One of the best things about 2021 would be how we saw more original content and fewer remakes in Bollywood. Most of the top films that were released this year had a rich storyline and gave more screen time to women as well as more voice. Here’s my personal list of the best Hindi movies of 2021.

1.Pagglait

Pagglait is the story of Sandhya who has been widowed recently and is unable to mourn the death of her husband. Does death always need to be mourned? Sandhya is confused. As the story progresses, Sandhya comes to terms with her own wishes and wants to emancipate herself from expectations and stereotypes.

2. Haseen Dillruba

Taapsee always knows how to win our hearts. We see her in a totally different outlook in Haseen Dillruba. While Taapsee does deliver an impressive performance, it is Vikrant Massey who steals the show. I just could not get enough of him. There was a section that alleged that Haseen Dillruba glorified violence and domestic abuse. But I find these allegations baseless. The film is a compelling murder mystery and it is not glorifying domestic violence, rather it is a sadistic approach of the leading character. He is not shown as a perfect lover but a flawed and maniac one. Haseen Dillruba was released on Netflix.

Read: Haseen Dillruba on Netflix: A murder mystery in a messy drama

3. Shershaah

Shershaah was the perfect ode to the legend of Captain Vikram Batra who was martyred in the Kargil War of 1999 at the young age of 24. Sidharth Malhotra also got a career boost through the success of the film after having a dry spell at the theatres. The musical album of Shershaah is one of the best that was released this year. Kiara Advani who played Dimple Cheema also became an audience favorite.

Read: Best biopics in Bollywood that deserve your attention

4. Sardar Udham

Sardar Udham starring Vicky Kaushal tells the story of Sardar Udham Singh, who conspired in the murder of Micheal O’Dwyer. The reason for this murder was to seek revenge for the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre of 1920. Udham waited almost twenty years to execute his plan and kill the man responsible for the inhumane massacre. We have had several films on the Jallianwala Bagh massacre but none so profound and real in its execution. We feel the pain and agony that hovered at that time.

5. Ajeeb Dastaans

Two shorts from Ajeeb Dastaans have all my heart.

Geeli Pucchi: The film hints at the caste discrimination in our society on the larger canvas of the LGBTQ theme. Konkana’s performance deserves a special mention. The film is so powerful in its narrative that we are left amazed.

Ankahi: Ankahi is one of the most beautiful love stories I saw this year. Shefali Shah and Manav Kaul give us performances that will always be etched in our hearts. There is love and pain in the right amount in Ankahi.

6. Mimi

Mimi, starring Kriti Sanon, is a fun and soulful movie that deals with surrogacy. With A R Rahman music, the film has all the ingredients for a perfect Bollywood entertainer. Kriti Sanon plays Mimi (one of her best performances so far), an aspiring actress who agrees to become a surrogate to a foreign couple. Things turn upside down for Mimi when the couple abandon her and leave the country.

Read: Loved Mimi? Here are other similar movies that you may like

7.Sandeep Aur Pinky Faraar

Starting right from the names of the titular characters, Sandeep Aur Pinky Faraar attempts to break the conventional gender norms that exist in our country. The film is one of the best Hindi films of 2021 that did not get enough attention. Parineeti Chopra and Arjun Kapoor have given performances of a lifetime.

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