They say, ‘sometimes truth is stranger than fiction’. No one understands this better than Bollywood filmmakers. ‘Coz they have given us some brilliant films based on real-life stories. This is not to say that fictional storylines aren’t compelling, but there’s something intriguing about a movie that’s based on true events. Rani Mukerji’s Mrs Chatterjee vs Norway trailer just proved the same!
Love watching movies on real-life struggles? Scroll down to read our recommendations:
Mrs Chatterjee Vs Norway, A Mom’s Fight For Her Kids
Rani Mukerji’s film Mrs Chatterjee vs Norway is based on the true story of an Indian couple Sagarika and Anurup Bhattacharya. Their children were taken away from them by Norway’s government-run Child Protective Services. In 2011, Norwegian welfare services objected to Sagarika’s hand-feeding her baby, equating it to force-feeding.
Cast: Rani Mukerji, Anirban Bhattacharya, Jim Sarbh, and Neena Gupta
Where To Watch: In cinemas on March 17, 2023
Uri: The Surgical Strike, Story Of Indian Army’s Courage
Uri: The Surgical Strike is one of the best patriotic films made in Indian cinema. It is the retelling of much-talked about 2016 surgical strikes conducted by the Indian Army. The strikes happened across the Line of Control in Pakistani-administered Kashmir. The movie gave an insight into the events that transpired after the attacks on the Indian Army at Uri. Vicky Kaushal arguably delivered his career’s best performance in this one.
Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Paresh Rawal, Rajit Kapur, Yami Gautam, Rajvir Chauhan, and Kirti Kulhari
Where To Watch: Zee5
Pad Man, A Social Entrepreneur Who Changed Everything
Akshay Kumar is pretty much the king of real-life inspired film genre. However, for me, his best work remains Pad Man. The film is inspired by the true story of Arunachalam Muruganantham. Arunachalam spent his whole life building a machine to make affordable sanitary pads for his wife. Just like the real story, Pad Man was both earnest and absorbing!
Cast: Akshay Kumar, Radhika Apte, Jyoti Subhash, and Sonam Kapoor
Where To Watch: Netflix
The Kashmir Files, The Dark Truth Of India
The Kashmir Films is one of the most hard-hitting films of Bollywood. It is based on the 1990s exodus of Kashmiri Hindus from Indian-administered Kashmir. The tragedy continues to haunt the lives of Kashmiri Pandits even today. Trigger Warning: If you don’t have a strong stomach for gruesome violence, it might be a tough watch.
Cast: Mithun Chakraborty, Anupam Kher, Darshan Kumar, Pallavi Joshi, Chinmay Mandlekar, and Bhasha Sumbli
Where To Watch: Zee5
No One Killed Jessica, A Murder That Shook Everyone
No One Killed Jessica is a gut-wrenching film based on the murder of model Jessica Lal. Jessica was shot dead by a politician’s son at a high profile party. Her sister Sabrina led an entire movement to get her justice. The film still remains a masterclass in how to turn a real-life story into timeless cinema.
Cast: Vidya Balan, Rani Mukerji, and Yogendra Tiku
Where To Watch: Netflix
The Sky is Pink, Family Drama At Its Best
I don’t remember the last time a film made me shed ugly tears. The film is based on the life of Aisha Chaudhary and her family as they fight her rare medical condition, pulmonary fibrosis. While Aisha spent her whole life battling her illness, she never lost hope and her smile. This heartbreaking tale can melt the coldest of hearts.
Cast: Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Farhan Akhtar, Zaira Wasim, and Rohit Suresh Saraf
Where To Watch: Netflix
These films go on to show that sometimes the best story you can tell is the truth.
Feature Image: Instagram
