Best Hindi Movies on Amazon Prime to Binge Watch in Quarantine

Comedy Movies

Andaz Apna Apna (1994)

This cult classic will make your mouth scream, belly hurt, ears bleed, brain explode and heart melt. The sheer absurdity of this movie makes it one of the finest comedy classics created in Indian cinema. Amidst all the panic and chaos, Andaz Apna Apna stands as a piece of art that will, if nothing else, restore your faith in the innocence of Crime Masters.

Other Comedy movies on Amazon Prime:

• Hindi Medium

• 3 Idiots

• Munnabhai MBBS

• Hera Pheri

• Vicky Donor

• Shubh Mangal Saavdhan

Old Movies 

Mughal-E-Azam (1960)

Mughal-e-Azam was the magnum opus of its time. Though many historians discredit the authenticity of the story, the film is universally appreciated for its seamless direction, picturesque cinematography, grand costumes and sets, and meticulous attention to detail. Interestingly, it was the first black-and-white film to be digitally coloured. If you haven’t already, now is the time to watch this beautiful classic.

Other Old movies on Amazon Prime:

• Padosan

• Sholay

• Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro

• Mother India

• Kashmir Ki Kali

• Half Ticket

Family Movies

Chef (2017)

Taking inspiration from Hollywood’s delectable film of the same name made by Jon Favreau in 2014, director Raja Krishna Menon gives a slice-of-life film that satiates the palette and tugs at your heartstrings. Chef works for audiences of all ages. It takes you on a gastronomical adventure; one in which the protagonist’s culinary skills will have you reaching out for your apron, knives and heading to the kitchen in a bid to try making some of the finger-licking food shown on screen.

Other Family movies on Amazon Prime:

• Baghban

• Chak De! India

• Do Dooni Chaar

• Delhi 6

• Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi

• Hum Saath-Saath Hain

• Karamati Coat

Romantic Movies

Jab We Met (2007)

Imtiaz Ali’s Jab We Met not only enjoys cult status in Bollywood’s rom-com space, but a place in my wishlist on Amazon Prime. I’ve binge-watched this movie an unhealthy amount of times. There's a perfect quantity of spice, love, drama, tears and sass in this movie to make it what it is. Add to this Pritam's riveting music score with sizzling numbers like Mauja hi Mauja, juxtaposed against Mohit Chauhan's soothing romantic ballad and you have a spunky love story to moon over in quarantine. 

Other Romantic movies on Amazon Prime:

• Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge

• Veer-Zaara

• Ae Dil Hai Mushkil

• Kal Ho Na Ho

• Kuch Kuch Hota Hai

• Paheli

Kids’ Movies

Tahaan (2008)

Sivan concocted fictitious characters involved in non-fictitious incidents. The film captures realities of Kashmir in the fairytale-like setting that every child and adult should witness. This underappreciated film revolves around Tahaan, an eight-year-old lad who lives in the peaceful paddocks of Kashmir with his mother and sister. His father has been missing for three years and Tahaan's only close friend is a donkey named Birbal. 

Other Kids’ Movies on Amazon Prime:

• Bhoothnath

• Ferrari Ki Sawaari

• Ta Ra Rum Pum

• Thoda Pyaar Thoda Magic

• Jajantaram Mamantaram

• Bumm Bumm Bole

Drama Movies

Gully Boy (2019)

Zoya Akhtar’s Gully Boy is a definitive look at the rap scene in India presented by an underdog from Dharavi whose dreams are bigger than his reality. It’s loosely based on the lives of Naezy and Divine, who made the journey from rags to rap-stars. Like them, Murad refuses to let adversity squash his spirit. This drama chronicles Murad’s coming-of-age and his discovery and understanding of who he truly is and what he stands for.

Other Drama Movies on Amazon Prime:

• October

• Rang De Basanti

• Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham

• Newton

• Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna

• Laaga Chunari Mein Daag

Horror Movies

Tumbbad (2018)

The purest form of horror is one which plays with your mind. Tumbbad creates a surreal illusion by extending on this fear of the unknown and the uncertain that evokes the strongest emotions. This psychological horror has its traditional moments of blood and gore, but the most promising part of this terrifying fable is that it makes monsters out of common men. At the end of the day, a greedy man can be a lot more malicious than a cursed supernatural entity. Get ready to hide behind your blanket for most of the movie.

Other Horror Movies on Amazon Prime:

• Bhool Bhulaiyaa

• Pizza

• The Past

• 1921

• Pari

Period Drama Movies

Padmaavat (2018)

The namesake of this movie is a Sufi poem written by Malik Muhammad Jayasi in 1540 on which the tale is loosely based. Sanjay Leela Bhansali has added his own flair and interpretation to ‘Padmaavat’, giving it a fairy-tale sheen. Bhansali reunites with two of his favourite leads in recent times – Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh. Bhansali’s love for grandeur simply explodes in Padmaavat. The sets and the costumes dazzle every moment. Get ready to feel goosebumps in every shot. 

Other Period Drama Movies on Amazon Prime:

• Kesari

• Mangal Pandey

• Gandhi

• Pinjar

• Begum Jaan

• Manikarnika

Crime/Thriller Movies

Raazi (2018)

I love thriller movies, because unlike many genres, it pushes you to think by instilling fear. Raazi is a shot of adrenaline wedged between tense sequences that keep you on your toes. What distinguishes Sehmat from most spies is her vulnerability that Alia Bhatt conveys meticulously. Meghna Gulzar has gifted Indian cinema with an iconic grey character that showcases the debilitating position that secret agents who stumble in and out of historic marinality are forced to assume. 

Other Crime/Thriller Movies on Amazon Prime:

• Gangs of Wasseypur

• Wazir

• Ek Hasina Thi

• Talaash

• Maatr

• The Ghazi Attack

Action

Gangaajal (2003)

I’m gonna take one for the critics and say it- “good action movies don’t exist in India.” The formula for an action movie includes greasy men beating each other up, unreasonably stretch fight sequences, irrelevant item songs to attract men to the theatres and a predictable ending. This is why I love the grim and gory Gangaajal. Prakash Jha effectively creates a milieu fraught with corruption and claustrophobia. Each character is distinct and each scene reverberates persuasive cinema.

Other Action Movies on Amazon Prime:

• Mardaani 2

• Batla House

• War

• Dabangg

• Commando 2

• Bang Bang

• Ek Tha Tiger

Feel-Good Movies

Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara (2011)

Although I need an entire article to write about what this movie makes us feel, the film emerges as a scintillating insight into friendship, emotional growth and bonding that you relate to at every moment. The trip to the virgin locations of Spain is not only a picturesque gimmick by Zoya Akhtar, she showcases the characters’ journey to exorcise ghosts from the past and emerge as free, unburdened souls who are ready to face life with renewed vigour. Although Akhtar has 2 superstars at her disposal, she treats them as actors, not heroes which takes the movie light years ahead.

Other Feel-Good Movies on Amazon Prime:

• Dil Chahta Hai

• Dil Dhadakne Do

• Tumhari Sulu

• Kapoor & Sons

• Karwan

• The Lunchbox 

Underrated Movies

Parched (2016 in India)

There was no better way to end the list than by mentioning a few movies that were literally “outshined” by superstar-driven movies. Parched circulates around female-only conversations, physically abusive husbands, child marriages, stigma of being barren and being a prostitute in a conservative village. One might think that this grim movie would be hard to swallow, but this defiant work of art is unabashedly exuberant. The bawdy jokes, the banter, the reclaiming of female sexuality addresses women’s carnal desires.

Other Underrated Movies on Amazon Prime:

• Photograph

• Poorna

• A Death in the Gunj

• Jia Aur Jia

• Road to Sangam

• Gone Kesh

• Aankhon Dekhi