Hey hey, all you Bollywood buffs out there! Sometimes, it gets too hard to wrap our minds around the fact that time just keeps ticking away, and it’s been years since we first laid our eyes on some of our all-time favorite movies. It’s crazy to digest that it’s already been a decade since we first fell in love with some of these unforgettable gems. The memory of watching these for the first time in theaters is still so alive in my mind. I can’t help but feel nostalgic when I look back at these movies. And so it’s time to take a moment to celebrate these lovely Bollywood movies that are turning ten this year. It’s time to relive the moments that made us laugh, cry, be overwhelmed, and fall in love all over again.
1. YEH JAWAANI HAI DEEWANI
I have literally stopped counting the number of times I have re-watched this gem. There is comfort in revisiting those hills of Manali or those streets of Paris. Be it Naina’s hopeless love or Bunny’s quest to see the world—there have been tiny instances in the film that we could all relate to. From iconic songs to the unforgettable ‘Never Have I Ever’ game—it feels almost irresistible to take on this cinematic journey of self-discovery, friendship, and love.
2. AASHIQUI 2
A musical masterpiece. Bollywood’s music industry would truly have been incomplete without any of Aashiqui 2’s music tracks. I really cannot imagine a world without ‘Tum Hi Ho.’ Seeing Shraddha Kapoor and Aditya Roy Kapoor together makes my heart happy. Filled with soulful melodies and gracious scenes, the movie reminds us of how love can be both beautiful and tragic. In every sense, this film is a true classic.
3. LUNCHBOX
If one wishes to witness cinematic grace in its fullest sense, this film is a go-to. A lovely gastronomical journey through the bustling streets of Mumbai. It is timeless how the film explored the power of food and love. It taught us the importance of those little things and how love can happen in the most unexpected ways. A growing friendship through letters and love-filled lunchboxes—this film is the perfect way to experience the grace of a sweet and savory love story.
4. RAANJHANAA
This movie lets us dive into the artistic scenes from Varanasi. This A.R. Rahman musical is replete with emotions of pain, innocence, and strains of unrequited love. Kundan does everything to get Zoya’s attention. His love is pure, just as Javed Ali’s melodies in ‘Tum Tak.’ In its true sense, the film explores the depths of human emotions and leaves us with a bittersweet aftertaste.
5. LOOTERA
This artistic masterpiece transports us into the 1950s to the serene hills of Dalhousie. Based on O Henry’s 1907 short story ‘The Last Leaf,’ the film tells a story of a young conman posing as an archaeologist and the daughter of a Bengali zamindar. Just thinking back about the first time when I watched this film makes me teary. The unfathomable pain of that last scene leaves the viewers slow-burning even after the film is over. That is precisely the power of eloquent cinematography.
The magic of these films is timeless. These are experiences that will never lose their charm, no matter how many years pass by. We can still get swept away by the romance, get teary at those climax scenes, laugh out loud at that comedy, or start grooving the moment the songs play. These are movies that have become a part of our lives, and we’ll always hold them close to our hearts!