6 Best Indian Biographical Movies Since 2018

Even before we realize it is already weekend and month end too. What are your plans for the weekend? Here is a collection of Indian Biographical movies that can keep you engaged through the weekend. Each of these Indian Biographical movies is based on Indian individuals who shot to fame or infamy one way or another. And the film crew has done exceptionally well to portray the story in a commercially acceptable manner to the audience. No wonder you are going to like each of these Indian Biographical movies.

Soorarai Pottru

Year: 2020

Language: Tamil

Duration: 2h 32m

Director: Sudha Kongara

Cast: Suriya, Aparna Balamurali, Paresh Rawal

IMDb Rating: 8.7/10

Praise the brave.

Story of a former Indian Air Force captain, Nedumaaran Rajangam, nicknamed “Maara”, whose dream and determination metalize in Deccan Air’s success. A dream that was kindled in him when he could not buy an air ticket to fly back home to his dying father. A determined Maara goes beyond all limits to fulfill his dream to start a low-cost airline for ordinary people. His wife Bommi stands by him through the thick and thin of his relentless journey.

The story is inspired by Deccan founder G. R. Gopinath’s memoir, Simply Fly A Deccan Odyssey. The film was selected under the Best Foreign Film category at the 78th Golden Globe Awards. And it was screened in the Panorama Section of the Shanghai International Film Festival. Certainly, it is one of the best Indian Biographical movies in recent times.

The role of Maara by Suriya won him National Film Award for Best Actor 2020 and Aparna Balamurali won the national award for playing the role of Bommi.

Mahanati

Year: 2018

Language: Telugu

Duration: 2h 56m

Director: Nag Ashwin

Cast: Keerthy Suresh, Dulquer Salmaan, Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Vijay Deverakonda

IMDb Rating: 8.5/10

The film is based on the abrupt rise to stardom and fall of yesteryear actor Savitri from the Telugu-Tamil Film Industry. The story is portrayed through the eyes of a journalist, Madhuravani, and a photographer, Vijay Anthony. Young Savitri’s life to prominence began in the 1940s. From being an accomplished dancer, she goes on to become a sensational actor. Later, her marriage to renowned actor Gemini Ganesan, and subsequent unfortunate incidents take a toll on her life. Alcoholism, illness, and financial complications force her into oblivion.

The film bagged Best Feature Film in Telugu, Best Actress, and Best Costume Design at the 66th National Film Awards 2019. Filmfare Awards South, Telugu and the SIIMA Award for Best Actress, Zee Cine Awards, and many such accolades followed.

Pad Man

Year: 2018

Language: Hindi

Duration: 2h 20m

Director: R. Balki

Cast: Akshay Kumar, Radhika Apte, Sonam Kapoor

IMDb Rating: 7.9/10

An engaging story of Lakshmikant Chauhan whose effort to help and support his wife Gayatri during her menstrual periods meets with disparaging hindrances. He becomes an outcast in his village and his wife stays away from him. His perseverance and determination despite failures take him all the way to United Nations. Upon returning he is even awarded Padma Shri.

The story is inspired by the life of social activist Arunachalam, a social entrepreneur from Tamil Nadu. He is credited with the “Life-Changing Innovation of the Year” award. His marriage in 1998 and subsequent events are commercialized in the movie making it a beautiful family movie to watch and be inspired by.

At 66th National Film Awards, Pad Man won the ‘Best Film on Other Social Issues’ award.

Kurup

Year: 2021

Language: Malayalam

Duration: 2h 20m

Director: Srinath Rajendran

Cast: Dulquer Salmaan, Indrajith Sukumaran, Sobhita Dhulipala, Shine Tom

IMDb Rating: 7.1/10

The name Sukumara Kurup is notorious in the state of Kerala. Gopikrishna Kurup alias Sudhakara Kurup, who has a criminal background has been absconding and has still remained untraced. The mystery of the missing fugitive has since been more of a fairytale. ‘Kurup’ brings alive the memories unearths the past and tries to unfold the mystery. A case diary at the SP office sheds light on the story of Sudhakara Kurup. Having joined the Indian Air Force, his uncanny acts unwrap one by one and, he befriends Sharada who later becomes his wife. He stages his own death to escape from IAF and it is only the beginning of a volatile life journey. And it still continues untraced.

Although the protagonist is an antagonist, from the commercial point of view, the film is one of the most enterprising Indian Biographical movies to watch.

83

Year: 2021

Language: Hindi

Duration: 2h 41m

Director: Kabir Khan

Cast: Ranveer Singh, Deepika Padukone, Jiiva, Pankaj Tripathi

IMDb Rating: 7.5/10

Ask any average Indian sports fan, and she or he would have something to say about ‘Kapil’s Devils’ winning the Cricket World Cup in 1983 beating the mighty West Indian side. It is then little wonder that an Indian Biographical movie was made to showcase what transpired back then. Kapil Dev, a young captain who is hardly good at talking inspires one of the greatest turnarounds in the history of the game. At Lord’s Cricket Ground, India scripted history.

Shakuntala Devi

Year: 2020

Language: Hindi

Duration: 2h 5m

Director: Anu Menon

Cast: Vidya Balan, Adi Chugh, Sanya Malhotra

IMDb Rating: 6.1/10

Set in the 1930s, a young girl from Bengaluru amazes her family, relatives, and friends with her arithmetical skills. impressed by her prowess, her father encourages her to do shows as a means to generate an income for the family. Later, she moves to London and happens to impress a Spanish mathematician, Javier. Her popularity escalates thereafter, and the nickname “Human Computer” gets stuck with her. The rest of the plot sheds light on her personal life which is disturbed by her inclination towards such shows.

Vidya Balan was nominated for the 2021 Filmfare Award for Best Actress for her role.