2016 was a stellar year for Bollywood, moving away from typical masala entertainers toward content-driven cinema. Here are the best films from that year that are definitely worth your time.
5. Neerja (Biographical/Thriller)
- Why it’s a must-watch: A gripping thriller about Neerja Bhanot, a flight attendant who saved passengers during the hijacking of Pan Am Flight 73. Sonam Kapoor gives a career-best performance.
- Key Highlight: The claustrophobic tension inside the plane and the emotional climax.
- Where to watch (Legally): Disney+ Hotstar.
3. Airlift
- Genre: Historical / Thriller
- Starring: Akshay Kumar, Nimrat Kaur
- Why it’s a must-watch: Based on the true story of the evacuation of Indians from Kuwait during the 1990 Iraq invasion, this film is gripping and patriotic without being overly jingoistic. It showcased Akshay Kumar’s shift toward serious, socially relevant cinema.
- Where to watch: Disney+ Hotstar / JioCinema.
1. Dangal (Released: December 23, 2016)
Starring: Aamir Khan, Sakshi Tanwar, Fatima Sana Shaikh
There is no "best of 2016" list without Dangal. Based on the true story of wrestler Mahavir Singh Phogat, who trains his daughters to become world-class wrestlers, this film transcended language barriers. It became the highest-grossing Indian film ever at the time. The emotional depth and wrestling choreography are flawless.
6. Performance Nuances
- Shraddha Kapoor – Played a architect with short hair, minimal makeup, and sharp dialogue delivery – a departure from her “cute girl” roles.
- Aditya Roy Kapur – Underplayed vulnerability; his silence in the climax speaks more than dialogues.
- Naseeruddin Shah & Leela Samson – Their parallel track as an elderly couple with the wife having Alzheimer’s is the film’s emotional anchor, showing love enduring beyond memory.
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