Planning a Trip to India? These 20 Indian Films Are a Must-Watch (2025 Guide)
When most people think of Indian cinema, they picture swirling saris, over-the-top dance numbers, and melodrama soaked in glitter. But there’s another side to the story. For every palace, there’s a humble village. For every tycoon, a tea vendor. And behind the glitz of Bollywood lies a treasure trove of films that capture the raw, beautiful reality of everyday life in India.
At HimalayAsia, we believe the best journeys begin not with a booking—but with a shift in perspective. And sometimes, the most powerful way to understand a place is through the stories it tells.
So if you’re curious about India beyond the clichés, these 20 films will help you see, feel, and maybe even fall in love with its everyday magic. Read till the end of the list to find a bonus mention!
1. The Lunchbox (2013)
It is a quietly devastating story of loneliness, routine, and unexpected connection set in Mumbai’s famed dabbawala lunch system. If cities could speak, Mumbai would sound like this.
Watch here: https://www.netflix.com/in/title/70278932
2. Masaan (2015)
Set on the ghats of Varanasi, this film interweaves stories of grief, caste, and redemption. Haunting and humane.
Watch here: https://mubi.com/en/in/films/fly-away-solo
3. Bareilly Ki Barfi (2017)
A rom-com that’s a love letter to small-town North India, complete with kitschy bookstores and gossiping aunties.
Watch here: https://www.netflix.com/in/title/81016193
4. Piku (2015)
A road trip from Delhi to Kolkata with constipation, crankiness, and comedy. More than that, it’s a rare depiction of middle-class family dynamics that feels wonderfully familiar.
5. Hindi Medium (2017)
What does education mean in India? This satire peels back the layers of class, aspiration, and hypocrisy in urban Delhi.
6. Sui Dhaaga (2018)
Inspired by India’s Make in India movement, this is a heartwarming tale of dignity through craftsmanship, set in the looms and bylanes of Uttar Pradesh.
7. Newton (2017)
A sharply funny political satire about a rule-abiding election officer in a jungle plagued by insurgency. Brutally honest and deeply relevant.
8. Kai Po Che! (2013)
Friendship, ambition, and heartbreak set against the backdrop of early 2000s Gujarat. Cricket, riots, dreams—this one’s got it all.
9. Lipstick Under My Burkha (2016)
Bold, defiant, and deeply intimate—this film explores the secret lives of four women in a small town, challenging the patriarchy with humour and heart.
10. Pink (2016)
A courtroom drama that sparked national conversations around consent. Set in Delhi, it’s a chilling reminder of urban gender politics.
11. Swades (2004)
An NRI returns to rural India and rediscovers purpose and connection. Idealistic, yes—but perhaps that’s what we need more of.
12. PK (2014)
A satire that skewers blind faith and cultural contradictions with warmth and wit. Also a tour across India’s temples and eccentricities.
13. 3 Idiots (2009)
Engineering college as a microcosm of India’s education system. Funny, emotional, and oddly philosophical.
14. Gully Boy (2019)
A gritty dive into Mumbai’s underground rap scene, rooted in slums, anger, and aspiration. India through the eyes of its young and restless.
15. M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story (2016)
India’s cricket obsession finds its human face in this biopic of the former national captain. Small-town struggles meet global triumph.
16. Mulk (2018)
A family’s fight against prejudice in post-terrorism paranoia India. A courtroom drama that lays bare the tensions of identity and belonging.
17. Virus (2019)
Not North India, but essential. Set in Kerala during the Nipah outbreak, this is a masterclass in community resilience and crisis response.
18. Jai Bhim (2021)
A Tamil legal drama based on a true story that exposes caste injustice and institutional violence. Hard-hitting and necessary.
19. Lagaan (2001)
Cricket and colonialism in a dusty village. Fantastical, yes—but rooted in the spirit of resistance.
20. Munnabhai M.B.B.S. (2003)
Heartwarming and hilarious, it brings Gandhian philosophy to the streets of modern Mumbai with surprising poignancy.
21. Panchayat (2020–) (BONUS)
Technically a series, but deserves a mention. A small-town government clerk’s slow descent into rural absurdities. Simple, dry, and superbly written.
Why These Films Matter
These are not tourist brochures in India. They are India in sweat, laughter, rebellion, grief, awkward silences, and roadside chai. If you’re planning a journey here—especially to the less-charted Indian towns —let these stories guide your spirit.
Inspired?
Let us help you curate a journey as unique as these stories. Start Planning Your Trip with HimalayAsia Today.
At HimalayAsia, we craft journeys that help you listen to the heartbeat beneath the Himalayas. And we believe the best way to prepare for India isn’t just with guidebooks, but with open eyes and open hearts.
