40+ Best Indian Patriotic Movies You Must Watch This Independence Day

Tatsam Mukherjee

Entertainment

I’ve always believed movies can change the world. In a world that churns out think-pieces, podcasts, and extensive reportage by the minute, I believe a well-made film with its audio-visual elements, can have a greater impact than any other source of media. Even when it comes to getting us riled up about our country when the hero upholds that Indian flag, it fills us with pride about this intangible entity called India. 

In this cinematic journey, we bring you a curated collection of 40+ Bollywood patriotic movies that have left an indelible mark on the hearts of audiences across the country. From stories of brave warriors to tales honoring the human spirit’s victory against adversity, these best Bollywood patriotic films stand as a testament to the power of storytelling in shaping the collective consciousness of a nation.

Sr. No.Movie Name & YearIMDb Rating
1.Border (1997)7.9
2.The Legend of Bhagat Singh (2002)8.1
3.Rang De Basanti (2006)8.2
4.Chak De India! (2007)8.2
5.Lagaan (2001)8.1
6.1971 (2007)8.2
7.Mangal Pandey: The Rising (2005)6.7
8.Chittagong (2012)7.2
9.1942: A Love Story (1994)7.3
10.Swades (2004)8.2
11.Lakshya (2004)7.9
12.Prahaar (1991)7.9
13.Krantiveer (1994)7.3
14.Deewaar: Let’s Bring Our Heroes Home (2004)6.1
15.Haqeeqat (1964)7.7
16.Purab Aur Paschim (1970)7.5
17.Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose: The Forgotten Hero (2005)7.5
18.Mother India (1957)8.1
19.Naya Daur (1957)7.4
20.Hindustani (1996)8.1
21.Saat Hindustani (1969)6.7
22.Gadar: Ek Prem Katha (2001)7.1
23.A Wednesday (2008)8.1
24.Bhaag Milkha Bhaag (2013)8.2
25.Dangal (2016)8.4
26.Pukar (2000)6.9
27.Roja (1992)8.2
28.The Ghazi Attack (2017)7.6
29.Gandhi (1982)8
30.Sarfarosh (1999)8.1
31.LOC: Kargil (2003)5.4
32.Tirangaa (1992)6.8
33.Tango Charlie (2005)6.1
34.Ab Tumhare Hawale Watan Saathiyo (2004)4.4
35.Kohram (1999)5.3
36.Kya Dilli Kya Lahore (2014)7.3
37.Zameen (2003)5.4
38.Mission Kashmir (2000)6.6
39.Raazi (2018)7.7
40.Aiyaary (2018)5.3
41.Gold (I) (2018)7.3
42.Satyameva Jayate (2018)5.7
43.Airlift (2016)7.9
44.Kesari (2019)7.4
45.Uri: The Surgical Strike (2019)8.2

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1. Border (1997)

IMDb

J P Dutta’s unfettered recreation of the Longhewalla battle from 1971, saw Sunny paaji using a bazooka to annihilate the ‘dushman Pakistan’ soldiers with Jackie bidu providing air support.

2. The Legend of Bhagat Singh (2002)

IMDb

Rajkumar Santoshi’s fantastic retelling of the story of the young freedom fighters Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev, and Rajguru, who willingly tied the noose around their necks, filled us with pride and made us introspect.

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3. Rang De Basanti (2006)

IMDb

A fancier version of telling the story of Bhagat Singh, the film’s narrative is rooted in current-day Delhi University and explores parallels between how things would change if today’s youth were as driven as those in pre-independent India.

4. Chak De India! (2007)

IMDb

Quite singularly the most technically proficient sports film to be made in India, the movie put us on a journey with these 15 everyday girls to eternal glory.

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5. Lagaan (2001)

IMDb

Ashutosh Gowariker’s seminal film, which established him in the big league, carefully charted the journey of a few Indian farmers taking on officers of the British Army in a cricket match to save their fields and their crops. You should definitely watch this one of the best deshbhakti movies.

6. 1971 (2007)

IMDb

Manoj Bajpayee’s film about a bunch of Indian army men fleeing from the enemy, instilled in all of us a fear for the armed forces personnel.

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7. Mangal Pandey: The Rising (2005)

IMDb

The first War of Independence on the film started after a dissenting Aamir Khan with long hair refused to continue serving under the British Army. And then broke into patriotic songs.

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8. Chittagong (2012)

IMDb

Based on the Chittagong mutiny, where a young teacher Surya Sen inspired a bunch of his young pupils to fight for the country’s freedom, this patriotic film by Bedabrata Pain tried to tell the story of one of the bravest freedom fighters. This movie comes at top in the list of patriotic movies bollywood.

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9. 1942: A Love Story (1994)

IMDb

Vidhu Vinod Chopra wove RD Burman’s exquisite music into a pre-independent love story and then gave it a patriotic twist in the climax.

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10. Swades (2004)

IMDb

Gowariker’s ambitious film followed a well-settled Indian working for NASA, rediscovering his roots during a short vacation to find his childhood nanny and falling in love with the motherland all over again.

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11. Lakshya (2004)

IMDb

Following up on the gigantic success of Dil Chahta Hai, Farhan Akhtar made this movie about a clueless kid finding the meaning of his life atop a hill at 26000 ft after defeating insurgents from Pakistan.

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12. Prahaar (1991)

IMDb

One of the most perfectly made movies on the Indian army, it tells the story of a jawaan who even as he adjusts to life as a civilian cannot abandon his sense of morality and discipline as he does it.

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13. Krantiveer (1994)

IMDb

Nana Patekar’s second patriotic outing was more of an expose of the social evils of the Indian society, as much as it was a call to revisit our Indian values as responsible citizens of this one-of-a-kind nation.

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14. Deewaar: Let’s Bring Our Heroes Home (2004)

IMDb

This movie comes in the list of patriotic movies bollywood. Based on Indian army officers imprisoned on the other side of the LOC, this movie boasts compelling performances from its cast including Amitabh Bachchan, Sanjay Dutt, Akshaye Khanna, and Kay Kay Menon.

15. Haqeeqat (1964)

IMDb

One of the first properly made war films in India, it boasted a cast including Balraj Sahni, a young Dharmendra, and Sanjay Khan along with Vijay Anand. The film based on the Indo-Sino war in 1962, was directed by Chetan Anand.

16. Purab Aur Paschim (1970)

IMDb

Manoj Kumar giving it to the West and making our eyes brim with pride. Enough said. This is one of the good patriotic movies.

17. Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose: The Forgotten Hero (2005)

IMDb

One of Shyam Benegal’s most ambitious films in terms of scale, the film starring Sachin Khedekar tried to retell the story of one of the most enigmatic freedom fighters, determined to drive the British out of the country.

18. Mother India (1957)

IMDb

Mehboob Khan’s magnum opus, told the story of a newly independent India as they struggled to cope with two square meals a day as farmers.

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19. Naya Daur (1957)

IMDb

Just like Mother India, this Dilip Kumar starer was also based on agrarian India, where a ‘tonga’ took on the motorbike in a race, which would determine the livelihood of many farmers in a newly independent India.

20. Hindustani (1996)

IMDb

The Kamal Haasan starer featured him as a patriot of the nation, reversing the clock from the corrupt India to the likes of the independent India the freedom fighters had dreamed about.

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21. Saat Hindustani (1969)

IMDb

Based on the Goa liberation, this is one of the best patriotic films which served as the debut of the phenomenon called Amitabh Bachchan, would see him play one of the seven Indians who attempt to free Goa from the clutches of the Portuguese.

22. Gadar: Ek Prem Katha (2001)

IMDb

Anil Sharma’s blockbuster movie made a masala entertainer of the horrors of partition in 1947, however, it also gave the Indians a chance to cheer Sunny paaji uprooting a hand-pump to fight off the bad guys (who mostly happened to be from Pakistan).

23. A Wednesday (2008)

IMDb

Neeraj Pandey’s directorial debut is probably one of the most subtly-masked patriotic movies in Bollywood. It evokes the pride of being a common Indian, even though the film is packed in the form of an action thriller. However, it also gives you something to think about in the end.

24. Bhaag Milkha Bhaag (2013)

IMDb

Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra’s biopic based on one of India’s most famous athletes evoked plenty of patriotism, as one man ran to put India on the world map of athletics.

25. Dangal (2016)

IMDb

That last bit. When people annoyingly got up and you couldn’t see Aamir Khan’s carefully sculpted frown when the National Anthem played after Geeta’s win was a glitch in a film that filled you with pride like no other movie and overwhelmed you.

26. Pukar (2000)

IMDb

Lata Mangeshkar sang an AR Rahman composition as a call for peace even as Anil Kapoor and Madhuri Dixit stopped a town hall explosion in the nick of time, Santoshi’s film left us proud Indians.

27. Roja (1992)

IMDb

That riff. Rahman showing his face to the world as Arvind Swamy tried to save an Indian flag from catching on fire, is one of the most rousing moments for an Indian in the history of cinema.

28. The Ghazi Attack (2017)

IMDb

India’s first underwater film tried to recreate a submarine war between the INS Vikrant and Pakistan submarine Ghazi, who despite the odds against them annihilated the Pakistanis.

29. Gandhi (1982)

IMDb

This is one of the best patriotic films which portrays the life of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, a great revolutionary leader who was the leader of India’s non-violent, non-cooperative independence movement against British rule during the first half of the 20th century.

30. Sarfarosh (1999)

IMDb

Ajay Singh Rathod, a young medical student quits his studies and joins the Indian Police Force when his brother is killed and his father severely injured by terrorists. He embarks on a mission to wipe out terrorists in the country. This is one of the good patriotic movies.

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31. LOC: Kargil (2003)

IMDb

This movie depicts the events surrounding the Kargil War, which was held between India and Pakistan in 1999. The conflict originated when Pakistani soldiers and militants infiltrated the Indian territory and occupied the strategic position along the LOC (Line Of Control).

32. Tirangaa (1992)

IMDb

Pralaynath, a terrorist murdered the officer, Rudra Pratap Chauhan, and plans to evade India. Two officers Brigadier Suryadev Singh and Police Inspector Shivajirao Waghle are appointed to catch him and knock him down. This is one of those deshbhakti movies that every Indian must watch.

33. Tango Charlie (2005)

IMDb

Tarun Chauhan, a BSF soldier nicknamed Tango Charlie finds himself in various challenging situations along the India-Pakistan border. He along with his team, faces the harsh realities of insurgency and cross-border terrorism.

34. Ab Tumhare Hawale Watan Saathiyo (2004)

IMDb

Kunal, the son of Major Amarjeet Singh joins the army to maintain the family’s tradition. As the narrative unfolds, the film spans generations, exploring the relationship between fathers and sons, and the impact of military service on family life.

35. Kohram (1999)

IMDb

Major Balbir Singh Sodhi, a highly decorated army officer attempts to kill the Indian Home Minister Veer Bhadra Singh, but is unsuccessful. He assumes a new identity. However, he is tracked down by an undercover major, who decides to join him in exposing the minister.

36. Kya Dilli Kya Lahore (2014)

IMDb

Samarth Pratap, an Indian soldier accidentally crosses the border in Pakistan. Reza, a Pakistani soldier captures him. As the two soldiers confront each other, they discover shared humanity, common memories, and the futility of the animosity that surrounds them.

37. Zameen (2003)

IMDb

A group of militants, led by the ruthless Rizwan Khan hijacks an Indian Airlines Flight and demands the release of their captured leader. ACP Jaydev and Colonel Ranvir Singh team up to punish the perpetrators and thwart their evil plans.

38. Mission Kashmir (2000)

IMDb

Altaaf, a young Kashmiri boy orphaned during a violent encounter between militants and security forces. He is adopted by a police officer, Inayat Khan, who raises him alongside his own son. As Altaaf grows older, he gets to know that his family was killed by Inayat Khan. This revelation sets off a chain of events that leads Altaaf to join a militant group.

39. Raazi (2018)

IMDb

Sehmat Khan, a Kashmiri undercover RAW agent is married off to a Pakistani military officer, Iqbal Syed, under the guise of national duty. She gathers crucial information that aids India during the conflict while grappling with personal dilemmas and moral conflicts.

40. Aiyaary (2018)

IMDb

Colonel Abhay Singh, and his protégé Major Jai Bakshi become entangled in a conspiracy involving corruption within the defense establishment. When Major Bakshi discovers a covert military operation gone awry and exposes financial irregularities, he becomes a target for the very institution he served. Colonel Singh, torn between loyalty to the military and his duty to uncover the truth, is tasked with tracking down Major Bakshi.

41. Gold (I) (2018)

IMDb

After India gained independence in 1947, Tapan, a former hockey player formed a national hockey team to compete in the 1948 London Olympics. Faced with numerous challenges, including the partition of India and the creation of Pakistan, Tapan worked against all odds to build a diverse team representing the newly independent nation. The film captures the historic moment when India, led by Captain Samrat, secured its first Olympic gold medal in field hockey in 1948.

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42. Satyameva Jayate (2018)

IMDb

DCP Shivansh, an honest police officer is determined to stop the the man responsible for the deaths of corrupt police officers. and uphold the law. The narrative unfolds when begins his search without realizing the killer is none other than Vir, his younger brother. This is one of the best bollywood patriotic movies.

43. Airlift (2016)

IMDb

Ranjit Katiyal, a wealthy and influential Indian businessman, is settled in Kuwait with his family. However, when Iraq invades Kuwait and triggers a conflict, he finds himself in the turmoil of war and decides to risk his life to save his stranded countrymen.

44. Kesari (2019)

IMDb

Havildar Ishar Singh, a Sikh soldier in the British Indian Army is posted at Fort Saragarhi, a small outpost in the Northwestern Frontier Province (now in Pakistan). As tensions escalate in the region, the Afghan tribes, led by Gul Badshah, decide to attack the forts. Ishar Singh and his small contingent of 21 soldiers at Saragarhi find themselves facing an overwhelming force of around 10,000 Afghan tribesmen.

45. Uri: The Surgical Strike (2019)

IMDb

The movie is based on the true events of the surgical strikes carried out by the Indian Army against terrorist launch pads in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in 2016. You should definitely watch this patriotic film.

Watch all of these to feel all charged up about India!

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