan, a freedom fighter, worked as an agent for the Indian government, providing information about Pakistan.
Hidayat Khan hopes that his 20-year-old daughter Sehmat continues to carry on his legacy, as death may call him at any time due to his blood tumors. Sehmat agrees to continue her father’s cultural heritage and is trained by Senior Officer Khalid Mir and his assistant Bakshi.
Hidyat is on friendly terms with Brigadier Parvez Syed, a Pakistani army officer, and chooses to marry Sehmat to his younger son, Iqbal Syed, who is also an army officer.
Sehmat works to settle into her newlywed status and gain the trust of her family, while simultaneously learning important intelligence about Pakistan’s plans against India, which she sends on through various intermediaries. But Sehmat is constantly skeptical of the house’s devoted cook Abdul. Will she be able to do her job?
Darlings (2018)
Badrunissa (Badru) and Hamza are deeply in love and intend to marry after Hamza receives a government job as a T. C (Ticket Collector) in Indian Railways. Still, Badru’s mother, Shamshunissa, is not pleased with her decision.
Three years later, things are not going well between Badru and Hamza since he has become an alcoholic and frequently hits Badru, demanding that she live according to his rules. He is also opposed to his building’s renovation proposal. Shamshunissa is well conscious of her daughter’s regular mistreatment and wishes for her to return home, but Badru remains hopeful that Hamza will change one day.
Zulfi, a common acquaintance of Badru and Shamshunissa, complains to law enforcement about Hamza being a wife abuser, but with his sweet talk, Hamza persuades Badru to withdraw the accusation. On their trip home, Hamza strikes Shamshunissa, and Badru is forced to choose between her mother and her husband, ultimately choosing Hamza, causing both mom and daughter to cut connections.
A couple of days later, Badru learns of her upcoming pregnancy and joins Shamshunissa at the very same time Hamza learns through Inspector Jadhav that Zulfi has filed a complaint against him, and Badru is well aware of it. Hamza fears a sexual relationship between them and throws Badru downstairs, causing her to miscarry.
However, Badru continues to stay there; she intends to hold Hamza hostage in their home and torment him in the same way he tortured her. This is Alia’s first OTT project but this series was no less than any Alia Bhatt movies and her performance was praised.
Udta Punjab (2016)
What might a rock superstar, a migrant worker, a doctor, and a cop have something in common? Simple, Punjab! Udta Punjab brings you on an unforgettable journey with four lives and one bond. Shahid Kapoor, Kareena Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, and Diljit Dosanjh play people from all walks of life who each tackle the drug curse in their unique way.
The film explores the manufactured highs and actual lows that they encounter while traveling down dangerous routes. But most importantly, Udta Punjab is about the legendary Punjabi spirit, which, despite being completely down, has the nerve to stare you in the eye.
Gangubai Kathiawadi (2022)
Gangubai most recent and most successful among Alia Bhatt movies. A small girl gets sold to Rashmibai’s brothel and forced to work in the prostitution trade. When the girl refuses to accept, Rashmibai feels compelled to seek the assistance of Gangubai Kathiawadi. Gangubai Kathiawadi, also known as Ganga, desired to become an actress and fled to Mumbai with her fiance Ramnik, who sold her to Shelia Masi’s brothel.
Gangubai had little choice but to become a prostitute, but she earned the respect of other women because she would be their primary support in their fight against Sheila Masi. Gangubai eventually forms a brotherly friendship with Don Rahim Lala. Gangubai quickly established herself as the mafia queen and aimed to improve women’s lives in her town. She chooses to enter politics, but she faces a formidable opponent in Raziabai.
Highway (2014)
A city girl, youthful and full of life, is on a highway at late midnight with her fiancé. Suddenly, her life changes from the shiny jewels of marriage to the gruesome brutality of kidnapping.
Her life will not be ever the same again. The gang is terrified; the girl is a wealthy industrialist’s daughter, and his connections in the halls of power make compensation impossible. However, for the leader of this organization, giving her back is not a choice. As the days pass, the countryside changes and the girl believes she has undergone shifts as well.
Slowly, a weird link forms involving the person being oppressed and the one who oppresses her. For the first time in her imprisonment, she feels carefree, happy, and peaceful.
So which one is your favorite among the above-mentioned Alia Bhatt movies? Let us know in the comments.
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