- Tuesday, April 16, 2024
By: Admin Super
Indian cinema is rich with culture, bringing vivid colour palettes, riveting storylines, and music that’ll have you dancing on your sofa, together. The classics tend to be themed around relevant issues and, regardless of how long ago they were released, those central themes still speak volumes about our cultural challenges, today. If you’re ready to indulge in the most nostalgic flashbacks of India’s very best – this is the list for you.
One of the most enchanting classics, this flick features a wealth of action and a lead character with a sterling personality. The importance of the central theme? Finding the strength to navigate “right” from “wrong” while being persuaded otherwise by powerful influences.
The film was first released 1971 – it was directed by Shakti Samanta and stars Amitabh Bachchan. This tale tells the story of a casino player who knows how to wheel and deal his way to top. He is discovered by a wealthy casino owner and introduced into his world – where the games get bigger, the stakes get higher, and the wins ever-more enticing.
The story grows from there – with a marriage taking place that unfolds a number of new layers to the story. It is an inspiring tale, and it also demonstrates the interesting cultural background surrounding gambling in India. It is interesting to compare the ‘then’ to now, and observe how the great advances technology has brought to both the industry and India itself and how it has adavanced an age-old interest, like gambling. So, the next time you play casino online, it would perhaps be interesting for you to look back at cinematic artefacts like this and smile at just how far we’ve come.
A powerful story that is as relevant today, as it was when it was first released in 1957. It explores the glory in self-sacrifice, tackles the topics of female empowerment, and focusses a sense of pride and patriotism towards India. The story follows Radha, a newlywed bride who experiences a family tragedy. Through her determination to triumph over her social and personal challenges, she goes through immense struggles and becomes a symbol of Indian pride. Even today, Mother India remains as one of Bollywood’s most era-defining films.
A haunting story of justice and the struggle for it. Raj Kapoor echoes nuances from the ancient Ramayana when a young female lawyer sets out to prove the innocence of her lover. The lover is accused of murdering a well-known judge. Upon investigating deeper, she discovers that the very judge who ruled in favour of his prosecution is also his father. She goes on to discover more haunting truths about her lover’s parents and the painful actions of his father.
This film spoke on behalf of a generation and continues to spark interesting debates about justice and how it manifests itself, even in 21st century India.
An undoubted industry classic, Zakhm features arguably one fo the best performances by Ajay Devgn. While the central theme of the story addresses communal tension and its effects on India, the entire theme is shrouded in romance – which results in the film often being falsely classified as a romance narrative. The important points the film makes and the questions it dares to answer, if not explore, are unquestionably daring for the time of its release. A must-see to add to your list of classics.
Source: Pexels
Classic Bollywood films offer insight into the lives and challenges faced by previous generations, alongside important cultural lessons. There’s such a richness in the old classic film styles, that continues to further the success of the Indian film industry.
