Before I went to India I was so excited… I was always looking for movies to watch so I could start feeling like I was there and to learn about the culture. Yet I found it hard to find good recommendations.
Most of the articles I found were about 10 obvious films about India but in this post, I wanted to share a big list for the casual movie lover to the hardcore film buff. Here we go…
50. Jobs, 2013.
Since you may be a digital nomad too, we’ll start with a film about a man that has definitely made an impact on our lives.
Steve Jobs traveled to India in 1974 and there’s one montage that takes you through that trip. You can watch Ashton Kutcher near tourist hotspots like the Red Fort and Chandi Chowk in Old Delhi. Also, locations include Delhi’s Jama Masjid, the Hauz Khas Complex, Safdarjung Tomb and Humayun’s Tomb.
At one point, Steve is sitting outside what appears to be an ashram and his friend reads him a wise line from Paramahansa Yogananda,
“Be as simple as you can be; you will be astonished to see how uncomplicated and happy your life can become.”
Paramahansa Yogananda
Then you go on to watch the genius and tragedy of Steve Job’s life and accomplishments.
Directed by Joshua Michael Stern.
Good for: Digital nomads looking to make a dent in the universe.
49. Million Dollar Arm, 2014.
This one’s like Jerry Maguire meets the Bad News Bears, haha.
It does have some good cultural references to India and you see Jon Hamm tour the country looking for cricket players who can play baseball. He does find two young players and takes them to Los Angeles, with their often hilarious manager.
You watch them struggle with the new culture and of course have some warm fuzzy feelings as they try to make it in the major leagues.
There may or may not be a love interest for Hamm as well. 😏
Good for: Sports fans who want Jerry Maguire 2. It also has a family-friendly happy ending.
48. Wee Willie Winkie, 1937.
My dad used to tell me about Shirley Temple, a famous child actor way back in the day. Here she lives in Northern India with her widowed mother and grandfather who’s in the military.
There’s a rebellion brewing against the British rule throughout the film and it shows you what it might look like from the perspective of the main character, Priscilla WIlliams (Shirley Temple).
John Ford is the director and he also made Stagecoach, one of the films on most film students watch. He’s won 4 Oscars and is famous for working with John Wayne on many Westerns.
Good for: Classic film fans who don’t mind an annoyingly high-pitched voice. Also it’s a family-friendly movie.
47. Harry Black and the Tiger, 1958.
India has Bengal tigers and in this film, one terrorizes a village. Former British Army Major Harry Black rescues the village by hunting the tiger and runs into a love triangle.
During the hunt, he runs into his former wife who is now remarried. Her new husband knew Major Black in World War Two when they were both prisoners.
Of course, Harry still loves his ex-wife and tries to win her back.
Good for: Classic film fans who want a mature love story mixed with action and adventure.
46. City of Joy, 1992.
Patrick Swayze stars as Max Lowe who arrives in Calcutta at the same time as a local family.
Max, a Houston-based surgeon, searches for spiritual enlightenment while the family has just lost their farm and is searching for a better life in the city. They also want to build a dowry for their daughter who now old enough to marry.
Their lives converge by chance in a slum neighborhood nicknamed the City of Joy.
Good for: Digital nomads who might be heading to India to get away from family or other obligations.
45. Marigold, 2007.
This is a romantic musical comedy, so wasn’t my personal favorite. It stars a young American actress who’s career has stalled. She’s mostly made B movie sequels, yet arrives in India expecting to be treated like a superstar.
She falls in love with Bollywood, lands a minor role and starts to become romantically intertwined with a leading actor. It doesn’t work out with them, but she does grow closer to the film’s choreographer as we wind closer to the end.
Good for: Bollywood fans who enjoy musicals and rom-coms.
44. A Little Princess, 1995.
This is a family drama directed by Alfonso Cuaron, who recently made the smash hit Roma. It is based on a book by the author who wrote the Secret Garden.
Set during World War I, it’s about a young girl who grew up in India. Her father was in the military there, but she later moves to boarding schools in London and New York City.
It’s an enchanting film that was nominated for two Oscars in art direction and cinematography.
Good for: People who like a father daughter story with child-like simplicity. Or if you want to check out a currently hot director’s early work.
43. Siddhartha, 1972.
Herman Hesse wrote a novel that I read in college and loved. It fictionalized the Buddha’s life, from a rich family to his search for enlightenment.
The movie takes you through the story from leaving his father and rich upbringing, through his period of wandering and asceticism. Then on to meeting the courtesan and learning about the sensual arts. Until eventually he ends at the river…
Good for: Those seeking spiritual enlightenment.
42. The Rains Came, 1939.
A classic adventure, drama and romance film about a British aristocrat who is reunited with an old lover at a party. She’s living in India with her boorish husband and has her eyes on a dashing doctor.
Set in Ranchipur, it’s a fun tale and worth a watch if you like classic films.
Good for: Classic film fans.
41. Gunga Din, 1939.
This adventure comedy set in a war stars Cary Grant and Douglas Fairbanks, two classic movie stars. It’s based on a Rudyard Kipling poem.
Set in 19th century India, three British soldiers and a local man must stop a secret mass revival of the murderous Thuggee cult before it sweeps across the land.
Good for: Classic film fans who like a fun war movie.
40. Soldiers Three, 1951.
Here’s another classic adventure comedy war movie set in colonial India.
A retired British general reminisces about his time in the military when he was fighting rebels. He fondly remembers three of his soldiers who were so bad they were good. It reminded me of my work at a school with troubled kids and how the most troublesome kids made a strong positive impression.
Good for: Classic film fans who like a fun war movie.
39. Water, 2005.
This Indian-Canadian film looks at the challenge widows faced in the late 1930s in India. Many found themselves in poverty after the death of their husband, so were ignored by society.
In this film one widow forms an unlikely relationship with a follower of Mahatma Gandhi and it’s set in beautiful Varanasi near the Ganges River… hence the name.
Good for: Those who want an international drama and romance that makes you think and feel.
38. Outsourced, 2006.
A modern romantic comedy that’s relevant for digital nomads. A salesman’s entire department is outsourced so he flies to India to train his replacement at a call center.
One of the local employees Asha then shows him what India has to offer and a little more…
Good for: Digital nomads who like a cheesy rom-com.
37. The Fall, 2006.
This adventure fantasy film is super weird and beautifully shot. It’s not really about India, there are some scenes that were shot in India.
The scene where they’re swimming with an elephant in what looks like a beautiful iconic lake in the Himalayas, Pangong Tso is worth a viewing in itself.
Plus a number of the battles take place in the unique castles and architecture that you could only find in India.
It’s cute too. A bedridden ex-stuntman who just wants a drink tells a story captivates a hospitalized French girl with a tale about heros and villians that she ultimately takes a part in.
Good for: If you like trippy beautiful adventure films.
36. Viceroy’s House, 2017.
This is made by the Independent Film Channel and I really like a lot of their work. This is a British-Indian historical drama with Gillian Anderson.
It features Gandhi and is an uplifting exciting movie.
Good for: History buffs who had a crush on Scully from the X-Files.
35. A Throw Of The Dice, 1929.
It’s a silent film about two kings who like gambling and a beautiful woman they both want to make their wife.
Made by a German-born director Franz Osten it’s a beautifully shot film.
Good for: Classic movie fans who have the patience for a silent film and enjoy beautiful sets. Might actually be a good date film because you can chat or do other things as you watch, haha.
34. Heaven On Earth, 2008.
This one’s by Deepa Mehta, the same director who made Water, 2005.
Chand is a coming-of-age Punjabi woman who travels to Canada to marry a man she has never met. The story follows her life in a full house in the suburbs and her husband’s abusive behavior.
Good for: Those who enjoy a female directed movies with a strong woman lead character.
33. Black Narcissus, 1947.
This is a highly-rated classic drama about five nuns opening a convent in the Himalayas.
If you’ve always wanted to live in the Himalayas, you might enjoy this one. It’s like you’re watching a painting, it’s so beautiful.
We follow a newly anointed sister superior who has an assignment to make this convent in a remote location. Of course, all sorts of conflicts arise as she deals with raising money, the locals and more.
Good for: Those who like strong female leads on a beautiful adventure set in a strange land.
32. The Other End Of The Line, 2008.
A cheesy romantic comedy about an employee at an Indian call center who travels to San Francisco to meet a guy she feel in love with on a call.
Good for: Someone who likes the clash of two cultures in a romantic comedy.
31. Time Traveller, 2013.
This is epic action-adventure romance that takes you across two time periods and two continents (one of them being Asia and India).
Josh Hartnett leads the show and while it’s not the strongest movie, it’s fun and entertaining.
Good for: An exciting movie after a long day of work.
30. Octopussy, 1983.
James Bond heads to Udaipur, after escaping from the deadly Khan palace. He faces culture shock before adapting and getting back to his old ways of killing bad guys and sipping martinis.
Roger Moore is Bond and he’s following Tina Hudson through India as they try to solve the murder of a double-o agent who was killed with a Faberge egg in his hands.
Good for: Bond fans, aka all men everywhere.
29. The Lunchbox, 2013.
Irrfan Khan, the leading actor is like the Tom Hanks of India. This movie is like You’ve Got Mail except with lunchboxes and set in Mumbai.
A lonely housewife Ila tries to rekindle the spark in her marriage by making her inattentive husband a special lunch with a love note. However the lunchbox ends up in the hands of Irrfan’s character, who is a depressed widower.
Even though they don’t meet in person they build an interesting friendship…
Good for: Romantics who wish there was You’ve Got Mail 2 set in Mumbai.
28. The Hundred-Foot Journey, 2014.
This is a good one for digital nomads too!
It’s technically a romantic comedy starring Helen Mirren, but it revolves around an Indian family that moves to France to start a restaurant.
The Indian dad is a master at being “thrifty” and a delightful battle ensues to be the top restaurant on the block (since they are literally 100 feet away from each other.
Of course, the hunky younger son is a culinary genius and he meets a French beauty who’s also studying to be a chef at the rival restaurant.
WARNING: This movie will make you hungry though.
Good for: People building a business, or foodies, or romantics.
27. Kama Sutra: A Tale Of Love, 1996.
Based off the ancient Indian text that was written in Sanskrit, this erotic romance film will never win Best Picture, but it could introduce you to a new realm of pleasure in the bedroom.
In 16th-century India, a princess is raised with her maid and they become best friends… until they turn into enemies with the princess becomes engaged to a king and starts to treat the maid terribly.
The maid gets her revenge by sleeping with the king on their wedding night and more fun drama ensues…
This film is made by a popular director in India. Mira Nair also made Monsoon Wedding and The Namesake.
Good for: For anyone into hedonistic pursuits or looking for some inspiration in the bedroom.
26. Midnight’s Children, 2012.
Based off Salman Rushdie’s classic novel, this is movie shows India in the 1940s. Two babies born the exact moment India achieves it’s independence and are switched in the hospital. They live out each other’s lives as India goes through big changes.
Another one directed by Deepa Mehta and a great watch to learn about India.
Good for: Anyone wanting to see the history of India and learn the story of a classic novel.
25. The Dark Knight Rises, 2012.
Christopher Nolan’s epic superhero movie has some scenes in India.
When Batman escapes from jail, these scenes are from Mehrangarh Fort in Jodhpur.
Good for: An exciting watch with a slice of India.
24. The Namesake, 2006.
Another movie starring Irrfan Khan, this time with Kal Penn (Harold & Kumar Go To White Castle, 2004). It was shot in Kolkata.
Takes you through a lot of the culture shock you might experience in India, except in reverse.
After moving from Calcutta to New York, a family struggles to balance their Indian culture traditions with living in America. Gogal (Kal Penn) is the son looking to create his own identity while his parents are challenged as he leaves behind all they grew up with.
Good for: Those who are a fan of the novels of Gogol (crickets chirp… haha). It’s a good coming-of-age film that made me appreciate my family. It also shows the big cultural differences if you’re interested in having an Indian-Western relationship. Order some White Castle and enjoy. 😉
23. Mission Impossible – Ghost Protocol, 2011.
Tom Cruise heads to the streets of Mumbai for some cool scene in the fourth installment of this action spy thriller series.
Good for: Action junkies who want a taste of Mumbai traffic.
22. Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle, 2018.
The latest version of the classic series The Jungle Book, this takes a more violent look at the kid’s story.
This is truly an all-star cast with Christian Bale, Cate Blanchett, Benedict Cumberbatch and more leading the way.
Good for: If you’re looking forward to going to a Holi Festival in India, you can see how they do it in a small jungle village with Mowgli and the rest. It’s also currently available on Netflix.
21. Jungle Book, 2016.
If you ever want to leave society and wear only a loin cloth in an Indian jungle, this is the movie for you.
This is a modern remake of the animated version and is a lot of fun. Rudyard Kipling was born in Bombay and lived in India.
Jon Favreau who made The Lion King, Iron Man, and Swingers back in the 1990s directs this and it is a great remake.
Stars like Bill Murray, Ben Kingsley, Idris Elba, Scarlett Johansson, and Christopher Walken have roles.
Good for: Everyone who wants to relive their childhood.
20. Monsoon Wedding, 2001.
This romantic comedy about the planning and execution of an Indian wedding is a lot of fun.
It made me want to go to an Indian wedding and is an energetic blend of Hollywood and Bollywood.
Good for: Those who can’t stomach a full-on Bollywood movie yet but want to experience the beautiful songs and colors and celebration.
19. Monsoon, 2014.
It’s a documentary that is part road movie and part drama. I’m still waiting for my first monsoon season but I have experienced the storms and they are crazy.
The film is beautifully shot and takes you through how significant this season is in the local people’s minds.
Good for: Documentary lovers who will be in South India.
18. Life of Pi, 2012.
The main character comes from Pondicherry which is just a couple hours from me and where I had to go to get my MacBook fixed, haha. It has some scenes that are filmed here and in other parts of South India like Kerala.
I’m sure you’re familiar with the Indian boy who’s ship goes down and he’s stuck on a lifeboat with a tiger.
Good for: Everyone!
17. The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, 2015.
This is the second best movie about the hotel in India starring Judi Dench and Dev Patel.
I really like this serious and the characters. It touches on a lot of the fun of living in India, yet also the challenges. The bathroom scene in the first one was a classic.
Good for: It’s a comedy-drama that is best if you’re over 50, but fun for everyone.
16. The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, 2011.
I didn’t think I would like this movie when I watched it, but it does capture what traveling to India really feels like.
I also liked how Judi Dench’s character was writing about her experiences in India and may have partially inspired me to start this blog.
Plus, the bathroom scene!
Good for: Everyone who wants a story that’s easy to access.
15. Lion, 2016.
Dev Patel is the leading man in a lot of movies about India. This is a biographic drama based on the book, A Long Way Home.
The 5-year-old main character Saroo gets lost on a train that takes him thousands of miles across India. Reminds me of An American Tale or Home Alone. He sets out to find his way home using Google Maps.
Good for: If you want a feel-good movie.
14. Hotel Mumbai, 2019.
Dev Patel in the opposite of a feel-good movie here. This biographical thriller takes you into the heart of a terrorist attack on a 5-star hotel in Mumbai.
It is action-packed and keeps you on the edge of your seat. A bit horrific considering how true it is.
Good for: Showing you some history about the relationship between India and Pakistan.
13. The Bourne Supremacy, 2004.
Matt Damon and that shaky camera are killing bad guys on the beaches of Goa. Might be fun to play on a wall at one of the rave parties they have there, haha.
Good for: Anyone with a pulse.
12. Gandhi, 1982.
I watched this movie in high school as you may have. There’s a reason why Gandhi is on every single note of currency in India and why statues of him populate the largest cities and the smallest towns.
This movie is a classic.
Good for: Everyone who wants a taste of why he was so influential.
11. The Man Who Would Be King, 1975.
Another movie based off a novella by Rudyard Kipling. This stars Sean Connery and Michael Caine and starts off in India. They are two military officers who are also Free Masons who travel to an isolated land to become rulers.
Directed by John Huston, it was nominated for 4 Academy Awards and is a great adventure tale.
Good for: Anyone who wants to have their own kingdom. A classic buddy comedy adventure story and you get to see Sean Connery with some epic facial hair.
10. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, 1984.
Stephen Spielberg sends Harrison Ford into India on another adventure. It’s as strong as the other movies in the series and was a favorite for me as a kid. I even had the book, haha.
Similar to Gunga Din, it is about a Thuggee cult who starts tearing out hearts quite literally and sacrificing locals to Kali.
Good for: Everyone. It even as the Asian kid from the Goonies as Indy’s sidekick.
9. Eat Pray Love, 2010.
Based off the hit novel, this romantic comedy-drama stars Julia Roberts as she heads to “pray” at an ashram in India for part of the movie. It’s shot in Delhi and Pataudi.
There’s an ashram near me that reminds me of those scenes and there’s a lot of truth to her interactions with other spiritual people.
Good for: Someone seeking enlightenment and what an ashram experience is truly like.
8. Meet The Patels, 2015.
The way Indians approach love can seem ridiculous to a Western and this movie takes you right into it. It’s a laugh-out-loud romantic comedy about an Indian-American comedian who gets some “help” from his parents as he looks for a wife.
Good for: Laughs and understanding the dating scene in India.
7. A Passage To India, 1984.
Based off the E. M. Forster novel and set in India in the 1920s as it is going through their independence movement. It’s a historical drama that takes you to the beautiful Malabar Caves where a terrible incident occurs.
This movie tackles accusations of sexual violence between Indians and Westerns and cultural mistrust.
Not a date movie!
David Lean, the director also shot other classic films like Lawrence of Arabia, The Bridge on the River Kwai and Doctor Zhivago.
Good for: Anyone who wants some exposure to the clash of Western and Indian culture in sexuality.
6, 5 & 4. The Apu Trilogy (1955, 1956, 1959)
Satyajit Ray made these three films are frequently listed as some of the greatest films ever made. Ray is one often thought of as one of the best filmmakers of all time.
Pather Panchali is the first film and starts with Apu’s early experiences in rural Bengal. It is slow moving and it really feels like you’re living in a tiny village and stuck there with your family. The family eventually moves to the city of Benares.
Aparajito is the second film. After the father dies, Apu and his mother come back to a village in Bengal. They are so poor yet Apu is a brilliant student and the movie shows the conflicts he has with his mother as he grows up.
Apu Sansar is the final movie as Apu works to become a writer. He is also pressure to marry a woman and does, but the marriage ends in tragedy and love.
Good for: Patient types. These are not Hollywood-style films with sex, drugs and plenty of explosions, but if you stick with it you will be treated to true masterpieces of film.
3. Slumdog Millionaire, 2008.
Dev Patel crushing it again. This Best Picture Winner is what my parents think of as India. They ask me if I’ve met boys like these or can’t buy water bottles because it’s just tap water, haha.
Such a warm fun film directed by Danny Boyle.
Good for: Dreamers and romantics.
2. The Darjeeling Limited, 2007.
Not Wes Anderson’s greatest film, because it’s hard to compete with Moonrise Kingdom and The Grand Budapest Hotel, but all Wes Anderson films are pretty great.
This movie still makes me want to take a long train trip through India. Preferably with a similar stash of prescription “medicine.”
The trains in India don’t actually resemble what they look like in Anderson’s film, but the characters touch on a lot of India things from the freely available prescription drugs to the weird and wacky religious rituals.
Good for: Everyone. Must watch!
1. The River, 1951.
This movie makes me want to live on a houseboat in Bengal or Srinagar. It’s about a family who lives in West Bengal. They have a number of daughters who all fall in love with an American captain that comes to the region. Drama ensues.
It’s directed by Jean Renoir, who made some classic films like Rules of the Game and the Grand Illusion.
Good for: Film and houseboat fans.