Top 10 Bollywood Movies

While a top 10 anything, let alone a top 10 Bollywood Movies list, is going to be the source of controversy, nothing is worthwhile without a bit of debate. Bollywood has become a global word over the past decade, with American and Indian film music slowly merging and becoming inseparable. We may still have some time before that happens, but we are well on our way, thanks to the amazing films that came before. I hope you enjoy reminiscing with both the scenes and sounds of these top ten unforgettable moments in Bollywood movie history. A special thanks to the team of experts that helped me compile this list: Roy Wadia, Diana "DK Bollygirl" Khambata, Sankar Sury, Girish Raj and Lynn McGuire.

10. 'Kal Ho Naa Ho'
The second highest grossing movie in India in 2003, 'Kal Ho Naa Ho' was Nikhil Advani's first job directing. The romantic film was set in New York City and featured Shah Rukh Khan, Preity Zinta, Saif Ali Khan and Jaya Bachchan. While filled with images of despair and tragedy, with Shah Rukh's character eventually succumbing to death, the ending, as with most Bollywood movies, left the characters hopeful. While the directors licensed Roy Orbison's classic 'Pretty Woman' for the film, Sonu Nigham's title song, featured below, is what made this film unforgettable to millions of fans.



9. 'Raja Harishchandra'
How could you argue that this 1913 silent Indian film would not make this list of top Bollywood movies? How does the video below include music if it was a silent film? The movie included no women and was forty minutes long, based on the legend of the ever-honest King Harischandra, an important figure in both the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. The overdub of Mohd Rafi and Lata Mangashkar below add a warmth and depth that no silent could ever evoke - not to take away from the original in any way.



8. 'Awaara'
Raj Kapoor's indispensable 1951 film delves into the life of Raj (played by Kapoor himself) being estranged from his judge father (played by his real father, Prithviraj). Where real life and screen begin and end is hard to tell, and this classic was nominated for the Grand Prize in Cannes two years after its release. Equally meaningful is the score, directed by the team of Shankar Jaikishan, as you witness below.



7. 'Amar Akbar Anthony'
An amazing soundtrack is featured on Manmohan Desai's 1977 film, including efforts by the team of Laxmikant-Pyarelal and singers Kishore Kumar and Mohd Rafi. Starring Amitabh Bachchan, Vinod Khanna and Rishi Kapoor, this tale of three brothers brought up with three different religions - Hinduism, Islam and Catholicism - brought together later in life under extraordinary circumstances. The reunion near the end comes at a cost, but listening to the incredible music from it does not.



6. 'Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge'
One of Shah Rukh Khan's earlier films, this romantic flick became a huge seller both in India and overseas in 1995. Today it remains one of the longest running in Bollywood movie history, still being played at Maratha Mandir cinema in Bombay. Aditya Chopra's film explores the struggles and romance of first generation British Indians living in London and the complexities of arranged marriage. The soundtrack, composed mostly by Jatin Lalit, won a number of Filmfare awards in 1996, and features performances by Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhosle, and Kumar Sanu.



5. 'Pakeezah'
Ghalum Mohammed and Naushad's score was certified successful by Lata Mangeshkar's voice, but Kamal Amrohi's excellent directing gave it a heads up over other films in 1972. The movie took 14 years to make due to Amrohi's troubled relationship with lead actress Meena Kumari, who died shortly after the film was complete, adding tension to the public response. As you will see in the short clip below, Kumari's hypnotic performance certainly helped its success.



4. 'Lagaan'
Set during the rule of the British Raj, this 2001 film gazes into the lives of peasants being oppressed by high taxes. A senior officer offers to cancel the taxes if the villagers are able to beat his team in cricket. The romanticized tale follows the villagers plight in learning how to play the game. Written and directed by Ashutosh and starring by Aamir Khan, 'Lagaan' was one of the first worldwide breakthroughs in the recent past for the Bollywood movie industry.



3. 'Yadon Ki Baaraat'
Using the theme of siblings being fatefully separated, Nasir Hussain's 1973 classic featured Dharmanedra, Tariq, Vijay Arora, Zeenat Aman and Neetu Singh. The music was scored by the inimitable RD Burman, as you clearly hear on the title song below, with the psychedelic rock sound of the '70s underlying the predominant funk.



2. 'Mughal-e-Azam'
Retold for the third time on screen, the story based loosely on the life of Mughal Prince Salim saw new life in 1960 with K Asif's outrageous production. The movie took nine years and 10.5 million rupees to make, and spent fifteen years as the top Bollywood grossing film. Colored in 2004, the re-release of this classic was another huge hit. Starring Prithviraj Kapoor and Durga Khote, the timeless music was composed by Naushad and features Lata Mangeshkar, as you will hear below.



1. 'Sholay'
Ramesh Sippy's 1975 film has earned over 160 million dollars (after inflation adjustment), even though it was considered a commercial disaster after its release. It ran for more than five years in one Mumbai theater, and is still discussed in Bollywood circles - BBC India called it the "Film of the Millennium" in 1999. Starring Dharmendra, Sanjeev Kumar and Amitabh Bachchan, the quirky and funky soundtrack, featuring plenty of psychedelic effects and guitar and violin melodies, only helped propel it to our choice as the top Bollywood movie.