Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Naa And 8 Other Bollywood Films That Were Well Ahead Of Their Time
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 vide... read full bio
Cinema has the power to influence people in both good ways and bad. It has the ability to create buzz, change perspectives and generate conversation. Certain films dare to jump safe spaces and tread grounds that might not be considered “appropriate” for many. They cover movies that make you question your beliefs and tread upon issues that may be considered a major taboo in society. They speak about things that people may only whisper about. They talk about topics that aren’t necessarily popular amongst the wider community. Some of these films have been well ahead of their time and have inspired us to dig deeper. Here are a few films that were modern, progressive and talked about important issues:
1. My Brother Nikhil (2005)
My Brother Nikhil is a film that deals with topics like HIV, AIDS, and LGBTQ+ folks in a time where these topics were just whispered in the confines of your home. Nikhil’s entire life changes when he finds out that he has contracted AIDS. He loses his space in the swim team and is isolated from the rest of society. This film forces us to learn about the harsh reality that many people in this country have to live through.
2. Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na (2008)
Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na is a lighthearted film that is pleasant, youthful, and progressive. It follows the story of hot-headed Aditi and her best friend, Jai, who is polite and peace-loving. Jai never stands up for himself and is often bullied by others for it. Aditi, on the other hand, is feisty and doesn’t take things lightly. Jai has been raised by a single and independent mother. The story deals with things like abusive relationships, infidelity, death, mental health struggles, and many other taboo topics.
3. Pyaasa (1957)
Pyaasa was a film that dealt with topics like artist dissatisfaction and a lot more. It deals with how so many of us have been forced to give up our artistic pursuits and dreams in order to meet societal expectations. Gulabo, a prostitute, reaches out to the character of Vijay, who is a broke poet, and lets him know that she is a fan of his work. What follows is a sad tale of how an artist’s work is only admired once they are no more.
4. Nishabd (2007)
Nishabd is the story of a man in his sixties who has fallen in love with a friend of his teenage daughter. The film is quite dark and well ahead of its time. It discusses taboo topics like extreme age differences and infidelity. Not only does this film make you uncomfortable, but it also makes you question your very beliefs.
5. Fire (1996)
Fire stars Nandita Das and Shabana Azmi in the leading roles. Although plenty of films like Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga deal with LGBTQ people, Fire was one of the first films to showcase a lesbian relationship. It’s no surprise that the film invited plenty of protests and drama due to its nature. What’s interesting is that the film was still passed through the censor board with no cuts.
6. Monsoon Wedding (2001)
Monsoon Wedding deals with the topic of child abuse and throws light on how it happens in our own families. In the film, Shefali Shah’s character was molested and abused by an uncle of hers as a child. Despite this, the uncle continues to live with the family and attend family functions and weddings. The film accepts the fact that molestation and child abuse aren’t just perpetrated by strangers but by those known to the people.
7. Filhaal (2002)
Filhaal is another film that deals with a topic that was once considered highly taboo to speak about: surrogacy. When a woman finds that she cannot have a child on her own, she gets a friend of hers to act as a surrogate mom. While this may seem pretty standard now, back in 2002, the film was considered quite progressive and detailed concepts that not many families wanted to discuss.
8. Rang De Basanti (2006)
In the year 2006, the country was blessed with a different brand of film that touched on the nationalistic fervor that lies in all our Indian hearts. Rang De Basanti is a film that deals with the harsh realities of life like death, corruption, power, and influence. The film opens with the story of a carefree and young group of best friends who spend their days drinking, laughing, and living their life freely in Delhi. The group of friends meets a young British filmmaker who asks them to act in a film discussing the struggle of Indian freedom fighters against the British. The friends agree to participate and proceed to act in her film. However, things take a turn for the worse when a national tragedy hits close to their home, and they realize they have to raise their voices against injustice.
9. Kya Kehna (2000)
Kya Kehna is a film that deals with the controversial topic of teenage pregnancy. It talks about how India is so conservative as a society that they would instead abandon their daughters than help them when they are in a difficult situation. The film also addresses the double standard that men can impregnate women and get away scot-free while women have to deal with the repercussions. The film was a great insight into something that still remains a taboo to this very date.
Indian cinema has released quite a few gems over the years, and we are delighted to see that modern filmmaking has progressed so far. While there are plenty of big-budget films that have really mediocre storylines and aren’t as great, we love the fact that there are so many stand-out films as well. Do let us know which of these films is your favorite in the comment section below!
