Top Ten Bollywood Movies Related To Indian Independence

Independence and Partition were times of turmoil and unrest. However, those emotions have also given birth to several film masterpieces. So let’s count down the Top Ten Movies Related to Indian Independence!

1. Mother India

This movie was submitted for the Academy Awards (in the Best Foreign Language Film category) and was the first of its kind. The story follows a woman named Radha who struggles to raise her children on her own amidst the aftermath of Partition. The movie illustrates the challenges faced by Indian women and also showcases the trials of India through its personification in Radha.

2. Shaheed

This movie was the first of many patriotic movies starring Manoj Kumar Manoj Kumar was born as Harikrishna Goswami. He wa >> Read More... . Based on the life of Bhagat Singh, the movie traces the freedom movement through his eyes, and beautifully captures the sense of patriotism and conviction among the freedom fighters.

3. Lagaan

Filmed in a small village near Bhuj, the movie was hailed as one of the finest sports dramas in history. The film talks about a group of villagers who struggle to pay increasingly high taxes. When the arrogant young British officer Andrew Russell, offers to cancel taxes, the village has to pay for next 3 years if the villagers beat his officers in a game of cricket, the entire village rallies together to learn the strange game.

4. The Legend Of Bhagat Singh

Another movie about a legendary freedom fighter, The Legend of Bhagat Singh details the journey of Bhagat Singh as a revolutionary. The film captures the many atrocities committed by the British as well as Singh's contribution to the movement, including the assassination of British officer Saunders. The movie is narrated by flashbacks, which ends with the British officers secretly hanging him and his accomplices to prevent an uprising.

5. Gandhi

No list of movies about Indian Independence is complete without mentioning Gandhi. The story begins with officials throwing him off a train in South Africa for being dark. This defining moment drives his passion for equality and justice. He goes on to become the leading figure of Indian Independence.

6. Mangal Pandey

This film, starring Aamir Khan Aamir Khan or Mohammed Aamir Hussain Khan is Bolly >> Read More... , describes the beginning of the 1857 revolt. The story follows Mangal Pandey, a sepoy who develops a close friendship with his commanding officer Gordon after saving his life. The conflict begins when a new rifle is introduced. The rifle requires the soldiers to bite down on the bullet before loading it, and rumors emerge that the bullets are coated in pig or beef fat. As this goes against Hindu and Muslim religious sentiments, the Indian soldiers' revolt, and this seemingly insignificant incident sparks the Indian Revolution.

7. Train To Pakistan

Based on Khushwant Singh's (titled the same), Train to Pakistan details the life of the inhabitants of a small village called Mano Majra, where Sikhs and Muslims live in harmony despite the raging communalism outside the village borders. The villagers have to deal with corrupt government officials, unhelpful law enforcement and religious fanatics trying to stir up trouble. The film depicts the unsteady peace in India at the time, which, at any moment, could erupt into riots.

8. A Wednesday

This film, starring Naseeruddin Shah Naseeruddin Shah is an experimental actor and asso >> Read More... , depicts the lengths to which a common man is willing to go to achieve justice. The film talks about a police officer who receives an anonymous call. The caller says he's placed 5 bombs across Mumbai and will detonate them if 4 militants are not released immediately. Upon the release of 3 of them, the caller detonates one bomb, killing the militants. It is then revealed that the caller never wanted them released, but wanted to avenge those they had killed instead. The movie captures the religious instability that carried on from the time of Partition.

9. Border

Border is a 1997 film based on real events from the Indo-Pakistan war of 1971. The movie follows the actions of one company of soldiers as they discover Pakistan's plans to go to war. The movie ends with these soldiers bravely defending their homeland against the Pakistani army, fighting even after being fatally wounded, until backup arrives to drive the enemy away.

10. Rang De Basanti Click to look into! >> Read More...

This 2006 movie follows the lives of 4 boys who are asked to act as famous Indian freedom fighters in a documentary. The boys begin to imbibe the qualities of their characters and realize that the corruption and injustice faced by Indians today are the same as those faced by the freedom fighters. Therefore, these young men resolve to bring Indian politics to a place of accountability by employing the same tactics used in the freedom struggle.