Movies that changed the world’s perception of Indian cinema
The art forms like painting, music, and movies know no boundaries and can make people fall for them even in living far, far away. And movies being the most effective of them all. Whether it's French, Italian, or recently popular Korean dramas, all of them exemplify how good movies are appreciated worldwide. While western movies have always been know as the benchmark for artistry, some Indian films are at par with them. Though it doesn't mean that anything which is not appreciated by the west or internationally will not be regarded as a piece of art, an international acclamation and recognition do hold a special place. So, here are five Indian movies that have made their mark internationally.
Pather Panchali (1955) - Satyajit Ray
There is nothing new to tell about Pather Panchali's impact in both the Indian and International film industries. It has inspired a whole generation of filmmakers and has brought a new wave in Indian cinema. Not only that, it has won the Best Human Document award at the 1956 Cannes Film Festival and has achieved immense praise and recognition from all over the world. It is among the best works of maestro Satyajit Ray.
Lagaan (2001) by Ashutosh Gowarikar
This 2001 epic Hindi film of modern India has received immense praise worldwide, and is still considered one of the best Indian movies to date. The film was recognized by non-other than the American Film Academy and was nominated for Academy Awards, being the 3rd Indian movie to be nominated for an Academy Awards. Apart from that, the movie holds a 95% Fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes, ranked No. 55 in Empire magazines for 'The 100 Best Films of World Cinema', and was part of Time magazine's unique 'The All-Time 25 Best Sports Movies'.
Salaam Bombay (1988) - Mira Nair
This tale of the Indian dream city, Mumbai, aka Bombay, has won several recognitions worldwide. The hard-hitting tragic story of Indian street life caught the attention of the world audience and won several awards, including international recognition from National Board of Review Award for Top Foreign Film, and winning the Golden Camera and Audience Award at the Cannes Film Festival. The film has also been listed among 'The Best 1,000 Movies Ever Made' by the New York Times and has also won three awards at the Montréal World Film Festival.
Nayakan (1987) - Mani Ratnam
The Tamil film Nayakan, directed by Mani Ratnam, is one of the greatest Tamil films. The film has been praised by several world critics and has been included in TIME magazine's 2005 list of 'All Time 100 Best Films', who called it "A terrific gangster epic in the Godfather style." It jas been also listed in The Moving Arts Film Journal's list of greatest films of all time.
The Lunchbox (2013) - Ritesh Batra
One of the recent critically acclaimed and successful Indian films, The Lunch Box, has won worldwide praise. The movie was a joint effort from India, Germany, France, and the U.S. production companies. The movie was screened at International Critics' Week at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival and the 2013 Toronto International Film Festival and has won the Critics Week Viewers Choice Award (Grand Rail D'Or) at the Cannes Film Festival.
In addition, the movie was also nominated for the best film in the Foreign Language category of the British Academy Film Awards 2015.
