TOP 13 MOTIVATIONAL BOLLYWOOD MOVIES WORTH WATCHING

 

Bollywood is popular for its emotions through its movies, which can also become a source of inspiration while providing the much-needed entertainment to movie buffs. Bollywood has given many movies based on struggles of common man, who irrespective of difficulties, achieve success by not giving up on their goals.

Here are the top 13 motivational Bollywood movies of all time:

 

1.   BHAAG MILKHA BHAAG (2013)

 

IMDB Rating: 8.2

This inspirational Bollywood movie is inspired by The Flying Sikh of India. It is very energetic and motivational film. Milkha lived in refugee camps with his sister when they were young. Milkha made friends and stole for survival. He joined the army and got noticed for his immense running speed. He got selected for the service commission. But, his seniors weren’t too happy. He ended up getting beaten up by them.

However, he took part in the Olympic selections. Despite his deep injuries, he broke the national record. He used to run so fast that he ended up getting the title “The Flying Sikh.” After a difficult life experiencing poverty and war, he turns his life around and broke records. This is a very inspirational story of hard work, obstacles and how he jumped over them.

This motivational bollywood movie asserts the importance of perseverance in lives of people to reach their goals and to tread the path of success. It shows that hard work and dedication are key to success.

 

2.   MOTHER INDIA (1957)

IMDB Rating: 8.1

Mother India is often said to have helped set the pattern for the nearly 50 years of Indian film that has followed it. Its central character is a peasant woman, Radha, whose determination to weather all  forms of social and personal adversity without compromising her honor becomes a symbol of India's own pride as an ancient culture and a new democracy. “Mother India” continues to be a benchmark for serious Hindi filmmakers to this day. Relating the story of a dogged woman faced with adversity on all fronts, including poverty and possible widowhood, the film was able to blend the colours of patriotism with romance, good old valour with the problems of development in an emerging nation. 

Radha had a difficult life in poverty, her family is in deep debt. Radha’s husband gets injured and leaves the family humiliated, he had to live off of Radha’s hard-earned money and it hurt his ego. She resists modernizations, temptations, natural disasters and threats of all varieties in order to raise her children on her own and hold on to her husband's land. The movie was nominated for the Academy Award in the Best foreign category.

 

3.   ANAND (1971)

      

      IMDB Rating: 8.5

The movie won the 1972 Filmfare Award. One of the best works to come out of Bollywood. The story of this motivational Hindi movie follows Bhaskar, who is a cancer specialist who writes a book named Anand. The movie narrates like the pages of a diary of one Dr. Bhaskar Bannerjee and his relationship with Anand Sehgal whom he treated for cancer.

How Anand fights cancer brings tears to your eyes, even if you see this movie for the umpteenth time. You laugh with Anand, you cry with him, you sing with him, you live the life he lives. he was always cheerful and kept everyone happy around him. He shares the sorrows of people he meets, gives them reason to smile. But never will let you into his own sad past. Bhaskar and Anand become close friends. But, they both know Anand has few months left. He becomes softer and mature after he met Anand. The movie shows a dying patient choosing to make people around him happy and to not limit himself just because he is sick. He lives his life normally. Anand’s character is an inspiration and shows how precious life is.

 

4.   GURU (2007)

IMDB Rating: 7.7

Guru is an inspiring story of an ambitious villager Gurukant Desai, who later becomes the biggest business tycoon of India. The movie is also referred as biopic of one of the most successful and self made business person of India, Dhirubhai Ambani.

This motivational Bollywood movie is inspired by India’s biggest business tycoon Dhirubhai Ambani and some other businessmen. A man in a village in Gujrat, a man Guru dreams of making it big in life. The movie teaches us that we should never lose hope in our life . If someone is trying to demotivate you, you should always avoid that person. If someone is motivating you, then you should follow their steps. 

He gradually expands his business and sets up various manufacturing units. He turns ruthless as his business becomes one of the biggest in India. Guru smuggles parts, illegally creates goods and manipulates stocks. Then, an old father-figure to Guru exposes his corruption as a reporter. He has legal battles and charges are pressed against him.

The movie inspires every aspiring businessman to aim higher in life if they want to make it big. But, it also warns against the demons that come along, straying away from the desired path is very easy. Guru is a big lesson to youngsters who can learn the traits of leadership. It also impresses upon them that they should not fall prey to unlawful means. One of the memorable lines from the movie is: "Dream requires soundless sleep to see whereas Aim requires sleepless night to achieve."

 

5.   3 IDIOTS (2009)

 

IMDB Rating: 8.4

3 idiots movie is loosely adapted from Chetan Bhagat’s best selling novel Five Point Someone. Two friends looking for their long lost college friend and in the journey they remember their college days, the movie plays in the flashback. This is one of the greatest motivational Bollywood movies that represent college life and friendship very well.

The story of this Motivational Bollywood movie revolves around three friends, Rancho, Farhan, and Raju. They share funny, sad and bonding experiences throughout college and share memories of a lifetime. Rancho is a brilliant student and the other two are not. Professor “Virus” doesn’t like Rancho, he dislikes his free nature and carefree views on education.

They go through societal and parental pressure to get good marks and live up to standards. This is a movie teens relate to, the pressure students have in today’s competitive world is ridiculous. They show college friendship, following one’s dreams and sensitive topics such as suicide. It is truly an inspirational movie.

Learning with a sense of purpose and not just to ace in examinations is a key takeaway. The movie gives a very important message: "Pursue excellence, and success will follow".

 

6.   LAGAAN: ONCE UPON A TIME IN INDIA (2001)

      IMDB Rating: 8.1

This movie is a story of an Indian village where a young boy named Bhuvan challenges Britishers in the game of Cricket to clear the whole village out of high tax debts. No one in the village has ever played this game before. But they are determined enough to give them a strong competition. It’s one of the greatest movie of Indian cinema and was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.

Lagaan is worth watching for the cultural insights it gives into Indian culture. It refutes the caste system and the religious divisions which have crippled India for so many years.

A young farmer, Bhuvan ends up mocking the commanding officer while they were playing a game of cricket. Bhuvan challenges the officers in their own game. The condition of winning was the exemption of tax for three years, and loosing would result in triple-tax for the farmers.

The villagers were against the idea at first, but Bhuvan manages to assemble a team for players. They were inexperienced and knew almost nothing about the actual rules. This is an emotional movie with high stakes.

  

7.   I AM KALAM (2010)

IMDB Rating: 8.0

This movie is an epic story of a kid who believes that fate and fortune is nothing. It’s only karma that has the power to either make you or break you. A refreshing movie full of hope and joy.

This motivational Hindi movie follows a poor boy who derives inspiration from Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, the former President and a visionary. He is a fighter, he is not an ordinary kid, he is street smart and is a natural at academics. The boy, Chotu decides to change his name to Kalam and wanted to meet him in person. Kalam wants to study hard to be someone significant like him.

He outsmarts uncle’s adult assistant and makes friends with the loneliest boy in the palace, now a hotel, a prince his age. It is a truly inspirational story of how a young boy from the slums takes the president as his role model and works hard to be like him.

The movie, which was screened at the Cannes Film Festival and in many other film festivals, has bagged many honours and awards. It is a must-watch film as far as youngsters are concerned because it teaches them that they need to be inspired by visionaries in order to succeed in life.

 

8.   IQBAL (2005)

IMDB Rating: 8.1

This is an inspiring movie based on the story of a deaf and mute boy whose passion is nothing but playing cricket. He wants to play for the national team of India but situations aren’t that easy for him. He had to overcome a lot of barriers to make his way in the playing eleven for the country. An epic movie by Nagesh Kukoonar. The cricket part is handled very effectively and doesn't look amateurish.The dirt behind the selection process, you-help-me-i'll-help you situations is shown well although Kukunoor solves it simply as well.

A motivational Bollywood movie, this is a coming-of-age sports drama film. The film follows a deaf and mute boy from a small village. Iqbal dreams of making it as cricket and wanted to play from the Indian national cricket team. His father was against his dream and deemed it a waste of time. The father, instead, wanted Iqbal to help him out in the field, farming is a rather stable profession. His sister helps him try out for a cricket academy.

He finds a local drunkard, an ex-cricketer, and asks him to be his coach. He trains hard and gets a place on the Andra Pradesh Ranji Trophy. Iqbal plays for a team and does marvelously for a previously weak team. He faces bribery and corruption in the games and almost left. He goes through a lot of discrimination, but he made it. Iqbal wins a place in the Indian National team. This movie inspires people to make their dreams a reality and fight through any obstacles they face. It is all about chasing your dreams, no matter what the obstacles. The movie is funny in a subtle way and the acting is brilliant.

 

9.   JO JEETA WOHI SIKANDER (1992)

IMDB Rating: 8.2

This motivational Hindi movie is a coming-of-age sports drama film. Sanju and Ratan are brothers. Ratan was the model student and an ideal older brother to Sanju. Sanju was a care-free soul who just enjoys his life as it goes.

Shekar is a 2-time winner of the inter-collegiate race. It’s Ratan’s dream to win that race, to make his father proud. After a bad injury before the competition, how will Ratan take part in the race? The movie has deep thematic plots of friendship, relationship, family, motivations, and sports. It is a classic movie you need to watch. It is a very entertaining, energetic,emotional, inspiring movie. The movie is a blend of excellent screenplay, direction, music and acting, great in every aspect of film making that is the reason why you will want to watch it again and again.

This movie highlights the power of hard work along with a sense of dedication that can become the pillars of success.

 

10.  CHAK DE! INDIA (2007)

 

IMDB Rating: 8.2

This is one of the best movies by Shahrukh Khan. Kabir Khan was in charge of 16 young women part of a hockey team. They were divided by prejudices and regional pride. However, Kabir makes the women overcome their differences and coaches them to perfection. 

They win games and conquer the international games. This movie has themes of women empowerment, friendships, sportsmanship, and self-discovering journeys.

The movie is about how he builds a women team capable of competing at the international level and cleans his tainted reputation. A lesson about tolerance and team spirit can attract the attention of students. This movie is one of the motivational bollywood movies that will make you speechless.

 

11.   MY NAME IS KHAN (2010)

IMDB Rating: 8.0

It is undoubtedly one of the most moving & meaningful movies which has been spurned out from Bollywood.Moving away from all stereotyped roles,acting,storyline, this movie places its flag of its own. All credits to the director Karan Johar for telling such a complex subject in such simple words.

Shahrukh Khan plays Rizwan Khan who suffers from Asperger's syndrome who is married to a single mother Kajol.. The movie deals with effects of 9/11 which shook the world! One man sets out to see the president of USA and shows wonderfully how the people should be strong to chuck away their fears.. The main highlights of the movie are Shahrukh Khan and the climax!

 

After the 9/11 terrorist attacks, Khan is discriminated based on his last name. He is detained at the LAX when his disability is mistaken as suspicious behavior. He meets a therapist and helps him deal with the affliction he felt. Rizwan begins a journey to meet the USA President to clear his name. He wants to say it to the world “My name is Khan and I’m not a terrorist.”

 

Rizwan travels from one state to another to change the perception of people about his community. The moral of the story is that it is not right to perceive all Muslims as terrorists.

 

12.  MANJHI: THE MOUNTAIN MAN (2015)

IMDB Rating: 8.0

This is an inspirational Bollywood movie based on Dashrath Manjhi, who is widely known as the Mountain Man. The movie takes you through the painful journey of a so-called low caste Bihari who takes on a mountain to avenge his wife's death. Manjhi was a poor laborer in a village in Bihar. He carved a path measuring 30ft wide and 360ft long using nothing but a hammer and a chisel. People in his village had to climb or travel around the rocky mountain just to get medical care in the nearest town of Waziganj.

Manjhi’s wife fell while crossing the mountain and unfortunately died giving birth to a baby girl. People only called him a lunatic, but his dedication never faltered. In 22 years, he finally carved a path for the people of his village. He fought with the Government to develop the village and have the availability of basics like hospitals and roads.

It is a truly awe-inspiring tale of a man's iron-will. The humble, vulnerable and impoverished character of Dashrat Manjhi's epic portrayal by Nawazuddin Siddiqui. 

 

13.  SWADES (2004)

IMDB Rating: 8.2

Swades, a 2004 flick is one such movie that revolves around the life of a successful Indian scientist. The asset of the film is Shahrukh Khan, looking ordinary and real but in an extra-ordinary performance. Young minds watching this movie will surely be inspired by the noble thoughts of the lead.

Swades is a kind of movie that seems boring but as it proceeds it brings everything that an individual needs to be a patriot. It may be a tad slow and lengthy, but it hits you where your heart hurts the most; patriotic and root feelings of an individual with good intentions overcoming social obstacle. This is one of the most thought provoking movies to come out of Bollywood in recent times.

Comparisons with Lagaan are bound to be there, but in some ways it's even better than Lagaan. Primarily, for the authenticity and real-life feel unlike Lagaan which was a finely crafted fairly-tale. Lagaan is all about emerging victorious and fighting against the odds.

 

CONCLUSION:

All the above listed 13 Bollywood movies can serve as motivational source and create an indelible mark on the minds of people, especially youngsters keen on achieving their goals. Underdog stories, tales of incredible transformation, overcoming immense hardship, and the journey of an average person to heroism - such tales stay with us forever and inspire in us something that we never knew was there.

So, how many of these movies have you watched? Which other movies would you recommend? Do let me know in comments.