As we begin with 2024, looking back at the top Bollywood movies of 2023 is mandatory for cinema lovers. We got some pretty decent action thrillers with Animal, Pathaan, Tiger 3, and Jawan. Coming to romantic comedies and dramas, Satyaprem ki Katha and Rocky aur Raani Kii Prem Kahaani received commendations for their portrayal of important issues related to gender and its connotations within society.
Other movies focused on social issues were 12th Fail, Dunki, and Jawan, which brought some of our everyday experiences to the big screen. 2023 has maintained a rich diversity in the genres and domains of films. Let us explore these movies more.
Table of Contents
Here are the top Bollywood movies of 2023-
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Jawan (2023)
First on the list is the movie that broke records, becoming the highest-grossing Indian film of 2023 and the second-highest-grossing Hindi film of all time. Directed by Atlee and starring the King of Bollywood, Shah Rukh Khan, Jawan stood out for many things, the most important of which was its focus on social issues. Showing the divide between the rich and the common man, Jawan transcends cultural, religious and linguistic barriers to speak to the masses. The monologue towards the end gives a simple yet serious message- ask questions before you cast your vote. The action sequences also do not disappoint, bringing out a new look of SRK.
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12th Fail (2023)
Becoming a sleeper hit, this Vikrant Massey-starrer movie received acclaim from the audience and the critics. Although the movie had relatively low marketing and was released in a few theatres compared to other blockbusters, 12th Fail made its name among the audience primarily because of its content. The film shows Manoj, a poor aspiring Chambal student who aims to clear the UPSC exam. However, several challenges are in his path, the most significant of which is his lack of proficiency in English. 12th Fail shows the journey of a poor guy in the education system of the present world that does not necessarily give a level playing field to everyone.
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Rocky aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani (2023)
A romantic comedy focusing on the love story of Rocky and Rani as well as the incomplete love affair between their grandparents, Rocky aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani gives us more with its portrayal of gender roles and stereotypes in society. Rocky’s family believes in traditional values and tough, hypermasculine, and macho guys who keep “weak” aspects like emotions aside, while Rani’s family is more progressive with their modern ideas. As the two clash, differences are bound to arise but the movie handles it quite well and shows how to bring balance in life when unlearning archaic notions and adapting new ones.
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Satyaprem ki Katha (2023)
Does rape exist only outside of any committed relationship? Does being in a relationship necessarily align with an automatic consent to intimacy? These questions arise in issues around sexual violence. Showing Kiara Advani as Katha and Kartik Aaryan as Satyaprem, the movie follows Katha’s hardship as she battles intimacy issues since her boyfriend raped her when they were dating. The movie then shows Satyaprem trying to rebuild Katha’s trust in relationships. The movie takes on a very serious issue that is solemnly talked about and deals with it in a pretty decent way.
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Dunki (2023)
Released just as the year ends, Dunki has made its way into the top Bollywood movies with praise from the audience. The film shows the harsh realities of living in a foreign country. The movie’s setting is during the period when going abroad has become trendy, and almost everyone aspires to settle in a Western country. Although the movie could have been paced better, the issues it covers are relevant to present-day Indian society.
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Tiger 3 (2023)
Another superhit movie from the YRF Spy Verse that sets Tiger 3 apart from other top Bollywood movies of 2023 is its nuanced approach to morality and nationalism. Faced with a ruthless mastermind, Aatish Rehman, who is hell-bent on making Tiger a traitor for his country, Tiger 3 opens the thresholds of thinking about good and evil. Since the problems looming over their countries are created because Zoya and Tiger try to protect their son, the question of what it means to be good and to make the right choices hangs over their head. Moreover, Emraan Hashmi, as an antagonist, served us well.
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Pathaan (2023)
Another blockbuster from the YRF Spy Verse, Pathaan, marked SRK’s comeback to Bollywood after his long hiatus. Showing him as an R&AW agent alongside ISI agent Deepika and the duo fighting with the head of an international terrorist organisation, played by John Abraham-Pathaan, served well in character formation. Abraham’s character, Jim, has to be one of the year’s best villains with his ingenious master plans and trickery. Pathaan also had exceptional action scenes and cinematography.
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Animal (2023)
Hate, despise, admire, or love it – you cannot ignore it. After becoming a controversial movie this year, Animal fared really well at the box office, earning more than 800 crores. The film has been praised for Ranbir Kapoor’s acting, direction, action sequences and the portrayal of violence- making it a perfect movie of the gory genre.
Conclusion-
These were some of the top Bollywood movies of 2023. Which ones among them have you yet to watch? Do let us know in the comment section.
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