We understand how it feels to be unable to take that dream vacation. But don't worry; until you make your next vacation plan, we have an excellent suggestion for you. Instead of just sticking to local activities, why don't you arrange a movie night this weekend and binge-watch some great Indian travel films? To make it even easier for you, we handpicked some #TravellingGoals movies—and no, we are not talking about Jawaani Hai Deewani or Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara.
The pandemic has blessed us with tons of free time, so why not utilise it by watching some of the top underrated Bollywood movies that you might have missed. Here's a chance for you to tick off some Bollywood underrated movies, so get ready to hit play:
1. Karwaan (2018)
Avinash (Dulquer Salmaan) is a despondent soul, stuck in a drab job in a Bangalore-based IT firm. Through flashbacks, it's depicted that his heart belongs to photography, a profession that his father (Akash Khurana) disapproves of and dismisses as something that people only pursue as an excuse to rebel. However, Avinash's life turns upside down when he learns of his father's death while on a pilgrimage and enlists the aid of a friend Shaukat (Irrfan Khan) to retrieve the body—only to discover that it has been swapped with another that belongs to Tanya's grandmother (Mithila Palkar). The three then set out on a road trip to Kochi to put things right, oblivious to the fact that life has something else in store for them.
Karwaan is one of the finest Bollywood movies to watch on Amazon Prime. It has a cheerful narrative that unfolds into an unexpected adventure through South India, packed with calming music and lovely green landscapes. The jaw-dropping splendour of Ooty, the ocean enveloping roadways of Kerala, and the lakes of Thrissur will make you swoon. Ultimately, this film is satisfactory enough to satiate your wanderlust cravings. Truly one of the best-underrated Bollywood movies, you wouldn't want to miss this one.
2. Qarib Qarib Single (2017)
Yogi and Jayashree are complete opposites. Both, devoid of love in their life, turn to a dating app in a desperate attempt to find love. Jaya is thrown off by Yogi's bad sense of humour on their first date, and she quickly realises she has gotten herself into serious trouble. Yogi, on the other hand, tells Jaya about his three ex-girlfriends and how they still pine for him. To prove this, Yogi persuades Jaya to embark on a cross-India road adventure from Bikaner to Gangtok. They have a hard time getting along with each other because of their polar personalities, which leads to some hilarious encounters during their unconventional romantic journey.
Qarib Qarib Single is another Bollywood underrated movie that stars Irrfan Khan and Parvathy, who is known for her work in Malayalam films. This film is a travelogue that takes you on a tour of some of India's most stunning sites. You'll get a glimpse of Rajasthani warmth in Bikaner and Alwar, exhilaration in Dehradun and Rishikesh, and serenity in Gangtok—all while watching an adorable, and not-so-cliche, love saga.
3. Dhanak(2015)
Dhanak is a heartwarming story about a blind brother and his sister's quest to restore his sight before he becomes nine years old. They go on a hitchhiking journey from a village in Jaitaran to Jaisalmer, Rajasthan—in the hope that Bollywood movie star Shah Rukh Khan, who is filming in Jaisalmer, could assist in the recovery of the boy's sight since the sister had spotted him on an eye-donation poster. These young hitchhikers overcome challenges in their own naive ways, while on their voyage—making this the most underrated Bollywood movie.
Dhanak brings you closer to Rajasthan's traditional rural lifestyle and culture, including life in huts, sleeping beneath the stars, eating meals prepared over a wood-fired mud oven, and seeing the blue city of Jodhpur as well as the desert of Jaisalmer. The journey is rich with incredible moments, songs, philosophical discussions, and, of course, the legendary Kalbelia dance. You can indeed count this to be among the best Bollywood movies to watch on Netflix
4. Finding Fanny (2014)
Ferdie receives a returned-to-sender letter from his sweetheart from decades ago, Fanny, containing a marriage proposal. He discovers Fanny was never informed of his affections for her. With the support of her childhood friend, her mother-in-law, and an elderly artist named Don Pedro, Angie—a young widow—agrees to assist him in the search for Fanny. They embark on a road trip in search of Fanny, but it proves to be a life-changing experience for all of them.
As Ferdie, Angie, Rosie, Savio, and Don Pedro set off on a quest to discover Ferdie's love interest, their journey takes us to magnificent and undiscovered locations of Goa such as Assagao village, Siolim Bridge, Three Kings' Church, St Jacinto Bridge, Divar Island, and more. Finding Fanny is one of the most underrated movies Bollywood ever produced and is also a great movie to watch on Hotstar.
5. Kahaani (2012)
Kahaani tells the story of a pregnant woman searching for her missing husband. Vidya Bagchi (Vidya Balan) returns to Kolkata from London seven months pregnant, and alone, during Durga Puja to discover her husband Arnab Bagchi is gone. When everyone tries to convince Vidya that her spouse does not exist, she has nothing but shards from her memories to go on. Nothing is as it appears, she gradually discovers, in a city plagued with deception.
This Sujoy Ghosh directorial is an underrated Hindi movie, which was shot exclusively in West Bengal's capital—and offers a fitting homage to the dynamic city. You'll see the Kalighat Metro Station, Mona Lisa Guest House, and several iconic restaurants of the city. The film's conclusion, which culminates on the final day of Durga Puja, was shot during a Ballygunge Durga Puja event on Vijayadashami. That's how you keep things genuine, right? You can stream this underrated Bollywood movie on Netflix.
Disclaimer: The information in this article is accurate as of the date of publication only.