Iconic Indian Films That Everyone Should Watch

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Mayabazar (1957) - MX Player

K.V. Reddy's recreation of the Mahabharata was a Telugu-Tamil bilingual featuring the likes of N.T. Rama Rao, Gemini Ganesan, Akkineni Nageswara Rao, Savitri, and S.V. Ranga Rao.

Pather Panchali (1955) - Prime Video

Satyajit Ray's directorial debut shone a harsh light upon life in rural India, and also served as the first installment in the Apu trilogy (1955-1959).

Meghe Dhaka Tara (1960) - Prime Video

Possibly the first feature film to address the Partition, Ritwik Ghatak dived into the life of a family in a Calcutta refugee camp after they have had to flee the newly-created East Pakistan.

Mughal-e-Azam (1960) - ZEE5

K. Asif's fourteen-years-in-the-making historical was unlike any other film, featuring romantic and familial love in equal measure. It starred Madhubala, Dilip Kumar, and Prithviraj Kapoor.

Haqeeqat (1964) - ZEE5

Chetan Anand's multi-starrer was one of the first war films about Independent India, depicting the 1962 conflict with China. It starred Balraj Sahni, Dharmendra, Vijay Anand, Jayant, and Priya Rajvansh.

Chemmeen (1966) - N/A

Directed by Ramu Kariat, the film starred Sheela and Madhu as lovers who violate conventional societal norms in coastal Kerala by carrying on a lengthy romance even after one of them is married. It won a National Award, and also bagged an award each at the Cannes and Chicago Film Festivals.

Swayamvaram (1972) - YouTube

Adoor Gopalakrishnan announced himself to the world through this story of a couple who choose to marry against their parents' wishes. It was also one of the first Malayalam films to use sync sound and be filmed outdoors.

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