This started out as a list for ransomedsea, but I thought I'd post it for everyone in case I've interested anyone else in Bollywood. Bollywood-watching friends, I know I'm barely scraping the surface here so if you can think of any particularly beautiful movies I've forgotten let me know!


Fanaa – two gorgeous movies in one: bright colors and costumes in the first half, then more stark and wintery in the second. One of my favorite movies ever.

Jodhaa-Akbar – historical epic at its best, with lavish sets and costumes.

Paheli – set in Rajasthan, which means brightly colored saris against a desert backdrop. Rani Mukherjee and Shah Rukh Khan only add to the prettiness!



Devdas – some people like the story. I don’t. However, for Bollywood gorgeousness this is the place to go! Incredible sets, costumes, and songs, and two very lovely women (Aishwarya Rai and Madhuri Dixit) in love with the same man.

Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam – in the same vein as Devdas (and by the same director), this has over-the-top beautiful sets and costumes, elaborate song sequences, and Hungary masquerading as Italy.

Laaga Chunari Mein Daag – modern city life interspersed with “Yash Raj India” (squeaky clean and colorful).

Bunty aur Babli – two small-town dreamers join forces and con their way across the country to Mumbai. Babli’s costumes are to die for.

Om Shanti Om – a loving parody of 70’s Bollywood, complete with period costumes and, in the best Bollywood fashion, very flashy song picturizations. Watch for the Phantom of the Opera song near the end!

Vivah – Amrita Rao and Shahid Kapoor make arranged marriage look very appealing indeed. Sooraj Barjatya’s movies are all about the happy families, with just a little conflict to spice things up at the end. Watch this one for the beautiful costumes, the pretty houses, and the sweet love story.



Humko Tumse Pyaar Hai – another one set mostly in Rajasthan. More colorful saris against the desert, some very pretty scenes in Switzerland, and a tragic love story with a happy ending. (Happy endings are very Bollywood.)

Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham – Karan Johar may have been smoking crack when he made KANK, but his previous movies, like this one, are good. He’s big on fancy-schmancy houses and pretty clothes, and it’s hard to go wrong with Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol as your main characters!



Kandukondain Kandukondain – South Indian version of Sense and Sensibility. As with most of these movies it’s the use of color that makes it so aesthetically appealing, and even if you don’t speak Tamil a few of the songs will haunt you for days.

Saawariya – another Sanjay Leela Bhansali movie (he did Devdas and Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, too). In contrast with the bright colors of his previous movies Saawariya is done all in shades of blue and takes place almost entirely at night, making it seem moody and melancholy. The Venice-themed city with water everywhere adds to the pretty-factor. The story isn’t to everyone’s taste (though I loved it), but it all looks very nice.

Dor – more Rajasthan. Not typical Bollywood – no one runs around Switzerland lip-synching love songs – but it’s not depressing like a lot of artsy films.

Veer-Zaara – Indian Veer and Pakistani Zaara fall in love but are separated for 22 years. Preity Zinta gets some of the prettiest costumes ever in this movie, and like most Yash Raj movies the entire thing is pretty pretty pretty.



Chup Chup Ke – the movie itself is a bit…random, but the pastel color scheme is lovely.

Parineeta – 60’s Calcutta. Traditional costumes and gorgeous houses. Viewer beware: there is a sex scene. (Though tame by Hollywood standards…it might not even warrant a PG-13 rating if it was an American movie.)

Goong – no, I haven’t lost my mind. This isn’t a Bollywood movie, or even Indian. It’s a Korean TV show about an alternate-reality South Korea where the government is a constitutional monarchy and a commoner is married off to the crown prince in an attempt by the royal family to gain approval. You want gorgeous? Goong will give you gorgeous. (And angst by the bucketful in later episodes.) If you can find it (Netflix has it), definitely watch it.