Best Indian Drama Movies

1,663 films · 690 with 3+ critic reviews

The backbone of Indian cinema — family sagas, social realism and character studies. The largest and most critically decorated category on the site.

The best Indian drama movies, ranked by aggregated critic score.

01The LunchboxHindi · 2013“A highly recommended movie, that leaves you with a running film reel in your head, and a…” — Saurabh Dwivedi

8.4

21 criticsExceptional02CourtHindi · 2015“An accomplished piece of work whose natural tone is surreal...” — Anuj Kumar

8.1

21 criticsExceptional03DangalHindi · 2016“This could be Aamir's best performance till date. Yes, even better than Lagaan. A man…” — Rohit Vats

8.0

32 criticsExceptional04Ship of TheseusHindi · 2013“Ship Of Theseus, no doubt, an intellectual exercise, the sort festival films often…” — Sarit Ray

8.0

19 criticsExceptional05PinkHindi · 2016“Pink shows what meticulous planning can do to a film. And, of course, Amitabh Bachchan's…” — Rohit Vats

7.8

34 criticsExceptional06QueenHindi · 2014“Ultimately Queen is Kangana's triumph. I left the theater thinking about Rani and how the…” — Anupama Chopra

7.8

30 criticsExceptional07MasaanHindi · 2015“It has both humour and physical intimacy but unlike most indies it doesn't flaunt…” — Anuj Kumar

7.7

34 criticsExceptional08Kaaka MuttaiTamil · 2015“It is so entertaining that it's easy to forget how sad the undercurrents are. CM and PM…” — Baradwaj Rangan

7.7

18 criticsExceptional09KillaMarathi · 2015“Avinash Arun's incredible debut film explores unusual themes delicately and expertly --…” — Mihir Fadnavis

7.7

10 criticsExceptional10NeerjaHindi · 2016“You don't even realise that it's the selflessness and courage of real characters you…” — Namrata Joshi

7.6

51 criticsExceptional11FandryMarathi · 2013“The beauty is that debutant director Nagraj Manjule doesn't give us a shrill polemic on…” — Anupama Chopra

7.6

10 criticsExceptional12TitliHindi · 2015“Kanu Behl's Titli is the most impressive film of this year so far. Its tryst with reality…” — Rohit Vats

7.5

30 criticsExceptional13PapanasamTamil · 2015“'Papanasam' is a faithful, if not better remake. It's an exhilarating cocktail of family,…” — S. Shiva Kumar

7.5

19 criticsExceptional14PKHindi · 2014“Hirani's PK is no doubt a very important and relevant film for all of us who have…” — Sudhish Kamath

7.4

49 criticsExceptional15ShahidHindi · 2013“Shahid is an admirable project, but as a biopic, it is far short of a masterpiece.” — Sanjukta Sharma

7.4

27 criticsExceptional16Kai Po Che!Hindi · 2013“Kai Po Che! is Gujarati for "I've cut". It is used as a cry of victory in kite-flying…” — Anupama Chopra

7.4

20 criticsExceptional17Article 15Hindi · 2019“A Grim And Gripping Film That Deserves Our Applause...Subtlety is not his strong point,…” — Anupama Chopra

7.4

20 criticsExceptional18Bethlehem Kudumba UnitMalayalam · 2026“Bethlehem Kudumba Unit is a continuation of that world and yet a more mature and resonant…” — Santanu Das

7.4

15 criticsExceptional19Superboys of MalegaonHindi · 2025“Despite an efficient ensemble of actors and honest moments of camaraderie, Reema's…” — Anuj Kumar

7.4

15 criticsExceptional20Harishchandrachi FactoryMarathi · 2009“Harishchandrachi Factory is that rare thing - a delightful film that makes its point with…” — Anupama Chopra

7.4

10 criticsExceptional21HomeboundHindi · 2025“Neeraj Ghaywan takes away the exactitude of the Op-ed essay and turns it into a deeply…” — Anuj Kumar

7.4

8 criticsExceptional22PikuHindi · 2015“Piku speaks its truth with simplicity and heart. It made me laugh and cry. And I can get…” — Anupama Chopra

7.3

45 criticsExceptional23AligarhHindi · 2016“The film is a unique step forward in reality cinema in that it uses actual names of…” — Namrata Joshi

7.3

38 criticsExceptional24NewtonHindi · 2017“Newton is one of the finest political satires we have seen in the last couple of years.…” — Rohit Vats

7.3

23 criticsExceptional25Gully BoyHindi · 2019“Ranveer Singh leads from the front in an empathetic, feel good tale about turning your…” — Namrata Joshi

7.3

25 criticsExceptional26ChittagongHindi · 2012“An absolute must watch.” — Saibal Chatterjee

7.3

12 criticsExceptional27KahaaniHindi · 2012“The first-rate performances help steer it to shore - from Vidya Balan to Parambrata…” — Anupama Chopra

7.3

11 criticsExceptional28Love Sex aur DhokhaHindi · 2010“The ensemble is just brilliant, and at no point in the film do you see them as actors.…” — Sudhish Kamath

7.3

11 criticsExceptional29Like Stars on EarthHindi · 2007“We recommend a mandatory viewing for all schools and all parents.” — Nikhat Kazmi

7.3

7 criticsExceptional30Girls Will Be GirlsHindi · 2024“Female teenage sexuality has rarely been captured with this sensitivity and nuance in an…” — Anupama Chopra

7.3

8 criticsExceptional31Lubber PandhuTamil · 2024“Lubber Pandhu is a breath of fresh air and a refreshing addition to the ever-growing list…” — Gopinath Rajendran

7.3

7 criticsExceptional32ThithiKannada · 2016“You'd expect a film about a funeral to be sombre. But Reddy takes the theme of death,…” — Archana Nathan

7.3

11 criticsExceptional33Bāhubali: The BeginningHindi · 2015“What really makes the film work is that it is, at its heart, a fast-paced adventure,…” — Mihir Fadnavis

7.2

46 criticsExceptional34Kapoor & SonsHindi · 2016“For the want of a better term, Kapoor & Sons is an emotional roller coaster. It's a tear…” — Rohit Vats

7.2

37 criticsExceptional35UglyHindi · 2014“Anurag is so miserly with information that at one point you like to beseech him to part…” — Anuj Kumar

7.2

30 criticsExceptional36TalvarHindi · 2015“Its intentions might be blunt but as a piece of cinema Talvar is a sharp procedural.” — Anuj Kumar

7.2

34 criticsExceptional37FilmistaanHindi · 2014“Small film with a huge heart (and unrealised potential) that deserves to be watched for…” — Sudhish Kamath

7.2

24 criticsExceptional38Chak De! IndiaHindi · 2007“Of the girls, the little stick of dynamite Chitrashi Rawat, the independent-minded…” — Hindustan Times

7.2

11 criticsExceptional39VisaranaiTamil · 2016“A powerful, chilling drama about how the System toys with us...” — Baradwaj Rangan

7.2

12 criticsExceptional40SatlujHindi · 2026“It's just as well that the story is now being told in its intended form, which delivers a…” — Neeshita Nyayapati

7.2

12 criticsExceptional41EkoMalayalam · 2025“With Eko, Dinjith Ayyathan and Bahul Ramesh craft a solid mystery thriller, in which the…” — S.R. Praveen

7.2

8 criticsExceptional42HaiderHindi · 2014“An absolutely delightful and lyrical adaptation of Hamlet that takes some liberties, for…” — Sudhish Kamath

7.1

41 criticsExceptional43Baahubali 2Hindi · 2017“Baahubali is a delight for all those who enjoy cinema as a visual medium, there is not…” — Hindustan Times

7.1

35 criticsExceptional44RaaziHindi · 2018“The actors sometimes falter with their accent and dialect, but intrigue around Sehmat's…” — Rohit Vats

7.1

27 criticsExceptional45KatiyabaazHindi · 2014“The good, bad and ugly side of power politics in Kanpur that reflects the dark underbelly…” — Anuj Kumar

7.1

21 criticsExceptional46RRRTelugu · 2022“There is a story that can potentially move you, make you weep for the characters — but it…” — Sangeetha Devi Dundoo

7.1

20 criticsExceptional47Qissa: The Tale of a Lonely GhostPunjabi · 2015“Watch out for this Qissa and prepare to have your mind blown....an uncompromising film…” — Sudhish Kamath

7.1

16 criticsExceptional48Mukti BhawanHindi · 2017“In the end, rather than being about the heavy religious stuff, it is about universal…” — Sarit Ray

7.1

15 criticsExceptional49HaqHindi · 2025“This Yami Gautam-Emraan Hashmi starrer is a powerful, timely reminder that justice is not…” — Rishabh Suri

7.1

13 criticsExceptional50VaazhaiTamil · 2024“This is not just another Tamil film - it makes you laugh, cry and most importantly,…” — Latha Srinivasan

7.1

12 criticsExceptional

See all 1,663 Indian drama films →

Recent Indian Drama releases

6.6

Daayra

27 critics

5.9

Enna Vilai

5 critics

5.9

Mandaadi

13 critics

3.9

Maremma

5 critics

4.7

Epic

7 critics

6.3

Pradhama Drishtiya Kuttakkar

11 critics

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