Bollywood movies once had a theatrical release- but, now they have given us an OTT release option- which is, obviously, more convenient- but not that exciting, right? Some movies have writing, dialogues, and cinematography so crisp and whistle-worthy that you want to watch them in a crowded theater- sharing joy and popcorn! Here are the top 10 Bollywood movies which deserved a theatrical release and no one can deny it.
Also Read: Flop Bollywood Movies That We Actually Love To Watch- A Guilty Pleasure Saga
1. Shershaah | 2021
An action biographical drama based on the life story of the Kargil war hero- Captain Vikram Batra- the movie had every masala that Indian audiences like- and also the fact that Shershaah is based on the real-life story- the war, love story, bonding with the twin brother- the passion to fight for the nation- everything is true! And, yes, the songs- this movie suffered at the hands of COVID-19- but we want to watch it on the big screen one day!
2. Sardaar Udham Singh | 2021
Sardaar Udham Singh is based on the true story of Udham Singh, a revolutionary who assassinated the former Lieutenant governor of Punjab during the reign of Britishers in India- Micheal O’Dwyer. Vicky Kaushal played this powerful role with so much sincerity that the movie will instill the value of patriotism in you too. This historical drama movie directed by Shoojit Sircar had some stunning visuals, and immersive music as well as story-watching it on big-screen would have been a memorable experience for all the movie buffs.
3. Ludo | 2020
An Anurag Basu directorial- this movie is like a four-piece ludo game with four charming stories to tell. The movie was released on Netflix and received many accolades from critics as well as viewers. Ludo saw some great performances from Abhishek Bachchan, Pankaj Tripathi, Siddharth Roy Kapur, Rajkumar Rao, Sanya Malhotra, and so many other stars. Along with a great ensemble performance- the movie also saw a revival of the 1951 classic hit song ‘Kismat Ki Hawa Kabhi Naram’.
4. Mimi | 2021
An emotional, uplifting, movie spreading awareness around surrogacy- Mimi is one of those films that are made only once in a while. It is a comedy-drama film starring Kriti Sanon, and Pankaj Tripathi- the movie centers around the life of Mimi, a young woman with big dreams- to become financially secure- she unwillingly agrees to surrogacy. However, when many societal and other issues build up she has to face them.
5. Lootcase | 2020
A comedy thriller film about a middle-class man named Nandan who has big dreams to fulfill for his family. One day when he finds a suitcase filled with cash near his workplace- he decides to keep it. However, he does not know that he is getting entangled with police, gangsters, and corrupt politicians. Watching the amazingly choreographed chase sequences on the big screen was a must!
6. Atrangi Re | 2021
A rom-com fantasy film about a woman who is running away from home and gets forcefully married to a man who is already engaged. The situation becomes dreary when her boyfriend enters their life and becomes a threat to their married life. The movie tries to talk about serious mental health issues like schizophrenia. While it is an entertaining movie- it also tries to shed some light on mental health awareness.
7. Freddy | 2022
A psychological thriller that people had less expectations from- but it shocked many with its surprising climax and ending. The movie is about an awkward and reclusive dentist who falls for one of his beautiful patients. However, not everything is as it is seen on the surface. With a movie like ‘Freddy’- Kartik Aryan proved his acting mettle. It’s thrilling climax, and the tense story would have been a delight to watch in the theaters.
8. Monica O My Darling | 2022
A comedy crime thriller film about a smart and ambitious robotics expert who unexpectedly joins a murder plot along with others- and becomes part of a rather bizarre murder case that gets more complicated with time. Many complex twists, dark humor, and fine acting of lead actors make the movie a great watch- and seems like this too deserved a theatrical release.
9. Dasvi | 2022
It was a light-hearted social satire- or a way to bring awareness regarding the importance of education (especially among our elected leaders!). Dasvi revolves around the life of Ganga Ram Chaudhary- a politician who was always hungry for power- but when he gets jailed, he decides to use this time to clear his matriculation. The film’s visuals (the black and white history lessons), and the characters that Ganga Ram met during his time in jail- give us a message. Watching this impactful movie in theatres would have been much, much better!
10. Qala | 2022
This 2022 Netflix film- is a musical thriller that explores the unknown sides of the Indian music industry of the 40s, while also showing a growing conflict between a mother and daughter. The movie had such captivating visuals, and outstanding performances by Tripti Dimri, Babil Khan, and Swastika Mukherjee. And, the music became a hit among social media users- imagine watching it on the big screen.
I know these are not enough- and more such Bollywood movies deserve a theatrical release. But, don’t worry- some of them might get re-released in theaters- fingers crossed!