The 40 most popular indian history movies, ranked. Click any film for ratings, reviews, trailers, and where to watch.


RRR
2022 · 3h 7m · IN
A fictional history of two legendary revolutionaries' journey away from home before they began fighting for their country in the 1920s.


Ranabaali
2026 · 2h 59m · IN
Set in 19th-century British India, a fierce leader rises from a drought-stricken land to fight colonial oppression and atrocities.


Gandhi
1982 · 3h 12m · IN
In the early years of the 20th century, Mohandas K. Gandhi, a British-trained lawyer, forsakes all worldly possessions to take up the cause of Indian independence. Faced with armed resistance from the British government, Gandhi adopts a policy of 'passive resistance', endeavouring to win freedom for his people without resorting to bloodshed.


Ithikkara Pakky
1980 · 2h 11m
Ithikkara Pakki, a daily-wage labourer, fights against a wealthy landlord when he tries to trouble the villagers. Things get worse when he falls in love with the landlord's daughter.


Satluj
2026 · 2h 44m · IN
Triggered by the search for his missing aunt, human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra takes on a broken system in a courageous fight to uncover the conspiracy behind thousands of disappearances and extrajudicial killings during the nadir of Punjab’s period of insurgency.


Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India
2001 · 3h 53m · IN
The year is 1893 and India is under British occupation. In a small village, the tyrannical Captain Russell has imposed an unprecedented land tax on its citizens. Outraged, Bhuvan, a rebellious farmer, rallies the villagers to publicly oppose the tax. Russell offers a novel way to settle the dispute: he challenges Bhuvan and his men to a game of cricket, a sport completely foreign to India. If Bhuvan and his men can defeat Russell's team, the tax will be repealed.


Rang De Basanti
2006 · 2h 37m · IN
After a group of friends graduate from Delhi University, they listlessly haunt their old campus, until a British filmmaker casts them in a film she's making about freedom fighters under British rule. Although the group is largely apolitical, the tragic death of a friend owing to local government corruption awakens their patriotism. Inspired by the freedom fighters they represent in the film, the friends collectively decide to avenge the killing.


KD – The Devil
2026 · 2h 21m · IN
In the early 1970s, a petty criminal Kaali unwittingly involves himself with underworld thugs, catalyzing events beyond his control.


Bajirao Mastani
2015 · 2h 38m · IN
Peshwa Bajirao married to Kashibai, falls in love with Mastani, a warrior princess in distress. They struggle to make their love triumph amid opposition from his conservative family.


Padmaavat
2018 · 2h 43m · IN
Rajputana, India, 13th century. The tyrannical usurper Alauddin Khilji, sultan of Delhi, becomes obsessed with Queen Padmavati, wife of King Ratan Singh of Mewar, and goes to great lengths to satisfy his greed for her.


Pather Panchali
1955 · 2h 5m · IN
Impoverished priest Harihar Ray, dreaming of a better life for himself and his family, leaves his rural Bengal village in search of work. Alone, his wife, Sarbojaya, looks after her rebellious daughter, Durga, and her young son, Apu, as well as Harihar's elderly aunt Indir. The children enjoy the small pleasures of their difficult life, while their parents suffer the daily indignities heaped upon them.


Chhaava
2025 · 2h 41m · IN
Shivaji's death sparks the Maratha-Mughal conflict. His son Sambhaji leads resistance against Aurangzeb's forces. Amid battles and intrigue, both sides face challenges in a struggle for power.


Jodhaa Akbar
2008 · 3h 33m · IN
A sixteenth century love story about a marriage of alliance that gave birth to true love between a Mughal emperor and a Rajput princess.


Emergency
2025 · 2h 27m · IN
Based on true events that unfolded in 1975, the film chronicles incidents that took place under the leadership of Indira Gandhi, one of the most powerful women in Indian history.


Raja Shivaji
2026 · 3h 15m · IN
Chronicles the rise of young Shivaji Bhonsale, who challenged the might of established empires to found the Maratha kingdom and lay the groundwork for 'Swarajya' (self-rule) during a turbulent period of Indian history.


Balkadu
2015 · 2h 28m · IN
2nd version of marathi blockbuster Mi Shivajiraje Bhosle Boltoy but this time its not Shivaji Maharaj,its Balasaheb Thakre..a common man fight for his cast people for marathi people for the existance of marathi people in mumbai


Ikkis
2026 · 2h 28m · IN
Second Lieutenant and India's youngest Param Vir Chakra recipient, Arun Khetarpal, gave his life fighting for his battalion and the country during the 1971 Battle of Basantar. Ikkis also takes a reflective look at the futility of war through the eyes of Khetarpal's father, who visits his ancestral home in Sargodha and Alma Mater for reunion, which now happens to be in post-partition Pakistan, 30 years later.


Bhakta Potana
1943 · 3h 6m · IN
It is a biographical film based on the life of Potana, who translated Bhagavatam into the Telugu language.


Bhagavad Gita
1993 · 2h 20m · IN
An adaptation of the Hindu religious book Bhagavat Gita, an epic centering around two families and their fight for the throne.


Chrysalis
2004 · 1h 47m · IN
A Sikh woman and her son take refuge in a convent during the 1984 anti-Sikh pogroms


Champion
2025 · 2h 47m · IN
An aspiring football star desperately seeks a way to travel to England to play for a famous team, but his journey leads him to a village waging a bloody conflict.


Ekk Albela
2016 · 1h 39m · IN
The journey of Bhagwan Dada. A common man who rose to the top and became a legend in Indian Cinema.


Sita Ramam
2022 · 2h 38m · IN
Afreen, a rebellious Pakistani student sets ablaze the car of an Indian in London. Angered Afreen returns to Pakistan to ask for money from her grandfather that she has to pay in a month's time as damages. However, she gets to know that he is no more and the only thing he has left for her is a letter-delivering task, written by Ram to Sita. As Afreen sets out to find Ram, there begins her journey of discovering the secret behind the 20-year-old letter.


Border
1997 · 2h 56m · IN
Amidst the 1971 Indo-Pak war, a company of 120 Indian soldiers stationed at the border region of Longewala in Rajasthan must defend their post through the night against two thousand Pakistani troops armed with tanks. Based on the true events of the Battle of Longewala.


Amu
2005 · 1h 42m · IN
Amu is the story of Kaju, a twenty-one-year-old Indian American woman who returns to India to visit her family and discover the place where she was born. The film takes a dark turn as Kaju stumbles against secrets and lies from her past. A horrifying genocide that took place twenty years ago turns out to hold the key to her mysterious origins.


Shakunthala
1965 · IN
The film is adapted from the 1961 Bollywood film Stree.


Kaantha
2025 · 2h 30m · IN
Set in the backdrop of a film set, in the 1950’s in post colonial Madras, the film is centred around the professional rivalry between a film-maker trying to make his seminal film and the top reigning actor who the director once introduced. The rivalry spirals around the leading actress, a debutante and as the relationship between the three.


Aśoka
2001 · 2h 55m · IN
A young Prince Asoka works to perfect his skills in battle and also deals with family conflict. During a struggle with one of his step-brothers, his mother urges Asoka to escape to stay alive. While away, Asoka meets Kaurwaki and falls in love, but must use his skills as a warrior to protect her. A dangerous and heartbreaking web of conspiracy follows, which leads Asoka to embrace a Buddhist path.


83
2021 · 2h 40m · IN
On the 25th of June 1983, the Lord’s Cricket Ground witnessed one of the biggest underdog stories in the history of sports. Fourteen inspired players - led by a man's self-belief and conviction - fought against all odds and orchestrated India’s greatest sporting triumph by beating the two-time World Champions West Indies.


Sivagangai Seemai
1959 · 2h 40m · IN
After Kattabomman's execution at Kayattar, his brother, Oomadurai, becomes the ruler of the town Sivaganga. Seeing this as an opportunity, the British attack and invade the town with a powerful army.


Samrat Prithviraj
2022 · 2h 16m · IN
The true story of legendary Hindu warrior king "Prithviraj Chauhan" including his early military successes, love story with Sanyogita & clashes with Muhammad of Ghor, a ruler of the Ghurid dynasty who led the foundation of Muslim rule in the Indian subcontinent.


Hey Ram
2000 · 3h 19m · IN
Saketh Ram's wife is raped and killed during direct action day riots in Calcutta. He is convinced that Mahatma Gandhi is responsible for all the problems happening in the country. He sets out to kill him.


Rocketry: The Nambi Effect
2022 · 2h 34m · GE
The story of the great Indian rocket scientist, Shri Nambi Narayanan's life, a true patriot, who was turned into a villain in the blink of an eye after being falsely accused of treason.


Ponniyin Selvan: Part II
2023 · 2h 44m · IN
968 AD. The Pandyan assassins gather once again to destroy the Chola dynasty. Now the mighty Chola princes must fight the Pandyas, the Rashtrakutas and other Chola enemies who have joined forces. Also, at play are the rumours of Ponniyin Selvan’s death at sea, the powerful Pazhuvettarayar’s betrayal, and the tragic destiny of Aditha Karikalan, whose heart was long lost to the vengeful Nandini.


Ponniyin Selvan: Part I
2022 · 2h 47m · IN
The Chola kingdom is under threat from forces both internal and external, and with crown prince Aaditha Karikalan, his younger brother Arunmozhi Varman and the emperor, Sundara Cholar separated by situations, it is up to a messenger to ensure the safety of the kingdom. Can he succeed in his mission, especially with Karikalan's former girlfriend, Nandhini, plotting to bring down the entire Chola empire?


Parasakthi
2026 · 2h 43m · IN
In a time of civil disobedience in the erstwhile Madras state, a ruthless intelligent officer turns up with a duty to track down rebels. Chezhian and his brother Chinndurai are of different personalities, one a hardworking fireman, the other a rebel. A deadly game of cat and mouse ensues as Chezhian is forced to abandon his peaceful ways to protect his people and takes on the mighty forces, culminating in a fierce battle for justice.


Kodungallooramma
1968 · 2h 15m · IN
Kodungallooramma is a 1968 Indian Malayalam-language film, directed and produced by Kunchacko. The film stars Prem Nazir, K. R. Vijaya, Adoor Bhasi and Thikkurissy Sukumaran Nair. It was based on the Tamil poem Chilappathikaram by Ilango Adigal and also tells the story of Kodungallur Bhagavathy Temple, where the leading deity is also considered as Kannaki, the heroine of Chilappathikaram. The film had musical score by K. Raghavan.


Anarkali
1955 · 2h 33m · IN
The legend of the romance between Mughal prince Salim and Anarkali.


Maharaj
2024 · 2h 12m · IN
Based on a real-life historic court case, a bold journalist questions a revered leader's immoral behavior.


Sardar Udham
2021 · 2h 42m · IN
A young Sardar Udham Singh left deeply scarred by the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, escaped into the mountains of Afghanistan, reaching London in 1933-34. Carrying an unhealed wound for 21 years, the revolutionary assassinated Michael O’Dwyer on 13th March, 1940, the man at the helm of affairs in Punjab, April 1919 to avenge the lost lives of his beloved brethren.
India produces more films annually than any other country, across many language industries — Hindi-language Bollywood, plus major Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, and Bengali traditions. The song-and-dance musical number is a structural convention, not a genre.
Historical films reconstruct the past, whether faithfully or as deliberate myth-making. The genre attracts big budgets and big performances, and it reveals as much about the era that produced the film as the one on screen.