Top 5 Bollywood movies that you should watch on Netflix this month

Following an increased interest in Asian media, Netflix has been adding to its curation of South Asian content.

On April 21, the streaming giant released the third installment of the popular matchmaking show "Indian Matchmaking," which has been going viral on various social media platforms.

The Bollywood film industry is also one of the leading film markets in the world, with its overall revenue exceeding $2 billion in 2022, per Statista.

Netflix's collection of close to 400 Bollywood movies can leave some viewers spoiled for — perhaps even overwhelmed by — choice.

Known for their captivating storytelling and music, Bollywood movies are also masters of dealing with complex concepts like class struggles and self-discovery.

Here are the top five must-watch Indian movies on Netflix that you should definitely check out.

"RRR," short for Rise Roar Revolt, is a period action film following two revolutionaries as they fight against British rule. It's loosely based on real historical figures.

The film topped Netflix's Top 10 Global non-English movies chart for four consecutive weeks in May and June last year, with over 18 million hours viewed at its peak, per Netflix.

Directed by S.S. Rajamouli and released last year on March 24, the movie takes viewers on a roller-coaster ride through thrilling scenes of action and entrancing dance sequences.

Featuring N.T. Rama Rao Jr. as Komaram Bheem and Ram Charan as Alluri Sitarama Raju, "RRR" was also nominated for best original song at the 2023 Academy Awards with the track "Naatu Naatu." This was the first song from an Indian movie to be nominated for an Oscar, per BBC.

The song became popular around the world and even inspired dance trends on Instagram.

Through a gripping story of rising against power, "The White Tiger" explores heavy themes of corruption and class struggle.

Released in January 2021, the story follows Balram Halwai, a poor but ambitious driver who deftly works his way up the socioeconomic rungs to become a successful entrepreneur in the fiercely competitive Indian society.

Directed by Ramin Bahrani and featuring Adarsh Gourav as Balram, the film adaptation of the 2008 Booker prize-winning novel of the same name successfully encapsulates the tension and frustration of surviving in a rigged system.

Released on 25 February last year, "Gangubai Kathiawadi" is a crime biopic about an Indian activist who was also famous for being one of the "mafia queens" of Mumbai.

The film topped Netflix's Top 10 Global non-English film chart with over 13 million hours viewed worldwide in the week of April 25 last year, per Netflix.

Featuring Alia Bhatt, whose portrayal of Gangubai has been praised by critics and viewers alike, the story delves into themes of betrayal and female empowerment.

The film's director, Sanjay Leela Bhansali, was inspired by Hussain Zaidi's book "Mafia Queens of Mumbai," which features stories of women who were involved in criminal activities in the most populous city of India, per August Man, a lifestyle platform in Asia.

"Swades" is centered on an Indian ex-pat who works at NASA. It's a heartfelt story that illustrates the universal emotional journey of self-discovery.

The film follows Mohan Bhargav, played by Shah Rukh Khan, traveling back to his hometown in search of his childhood nanny in rural India. He ends up finding a sense of purpose through reforming the village during his stay.

"Swades" portrays feelings of patriotism in a moving way that transcends nationalities.

Set in the late 19th century, the epic sports drama revolves around a small village plagued by high taxes — "lagaan" — imposed by the British rulers.

Directed by Ashutosh Gowariker, the story's protagonist Bhuvan, played by Aamir Khan, challenges a British officer to a game of cricket as a bet. If he wins, the villagers will be exempted from paying taxes for three years.

Marrying the country's favorite sport and classic Bollywood musical elements, "Lagaan" was nominated for best foreign language film in the 2002 Academy Awards, per IMDb.

It is also a long-time favorite among Indian audiences, per Vogue India.

Despite its runtime of almost four hours, the movie has been praised by critics around the world for captivating audiences from beginning to end.

Back in 2002, the San Francisco Chronicle noted the film as being, "A rippingly good, old-fashioned movie epic that takes the best of Bollywood cinema ... and elevates it for an international audience."