Offbeat Bollywood: 5 Indian Films Americans Should See

Beyond extravagant sets, elaborate costumes, and upbeat dance sequences, there’s another Bollywood almost unknown in the US (movie buffs may be excluded). These five films diverge from the plot lines Americans expect, and reveal a whole new side of India.

1. Khosla Ka Ghosla (Khosla’s Nest)

This 2006 comedy directed by Dibakar Banerjee stars Anupam Kher as a supportive father, who decided to fulfil his lifelong dream of buying a plot for to build a new house for family. After spending his entire savings on a plot of land, he finds that the crime boss, Kishan Kurana (Boman Irani), has taken ownership of the land. In addition, his son Cherry has decided to move to the US. However, Cherry and his younger brother, Bunty, team up with their father to get the plot back from Kurana.

Anupam Kher as the father of Khosla Ka Ghosla.

Khosla’s Nest humorously touches on the life a regular middle-class family in India, and on the uncertainties of land development. It’s a definite must see, especially for those who enjoy a light-hearted flick.

2. Being Cyrus

Being Cyrus is a drama/thriller in English, so you won’t have to worry about subtitles. Released in 2006 and directed by Homi Adjania, it centers around a wanderer named Cyrus (Saif Ali Khan), who desires an apprenticeship with Dinshaw Sethna (Naseeruddin Shah), a sculptor. Cyrus’ narrator places us into the daily life of the Sethnas, a Parsi (An ethnic group that emigrated from Iran) family. Cyrus deals with Farrokh (Boman Irani), the abusive husband to Tina (Simone Singh), and son-in-law to bedridden Fardoonjee (Honey Chhaya).

This film has a twist at the end, so be sure to pay attention.

3. Johnny Gadder

Neil Nitin Mukesh as Vikram, reading James Harley Chase

Meaning “Johnny the Traitor” in English, Sriram Raghavan’s 2007 thriller/noir film pays tribute to Indian director Vijay Anand and English novelist James Hadley Chase. Vikram (Neil Nitin Mukesh) is apart of a gambling club, and is having an affair with his colleague’s wife, Mini (Mimi Sen). There are five members of this gang – Vikram, Shardul (Zakir Hussain), Seshadri (Dharmendra), Prakash (Vinay Pathak), and Shiva (Dayanand Shetty). These five men decide to accept an offer to sell their drugs in Bengaluru – they split the profit 50 million rupees each. Vikram, who wants to run away to the US with his married girlfriend, attempts to botch the operation and take all the money for himself. But when he kills Shiva in the process, Vikram must race against time to avoid being killed by the other gangsters.

This film is really intense and action packed, with an unexpected ending. It’s definitely worth the watch.

4. Everybody Says I'm Fine

Rahul Bose directed this 2001 drama about Xen (Rehaan Engineer), a hairdresser in Mumbai. After his parents died in a freak-explosion, he received a power that allows him to read the minds of those he touches. As a hairdresser, he listens to his clients’ anxieties and complaints – whether its first love, addition, or something darker.

Things begin to change when he meets Nikki (Koel Purie), a woman whose mind cannot be read.

5. Traffic Signal

Silsila (center) stands with his community.

Gentler than Slumdog Millionaire, Madhur Bhandarkar directed and released his movie about the poor in 2007. Silsila (Kunal Khemu), protects the delicate ecosystem around a two-minute Mumbai traffic sum. Anyone who pays a small fee is allowed to sell his or her wares or beg. However, not even his good-heartedness can save him from becoming a pawn to mob boss Haji Bhaijaan (Sudhir Mishra) when the traffic stop, his community’s livelihood, is under threat.

Traffic Signal offers insight into the inner world of urban poverty in India and the country’s rapid development. With a little romance, drama, and action, it’s a great film to settle down in your down time.