Every year we run to theatres to catch our favorite stars doing the same old things over and over and over again. They never disappoint us by giving hopeless masala movies every time. Even though they always deliver the same dramatic movie, they also come with some quality cinema every now and then to bring the sanity back in your life. Unfortunately, many of them go unnoticed by the viewers because of the marketing gimmicks of mainstream commercial movies.
So, continue reading and check out the list of some must-watch underrated Bollywood movies that you will not regret watching at any point in time.
1) Dev.D (2009)
A young man finds solace in drugs after breaking up with his childhood sweetheart. On the other hand, a teenage girl is caught in the world of prostitution. Watch to know if they are destroyed, or find redemption? It is one of the best-underrated Bollywood movies that you must watch.
IMDB Rating: 8
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance
Watch On: Netflix
2) Paan Singh Tomar (2012)
“Paan Singh Tomar” is the story of an Indian athlete and seven-time national steeple chase champion. However, after his retirement, becomes one of the most feared dacoits in Chambal Valley. Know his transforming story by watching this amazing movie.
IMDB Rating: 8.2
Genre: Action, Biography, Crime
Watch On: Netflix
3) A Wednesday (2008)
In this brilliant movie, a retiring police officer reminisces about the most memorable day of his career. Even though the case was never filed, it continues to haunt him in his memories. It was an amazing case of a man and a Wednesday.
IMDB Rating: 8.1
Genre: Action, Crime, Drama
Watch On: Netflix
4) Salaam Bombay! (1988)
“Salaam Bombay!” is one of the flop Bollywood movies that you must watch. It is a story of young Krishna’s struggles to survive among the drug dealers and prostitutes. This is a crime drama movie that is directed by Mira Nair.
IMDB Rating: 8
Genre: Crime, Drama
Watch On: Amazon Prime
5) Ship of Theseus (2012)
This Anand Gandhi film explores questions of beauty, meaning, death, identity, and justice through an experimental photographer, a young stockbroker, and an ailing monk. With an 8.1 IMDb rating, it is one of the best flop Bollywood movies that is a must-watch.
IMDB Rating: 8.1
Genre: Drama
Watch On: Hulu
6) Ankhon Dekhi (2013)
It is a story of a Delhi man who vows to believe only what he can see after a distressing incident. But, his new ideals soon take his life in extreme directions. This Rajat Kapoor film is surely one of a kind.
IMDB Rating: 8
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Watch On: Amazon Prime
7) Shahid (2012)
“Shahid” is one of the most popular flop Bollywood movies that is directed by Hansal Mehta. It is a biography film that features Rajkummar Rao in the lead role. With an 8.2 IMDb rating, it is undoubtedly a must-watch movie.
IMDB Rating: 8.2
Genre: Biography, Drama
Watch On: Netflix
8) Masaan (2015)
It is a drama movie where four people face prejudice, a strict moral code, and a punishing caste system along India’s Ganges River as they confront personal tragedies. This movie features some of the best actors in the Bollywood industry such as Richa Chadha, Sanjay Mishra, Vicky Kaushal, Pankaj Tripathi, and more.
IMDB Rating: 8.2
Genre: Drama
Watch On: Hotstar
9) Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye! (2008)
This Dibakar Banerjee film showcases the story of a thief, Lovinder Singh who is now in custody and facing trial. This reflects on his life of crime. On the other hand, the press reflects on how he managed to get away with so much.
IMDB Rating: 7.7
Genre: Action, Comedy, Crime
Watch On: Netflix
10) Parched (2015)
“Parched” is a dramatic movie that shows the story of four women in the arid landscape of Rajasthan navigating their way through personal and cultural difficulties. This Leena Yadav movie is one of the best underrated Hindi movies.
IMDB Rating: 7.6
Genre: Drama
Watch On: Amazon Prime
11) The Lunchbox (2013)
In the dusk of life, a young housewife gets connected to an older man by a mistaken delivery in Mumbai’s famously efficient lunchbox delivery system. Through notes in the lunchbox, they build a fantasy world together.
IMDB Rating: 7.8
Genre: Drama, Romance
Watch On: Netflix
12) Udaan (2010)
“Udaan” is a Vikramaditya Motwane film where a 16-year old boy returns home to his abusive and oppressive father after getting expelled from his school. It is a must-watch underrated movie of Bollywood.
IMDB Rating: 8.2
Genre: Drama
Watch On: Netflix
13) Black Friday (2004)
“Black Friday” is a film about the investigations following the 1993 serial Bombay bomb blasts. In this movie, the story is told through the different stories of the people involved such as police, conspirators, victims, and middlemen.
IMDB Rating: 8.5
Genre: Action, Crime, Drama
Watch On: Hotstar
14) Earth (1998)
It is the story of the year 1947 when the borderlines between India and Pakistan are being drawn. In the midst, a young girl witnesses tragedy as her nanny is caught between the love of two men. Besides that, she is also stuck between the rising tide of political and religious violence.
IMDB Rating: 7.7
Genre: Drama, Romance, War
Watch On: Hulu
15) Gulaal (2009)
“Gulaal” is an Anurag Kashyap film where after being elected as General Secretary of his college, a law student witnesses deception, homicide, and crime. It is a must-watch crime thriller movie with an 8.1 IMDb rating.
IMDB Rating: 8.1
Genre: Crime, Drama, Thriller
Watch On: Netflix
16) Ugly (2013)
This is an Anurag Kashyap film where a case of a missing girl takes us through a journey of human greed. Apart from that, it brushes upon the egos and repressed emotions of the characters. This is one of the best underrated Hindi movies.
IMDB Rating: 8
Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery
Watch On: Hotstar
17) Talvar (2015)
“Talvar” is a mysterious crime movie that features Irrfan Khan and Konkona Sen Sharma in the lead role. It is a story where an experienced investigator confronts several conflicting theories of violent double homicide.
IMDB Rating: 8.2
Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery
Watch On: Hotstar
18) Maqbool (2003)
The intrigue of the Shakespearean tragedy ‘Macbeth’ is transposed in the form of the movie “Maqbool” to the Mumbai underworld. This Vishal Bhardwaj film features Irrfan Khan and Tabu in the lead role. With an 8.2 IMDb rating, it is a must-watch movie.
IMDB Rating: 8.1
Genre: Crime, Drama, Thriller
Watch On: Amazon Prime
19) Mumbai Meri Jaan (2008)
“Mumbai Meri Jaan” is a moving portrayal of the 2006 train bombings in Mumbai. This is an Indian drama film that interconnects the stories of several strangers. This movie features Paresh Rawal, Kay Kay Menon, Irrfan Khan, and Madhavan in the lead roles.
IMDB Rating: 7.7
Genre: Drama
Watch On: Netflix
20) Psycho Raman (2016)
A maniac murderer, Ramanna finds a soulmate in Raghavan, a policeman. While Raghavan inspects his murder cases, Ramanna tries to make Raghavan realize how they both are similar. It is one of the best movies by Anurag Kashyap.
IMDB Rating: 7.4
Genre: Crime, Drama, Thriller
Watch On: Netflix
