Bollywood has a blend of each and every type of cinema as it’s the world’s second-largest production after Hollywood.
Production cost-cutting is not the option in these films, you can see the grand sets and visuals of these Period drama films.
With the coming of the aging technology, the production companies are spending their best to make it worth and moving. Recreating the past is the most difficult thing in Bollywood, you have to focus on each and every detail. let’s check out the best visually stunning period films of Bollywood.
Best Visually Stunning Bollywood films of all Time
Lagaan (2001)
Lagaan is an Indian epic sports drama film based on the imposition of unprecedented land tax on the farmers of a small village. The film is directed by Ashutosh Gowarikar and stars Aamir Khan and Gracy Singh coupled with British actors Rachel Shelley and Paul Blackthorne. Ashutosh Gowarikar recreated the complete Village for the film. The film also became the third Indian film to be nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.
Also Read: Making of Lagaan
Detective Byomkesh Bakshy! (2015)
Detective Byomkesh Bakshy! is a Bollywood mystery thriller directed by Dibakar Banerjee. The star cast of the film includes Sushant Singh Rajput who played the protagonist, coupled with Anand Tiwari and Swastika Mukherjee in lead roles. The film is based on the fictional character created by the Bengali writer Sharadindu Bandyopadhyay. Detailing by Dibakar Banerjee in each scene is brilliant and you can feel the Calcutta of that time in the Film. The film has made its place in the visually stunning period films as it is set in the period of World War II and war-torn Calcutta.
Hey Ram (2000)
Hey Ram is a Semi Fiction Indian crime drama period film directed by Kamal Haasan. The film stars Kamal Haasan himself as the protagonist. The story of the film is based on India’s partition and the murder of Mahatma Gandhi by Nathuram Godse. The film was also India’s nomination for Best Foreign Language Film for Academy Awards. Hey Ram is a story of Saket Ram played by Kamal Haasan whose wife Aparna played by Rani Mukherjee is brutally assaulted and killed by Muslim men during the religious strife in the city of Calcutta. Ram becomes unstable after the incident vows to be the killer of Mahatma Gandhi.
Bombay Velvet (2015)
Bombay Velvet is an Indian period crime drama film directed by Anurag Kashyap, starring Ranbir Kapoor, Anushka Sharma, and Karan Johar in lead roles, coupled with Kay Kay Menon, Manish Choudhary, Vivaan Shah, and Siddharth Basu in strong supporting roles. The film showcases the city of Bombay in its 60’s and is a visual treat to the eyes for its sets and costumes. The story of the film shows an ordinary man who goes against all odds and forges his destiny to become a big shot. Bombay Velvet was a disaster at the box office, but still, if you go through the cinematography and visuals you will find that Bombay Velvet is one of the best visually stunning Bollywood films.
Also Read: Review of Bombay Velvet
Bhaag Milkha Bhaag (2010)
Bhaag Milkha Bhaag is a Bollywood biopic sports drama film directed by Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra. The film is based on the hardships and horrors of the life of Milkha Singh aka ‘The Flying Sikh’, an Indian athlete who was a national champion and also an Olympian. The star cast of the film includes Farhan Akhtar in the role of the protagonist coupled with Sonam Kapoor, Meesha Shafi, Divya Dutta, Pavan Malhotra, Yograj Singh, and Prakash Raj.
Also Read : Facts about Bhaag Milkha Bhaag and Milkha Singh
Once Upon A Time In Mumbai ! (2013)
Once Upon A Time In Mumbai ! is an Indian gangster film directed by Milan Luthria, starring Ajay Devgn, Emran Hashmi in lead roles. The film is loosely based on Real-life smugglers and gangsters Dawood Ibrahim and Haji Mastan. The film has been put in the list of visually stunning period films of Bollywood due to its creation of good 60’s Mumbai. OUATIM was a big hit.
Shatranj Ke Khilari (1977)
Shatranj Ke Khilari is a film by legend director Satyajit Ray, based on Premchand’s short story. The film stars Amjad Khan and Richard Attenborough in lead roles coupled with Sanjeev Kumar, Saeed Jaffrey, Shabana Azmi, David Abraham, and Tom Alter. The film is listed in the visually stunning period films because the film is set in 1856 and depicts the life and customs of 19th century India.
Also Read: Must Watch Films of Satyajit Ray
The Legend Of Bhagat Singh (2002)
The Legend of Bhagat Singh is an Indian historical biopic film on Bhagat Singh, a freedom fighter. The film was directed by Rajkumar Santoshi and stars Ajay Devgn, Sushant Singh, D. Santosh, Raj Babbar, and Farida Jalal. The story of the film showcases the boldness of a young revolutionary and freedom fighter who raised an armed resistance against British rule. The recreation of colonial India and the hard-hitting portrayal of British atrocities are the prime features of the film. Hats off to the director to present such great work for the Bollywood audience. The Legends of Bhagat Singh is one of the Best Films made on Bhagat Singh’s Life.
Sardar (1993)
Sardar is an Indian biopic on one of the greatest freedom fighters of India, Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel. The film is directed by Ketan Mehta, starring Paresh Rawal, Tom Alter, Riju Bajaj, and Elisa D’Souza. The story of the film is based on the ‘Iron Man’ Vallabhbhai Patel’s political life and his importance in the partition and creation of India and Pakistan.
Also Read: Films about Indian History
Jodhaa Akbar (2008)
Jodhaa Akbar is an Indian epic drama directed by Ashutosh Gowariker. The star cast of the film includes Hrithik Roshan, Aishwarya Rai, Sonu Sood, Kulbhushan Kharbanda, and Ila Arun. The story of the film is based on the epic romance between the Mughal emperor Akbar and the Hindu Rajput princess Jodhabai. The film is an epic full of richness and grandeur in every aspect.
Mughal-E-Azam (1960)
Mughal-E-Azam is an Indian film directed by K. Asif, starring Prithviraj Kapoor, Dilip Kumar, Madhubala, and Durga Khote. The film is a great historical epic and showcases the love affair between Mughal Prince Salim and Anarkali. The film has secured its place in the list of visually stunning period films of Bollywood because of its lavish sets and people used to come from distant places to just see them. One of the major attractions of the film was Sheesh Mahal which was created for the song ‘Pyar Kiya To Darna Kya’.
Gadar: Ek Prem Katha (2001)
Gadar: Ek Prem Katha is a Bollywood action film directed by Anil Sharma, starring Sunny Deol, Amisha Patel, and Amrish Puri. The film is set in the time of the painful Indian partition. The plot of the film is based on the real-life of Boota Singh. With a box office collection of more than 600 million, the film is listed as one of the biggest blockbusters in Hindi cinema. The film showcases the story of a truck driver Tara Singh, played by Sunny Deol, who falls in love with a Muslim girl, Sakina, played by Amisha Patel.
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