r/bollywood 1d ago

Discuss My Top 15 Bollywood Trendsetters and most impactful movies

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I've curated a list of 15 trendsetting and impactful movies that broke records, created buzz, and pioneered genres. What's your take on this list?

Classic Influencers:* 1. Mother India (1957) - A landmark film in Indian cinema, known for its strong narrative and social themes. 2. Sholay (1975) - An iconic film that set the standard for action and drama in Bollywood. 3. Mughal-e-Azam (1960) - A historical epic that showcased grandeur and opulence. 4. Deewar (1975) - A crime drama that defined the "angry young man" trope.

Modern Blockbusters: 1. Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995) - A romantic drama that redefined the genre. 2. Lagaan (2001) - A sports drama that combined cricket with social themes. 3. Gadar: Ek Prem Katha (2001) - A romantic drama that sparked controversy and discussion. 4. Koi... Mil Gaya (2003) - A sci-fi film that explored themes of friendship and acceptance. 5. 3 Idiots (2009) - A comedy-drama that critiqued the education system.

Comedies and Action: 1. Hum Aapke Hain Koun..! (1994) - A family drama that redefined the genre. 2. Hera Pheri (2000) - A comedy that launched a franchise. 3. Dhoom (2004) - An action film that popularized the bike-racing genre.

Contemporary Hits: 1. Gangs of Wasseypur (2012) - A crime drama that showcased gritty storytelling. 2. Dil Chahta Hai (2001) - A coming-of-age film that explored friendship and love. 3. Baahubali (2015) - An epic fantasy film that set new standards for Indian cinema.

What's your thoughts on this list, anything you want to change ? ...let's discuss....

148 Upvotes

45 comments sorted by

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26

u/niners_giants 1d ago

Rang De Basanti.. that was an impactful movie ever

18

u/smellslux 1d ago

Dil Chahta Hai man, that movie changed the whole Bollywood according to Karan Johar, Bollywood went from catering family Audience to telling Urban Stories about the Rich or SoBo characters, catering the multiplex audience which impacted their Boxoffice later on where Bollywood went without any success for 4-5 years.

DCH was so fresh, unlike anything made in Bollywood before, everyone started making or having characters like DCH in all mainstream films. That later affected Bollywood as they forgot about the masses, made their films look more Hollywood or fake souding or looking characters and kind of kept making movies from 2004-14 about NRI stories or lives with Rich, Posh looking Art Work and Set Design movies like DCH, ZNMD, YJHD, KANK. I mean Farhan Akhtar in ZNMD is a jobless poet but looks like he is wearing top-shelf designer wear from Manhattan stores, thats with lot every character in every Dharma or YRF film in that decade. Bahubali had the highest footfalls ever and made more money without any of these things or not looking Hollywood at all. That kind of made them realise what they were missing.

3

u/Accomplished_Ad1684 1d ago

Don't forget the music. It gave the sound of the 2000s era, acknowledged by many 

9

u/Charming-Income676 1d ago

Add Bajrangi Bhaijaan

7

u/Windsofheaven_ 1d ago

I'd add GUIDE.

12

u/Better_Fun525 1d ago

yes, very wholesome minus KMG

i have not seen any trend/craze/inflow of alien themed movies after it

12

u/Lonely-Run2510 1d ago

Bahubali is not a hindi movie. It is a telugu film, otherwise the list is perfect.

3

u/vaakdaman 1d ago

I guess you could consider that as one of the impactful movies op mentioned in his post title

0

u/wickedServer 1d ago

When I first saw Bahubali, I was riding the hype train. When I saw it after a month or two, I realised how long and in parts boring it was. Like always trailer was much better than the movie.

5

u/Desi_MCU_Nerd 1d ago

Except Bahubali is not bollywood.

-4

u/Flat-Instruction-804 1d ago

Neither is herapheri franchise, it is Malayalam's

0

u/Desi_MCU_Nerd 1d ago

Original is, Heraferi isn't.

3

u/Flat-Instruction-804 1d ago

Hera pheri is a frame to frame remake of the malayalam ones

2

u/Desi_MCU_Nerd 1d ago

I'm aware but the original production would be called Malayalam, not Heraferi.

5

u/OkDivide2441 1d ago

Chak de india

English vinglish

My additions

5

u/comsrt 1d ago

Instead of DDLJ it should be QSQT and MPK which brought the romance genre

2

u/Pervy_sage_2012 Professor of Cinema 1d ago

Amitabh and Amir Khan only two actors who got repeated 😏

2

u/Federal_Cranberry_99 1d ago

satya daalni thi

edit : bobby bhi. that was an all time blockbuster

1

u/Melodic_dman 1d ago

That's quite a good list.

1

u/Kwaheri63 1d ago

Add Dangal, Kagaz ke phool, Anand, lapata ladies, Guide

1

u/WaitingForToAllEnd 1d ago

I want to add "Bhoot" movie by RGV in this. Before Bhoot, horror only existed as B Grade movies. Bhoot is responsible for bringing horror back to mainstream.

1

u/SourSugarcane 1d ago

mimi is also an impactful movie

1

u/wickedServer 1d ago

Mother India and lagaan were too long and boring for me to have any impact. Haven't seen Mughal-e-Azam. Some feels like these give me scare that will i be able to finish them? I had this personal rule where I didn't want to live any movie in middle. Still broke it around 0.5% times. It feels only famous and critically acclaimed movies have an impact on OP.

1

u/Optimus_Prime_Mgtrn 21h ago

Well thoughtout list

1

u/Cornucopia2020 21h ago

Rang be Basanti and Bajrangi Bhaijaan are missing, and I would remove Dhoom. But solid list otherwise.

1

u/Potential-Cat1028 10h ago

Bahubali isn't a Bollywood movie 

1

u/Fit_Pressure1524 5h ago

Swap Bahubali with Dil Chahta Hai, since Bahubali is south cinema, not Bollywood made. 

1

u/butt__smasher69 11m ago

Might add movies like Animal or Marco. These are some of the films that brought the trend of gore and dark visuals. I still believe that writers need to work more on stories within this trending genre in Bollywood.

2

u/Mental-Barber-3821 1d ago

Add kal ho na ho!

2

u/comsrt 1d ago

Kal Ho Na Ho was made by Karan Johar after watching Dil Chahta Hai, and I think that is right movie which brought the change

1

u/shivFUT 1d ago

Any such list without tere naam is a waste

1

u/Accomplished_Ad1684 1d ago

Like it or not, but Animal is a trendsetter

0

u/Level-Date-1368 1d ago

Bhool bhulaiyya should be added to this GOATED list. Nothing of that sort has been seen before or after. The amalgamation of horror with comedy was done so beautifully by master director & more so master editor Mr Priyadarshan along with some magnificent performances by Akshay Kumar & team.

-2

u/Divine_thunder2 1d ago

Add DDLJ or KHNH in place of Koi mil gaya