Summary
Plenty ofaction movielovers have unknowingly limited themselves to simply watching Hollywood or English-language productions, but this failed to recognize the litany of incredible Indian action movies just waiting to be discovered. With plenty of high-octane action and charismatic movie stars, Indian cinema has been responsible for some of the best action movies in recent years. While there’s a lot of cultural disparity between different regions of India, there have been countless Hindi, Kannada, Tamil, and other language Indian movies that would truly blow away action fans with their incredible spectacle.
Whilethe best Bollywood moviescan sometimes feel alienating to viewers not familiar with their signature styles, extended runtimes, and enjoyable musicality, those who dismiss these films have denied themselves a world of incredible action movies. Drawing on comedy, thrillers, and even war genres,Indian action films have continually delivered over-the-top action sequences and excessive violencethat lovers of major Hollywood action franchises would definitely enjoy. For those unfamiliar with Indian cinema, these action movies would be a great jumping-off point for discovering an untapped world of cinematic marvels.
Rocky Handsome
Cast
Rocky Handsome is an Indian action thriller directed by Nishikant Kamat. The film stars John Abraham as Kabir Ahlawat, a reclusive pawn shop owner who embarks on a mission to rescue a young girl kidnapped by a drug mafia. The narrative focuses on Kabir’s violent quest for justice, showcasing intense action sequences and emotional depth.
Those with a passion for action-thrillers like theTakenseries should be sure to check out the incredible Hindi-language neo-noirRocky Handsome. With Indian action hero John Abraham in the starring role,Rocky Handsometells the story of a reclusive pawn shop owner seeking revenge against the vicious gangsters who kidnapped his drug-addicted neighbor’s daughter. With a touching story and intense action sequences, viewers will be blown away by how well the director, Nishikant Kamat, has blended touching drama with mind-blowing spectacle.
Rocky Handsomewas an insanely underrated release packed with thrilling fight sequencesand everything an action fan could ask for. An adaptation of the Korean movieThe Man from Nowhere,Rocky Handsometook an already established story and turned the intensity up to eleven. While some critics dismissedRocky Handsomefor being too derivative of other action movies, those looking for non-stop action and an engaging cinematic experience look no further.
Kill
When army commando Amrit (Lakshya) finds out his true love Tulika (Tanya Maniktala) is engaged against her will, he boards a New Delhi-bound train in a daring quest to derail the arranged marriage. But when a gang of knife-wielding thieves led by the ruthless Fani (Raghav Juyal) begin to terrorize innocent passengers on his train, Amrit takes them on himself in a death-defying kill-spree to save those around him — turning what should have been a typical commute into an adrenaline-fueled thrill ride.
FromDie HardtoThe Raid, cinema has long exploited the intense potential ofaction movies set in one location, and the Hindi-language action-thrillerKillwas no different. Written and directed by Nikhil Nagesh Bhat,Killstarred Lakshya as army commandant Amrit facing off against a gang of banditson a New Delhi-bound train trip. With high emotional stakes, it was revealed Amrit’s girlfriend was engaged in an arranged marriage against her will, andKillserved up one ultra-violent sequence after another.
At its core,Killwas a bare-bones action movie that wasted no time getting directly into its over-the-top train invasions. As Amrit ruthlessly took down his foes, at its most intense,Killboarded on horror, as the brutal and bloody nature of his enemy’s demises may even be too much for some viewers to take. The fight sequences inKillwere incredibly well choreographed, and any lover of non-stop, high-stakes action movies should do themselves a favor and experience it.
Captain Miller
A man leaves and turns against the British-led Indian military after witnessing atrocity.
Western audiences would be less familiar with Indian military history and the resistance against British colonialism, but this has been a major topic within Indian cinema.Captain Millerwas an incrediblewar movie about a lesser-known conflictthat followed a former British Army soldier trying to defend his home village from destruction by the people he once called allies. With Tamil legend Dhanush at the helm,Captain Millerwas an epic action adventure set in the 1930s during the British Raj.
Captain Millerwas a period drama that used its historical setting to address issues still keenly relevant in modern India. Although its storyline had nuanced socio-political undertones, its action was so well constructed and its narrative built to its grand conclusion in such a satisfying manner that this became a must-watch movie for action lovers worldwide.Captain Millerwas a highly engaging action movie from director Arun Matheswaran, whose sharp visual style has only improved since his previous two films,RockyandSaani Kaayidham.
K.G.F: Chapter 1
In the 1970s, a gangster named Rocky goes undercover as a slave to assassinate the owner of a notorious gold mine known as the Kolar Gold Fields.
The Kannada-language Indian action star Yash Gowda slowly built up a name for himself as a leading action star before gaining major recognition for his leading role inKGF: Chapter 1.This intense period action film from writer and director Prashanth Neel followed Yash as Rocky, a high-ranking mercenary going undercover as a slave in a gold mine to assassinate Garuda, the son of the founder of Kolar Gold Fields. With incredible grandeur, a gripping story, and non-stop intensity,KGF: Chapter 1was a must-see action movie, even for those unfamiliar with Indian films.
Yash did an excellent job as Rocky inKGF: Chapter 1,as its high-octane action sequences expertly laid the groundwork for an even more extraordinary showdown inChapter 2, which was released in 2022. A major success at the time of its release,KGF: Chapter 1became the highest-grossing Kannada-language film of all time, a feat that was only surpassed by its sequel (viaIndia Today.)KGFhas solidified Yash’s status as a major star in India, and its success has shone a light on other underrated Kannadiga movies.
Thallumaala
Thallumaala is an action-comedy film directed by Khalid Rahman and starring Tovino Thomas and Kalyani Priyadarshan. Set in Kerala, the movie follows the chaotic events that unfold on the wedding day of a young couple, focusing on a series of brawls involving the groom and his friends. The film uniquely blends humor and action, highlighting the cultural backdrop of its setting.
It’s not always easy to seamlessly blend action and humor, as one genre typically comes out on top while the other can feel like it does the film a disservice. One of the rare movies that walked this fine line perfectly was the action-comedyThallumaala, which followed a young gangster drawn into a tumultuous love affair with a famous vlogger. From here, a series of cataclysmic events put their blossoming relationship in jeopardy.
Thallumaalawas a unique action-comedy that told its story in nine chapters, which were presented out of chronological order. With a strong narrative structure that showcased the shifting perspective of its protagonist,Thallumaalawas an experimental film full of intense action sequencesand plenty of over-the-top graphic violence. With lots of fighting and several of Indian cinema’s signature song sequences,Thallumaalawas a fascinating film that’s sure to please lovers of great action comedies.
Khakee
A team of police force escorts an alleged terrorist from Chandangarh to Mumbai. However their trip turns into a deadly survival when an ex-cop tries to stop them to reach Mumbai.
Since making his directional debut in 1990, Rajkumar Santoshi has been at the forefront of Hindi-language action films.Khakeefrom 2004 was one of Santoshi’s greatest works, as it powerfully told the story of police forces escorting alleged terrorists from Chandangarh to Mumbai. However, along the way, things turn awry, and this mission soon turned into a life-and-death perilous survival story as an ex-cop does everything in his power to stop them from reaching their destination.
Khakeereceived widespread acclaim when it was released for its incredible script, performances, and execution. As a highly engrossing and clever film with impressive production values,Khakeehas not lost any of its innate powers in the two decades since it was first released. With non-stop action, plenty of twists and turns, and ultra-violent encounters between cops and terrorists,Khakeewill be a treat for any and all action movie lovers.
Vikram
A special investigator discovers a case of serial killings is not what it seems to be, and leading down this path is only going to end in a war between everyone involved.
While comic book fans have been enjoying the Marvel Cinematic Universe for some time, lovers of Indian action movies have been blessed with their own ever-expanding franchise asVikramstood as the second installment in the Lokesh Cinematic Universe. Following the success ofKaithifrom director Lokesh Kanagaraj,Vikramcontinued the LCU as the black ops agent Arun Kumar Vikram (Kamal Haasan) investigated a series of serial killings. This led Vikram down a path of action-packed conspiracy and a war in which practically every character played a part.
This Tamil-language action thriller was a direct sequel to the 1986 action movieVikramand continued Kanagaraj’s streak of producing unmissable macho blockbusters. With a narrative that could branch out into several different films,Vikramexpertly laid the groundwork for further LCU movies, as it was well aware of its position in a potentially huge franchise. Haasan even reprised his role as Vikram inLeo, the third installment in the LCU, which further entrenched this universe’s interconnected nature.
Andhadhun
A series of mysterious events change the life of a blind pianist, who must now report a crime that he should technically know nothing of.
The Hindi-language crime thrillerAndhadhuntells the story of a blind piano player unwittingly embroiled in a murder conspiracy. However, Akash Sarraf (Ayushmann Khurrana) has a secret, and that’s that he isn’t actually blind and has been merely faking his disability as an experiment to improve his piano skills. While this lie would be enough to get Akash in hot water already, the action really comes into play when he witnesses a murder that everyone believes he should not have been able to see.
This highly creative action movie was a breath of fresh air amid so many similar Indian action films that repeat the same tired beats of lackluster romances, by-the-numbers action sequences, and songs that bloat the movie’s runtimes.Andhadhunwas a unique action film that blended its comedic concept with high-stakes energy as Akash fell ever deeper into a conspiracy that he knew far too much about.Andhadhunwas one of the most suspenseful and engaging Bollywood films in recent years.
A Wednesday!
A retiring police officer reminisces about the most astounding day of his career. About a case that was never filed but continues to haunt him in his memories - the case of a man and a Wednesday.
A Wednesday!was among the greatest Indian action movies ever made that brought to mind the incredible action-packed energy of Hollywoodmovies likeDie Hard. Set on one lone Wednesday afternoon,A Wednesday!told the story of a police commissioner and an anonymous caller who threatened to detonate bombs all over the city of Mumbai. This would-be terrorist stated that if four other terrorists were not let out of police custody, he would set off the explosives and potentially kill countless people.
A Wednesday!was exactly the kind of high-stakes action film that kept viewers on the edge of their seats, and it was no surprise that it became a massive success in India. With plenty of twists and turns and at just 99 minutes in length,A Wednesday!didn’t overstay its welcome as its intriguing plotline was unraveled through each spectacular scene.A Wednesday!was a must-watch for any and all action loversand would be a good entry point for those unfamiliar with Indian cinema.
RRR
Directed by S.S. Tajamouli, the Telugu epic RRR tells the fictional story of two real-life figures, Alluri Sitarama Raju (Charan) and Komaram Bheem (Rama Rao), who become friends while fighting the governing forces as Indian revolutionaries during the British Raj.
It’s not always easy for an Indian movie to gain widespread recognition from Western audiences, but one prime example of this was the mega success ofRRR. This Telugu-language period action movie became one of the highest-grossing Indian movies of all time and also became the first Indian film by an Indian production to win an Academy Award as it took home the Oscar for Best Song for “Naatu Naatu” (viaBBC.) As a true showcase of Indian cinema’s global potential,RRRkept the action consistent and was a powerful spectacle for audiences.
RRRwas such an impressive achievement that it even received acclaim from notable Hollywood directors such as James Cameron, JJ Abrams, Edgar Wright, and Christopher Nolan, just to name a few. Filmmaking legend Steven Spielberg even called RRR “outstanding” and said, “it was extraordinary to look at and experience” (viaEconomic Times.) With this level of acclaim, every action lover should be sure to experienceRRRfor themselves.
