What does cinema mean to you? A mode of entertainment? A form of art? Or probably, both? Or perhaps, a reflection of society? I largely look at cinema as an art form. As we step into the new year with hope and ambition, here is a quick recapitulation of 10 Bollywood movies of 2023 that I enjoyed watching in the cinemas!
Cinema is one of the most complete and wholesome forms of art there is. No other form of art blends together so many different forms of art the way cinema does. Loving cinema is one of the best things about me! I cannot explain the joy I feel when I watch a movie on the big screen. The experience is always meditative, immersive, and enriching. In this blog post, I have created a list of 10 Bollywood movies of 2023 that are the kind of experiences I go to the cinemas for.
1. 12th Fail
Directed by Vidhu Vinod Chopra, 12th Fail was released on 27th October 2023 in India. The film stars Vikrant Massey, Medha Shankar, Priyanshu Chatterjee, and others. It is a biographical drama film based on the lives of Manoj Kumar Sharma (IPS) and Shraddha Joshi (IRS). It is an inspiring film for millions of students who wish to crack the toughest competitive examination in the world, the UPSC examination.
The film beautifully captures the struggles, hardships, sacrifices, and triumphs of all aspirants in a heartfelt manner. The film portrays the resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity with utmost authenticity. The film traces the journey of Manoj from the time when he used to cheat in his board exams to pass in school, to the time when he finally cleared the UPSC interview in the final round of the examination process.
It shows how Manoj fights against all odds, including extreme poverty and lack of resources, and cracks the UPSC examination to realise his dream of becoming an IPS officer. According to me, 12th Fail is the best Bollywood movie of 2023. It is a must-watch for people of all ages and from all fields.
12th Fail is still running in cinemas in a few cities. You can stream it on Disney+ Hotstar.
2. Mission Raniganj: The Great Bharat Rescue
Mission Raniganj, directed by Tinu Suresh Desai, and starring Akshay Kumar, Parineeti Chopra, and Kumud Mishra in primary roles, was released on 6th October 2023. The film is based on a real incident which took place in 1989 in Raniganj in West Bengal, when a disaster occurred in the coalmines in Raniganj. There was a sudden influx of water in the coalmines due to which they got flooded. The miners who were working and could not escape were stuck in the flooded mines for two days.
Akshay Kumar plays the role of Jaswant Singh Gill, a senior mining engineer from IIT Dhanbad, who rescued 65 miners who were trapped in the flooded coalmines at the Raniganj Coalfields in 1989. The film beautifully portrays the courage and diligence of Gill in the face of danger and death. The film effortlessly brings to life the effort and contribution of Jaswant Singh Gill in the face of grave adversity.
It also shows how the system is polluted with corrupt officers who play the game of “cheap and dirty politics”, even when their service is required the most. Despite positive reviews, the film was a failure at the box-office. Though the film lags behind in the use of convincing VFX or visual effects, it is a must-watch for everyone!
You can stream Mission Raniganj on Netflix.
3. OMG 2
OMG 2, directed and written by Amit Rai, and starring Akshay Kumar, Pankaj Tripathi, and Yami Gautam in lead roles, was released on 11th August 2023. OMG 2 is largely a satire disguised as a comedy-drama film that revolves around the concept of sex education and awareness about sex in India. It is a spiritual sequel to the first instalment in the OMG series which also stars Akshay Kumar in the lead role. Although the film is preachy and educational, it does not fail to amuse, engage and entertain.
In OMG 2, Pankaj Tripathi plays the role of a staunch devotee of Lord Shiva. He is the father of an adolescent who gets caught masturbating in school and is debarred from attending school henceforth. Akshay Kumar plays the role of a divine messenger of Lord Shiva who helps the needy.
In a series of amusing and engaging courtroom sequences, he assists Pankaj Tripathi in emphasising on the importance and the relevance of sex education in India, and how sex education should become mandatory in all schools. The film is progressive and eye-opening, and is a cinematic masterpiece! Though it is an adult film, I believe that all children above the age of 13 should watch the film to spread knowledge and awareness about sex.
You can stream OMG 2 on Netflix.
4. Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani
Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani was released on 28th July 2023 in cinemas world-wide. Directed by Karan Johar, the movie stars Ranveer Singh and Alia Bhatt in the titular lead roles. It also stars Dharmendra, Jaya Bachchan, Shabana Azmi, Tota Roy Chowdhury, and Churni Ganguly. The film is a highly delightful and enjoyable watch because it addresses and challenges actual issues that plague Indian society.
Rocky (played by Ranveer Singh) is a robust and flamboyant Punjabi boy who runs his family business of sweets. Rani (played by Alia Bhatt) is an intellectual and sometimes overly feministic Bengali girl who is an established journalist. The film skillfully shows us how different their cultures and backgrounds are, and the hurdles they have to face before they finally get married. The movie is unique, fresh, and progressive.
The film, besides being a wholesome rom-com, explores how patriarchy, misogyny, body-shaming, colourism, sexism, objectification, gender stereotypes, and cancel-culture exist in society at large. And how the only way out is a compelling necessity called “change”, that brings “progress”.
You can stream Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani on Amazon Prime Video.
5. Sam Bahadur
Sam Bahadur, directed by Meghna Gulzar, and starring Vicky Kaushal in the titular lead role, was released on 1st December 2023 in cinemas. Sam Bahadur is a historical and biographical war-drama film based on the life and events of Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw, India’s first Indian Army officer who was promoted to the five-star rank of Field Marshal.
The film is a wonderful ode to the legacy of Sam Manekshaw who served the Indian Army for forty glorious years and participated in five wars. The film sequentially documents his life with special emphasis on his contribution towards Bangladesh’s liberation along with Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1971.
Sam Bahadur is a poignant and eye-opening historical biopic in which Vicky Kaushal portrays yet another inspirational real-life hero on screen with utmost elan. Although the film received average-to-positive reviews, I loved it because of its documentary style. The film is a must-watch for every Indian, especially for those who take interest in History. Read more here.
You can watch Sam Bahadur in cinemas now. The film will be available for streaming on Zee5.
6. Mrs. Chatterjee vs Norway
Mrs. Chatterjee vs Norway is a legal drama film which was theatrically released on 17th March 2023 all over the world. Directed and written by Ashima Chiber, the film stars Rani Mukerji, Anirban Bhattacharya, and Jim Sarbh in prominent roles. The film is based on and inspired by the real-life story of an Indian couple living in Norway whose children were taken away by the Norwegian Government. The Norwegian authorities find Indian habits “culturally shocking”, but the Child Welfare Services actually separate children from their parents to make money.
The film shows a Bengali husband and wife who live in Stavanger with a son who is an infant and a daughter who is a toddler. Two employees from the Norwegian Child Welfare Services visit their house regularly to closely monitor and examine their method of parenting, and take away the children in the absence of the parents on the day of their last visit.
The film is a poignant tale of a mother’s lone battle against an entire nation and against the Norwegian authorities. The Chatterjees are legally declared “unfit parents”, but Mrs. Chatterjee (played by Rani Mukerji) fights against all odds to win back custody of her children. The film beautifully depicts a mother’s resilience in the face of adversity, and how a mother can go to any extent to stand by her children.
You can stream Mrs. Chatterjee vs Norway on Netflix.
7. Dunki
Dunki, directed, co-written and co-produced by Rajkumar Hirani, was released on 21st December 2023 in cinemas world-wide. Dunki stars Taapsee Pannu, Shah Rukh Khan, Vicky Kaushal, Boman Irani, Vikram Kochhar, and Anil Grover, among others. With a runtime of 161 minutes, Dunki is an emotional and humorous family entertainer that hits all the right notes and leaves you teary-eyed. It is a comedy-drama film and is primarily a love story. It also highlights the concept of illegal immigration in Punjab through “donkey flights” and “donkey routes”.
Dunki tells the poignant tale of a group of four friends from a small village in Punjab who share one common dream of migrating to London, and making money in pounds. However, they are unable to do so due to lack of visas and other necessary legal documents.
Shah Rukh Khan plays the role of a soldier who visits their village to meet an old acquaintance, and eventually falls in love with Taapsee Pannu, and promises to take all of them to London. This is how the saga unfolds. Dunki is the perfect way to wrap up 2023 with a sweet film that makes you feel warm and good!
You can watch Dunki in cinemas now. (Read my review of Dunki here.)
8. Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar
Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar is a pleasant and enjoyable romantic comedy film which was released on 8th March 2023. Directed, co-produced and co-written by Luv Ranjan, the film stars Ranbir Kapoor as “Mickey” and Shraddha Kapoor as “Tinni” in lead roles. Mickey is the son of a rich business tycoon and secretly works as a break-up consultant along with his best friend Manu, played by Anubhav Singh Bassi. Tinni is an independent woman who works as a chartered accountant. The film revolves around their love story, highlighting the anxieties, frustrations and complexities of modern relationships.
Mickey is a family-oriented man whereas Tinni is a career-oriented woman. Things grow complicated when they fall in love. They eventually fall out of love, though partially, only to end up falling in love with each other again, and finally getting married. Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar is a chaotic but delightful rom-com that portrays a modern love story in a traditional familial setup. It stresses on the importance of honesty, loyalty and communication in a relationship. The movie tries to act preachy by delivering a message or two about striking a perfect balance between romantic love and familial love. This feel-good film is a delightful watch with friends and family.
You can stream Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar on Netflix.
9. Satyaprem Ki Katha
Satyaprem Ki Katha is an eponymous romantic drama film which was released on 29th June 2023. The film stars Kartik Aaryan and Kiara Advani as the titular protagonists, along with Gajraj Rao, Supriya Pathak, and Siddharth Randeria as the supporting actors. Satyaprem is a simple, middle-class lad from Gujarat who falls in love with Katha, but his love remains one-sided because Katha is coping with a break-up. Katha attempts to commit suicide but is saved in time by Satyaprem. Later, they get married. Eventually, Satyaprem learns about Katha’s life and how she has been dealing with trauma from the past.
Satyaprem Ki Katha, besides being a romantic film, deals with a number of serious themes such as consensual sex, sexual abuse, sexuality, gender-based violence, marital sex, and date rape. The film effectively depicts how refusing sex, inside or outside marriage, requires no justification. However, it fails to portray the concept of “consent” in the right way because Satyaprem thinks since he is married to Katha, it is implied that she is ready to have sex with him. Despite its shortcomings, Satyaprem Ki Katha is an important film. Although it conveys its messages problematically and imperfectly, at least it tries to convey things that are largely important.
You can stream Satyaprem Ki Katha on Amazon Prime Video.
10. Animal
Animal, directed and edited by Sandeep Reddy Vanga, with original screenplay and story by Vanga himself, was released on 1st December 2023 in cinemas world-wide. The film stars Ranbir Kapoor, Anil Kapoor, Rashmika Mandanna, Bobby Deol, and Tripti Dimri, among others. Animal is largely an action thriller cum drama film that heavily relies on violence and sex to entertain. The film is cinematically brilliant and boasts of top-notch acting performances, but falls behind dramatically in terms of having a meaningful storyline that fulfils a purpose. However, Animal has “sexism, misogyny, and patriarchy” written all over it.
Animal has been called out by millennials for “glorifying” toxic men and for poorly portraying women and their roles in society. The film has emerged as a highly controversial and polarising one for being unnecessarily violent, barbaric, toxic, sexist, misogynistic, abusive, and excessive in portraying all its radical themes in a plot that is paper-thin. Despite all its flaws, Animal portrays violence and bloodshed on screen so stylishly.
The film is very original and entertaining in spite of being completely illogical and aimless. Watching Ranbir Kapoor in a never-seen-before bloody avatar is another plus point for me. All in all, I am guilty of having enjoyed watching Animal on the big screen amidst all the opinionated debates.
You can watch Animal in cinemas now. It will be available for streaming on Netflix. (Read my thoughts on Animal here.)
Special Mentions
Shah Rukh Khan’s Jawan and Ayushmann Khurrana’s Dream Girl 2 are two more films that I really enjoyed watching in 2023! (Both films are available for streaming on Netflix.)
An Overview Of Bollywood In 2023
All in all, 2023 was a year of great entertainment. The year boasted of a number of major releases in Bollywood such as Jawan, Pathaan, Animal, Gadar 2, and Tiger 3. Shah Rukh Khan and Ranbir Kapoor emerged as the most bankable stars of the year with major action-oriented blockbusters.
Akshay Kumar too gave us some good films throughout the year. Vicky Kaushal and Ranbir Kapoor delivered the finest and the most stunning performances of their careers this year. 2023 also saw the comebacks of Dharmendra, Sunny Deol, and Bobby Deol in three major blockbusters.
My 2024 Bollywood Watchlist
After Rajkumar Hirani’s latest biggie Dunki, which was released in December 2023, I’m sure that passionate cine-goers like me are already making a list of upcoming films to watch in 2024!
Merry Christmas releases on 12th January 2024, and I am looking forward to the film. Fighter releases on 25th January 2024. Expect Yodha and The Crew in March. Expect Bade Miyan Chhote Miyan in April, and Chandu Champion in June. Expect Singham Again and Stree 2 in August, and Jigra in September. I am also looking forward to watching Chhava, starring Vicky Kaushal and Rashmika Mandanna, which tentatively releases on 6th December 2024. (Please note that the release dates are subject to change.)
I look forward to greater entertainment and better films in 2024! Let me know your favourite movies of 2023 in the comments section below! Which films have you added to your watchlist in 2024?
(Featured Images Credit: Twitter and Bollywood Hungama)