Best Indian movies of 2022

2022 gave us a lot to cherish over the past 12 months, not to forget the marvelous movies made in India that made us smile, shed a tear, cheer our favourite stars and shake a leg to the most popular songs in town. The year had regional blockbusters that made distributors laugh their way to the bank, dark comedies that had us hooked, and intense films that brought out storytelling in its finest form. 

Here's a list of films we liked year. Take a look. 

K.G.F: Chapter 2

Do we even have to tell you about the numbers, the craze and the frenzy? We don’t think so. Rocky doesn’t need any introduction. That’s what happens when you’re the CEO of India. With the hype and anticipation levels being sky high, the sequel to K.G.F: Chapter 1 smashed the ball out of the park and how. It had the action, the drama, dialogues that made the crowd happy and the entire hall cheering out loud. From a star, Yash is now the star. His walk, his talk has been replicated in the form of numerous reels on social media as one now simply counts the days to what should be a terrific Chapter 3.  

RRR 

We absolutely loved Bheem and Raju team up to take down the British as N.T Rama Rao and Ram Charan packed a punch and how in this S.S. Rajamouli masterpiece. It was a terrific Telugu treat that kept you on the edge of your seat right from the first scene to the last. And if there was a prize for the best pre-interval scene, RRR would win it hands down. I still remember watching it in the cinema and everyone around me just couldn’t believe what they had just seen. You just had to marvel at the sheer audacity and vision of Rajamouli to believe and know that here was a scene that just made everyone say—how dare you. Along with the local flavor, having Ajay Devgn and Alia Bhatt in the movie is a major reason why the film did so well in the Hindi dubbed version. 

Kantara 

The coming together of culture, cinema, and colour in this Kannada film was an absolute treat for cinephiles. A reason why I loved the film was because people have complained the entire year that there haven’t been many films that have original stories and are rooted to the homeland. But here we had Kantara, a film that blew everyone’s mind as it packed action, mythology, and faith all into one. A good story, an original tale along with the expertise and technical finesse of good filmmaking, we’re thankful to this film for showing us the recipe of a film that we’ll fondly remember. 

Gangubhai Kathiawadi 

An Alia Bhatt in top form, probably her career’s best, along with Sanjay Leela Bhansali mesmerising us with spectacular frames. We certainly couldn’t have asked for more. From Ganga to Gangubhai, the beauty of the film is how it manages to hold your attention as you watch her character transform with time. Despite one feeling that it’s taking too long to develop the story, the presence of whistle-worthy dialogues and iconic scenes makes up for this slow burn. The climax scene where Gangubhai gives a fiery speech in front of those gathered at Azad Maidan is just how films should end.

Sita Ramam

Indian cinema in 2022 had a whole lot of action, blood, and drama. Did it have a romantic film that tugged at our heartstrings? Thanks to this Telugu film, cinephiles were treated to a romance drama that made them smile from ear to ear. This beautiful tale of love and loss revolves around the life of Lieutenant Ram, played by Dulquer Salmaan, and Sita (Mrunal Thakur), a princess who was willing to relinquish everything for the sake of his love. It’s a film that deserves to be celebrated for its breathtaking visuals, lighting, a stunning background score and two actors who breathe life into the story, leaving you with a lot to marvel about.

Jalsa 

What happens when you have Vidya Balan and Shefali Shah share the screen together? A gripping film that sees both scene stealers leave you in awe of their acting prowess. Here was a thriller that blurred the lines between right and wrong making it a tough choice for all of us watching. What one may love about this film, is that it can be viewed from the perspective of not just the lead duo, but the supporting characters as well. Take for example the young journalist Rohini and sub-inspector More (Shrikant Yadav) who is on his last case before retirement. Scenes are well written and laid out. Watching it unravel with two actors at the top of their game makes for a movie that you don’t want to miss. 

Badhaai Do 

It’s tough for film makers to integrate a sensitive topic into the minds of the Indian audience, but here was a film that told us what a lavender marriage is all about in the most humorous of ways. Light-hearted films with a message don’t get any better than this. Rajkummar Rao is in full form and on point as the gay cop named Shardul while Bhumi Pednekar, as Sumi, too, delivers a commendable performance as the duo, a married couple; plot their way to keep their secret hidden under the prying eyes of their friends and family. With no way to communicate their loneliness and feelings, and them having issues of their own, the audience gets a remarkable second half that highlights a topic that should have been spoken about earlier in cinema, but hasn’t. Better late than never. 

Darlings 

Most people around us have got a wicked sense of humor. That’s exactly why Alia Bhatt, Shefali Shah and Vijay Varma took absolutely no time to become the darlings of our heart. Want to know what a dark comedy is supposed to be and make you feel? You’ve got just the movie you were looking for. The true caliber of an actor is how they manage to express without saying a single word and that’s what Bhatt and Shah do effortlessly. Their camaraderie is the heart and soul of the film that’s evident in scenes that are intense, heart-wrenching and filled with emotion. 

Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 

One of the most-awaited Hindi movies of the year certainly lived up to the hype and exceeded all our expectations in style. Kartik Aaryan was great and goofy, while Tabu showed everyone why she continues to be one of the most versatile actors around. And for a change, a welcome change, we finally had a Hindi horror film that didn’t resort to jump scares and had actual scenes with a ghost that shock and surprise you. With films in the horror-comedy genre having a tendency to get both things wrong, the film is high on the spooky quotient and does have a ton of jokes that land well. If there’s one reason why you should watch this film, it’s Tabu. You’ll thank us later. 

Monica, O My Darling

Considering this movie is the most-recent release of the year on the list, it’s one that’s the freshest in my memory. Movie lovers don’t get to see neo-noir crime comedy thrillers very often and here was a film that served up a tasty murder mystery that left one with ample food for thought. It not only paid a fitting tribute to the crime thrillers of the 60s (Johnny Mera Naam, Jewel Thief, and Teesri Manzil) through its music and mood, but it had its three leads in top form who understood the assignment and how. Rajkummar Rao as the robotics expert Jayant Arkhedkar, kept you wondering if he’s the good guy or the bad one (we’re still figuring this part out) while Huma Qureshi, as the sexy secretary Monica Macchado, was a femme fatale who’s very much our darling. And then there was Radhika Apte as the cop ACP Naidu who was so much in character that we wish she had her own spin-off series. All in all, here was a film that was an absolute entertainer and one you certainly shouldn’t miss (if you haven’t).