Larger than life sets, royal looks, heavy jewelry, and a taste of rich history, there is no denying the fact that period dramas are the best way to entertain your souls when the modern day's stories bored them. When it comes to periodic dramas nobody does it better than the Bollywood film industry courtesy of the high and prestigious heritage and culture of India. Bollywood has been fascinated with revisiting history and rewriting it. The genre has enjoyed a remarkable renaissance in recent times. Here we bring you the list of the top 10 best period dramas produced in Bollywood:
1. Jodha Akbar: Set in the early 16th century, the historical romance, highlights the love story of one of the greatest Mughal emperors Akbar, and Rajput princess Jodha Bai. Helmed and written by Ashutosh Gowariker, this period drama was above all the levels. From music to the sets, each and every highlight of this movie was absolutely marvelous.
2. Mughal-E-Azam: Mughal-e-Azam is that one movie that completely changed the fortune of the Bollywood film fraternity. Even after decades, the film still remains popular and has a place in people’s hearts. Released in 1960, the movie was set in the Mughal era and portrays the love story of a crown Prince Salim and a courtesan Anarkali. Emperor Akbar goes on a pilgrimage to beget an heir.
3. Lagaan: Lagaan is a true classic in each and every manner. The way it depicts the situation of India under British rule is commendable. The movie highlights the story of the Indian villagers living in Champaner, who play a match of cricket to cancel the heavy taxes set by the British government. The film was India’s official entry to the Oscars and won a nomination. It’s considered one of Aamir Khan’s finest films to date.
4. Bajirao Mastani: Directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, the film tells the story of the Maratha Peshwa Bajirao and his second wife Mastani. It features Ranveer Singh as Bajirao while Priyanka Chopra and Deepika Padukone play Kashibai and Mastani respectively. It is based on the Marathi novel ‘Raau’ by Nagnath S. Inamdar.
5. The Legends of Bhagat Singh: Based on the life of furious Indian freedom fighter Bhagat Singh, this movie never fails to pump up the feeling of patriotism in our veins. The film met with positive critical reception and won several awards, but underperformed at the box office.
6. Padmaavat: Sanjay Leela Bhansali is the one director who gave us more knowledge about history than any history teacher. Another name on the list is Bhansali’s historic marvel Padmaavat. Based on the poem Padmaavati by Malik Mohammed Jayasi, the film stars Deepika Padukone in the title role, along with Shahid Kapoor as King Ratan Singh and Ranveer Singh as Afghani ruler, Sultan Alauddin Khilji.
7. Mangal Panday: Set in the year 1857, the time when India was under the rule of the British East India Company. The company rules every citizen of India with its own laws, its own administration, and its own army. Just imagine one-fifth of the world’s population was in the control of the company.
8. Mohenjo Daro: Written and directed by Ashutosh Gowariker, this 2016 film is based on the ancient Indus Valley civilization city called Mohenjo-Daro which is a UNESCO World Heritage site. It was located in Sindh, Pakistan. Starring Hrithik Roshan and Pooja Hegde, the film met with mostly negative reviews from critics and proved to be a box-office flop.
9. Kesari: This was an easy guess as many of you have already heard the story of 21 Sikh soldiers taking on the army of Afghan and nearly making their knee down.
10. Tanhaji: Set in the 17th century, it revolves around Tanaji's attempts to recapture the Kondhana fortress once it passes on to Mughal emperor Aurangzeb who transfers its control to his trusted Rajput guard Udaybhan Singh Rathore. The way Tanhaji portrayed the characters and should the rich heritage of Maratha was a blessing for the eyes.
