Most people think Hotstar is home to exclusive Disney content or the latest season of Koffee With Karan. While this is not wrong, there are a whole host of lesser talked-about films on this platform; it would be remiss of you to not to check them out, especially if you’re a cinephile. Here is a round-up of the five best movies on Hotstar.
1. Mumbai Matinee (2003)
This Rahul Bose-starrer is a sometimes fun, sometimes poignant watch that follows Debu, a 30-something advertiser who, by all other accounts, is quite normal. But he has one problem—he’s still a virgin. When he and Baba Hindustani, played by the spectacular Vijay Raaz, cross paths, Debu realises he has ended up with more than he initially bargained for.
What makes Mumbai Matinee stand out, apart from the stellar performances by the lead cast, is its excellent story and dialogues.
While many Indian movies in the 2000s experimented with the sex comedy trope, hardly any have done it in as nuanced a manner as Mumbai Matinee.
2. Jhankaar Beats (2003)
Not only is Jhankaar Beats one of the best movies on Hotstar, but it is also a unique, feel-good film like no other. It’s why it has grabbed the second spot on my list.
This movie takes you down memory lane with its beautiful R.D. Burman-inspired music, which, compared to today’s over-saturated, lacklustre remixes, really reminded me of the era when the greats were revered. Even though this film came out in 2003, it still hits the spot today.
The movie revolves around three friends—Deep, Rishi, and Neel—as well as their personal and professional struggles while they prepare for the Jhankaar Beats music competition and try to make their dreams come true. It has industry veterans like Juhi Chawla and Rahul Bose, as well as the lesser mainstream Shayan Munshi and Sanjay Suri in lead roles.
If you want to feel some sense of normalcy and escape the various stressors of life today, then you can steal a couple of hours and go back in time with Jhankaar Beats.
3. Ghar (1978)
This blast from the past has Rekha and Vinod Mehra in the lead. The two play a romantic couple that faces immeasurable tragedy after they tie the knot. So as to not spoil the movie for you, I won’t mention the trauma they suffer.
However, even though you may be desensitised to the issues they face (given this movie is set in a timeline of a few decades ago), you’ll still appreciate the softness with which Ghar explores the aftermath of these experiences for the pair.
What also makes Ghar one of the best movies on Hotstar is its incredible music. With R.D. Burman at the helm, evergreen classics like Aap Ki Aankho Mein Kuch and Phir Wahi Raat Hai feature on the soundtrack. Plus, Rekha and Dinesh Thakur (the writer) both won Filmfares back in 1979 for their work on Ghar.
4. Parzania (2007)
Parzania features the powerhouse combination of Naseeruddin Shah and Sarika as a Parsi couple who is looking for its son Parzan in the wake of the 2002 communal riots in Gujarat. Corin Nemec also plays the role of Allan, an American in India, writing his thesis on Gandhi.
Parzan is played by Parzaan Dastur, who we all know from Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, as well as the song Ye Ladka Hayye Allah in Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham; he is that kid who is always counting the stars.
Unfortunately, this is not the role he plays in Parzania.
As the film progresses, the tension undoubtedly increases, given that the backdrop is the communal riots. As mother and son separate, the plot also navigates how the tragedy impacts various communities, making it a hard film to watch.
But the focal point of the film isn’t the politics; it’s the human cost of the incident. Watching the parents grieve isn’t easy, and if that’s not all, Parzania also juxtaposes additional themes of spirituality, childhood trauma, hatred, loneliness, and courage against the larger systemic failures of the time.
The overall ethos of the film hits home even today, despite Parzania being released in 2007. The film was initially not released in Gujarat owing to its sensitive nature, but some limited screenings were eventually okayed.
Parzania went on to win two National Film Awards as well as Filmfare Awards, making it a must-watch for the politically inclined.
5. Gulmohar (2023)
Gulmohar just feels like a tribute to the city of Delhi that all of us have known and loved. It really is one of those films in which the location takes on the quality of an intrinsic character, even though the story of Gulmohar has no direct correlation with Dilli itself.
In fact, it’s a great example of the currently evolving culture of Delhi and how the city is changing as modern India develops.
The film follows the Batra family as they try to cope with the sale of their house and their new reality of everyone going in different directions. As the matriarch (Sharmila Tagore) reveals her intention to move to Pondicherry, new secrets come to life, and they must now all reassess their biases, beliefs, and what family means to them.
Some of the themes it revolves around are those of personal responsibility, love, passion, family, and relationships, and Gulmohar does so in a beautiful way. Plus, there’s a cheeky revelation at the end that really makes the entire journey worth it.
