Woh din bhi kya din the! (Those were the days!) Teenage life was like a different world. We made friends, lost some, had crushes, which may or may not have lasted long, and so much. Here’s a bunch of movies that you can watch to relive your teenage days. This list of Indian teenage dramas is ranked in no particular order.

1.Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikander (1995, Hindi)

The movie with the evergreen song ‘Pehla Nasha’ was a film too cool for the 90s. Starring Aamir Khan, Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikander is the usual school rivalry story. There’s love, friendship, hatred, competition, and everything that makes for an entertaining Indian teenage drama. The film was a huge hit upon its release and is still considered a cult classic movie.

2. Gippi (2013, Hindi)

Being insecure is one of the most common things we experienced as teenagers. We were often confused and feared rejection most of the time. Gippi explores that aspect of our teenage life. From being highly insecure about appearance she feels like no one wants to talk to her and that she is probably a boring person. Just like any teenager, Gippi explores herself with the help of her friends and family and learns to accept herself just the way she is. She embraces her uniqueness and enjoys the process of growing up. The film may not be one of the best Indian teenage dramas but it is certainly not a boring one.

3. Udaan (2010, Hindi)

In India, children are expected to follow the life plan designed for them by their parents. No matter what the child wants, it is the choices made by the parents that are followed, sometimes even imposed. We grow up not to be our own people but to replicate our parents’ life, or live a life that so-called society expects. And because of this, we grow up to become unhappy people. India and its youth will flourish the moment children are allowed to do what they really want to do, but only with the guidance and support of their families. Udaan is a film that tries to uncover this teenage angst-identity crisis. Rohan dreams of being a writer but his cruel father marks his fate and sends him to become an engineer. Rohan tries his best to break free but fails most of the time. Udaan is a heart-wrenching and liberating film that really makes us think about how we need to mold the youth of our country.

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4.Thanneer Mathan Dinangal (2019, Malayalam)

The recently released Malayalam movie is a travel back to good times for most Malayalees. Thaneer Mathan Dinangal captures the essence of teenagers in the most authentic and humorous way. The teenage crush, the final exams, that cafeteria break with friends and the humongous amount one owes in that cafeteria, the list can just go long. The movie stars Mathew T Thomas (Kumbalangi Nights fame) as a dumb yet cute Jaison and Anaswara Rajan as Keerthy, a smart teenage girl who later falls for Jaison. The movie doesn’t idolize teenage love nor does it disregard it as an infatuation. The balance maintained here is what makes Thanneer Mathan Dinangal a loveable and convincing movie.

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So, which one takes you back to those golden days? Share in the comments.

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