8 Dark Bollywood Films That Need To Be On Your Watch List

No matter how perfect your life may seem, we’ve all had phases where things have taken a turn for the dark. Sometimes life gives people lemons and deals them a harsh hand. And it is quite rare to see that portrayed well on celluloid. However, there are times when famous Bollywood directors have followed a dark tone in their films. A lot of the time, many dark films don’t even make it past India’s strict censor board, but other times, they are allowed to be released to the public with a few cuts. If you’re looking for films that show you the harsh side of real life, look no further. We have prepared a list of nine dark Bollywood films that you must watch asap:

1. NH10 (2015)

NH10 is set on the outskirts of the national capital. This thriller film features Anushka Sharma and Neel Bhoopalam in the lead roles and deals with the sensitive topic that is honor killings. The film is unapologetically brutal and probably one of Anushka’s darkest roles since she started working in Bollywood. The film leaves you waiting with baited breath to know what happens next and once it ends, you’re left shuddering.

2. Shaitan (2011)

Shaitan is a film that paints a pretty disturbing portrait of the demon inside each and every one of us. The thriller film follows the life of a bunch of young Indians in their 20s who are from dysfunctional families. After getting into a bad situation, the 20-something kids decide to make some easy money by pretending to kidnap the richest kid amongst them. However, the plan ends up backfiring and what ensues is mindless violence. The film’s genre sways back and forth between a thriller and a gory film. It is both scary and honest.

3. Bandit Queen (1994)

Bandit Queen is based on the life of a dacoit named Phoolan Devi who later becomes a politician. The whole film is very dark and surrounds the exploitation of labor, women’s safety and rights and the caste system. The director of the film, Shekhar Kapur faced a lot of resistance from the Censor Board due to the excessive violence and depiction of abuse. But the messed up reality is that it happened in reality.

4. Satya (1998)

Satya packs a violent mix of all things that are disturbing – gory bloodbaths, dark characters and explicit language. The film shows the ruthlessness that is Mumbai and tells the tale of an immigrant who is sucked into the bad world of the city’s underworld. The director of the film, RGV delivers an honest and uncompromising masterpiece that will shake your core.

5. Vaastav: The Reality (1999)

The film is loosely based on the life of Chota Rajan and shows the harsh reality of Mumbai’s underworld. The film is set into motion when a random stranger (Sanjay Dutt) accidentally kills a relative of a gangster and things take a turn for the worse. One event leads to another and before you know it, Dutt ends up becoming one of the most feared gangsters in Mumbai’s underworld. This film will definitely send goosebumps down your spine.

6. Gulaal (2009)

Gulaal is another classic film created by the one and only Anurag Kashyap. The film is an intricate tale of desire, corruption, power and lust. Set in the North Indian state of Rajasthan, the film explores the topic of student university politics and ragging. This film is drenched in an ample amount of violence and the title of the film is a good reference to the bloodbath that happens throughout the film.

7. Sangharsh (1999)

Sangharsh is a film that is loosely based on the American film, “Silence Of The Lambs”. It surrounds a storyline that details the ritual of sacrificing kids for religious appeasement. The film features Ashtosh Rana, KK Menon and other big names and is both disturbing and extremely compelling at the same time. It showcases the hypocrisy of the current society that we live in and is gory and dark.

8. Anjaam (1994)

Anjaam is a revenge saga that shows how ugly things can get when one is madly in love. SRK plays the perfect bad boy in the film and does a lot of bad things. Some of the many screwed up things he’s done include, slashing his wrists, cracking Deepak Tijori’s head with a bat and beating women. The film also features scenes where a pregnant Madhuri Dixit gets kicked in the womb and a man is choked to death with currency notes along with his flesh being chewed off.

While a lot of these films might be a little too dark, we guarantee that these films will leave you on the edge of your seat and have you wanting more. Now that you have all of the names of these films on your list, which of them are you most excited to watch? Do let us know in the comment section down below!

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Niharika NayakBA (Media & Communication)

 

Niharika has a passion for all things art, music, and travel and has over 4 years of experience in writing for social media. During her spare time, she likes experimenting in the kitchen, playing video games, and hanging out with stray animals.

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