8 best 60s Bollywood movies to binge-watch with your family
The 1960s were a golden era in the history of Bollywood, with a surge of creativity and some of Indian cinema’s most memorable films. During this period, there was a big transition from black and white film to Technicolor film, which brought vibrant colors to the screen. This era saw the production of classic Hindi films and the proliferation of Western musical influences. New storytelling approaches were explored and the foundations were laid for future hits of the ’70s. Fashion trends are evolving and women are embracing new styles and trendy hairstyles. New dance forms also became popular, reflecting the changing times.
While the actors who made their mark in the 1950s continued their careers into the 1960s, Bollywood still boasts of Dilip Kumar, Rajendra Kumar, Dev Anand, Manoj Kumar, Raj Kapoor, Shammi Kapoor, Saira Banu, Sadhana, Dharmendra and Helen. , Sharmila Tagore and others. Here is a list of some of the best Bollywood movies of the 60s.
Top 8 60s Bollywood movies you shouldn’t miss:
1. Mughal-e-Azam – 1960
- IMDB rating: 8.1/10
- Movie genre: drama, romance, war
- Movie star cast: Dilip Kumar, Madhubala
- director: K. Asif
Mughal-e-Azam is a household name in India, known for its melodies and awe-inspiring visuals. Released in 1960, the film was a momentous occasion as it took him nearly ten years to make and was the most expensive Indian film of the time. This historical drama film completely changed the perception of Bollywood cinema. It took courage to make a film on such a grand scale and Shapoorji’s Pallonji showed that courage by making this film.
Directed by K. Asif, the film features the legendary Dilip Kumar and the stunning Madhubala in lead roles, along with Prithviraj Kapoor, Durga Khote, Ajith and Murad in important roles. This is a classic love story that explores the fate of two lovers from different backgrounds and questions the involvement of powerful rulers.
2. Jis Desh Mein Ganga Beti Hai – 1960
- IMDB rating: 7.1/10
- Movie genre: drama, musical, romance
- Movie star cast: Raj Kapoor, Padmini, Pran Sikand
- director: Radu Karmakar
Radhu Karmakar made his directorial debut with the 1960 film Jis Desh Mein Ganga Beti Hai after serving as the cinematographer in many Kapoor films. The film depicts the journey of an orphan with a pure heart who joins a group of bandits and tries to lead them to good. Whether he succeeds or not, the story will unfold.
Produced by RK Films, this timeless masterpiece addresses the social responsibility of giving criminals a chance to improve. Raj Kapoor collaborated with a successful team of music director (Shankar Jaikishan) and lyricists (Shailendra and Hasrat Jaipuri) to create a memorable soundtrack. Padmini, Puran and Lalita Pawar also appeared in the film.
3. Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam – 1962
- IMDB rating: 8.1/10
- Movie genre: drama, musical
- Movie star cast: Meena Kumari, Guru Dutt, Waheeda Rehman
- director: Abrar Alvi
Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam is a 1962 Hindi drama based on the Bengali novel by Bimal Mitra. The film, directed by Abrar Alvi, takes place against the backdrop of Bengal’s feudal decline under British rule and revolves around the deteriorating relationship between a neglected wife, played by Meena Kumari, and her husband, played by Rehman. Guru Dutt’s character, Bhootnath, acts as a catalyst for the story, adding layers of intrigue and tragedy.
Rehman, Meena Kumari and Guru Dutt are in the lead roles while Waheeda Rehman also plays an important character in the film. This is a gem of a film that explores the complexity of human emotions and social norms.
4. Sangam – 1964
- IMDB rating: 7.3/10
- Movie genre: drama, musical, romance
- Movie star cast: Raj Kapoor, Rajendra Kumar Tuli, Vyjayanthimala
- director: raj kapoor
Sangam, released in 1964, is a romantic drama directed by Raj Kapoor. The timeless story of friendship, love and sacrifice revolves around a love triangle involving characters played by Vyjayanthimala, Raj Kapoor and Rajendra Kumar. This timeless love triangle story paved the way for similar plots to appear on film in the 21st century. Notably, this film was Kapoor’s color film debut and is still considered one of his best works. Additionally, Sangam introduced the trend of shooting song sequences on overseas locations, which was a novelty in Hindi films at the time.
5. Guide – 1965
- IMDB rating: 8.3/10
- Movie genre: drama, romance, musical
- Movie star cast: Dev Anand, Waheeda Rehman
- director: vijay anand
Directed by Vijay Anand in 1965, ‘Guide’ is a romantic drama known for its great performances by veteran actors Dev Anand and Waheeda Rehman. The film, which is based on RK Narayanan’s novel ‘The Guide’, has gained cult status over time. It tells the love story of a tourist guide who falls in love with the wife of an older archaeologist. The music created by SD Burman will remain forever. The film’s critical acclaim cemented his status as one of the best films of the 1960s.
6. Tesri Manzil – 1966
- IMDB rating: 7.5/10
- Movie genre: comedy, musical, mystery
- Movie star cast: Shammi Kapoor, Asha Parekh, Raj Mehra
- director: vijay anand
‘Teesri Manzil’ is a Bollywood thriller film starring Shammi Kapoor and Asha Parekh. Directed by Vijay Anand, the story, as the title of the film suggests, revolves around the investigation into the murder of Roopa, who falls from a third-floor balcony. Along with its suspense, the film also stands out for its wonderful music composed by RD Burman, one of India’s greatest and very famous music directors and actors.
7. Padsan – 1968
- IMDB rating: 8.1/10
- Movie genre: comedy, musical, romance
- Movie star cast: Sunil Dutt, Saira Banu, Mehmood
- director: Jyoti Swaroop
Padsan is a 1968 comedy film directed by Jyoti Swaroop. It is a remake of the Telugu hit ‘Pakkinti Ammai’ directed by Chittajal Praya. The film stars Sunil Dutt, Saira Banu, Mehmood, Kishore Kumar, Mukri, Kesht Mukherjee and others. Mehmood’s role as a South Indian music teacher was outstanding and is still hailed as one of the best comedic performances in film history. Movie songs like Mere Samne Wali Khidki, Ek Chatur Naar Karke Sringar remain loved by the audience till date.
8. Aradhana – 1969
- IMDB rating: 7.6/10
- Movie genre: drama, musical, romance
- Movie star cast: Rajesh Khanna, Sharmila Tagore, Sujit Kumar
- director: Shakti Samanta
Aradhana is a 1969 romantic drama directed by Shakti Samanta. This film began Rajesh Khanna’s remarkable run of success, starting with 17 consecutive hit films from 1969 to 1971. The film also showcased the successful actor-director collaboration of Rajesh Khanna and Shakti Samanta, who have made eight films together and produced some of Bollywood’s masterpieces. The biggest blockbuster.
Additionally, the film also stars Sharmila Tagore alongside Rajesh Khanna. Among them are “Roop Tera Masthana”, “Mere Sapno Ki Rani”, “Kola Kagaz Tha Ye Man Mera”, “Chanda Hai Tu Mera Suraj Hai Tu”, etc. The popular song from the movie remains popular to this day.
