THE BOLLYWOOD 100

By Genre

The Best Bollywood
Drama Films

158 films in the canon are filed under Drama, from 1951 to 2024.

158 films in this canon are filed under Drama, running from 1951 to 2024. The highest-ranked is Sholay (1975) at #1 — The Curry Western that became the country's shared memory.

The genre is spread across the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000s, 2010s, 2020s, with Shyam Benegal (8), Anurag Kashyap (6), Yash Chopra (5), Hrishikesh Mukherjee (4) doing the heaviest lifting. Hindi cinema rarely respects a single genre for a whole runtime, so most of these titles are cross-filed — follow the tags on any film page to find its neighbours.

Every entry links out to Wikipedia, IMDb, a trailer and a legal streaming search. See also the full ranked 100 and how we scored them.

RankFilmYearDirectorGenre
1 Sholay शोले 1975Ramesh SippyAction, Drama
2 Pyaasa प्यासा 1957Guru DuttDrama, Musical
4 Mother India मदर इंडिया 1957Mehboob KhanDrama
5 Guide गाइड 1965Vijay AnandDrama, Romance
6 Deewaar दीवार 1975Yash ChopraCrime, Drama
7 Awaara आवारा 1951Raj KapoorDrama, Musical
8 Kaagaz Ke Phool कागज़ के फूल 1959Guru DuttDrama
9 Do Bigha Zamin दो बीघा ज़मीन 1953Bimal RoyDrama
11 Gangs of Wasseypur गैंग्स ऑफ़ वासेपुर 2012Anurag KashyapCrime, Drama
12 Satya सत्या 1998Ram Gopal VarmaCrime, Drama
13 Lagaan लगान 2001Ashutosh GowarikerDrama, Sports
14 Dil Chahta Hai दिल चाहता है 2001Farhan AkhtarDrama, Comedy
15 Masaan मसान 2015Neeraj GhaywanDrama
18 Umrao Jaan उमराव जान 1981Muzaffar AliDrama, Musical
19 Ardh Satya अर्ध सत्य 1983Govind NihalaniCrime, Drama
20 Anand आनंद 1971Hrishikesh MukherjeeDrama
21 Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam साहिब बीबी और ग़ुलाम 1962Abrar AlviDrama
23 Black Friday ब्लैक फ्राइडे 2004Anurag KashyapCrime, Drama
24 Salaam Bombay! सलाम बॉम्बे! 1988Mira NairDrama
25 Garam Hava गरम हवा 1974M. S. SathyuDrama, Historical
26 Bandini बंदिनी 1963Bimal RoyDrama
27 Omkara ओंकारा 2006Vishal BhardwajCrime, Drama
28 Maqbool मक़बूल 2003Vishal BhardwajCrime, Drama
29 Haider हैदर 2014Vishal BhardwajDrama, Thriller
30 Parinda परिंदा 1989Vidhu Vinod ChopraCrime, Drama
34 Sparsh स्पर्श 1980Sai ParanjpyeDrama, Romance
35 Arth अर्थ 1982Mahesh BhattDrama
36 Ijaazat इजाज़त 1987GulzarDrama, Romance
37 Manthan मंथन 1976Shyam BenegalDrama
38 Ankur अंकुर 1974Shyam BenegalDrama
39 Bhumika भूमिका 1977Shyam BenegalDrama
40 Nishant निशांत 1975Shyam BenegalDrama
41 Aakrosh आक्रोश 1980Govind NihalaniDrama
42 Aandhi आंधी 1975GulzarDrama, Political
43 Masoom मासूम 1983Shekhar KapurDrama
44 Khosla Ka Ghosla खोसला का घोसला 2006Dibakar BanerjeeComedy, Drama
46 Udaan उड़ान 2010Vikramaditya MotwaneDrama, Coming-of-age
47 Queen क्वीन 2013Vikas BahlComedy, Drama
51 3 Idiots थ्री इडियट्स 2009Rajkumar HiraniComedy, Drama
52 Munna Bhai M.B.B.S. मुन्ना भाई एम.बी.बी.एस. 2003Rajkumar HiraniComedy, Drama
53 Taare Zameen Par तारे ज़मीन पर 2007Aamir KhanDrama
54 Swades स्वदेस 2004Ashutosh GowarikerDrama
55 Rang De Basanti रंग दे बसंती 2006Rakeysh Omprakash MehraDrama, Political
56 Chak De! India चक दे! इंडिया 2007Shimit AminSports, Drama
57 Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara ज़िंदगी न मिलेगी दोबारा 2011Zoya AkhtarDrama, Comedy
58 Gully Boy गली बॉय 2019Zoya AkhtarDrama, Musical
61 Rockstar रॉकस्टार 2011Imtiaz AliDrama, Musical
62 Dev.D देव डी 2009Anurag KashyapDrama, Musical
64 Company कंपनी 2002Ram Gopal VarmaCrime, Drama
65 Paan Singh Tomar पान सिंह तोमर 2012Tigmanshu DhuliaBiography, Drama
66 The Lunchbox द लंचबॉक्स 2013Ritesh BatraRomance, Drama
67 Ship of Theseus शिप ऑफ़ थीसियस 2012Anand GandhiDrama, Philosophy
68 Ankhon Dekhi आँखों देखी 2013Rajat KapoorDrama, Comedy
70 Talvar तलवार 2015Meghna GulzarCrime, Drama
71 Drishyam दृश्यम 2015Nishikant KamatThriller, Drama
76 Piku पीकू 2015Shoojit SircarComedy, Drama
77 Badhaai Ho बधाई हो 2018Amit Ravindernath SharmaComedy, Drama
79 Article 15 आर्टिकल 15 2019Anubhav SinhaCrime, Drama
80 Mukkabaaz मुक्केबाज़ 2017Anurag KashyapSports, Drama
81 Raazi राज़ी 2018Meghna GulzarThriller, Drama
84 12th Fail 12वीं फेल 2023Vidhu Vinod ChopraBiography, Drama
85 Laapataa Ladies लापता लेडीज़ 2023Kiran RaoComedy, Drama
86 Guru गुरु 2007Mani RatnamDrama, Biography
87 Black ब्लैक 2005Sanjay Leela BhansaliDrama
88 Devdas देवदास 2002Sanjay Leela BhansaliRomance, Drama
90 Kuch Kuch Hota Hai कुछ कुछ होता है 1998Karan JoharRomance, Drama
91 Om Shanti Om ओम शांति ओम 2007Farah KhanDrama, Musical
94 Kabhi Kabhie कभी कभी 1976Yash ChopraRomance, Drama
95 Silsila सिलसिला 1981Yash ChopraRomance, Drama
98 Trishul त्रिशूल 1978Yash ChopraDrama, Action
99 Kaala Patthar काला पत्थर 1979Yash ChopraDrama, Action
– Bawarchi बावर्ची 1972Hrishikesh MukherjeeComedy, Drama
– Namak Haraam नमक हराम 1973Hrishikesh MukherjeeDrama
– Abhimaan अभिमान 1973Hrishikesh MukherjeeDrama, Musical
– Aradhana आराधना 1969Shakti SamantaRomance, Drama
– Teesri Kasam तीसरी कसम 1966Basu BhattacharyaDrama, Romance
– Shree 420 श्री 420 1955Raj KapoorDrama, Musical
– Katha कथा 1983Sai ParanjpyeComedy, Drama
– Damini दामिनी 1993Rajkumar SantoshiDrama, Legal
– Karan Arjun करण अर्जुन 1995Rakesh RoshanAction, Drama
– Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham... कभी खुशी कभी ग़म 2001Karan JoharFamily, Drama
– Wake Up Sid वेक अप सिड 2009Ayan MukerjiDrama, Coming-of-age
– Bombay बॉम्बे 1995Mani RatnamDrama, Romance
– Roja रोज़ा 1992Mani RatnamDrama, Thriller
– Iqbal इक़बाल 2005Nagesh KukunoorSports, Drama
– Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi हज़ारों ख़्वाहिशें ऐसी 2003Sudhir MishraDrama, Political
– Gulaal गुलाल 2009Anurag KashyapPolitical, Drama
– Aligarh अलीगढ़ 2015Hansal MehtaBiography, Drama
– Tamasha तमाशा 2015Imtiaz AliDrama, Romance
– Highway हाईवे 2014Imtiaz AliDrama, Road
– Titli तितली 2014Kanu BehlCrime, Drama
– Sir सर 2018Rohena GeraRomance, Drama
– Court कोर्ट 2014Chaitanya TamhaneDrama, Legal
– Gangubai Kathiawadi गंगूबाई काठियावाड़ी 2022Sanjay Leela BhansaliBiography, Drama
– Mimi मिमी 2021Laxman UtekarDrama, Comedy
– Kai Po Che! काई पो चे! 2013Abhishek KapoorDrama, Sports
– Sui Dhaaga सुई धागा 2018Sharat KatariyaDrama, Comedy
– Manjhi – The Mountain Man मांझी 2015Ketan MehtaBiography, Drama
– Lootera लुटेरा 2013Vikramaditya MotwaneRomance, Drama
– Bajrangi Bhaijaan बजरंगी भाईजान 2015Kabir KhanDrama, Adventure
– Talaash तलाश 2012Reema KagtiMystery, Drama
– Bhuvan Shome भुवन शोम 1969Mrinal SenComedy, Drama
– Uski Roti उसकी रोटी 1970Mani KaulAvant-garde, Drama
– 27 Down 27 डाउन 1974Awtar Krishna KaulDrama
– Mandi मंडी 1983Shyam BenegalSatire, Drama
– Chandni Bar चांदनी बार 2001Madhur BhandarkarDrama, Crime
– Astitva अस्तित्व 2000Mahesh ManjrekarDrama
– Hu Tu Tu हू तू तू 1999GulzarPolitical, Drama
– Monsoon Wedding मॉनसून वेडिंग 2001Mira NairDrama, Romance
– Sardari Begum सरदारी बेगम 1996Shyam BenegalDrama, Musical
– Salim Langde Pe Mat Ro सलीम लंगड़े पे मत रो 1989Saeed Akhtar MirzaDrama, Crime
– Albert Pinto Ko Gussa Kyun Aata Hai अल्बर्ट पिंटो को गुस्सा क्यूँ आता है 1980Saeed Akhtar MirzaDrama, Political
– Dor डोर 2006Nagesh KukunoorDrama
– Firaaq फ़िराक़ 2008Nandita DasDrama
– Photograph फ़ोटोग्राफ़ 2019Ritesh BatraRomance, Drama
– Serious Men सीरियस मेन 2020Sudhir MishraSatire, Drama
– Sherni शेरनी 2021Amit V. MasurkarDrama
– Udta Punjab उड़ता पंजाब 2016Abhishek ChaubeyCrime, Drama
– Bombay Talkies बॉम्बे टॉकीज़ 2013Karan Johar, Dibakar Banerjee, Zoya Akhtar, Anurag KashyapAnthology, Drama
– Ek Ruka Hua Faisla एक रुका हुआ फैसला 1986Basu ChatterjeeDrama, Legal
– Rajnigandha रजनीगंधा 1974Basu ChatterjeeRomance, Drama
– Ramprasad Ki Tehrvi रामप्रसाद की तेरहवीं 2019Seema PahwaDrama, Comedy
– Anaarkali of Aarah अनारकली ऑफ़ आरा 2017Avinash DasDrama
– Thappad थप्पड़ 2020Anubhav SinhaDrama
– Pink पिंक 2016Aniruddha Roy ChowdhuryLegal, Drama
– Kapoor & Sons कपूर एंड संस 2016Shakun BatraDrama, Family
– Margarita with a Straw मार्गरीटा विद अ स्ट्रॉ 2014Shonali BoseDrama, Coming-of-age
– English Vinglish इंग्लिश विंग्लिश 2012Gauri ShindeDrama, Comedy
– Sadma सदमा 1983Balu MahendraDrama
– Jagte Raho जागते रहो 1956Amit Maitra, Sombhu MitraDrama, Satire
– Naya Daur नया दौर 1957B. R. ChopraDrama
– Devdas देवदास 1955Bimal RoyRomance, Drama
– Rudaali रुदाली 1993Kalpana LajmiDrama
– Mammo मम्मो 1994Shyam BenegalDrama
– Mere Apne मेरे अपने 1971GulzarDrama
– Gaman गमन 1978Muzaffar AliDrama
– Bheed भीड़ 2023Anubhav SinhaDrama
– Jalsa जलसा 2022Suresh TriveniDrama, Thriller
– Darlings डार्लिंग्स 2022Jasmeet K. ReenDark comedy, Drama
– Bulbbul बुलबुल 2020Anvita DuttHorror, Drama
– Qala क़ला 2022Anvita DuttDrama, Musical
– Joram जोरम 2023Devashish MakhijaThriller, Drama
– All We Imagine as Light ऑल वी इमेजिन ऐज़ लाइट 2024Payal KapadiaDrama
– Chhapaak छपाक 2020Meghna GulzarBiography, Drama
– Kadvi Hawa कड़वी हवा 2017Nila Madhab PandaDrama
– Vaastav वास्तव 1999Mahesh ManjrekarCrime, Drama
– Sarkar सरकार 2005Ram Gopal VarmaCrime, Drama
– Zubeidaa ज़ुबैदा 2001Shyam BenegalBiography, Drama
– Raincoat रेनकोट 2004Rituparno GhoshRomance, Drama
– Ek Doctor Ki Maut एक डॉक्टर की मौत 1990Tapan SinhaDrama
– Hindi Medium हिंदी मीडियम 2017Saket ChaudharyComedy, Drama
– Nil Battey Sannata निल बट्टे सन्नाटा 2015Ashwiny Iyer TiwariDrama, Comedy
– Secret Superstar सीक्रेट सुपरस्टार 2017Advait ChandanDrama, Musical
– Stanley Ka Dabba स्टेनली का डब्बा 2011Amole GupteDrama, Children
– Chintu Ka Birthday चिंटू का बर्थडे 2019Devanshu Kumar, Satyanshu SinghDrama, Comedy
– Chauthi Koot चौथी कूट 2015Gurvinder SinghDrama
– Mukti Bhawan मुक्ति भवन 2016Shubhashish BhutianiDrama, Comedy
– B.A. Pass बी.ए. पास 2012Ajay BahlNeo-noir, Drama

Other genres

Everything else in the canon

Comedy 51Romance 36Thriller 30Crime 27Musical 18Biography 15Action 10Political 9Sports 7Satire 6Legal 5Historical 4Horror 4Family 4Mystery 4Neo-noir 4Coming-of-age 3Anthology 3Documentary 3Sci-Fi 2Fantasy 2Road 2Philosophy 1Heist 1Revenge 1Survival 1Adventure 1Surreal 1Avant-garde 1Dark comedy 1Children 1