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A patriotic watchlist for tough times 

Feeling patriotic but fed up with war and propaganda?
Here’s an alternate list of Bollywood movies you can watch.
Here’s an alternate list of Bollywood movies you can watch.
Updated on: 
Junoon (1978) - Shyam Benegal’s film was based on the Ruskin Bond novel A Flight of Pigeons. It explored the aftermath of the 1857 sepoy mutiny.
Junoon (1978) - Shyam Benegal’s film was based on the Ruskin Bond novel A Flight of Pigeons. It explored the aftermath of the 1857 sepoy mutiny.
An English family on the run is sheltered by a Nawab, despite shifting loyalties. A mad chieftain, high on fanaticism, flames violence. Amid it all, a doomed love story blooms.
An English family on the run is sheltered by a Nawab, despite shifting loyalties. A mad chieftain, high on fanaticism, flames violence. Amid it all, a doomed love story blooms.
Bombay (1995) - The second in his trilogy, Mani Ratnam’s film traced the communal fault lines of modern India. An interreligious couple suffers through the dark years of Bombay, in the wake of the Ba
Bombay (1995) - The second in his trilogy, Mani Ratnam’s film traced the communal fault lines of modern India. An interreligious couple suffers through the dark years of Bombay, in the wake of the Ba
An interreligious couple suffers through the dark years of Bombay, in the wake of the Babri Masjid demolition and the subsequent riots.
An interreligious couple suffers through the dark years of Bombay, in the wake of the Babri Masjid demolition and the subsequent riots.
A controversial release, the film was popularly lauded, though there was criticism of its contrived ending and hazy pluralism.
A controversial release, the film was popularly lauded, though there was criticism of its contrived ending and hazy pluralism.
Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani (2000) - A mainstream rarity, Aziz Mirza’s PBDHH tackled issues of corruption, assault, thought control, press propaganda and pop patriotism with wit and humour.
Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani (2000) - A mainstream rarity, Aziz Mirza’s PBDHH tackled issues of corruption, assault, thought control, press propaganda and pop patriotism with wit and humour.
As rival journalists, Shah Rukh Khan and Juhi Chawla were excellent, bravely risking their lucrative careers in pursuit of justice.
As rival journalists, Shah Rukh Khan and Juhi Chawla were excellent, bravely risking their lucrative careers in pursuit of justice.
At the centre of the film, though, was the power and pulse of a popular people’s movement, and its corrective purpose in a democracy.
At the centre of the film, though, was the power and pulse of a popular people’s movement, and its corrective purpose in a democracy.
Lagaan (2001) - Measured against the historical films of today, Lagaan feels doubly special. A ragtag team of Indians — cutting across caste, religion and social status — unite for a cause.
Lagaan (2001) - Measured against the historical films of today, Lagaan feels doubly special. A ragtag team of Indians — cutting across caste, religion and social status — unite for a cause.
There’s no violence, no stereotyping, no broad concessions to history. Just a simple game of cricket, and the sweeping glory of peaceful resistance.
There’s no violence, no stereotyping, no broad concessions to history. Just a simple game of cricket, and the sweeping glory of peaceful resistance.
Rang De Basanti (2006) - When tragedy strikes, a gang of students go to extreme lengths to exact justice. They are hunted down and killed, but not before their voices are heard.
Rang De Basanti (2006) - When tragedy strikes, a gang of students go to extreme lengths to exact justice. They are hunted down and killed, but not before their voices are heard.
Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra’s film may have released in a different milieu, but it remains strikingly relevant in the India of today.
Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra’s film may have released in a different milieu, but it remains strikingly relevant in the India of today.
Rang De Basanti's unerring faith in the nation’s young, and the spirit of rebellion, shines bright in this hour of dissent.
Rang De Basanti's unerring faith in the nation’s young, and the spirit of rebellion, shines bright in this hour of dissent.
Chittagong (2012) - Director Bedabrata Pain salutes the bravery of Surya Sen, the armed revolutionary who led the Chittagong rebellion against the British Raj.
Chittagong (2012) - Director Bedabrata Pain salutes the bravery of Surya Sen, the armed revolutionary who led the Chittagong rebellion against the British Raj.
Manoj Bajpayee, as the central figure, is terrific, with powerful turns by Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Delzad Hiwale and Rajkummar Rao. It’s that same youthful drive — a theme under siege both then and now.
Manoj Bajpayee, as the central figure, is terrific, with powerful turns by Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Delzad Hiwale and Rajkummar Rao. It’s that same youthful drive — a theme under siege both then and now.
Mukkabaaz (2018) - ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’. So begins and ends Anurag Kashyap’s Mukkabaaz. The film follows a lower-caste boxer named Shravan Kumar (Vineet Kumar Singh) as he struggles to make it big.
Mukkabaaz (2018) - ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’. So begins and ends Anurag Kashyap’s Mukkabaaz. The film follows a lower-caste boxer named Shravan Kumar (Vineet Kumar Singh) as he struggles to make it big.
Angry, boisterous and edgy, Mukkabaaz throws heavy punches at caste, oppression, lynchings, religious violence and sports discrimination. A real knockout.
Angry, boisterous and edgy, Mukkabaaz throws heavy punches at caste, oppression, lynchings, religious violence and sports discrimination. A real knockout.
Raazi (2018) - Meghna Gulzar’s film tells the story of an Indian spy in Pakistan. Alia Bhatt’s Sehmat is astute and determined, a patriot ready to sacrifice everything for the nation.
Raazi (2018) - Meghna Gulzar’s film tells the story of an Indian spy in Pakistan. Alia Bhatt’s Sehmat is astute and determined, a patriot ready to sacrifice everything for the nation.
Raazi bravely measures out the cost of war, and turns rigid notions of patriotism on their head. The song Ae Watan — sung by Pakistani school children in a quietly masterful scene — best captures this
Raazi bravely measures out the cost of war, and turns rigid notions of patriotism on their head. The song Ae Watan — sung by Pakistani school children in a quietly masterful scene — best captures this
Bharat (2019) - In Bharat, director Ali Abbas Zafar ditched war and social conflict to explore the economic history of India.
Bharat (2019) - In Bharat, director Ali Abbas Zafar ditched war and social conflict to explore the economic history of India.
At a time of aggressive right-wing politics, Bharat harked back to Nehruvian ideals of sustenance and national integration.
At a time of aggressive right-wing politics, Bharat harked back to Nehruvian ideals of sustenance and national integration.
Bharat also asked potent questions about partition, minority rights and capitalist expansion. All contained within the simple messaging of any Salman movie — brotherhood is everything.
Bharat also asked potent questions about partition, minority rights and capitalist expansion. All contained within the simple messaging of any Salman movie — brotherhood is everything.
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