Sai Hemanth
5. Lagaan (2001, Hindi)
It’s actually a shock that the Oscar nominated Sport Adventure has not made it to the top 250. The Aamir Khan starrer is a masterpiece by Ashutosh Gowarikar and is another feature in the cap of the superstar. Enough said about the classic tale of a village winning against the British in the game of cricket for eradication of taxes imposed on them, it definitely deserves a spot on the top 250 at least.
4. Iruvar (1997, Tamil)
Iruvar’s inclusion in this list is only a formality, considering the gem of a Mani Ratnam movie it already is. Based on the real life political scenario of Tamil Nadu, it created quite a stir and got strangled in numerous controversies. Despite that, the Mohan Lal, Prakash Raj and Aishwarya Rai Bacchan starrer was embraced by the critics for its boldness and poetic nature. It’s arguably the best Indian political drama ever made.
3. Mother India (1957, Hindi)
The Nargis and Sunil Dutt starred broke all the stereotypes of then Indian cinema by making a melodrama with a female protagonist and showcasing the struggles she goes through in the society and raising her kids. Despite being criticised for slow pace, the exceptional acting and direction, along with the fact that it was described as the “Most famous Indian movie” by TV guide magazine, have to award it a spot in the top 250.
2. Mayabazar (1957, Telugu)
The visualization of a tale from Indian epic Mahabharatha inspired generations of filmmaking not only in Telugu, but also in the entire South India. The amazing dramatic performances by the lead cast made it the best Telugu movie ever. It was made in several other languages but failed to create the magic. It made the actor portraying Lord Krishna, Nandamuri Taraka Rams Rao a legend in South India film and was also colourised later. This timeless classic was rated as the Best Indian movie ever in a survey conducted by CNN-IBN in 2013.
1. Panther Panchali (1955, Bengali)
The movie that kicked off the internationally acclaimed Satyajit Ray’s Apu trilogy, revolves around the childhood struggles of Apu and his family. It gained huge popularity among the art loving communities around India. It’s premier was a prestigious event attended by then prime minister of India and the movie’s reception announced Indian cinema outside Bollywood. Pather Panchali is a true landmark in Indian cinema.
