Best Crime Films of Indian Cinema

Indian Film Industry has gifted desi audiences with many great crime films. Indian Film Industry, also a part of which is referred to as Bollywood (derived from Hollywood), is the second best film industry worldwide in terms of revenue, and number one in terms of movie tickets sold per year. Here's a list of some of the best crime films of the Hindi-film industry of Mumbai. These movies are all my favorites. Enjoy.

Note:

I am not including the Dhoom series despite the fact that they brought great business to the film industry of India. If I had to select films for this page based on how many millions a film made being one of the top criteria Dhoom would definitely be mentioned, but being an honest critic, I don't see anything besides plain Bollywood spice in the films.

Satya is the tale of a new man in town who gets caught in the tide of the underworld of Mumbai. Where on one side he's humiliated by an important gang member, an angry Satya ends up killing the man to find support by another gang. Satya now works in and for the underworld. What happens next is what the great film is all about..

On the soundtrack front, the exceptionally 'wet' mood of the film's romantic songs support the overall effect of the story. Satya is undoubtedly one of the best crime films of Bollywood.

Best Crime Films of Bollywood

I love it and I proudly have a copy at home :)

Amazingly raw..

Just for reference.. :)

Don - 1978 About | Buy

Satya - 1998 About | Buy

Company - 2002 About | Buy

Kaante - 2002 About | Buy

Ankhen - 2002 About | Buy

Yuva - 2004 About | Buy

Bunty aur Babli - 2005 About | Buy

Don - 2006 About | Buy

Johnny Gaddaar - 2007 About | Buy

A Wednesday! - 2007 About

Mithya - 2008 About | Buy

Kaminey - 2009 About | Buy

Once Upon A Time in Mumbaai - 2010 About | Buy

Don 2 - 2011 About | Buy

Shaitan - 2011 About | Video

Gangs of Wasseypur - 2012 About | Buy

Three kings of youth played by Abhishek Bachchan, Ajay Devgan and Vivek Oberoi are seen living and struggling with their individual everyday goals in life. Do their stories have links? That's what this film is about. A complete thriller that will keep you stuck to the screen till end credits roll up.

This page isn't ranking the films mentioned yet, but if some day I have to assign ranks, Yuva will be secured in top 5 best crime films of Bollywood along Satya and all new Gangs of Wasseypur.

When the question of best crime films of Bollywood is raised among my movie loving pals, there are a few names they don't let be ignored. Company is such a movie name. It's a very spontaneously done job by each actor involved in the film. One of Ajay Devgan's best for sure.

Ajay Devgan has always been the best actor for making a great crime film, but if we talk about the side actor Imran Hashmi in the film, this film contains the best of him on the acting front. As Mr. Hashmi is better known for romancing around with glamorous women, the guy precisely referred to as a 'lucky one' among youngsters, the film Once Upon A Time in Mumbaai finally brings forward the man's talent as an actor. The film has some really nice depiction as well as music, then backed up by Mr. Devgan at the top, the film understandably goes a hit among the best crime films of Bollywood.

I personally do not like the film a lot but if you're talking about the topic I am talking about, surprisingly enough, you can't skip this one. Aankhen is about a bunch of visually challenged men trained into robbing a bank. If you've got a long weekend (or say, you're struggling with the negativity attacks on your relationship with a loved one [For which you can find help here by the way]) you can sit back with this movie on television and lots of noodles and popcorn. It's an entertaining watch.

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If Gangs of Wasseypur Part I (with Manoj Bajpai in lead role) had the history of Sardar Khan's family- Gangs of Wasseypur - Part II contains shooting, shooting and shooting.. In GoW part I Sardar Khan's cunning urges have been processed and channelized to be Faizal Khan's (Sardar's son) chaotic extreme by the character of Nagma Khatoon (the mother of Faizal Khan). Faizal Khan, who have come out to be one of the most memorable crime film characters of Bollywood, postpones all the shooting till the last hour when Nagma 'wakes' him up to the world of crime.

Faizal Khan, then, kisses his mother's forehead each time before going for a kill, making his killing debut by brutally killing his best friend with a knife.

NOTE: If shooting disturbs you I must warn you this film has lots of it. Lots of it..

But speaking of crime films, GoW part I and GoW part II are a must watch..

Can you believe I hadn't watched the trailer or any bit of promotion, not a song either when a friend took me for this movie. I discussed quickly when the movie had already started-

'So what should I expect? Drama, comedy or crime ? Or it's just a Bollywood thing and I should expect just that?'

'Yes, a mix of crime and drama maybe.'

'Hope it's good, or else I'd kill you for convincing me.'

'It'll be good..'

A MUST WATCH!

Sorry fellas, GoW part II DVD isn't out yet apparently.. Instead, here's GoW part II's music CD link. I'll keep you updated on this.

A must watch..

This is a fast, witty, humorous crime film with a great job by Shahid Kapoor (to begin with) and the entire crew. Priyanka Chopra, the better half of the film, supports the dramatic edge of the film. Additionally, you get to see some great dance in the film as well. An odd one out among the other films given on this page, but a total entertainer.

This film was originally meant for Cannes 2007 but it got delayed. It's a Rajat Kapoor and party's film so you can guess the pro quality situational humor. Acted hilariously by Ranvir Shorey, a great weekend-film.

This one is a great noir film belonging to the Indian cinema. Though it hasn't gained much popularity among public but has established a dedicated space among known critics. Johnny Gaddaar is full of flashbacks (and also flashbacks within flashbacks!!) but once you get used to the format used in the film, you'll love it for sure.. A complete best crime film of Bollywood...

I hate Bollywood film-makers when they redo Hollywood films scene-by-scene in the name of 'inspiration' but this one manages to somehow float itself above as an exception. Kaante is such a Bollywood film inspired by Quentin Tarantino's Reservoir Dogs. A must watch for a crime film maniac!

More of a family drama rather than a crime film, Bunty and Babli form a couple full of wit, brains and greed. They fool anyone from a jewelry storekeeper to a car dealer in order to attain a good lifestyle. In the end they decide to retire and get married. But can they settle down without paying back? Find out in this different crime film Bunty aur Babli.

The classic Don with Amitabh Bachchan in the lead. The film is just from an older time and that's it. It's equally entertaining and even though it's understandably uncompetitive on the technological end but is yet complete justice to the character that Don is. Amitabh Bachchan known as the "angry young man" of his time in the Indian cinema has a rather 'angry' touch to the character whereas Shahrukh Khan, on the other end, portrays a much more sorted and wicked don- not honest at all. So in the two Dons you see the slightly different flavor given to the protagonist, and yet the films of both the eras are simply delicious.

Though originally the character of Don was portrayed by Amitabh Bachchan, the newer Don series by the King Khan is much more known and appreciated. Watch Don outsmart any and every trap that comes his way.

Don ko pakadna mushkil hi nahi, namumkin hai..

= Not only it is hard to catch the Don, but impossible..

Basic difference between the film Don of 1976 and the newer Don of 2006 is that the former one didn't have a sequel. In Don 2, the Don awaits in a prison of Malaysia for an old rival to use him for good cleverly for the second time. Don 2 has a much Mission Impossible tone to it. So if you like binging a bucket of popcorn over a case of figuring out who does what how to who, you'll love the second Don even more.

This *bloody* film is a strong narration of characters and happenings leading to quite a dirty encounter of these joyous gangsters by the police. Shootout at Lokhandwala is a must for boys who like movies of a raw kind. The film consists of a violent form of storytelling, which is kind of unique in Bollywood.

Criminal was one of the biggest hits of the Bollywood 90s of India. If the face of Bollywood's classic crime cinema in the film Satya is not enough for you, Criminal captures more Indian spice in this '95 blockbuster. Additionally, Criminal has some of the most memorable music to date as well. Completely a cinema collector's material..

Well, do you like love triangles? The plot and characters of Gangster are often related to an actual underworld don Abu Salem and Bollywood actress Monika Bedi though the director has denied this. The film anyway leads a cult among Indian audiences. With a few hit numbers as Bheegi Bheegi, Ya Ali and Tuhi Meri Shab Hai, though Bheegi Bheegi is an exact musical remake of Moheener Ghoraguli's Prithibita Naki.. with no depth in lyrics comparatively, the film Gangster gained popularity in music industry of India as well.

A great film based on '93 Bombay blasts written and directed by Anurag Kashyap. The film is renowned internationally and has gained popularity among film critics in India and abroad.

Click here to test Black Friday on RottenTomatoes!!

A shocking real tale of an Indian woman told in a merciless, straight depiction.

Another shocking tale of an Indian woman after Bandit Queen.

Both Bandit Queen and Bawandar get a bit disturbing during a few parts in the films but are indeed strong, straight depictions of dreadful stories of these two women.

Real story of an army-man-cum- national-level-athlete who turns into a bandit..

How and because of what?!

Well, watch..

Image from Wikipedia

A group of youngsters do whatever it takes in search of fun and nightlife but tonight it would really backfire. Quite a basic plot but the film has its *great* moments! Take this particular part of the film, for example, backed by a Ska remake of Hindi classic number "Khoya Khoya Chand" by Mohd. Rafi from film Kaala Bazaar. And in the film, there are more like this.

An amazing thriller-drama that twists you around by the end. Guesses?

Well, watch it and figure out yourself! It's a great film so no money wasted, I assure you. :)

All the images used in this lens are either the films' official covers/posters or screenshots. They do not belong to the author but their respective authorities.

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