"They don’t make them like this anymore."
The 1960s remains a significant decade for Hindi cinema.
These years were gradually marking Bollywood’s transition from black-and-white films to Technicolour onscreen.
Although Indian cinema had had moments of colour in the 1950s, key filmmakers such as Raj Kapoor, Dev Anand, and Guru Dutt, were beginning to embrace this change more.
In the 1960s, although the trio of Dilip Kumar, Raj Kapoor, and Dev Anand remained strong, Bollywood was witnessing the rise of other talented stars.
They included Shammi Kapoor, Manoj Kumar, and Dharmendra.
Music remained a pillar of success within cinema.
As well as colour, more films transported the audience to abroad locations. You only needed a cinema ticket instead of an aeroplane.
This decade is filled with gems of celluloid, created by some of the industry’s finest personalities.
DESIblitz proudly showcases 20 Bollywood films of the 1960s that you must watch.
Mughal–e–Azam (1960)
Director: K Asif
Stars: Prithviraj Kapoor, Madhubala, Dilip Kumar
K Asif’s magnum opus, Mughal–e–Azam, was in production for over a decade.
Its scale, opulence, and grandeur was a first for Bollywood.
The film tells the doomed love story of Prince Salim (Dilip Kumar) and Anarkali (Madhubala).
Their romance is stopped by Salim’s father, Emperor Akbar (Prithviraj Kapoor), who cannot allow his son to marry the daughter of a maid.
This makes for a tragic tale filled with not only romance, but also powerful father-son scenes.
Songs such as ‘Mohe Panghat Pe’ and ‘Pyaar Kiya To Darna Kya‘, are classic chartbusters, which remain favourites among music aficionados.
Mughal–e–Azam is regarded as one of the greatest Indian films ever made, and was the highest-grossing Bollywood film ever for over ten years.
Priyanka Chopra Jonas comments: “Mughal–e–Azam is one film which reiterates what love should ideally be.”
Kala Bazar (1960)
Director: Vijay Anand
Stars: Dev Anand, Waheeda Rehman, Nanda, Chetan Anand, Vijay Anand
Kala Bazar is a crime-noir film that has a unique take on common themes.
The film focusses on Raghuveer (Dev Anand), who sells movie tickets in black.
He must realise his mistake and repay his debts.
Kala Bazar has many thrilling aspects, including the casting of all three Anand brothers in the same film.
Dev Sahab unites with Chetan Anand (Advocate Desai) and Vijay Anand (Nand Kumar Chattopadhyay).
Furthermore, the film includes a magnificent sequence of cameos from film personalities at a movie premiere.
These include Kishore Kumar, Mohammad Rafi, Dilip Kumar, Rajendra Kumar, and Nargis.
Anupama Chopra gushes: “You see three powerhouses of Indian cinema coming together to create an exceptional film.
“Truly, they don’t make them like this anymore.”
Chaudhvin Ka Chand (1960)
Director: M Sadiq
Stars: Guru Dutt, Waheeda Rehman, Rehman, Johnny Walker
M Sadiq directs Guru Dutt in this luscious romance.
Chaudhvin Ka Chand introduces us to Nawab Pyare Miyan (Rehman), who falls for Jameela (Waheeda Rehman), who is behind a veil.
Things get complicated when Nawab’s close friend, Aslam (Guru Dutt), marries Jameela instead.
Chaudhvin Ka Chand is a sterling tale of love, friendship, and sacrifice.
Capitalising on the popular chemistry between Guru Sahab and Waheeda, the film was a major success at the box office.
A writer on WordPress calls it “an engaging, enjoyable film”.
The movie won several awards and remains one of the finest films for all involved.
Chaudhvin Ka Chand also saved Guru Sahab’s career, as he was struggling after the failure of Kaagaz Ke Phool (1959).
Gunga Jumna (1961)
Director: Nitin Bose
Stars: Dilip Kumar, Nasir Khan, Vyjayanthimala
The rural classic, Gunga Jumna, marks Dilip Kumar’s production and writing debut.
He stars as the villager, Gunga, in this film, while his real-life brother, Nasir Khan, plays his onscreen brother, Jumna.
Both Gunga and Jumna have contrasting personalities. Jumna becomes an honest police officer, while Gunga finds himself on the opposite side of the law.
This creates a barrier between the brothers, which leads to all sorts of trials and tests.
Meanwhile, Gunga enjoys a romance with the beautiful Dhanno (Vyjayanthimala).
The film boasts one of the best performances of Dilip Sahab. His command of Awadhi is second to none.
Amitabh Bachchan has frequently said that there has been no better performance than that of Dilip Kumar in Gunga Jumna.
Gunga Jumna also inspired many blockbusters, including Deewaar (1975) and Sholay (1975).
Junglee (1961)
Director: Subodh Mukherjee
Stars: Shammi Kapoor, Saira Banu, Shashikala, Anoop Kumar, Lalita Pawar
In the 1960s, one actor was ruling supreme in Bollywood: none other than Shammi Kapoor.
After he became a star with Tumsa Nahin Dekha (1957), the audience started to love his onscreen energy and flamboyance.
That is perfectly underscored in Subodh Mukherjee’s Junglee, where Shammi Sahab plays the businessman, Shekhar.
In Kashmir, Shekhar and Rajkumari (Saira Banu) fall in love.
As Shekhar learns to live life to the fullest, he belts out the famous number, ‘Chaahe Koi Mujhe Junglee Kahe‘, by Mohammad Rafi.
This song is Shammi Sahab’s signature number. Junglee also paved the path for a sparkling career for Saira, who makes a riveting debut with this film.
Junglee also carved Shammi Sahab’s identity as the ‘Yahoo’ star of the industry.
For all these firsts, the film should never be forgotten.
Hum Dono (1961)
Director: Amarjeet
Stars: Dev Anand, Nanda, Sadhana, Lalita Pawar, Leela Chitnis
This memorable movie featured Dev Anand in the first dual role of his career.
He portrays Anand as well as Major Manohar Lal Verma.
The two characters meet in the war in Burma, but when tragedy strikes, Anand must return to India for a difficult reason.
Dev Sahab excels in the film, and shares exquisite chemistry with Nanda (Ruma Verma) and Sadhana (Mita).
Hum Dono is famous for Jaidev’s glistening soundtrack.
One of the romantic songs, ‘Abhi Na Jaao Chhod Kar’, became a rage and was reworked in Karan Johar’s Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani (2023).
Another song, ‘Main Zindagi Ka Saath’ is an anthem of sorts and contains the carefree attitude that is motivating for fans.
In 2011, the film was fully colourised and rereleased to just as much love as it received in the 1960s.
Professor (1962)
Director: Lekh Tandon
Stars: Shammi Kapoor, Kalpana Mohan, Lalita Pawar
Professor sees Shammi Kapoor as Professor Pritam Khanna.
To care for his mother, Pritam disguises himself as an older man so he can tutor two women.
He gets more than he bargained for when romantic feelings emerge from all three of them.
Pritam begins donning several disguises to have two relationships simultaneously.
With Professor, Shammi Sahab proves he is much more than dancing and radiating energy.
In an interview, he says: “I was nominated for Professor, but I did not get the award. I was very hurt.”
However, an award is not necessary for fans to recognise Shammi Sahab’s skilful act in Professor.
It is undeniably one of his finest films and also one of the greatest of the decade.
Taj Mahal (1963)
Director: M Sadiq
Stars: Pradeep Kumar, Bina Rai, Veena, Rehman, Jeevan, Jabeen Jalil
M Sadiq’s Taj Mahal is based on the saga of the Shehzada Khurram / Shah Jahan (Pradeep Kumar) and Arjumand Banu / Mumtaz Mahal (Bina Rai).
Khurram falls deeply in love with Arjumand, but this romance is detested by Empress Noor Jehan (Veena).
She attempts to get Khurram sent to war and later killed in order to separate the lovers.
In history, the Emperor Shah Jahan built the monument, the Taj Mahal, for Mumtaz.
This film mesmerically encapsulates this enduring saga.
Roshan’s score is also a winner, particularly the duet of Lata Mangeshkar and Mohammad Rafi – ‘Jo Waada Kiya‘.
A writer on Dustedoff highlights the music and says: “The film does manage to do justice to the very popular love story.
“Or, you can just watch it for the music. That’s more than enough reason.”
Kashmir Ki Kali (1964)
Director: Shakti Samanta
Stars: Shammi Kapoor, Sharmila Tagore, Pran, Nazir Hussain
Shakti Samanta crafts what can truly be termed as a canvas of allure in Kashmir Ki Kali.
In the film, we see Rajiv (Shammi Kapoor) escaping to Kashmir to avoid an arranged marriage.
There, in the gorgeous valleys and the serene hills, he meets Champa (Sharmila Tagore).
Although an adversary in the form of forest manager Mohan (Pran) threatens him, Rajiv makes no secret of his love for Champa.
This is shown in the classic songs, ‘Yeh Chand Sa Roshan Chehra‘ and ‘Haye Re Haye’.
Sharmila admits that Shammi Sahab was “200 times better” than she was in performing the songs.
Even so, the actress makes an elegant debut in Kashmir Ki Kali, making the film all the more special and entertaining.
Want to see a fun love story in an amazing location? Kashmir Ki Kali is the perfect choice.
Sangam (1964)
Director: Raj Kapoor
Stars: Raj Kapoor, Vyjayanthimala, Rajendra Kumar
Raj Kapoor’s Sangam marked the showman’s return to the director’s seat after a nine-year gap.
It is also his first colour film, which makes Sangam a milestone in his career.
This historic movie showcases the love triangle of Sundar Khanna (Raj Kapoor), Radha (Vyjayanthimala) and Gopal Verma (Rajendra Kumar).
Although Sundar loves Radha wholeheartedly, she prefers his best friend, Gopal.
Heartbreak, longing, and the mystery surrounding an unsigned love letter are the pillars of Sangam, which remains memorable for its music and novel concept.
The film was also the first Bollywood movie to be shot abroad, giving viewers a new experience.
Sangam was also the recipient of several Filmfare awards in 1965.
These included ‘Best Director’ for Raj Sahab and ‘Best Actress’ for Vyjayanthimala.
Woh Kaun Thi (1964)
Director: Raj Khosla
Stars: Sadhana, Manoj Kumar, Helen, Ratnamala, Prem Chopra, KN Singh
Although Manoj Kumar made his film debut as early as 1957, he could not find success in the first few years of his career.
That all changed with Raj Khosla’s mystery thriller, Woh Kaun Thi, where we see Manoj as Dr Anand.
Braving a storm, he stumbles upon a strange woman who calls herself Sandhya (Sadhana).
When his fiancee Seema (Helen) is killed, Anand must face terrifying twists and dark demons.
A jewel that adorns Woh Kaun Thi is Lata Mangeshkar’s haunting track, ‘Lag Jaa Gale‘.
Woh Kaun Thi is noted as one of the first out-and-out mystery thrillers of Bollywood.
It has inspired many subsequent films of the genre.
Manoj Kumar also wrote many of the scenes in the film himself, thus proving his mettle behind the camera as well as in front of it.
Guide (1965)
Director: Vijay Anand
Stars: Dev Anand, Waheeda Rehman, Kishore Sahu, Leela Chitnis
A masterpiece of the 1960s is Vijay Anand’s Guide. It is an adaptation of RK Narayan’s novel, The Guide (1958).
Guide started as a collaboration between Dev Anand, the Nobel Laureate Pearl S Buck, and director Tad Danieleweski.
The trio worked on an English film titled The Guide. However, after its failure, Vijay wrote a Hindi script from scratch.
Starring Dev Sahab as the opportunistic tour guide, Raju, and Waheeda Rehman as Rosie / Miss Nalini, Guide is a masterstroke of cinema.
Marking Dev Sahab’s first foray into colour, the film is adorned with hard-hitting dialogues, intense romance, and SD Burman’s finest soundtrack.
A line from the film: “There is no happiness or joy, no day or night, no human or God, just me, me, me, and only me,” remains iconic.
Guide swept the Filmfare awards in 1967. It won ‘Best Actor’ and ‘Best Film’ for Dev Sahab, ‘Best Director’ for Vijay Anand, and ‘Best Actress’ for Waheeda.
When one discusses Bollywood classics from the 1960s, any list is incomplete without Guide.
Waqt (1965)
Director: Yash Chopra
Stars: Sunil Dutt, Raaj Kumar, Shashi Kapoor, Sadhana, Sharmila Tagore, Balraj Sahni, Achala Sachdev
Yash Chopra’s Waqt began the trend of multi-starrer films in Hindi cinema.
The film features Lala Kedarnath Prasad (Balraj Sahni).
He has three sons: Raja Chinnoy / Raju Prasad (Raaj Kumar), Ravi Khanna / Babu Prasanta (Sunil Dutt), and Vijay Kumar Prasanta / Munna (Shashi Kapoor).
After a devastating earthquake, the family is brutally seperated.
Waqt is a classic family saga, exploring themes of fate, power, and loss.
Will the family ever be reunited and learn who they are?
A review of the film declares: “It’s a rare film that brings all the important elements together perfectly.
“This is one that I’ll watch again and again!”
For Waqt, Yash Chopra won the Filmfare Award for ‘Best Director’ in 1966.
Phool Aur Patthar (1966)
Director: OP Ralhan
Stars: Meena Kumari, Dharmendra, Shashikala, OP Ralhan
Phool Aur Patthar is an ornament in the collaborations of the popular pairing, Meena Kumari and Dharmendra.
Dharmendra plays Shakti Singh / Shaaka.
A criminal, Shaaka searches for redemption when he meets the poetic Shanti Devi (Meena Kumari).
Shanti is a widow, who has been cruelly abandoned by her in-laws.
As Shanti and Shaaka grow closer, they must also contend with gossiping neighbours and Shaaka’s associates, who aren’t pleased to see him reforming.
Dharmendra found fame in the Soviet Union with Phool Aur Patthar.
It is said that during its production, Meena fell in love with Dharmendra.
This is one Bollywood film of the 1960s that rides high on redemption and courage.
Teesri Manzil (1966)
Director: Vijay Anand
Stars: Shammi Kapoor, Asha Parekh, Helen, Prem Nath, Iftekhar, Prem Chopra
As we return to the great career of Vijay Anand, we arrive at the thrilling suspense movie, Teesri Manzil.
Shammi Kapoor eclipses the screen as the drummer, Anil Kumar / Rocky.
He witnesses a girl falling from the third floor of a hotel, marking the start of a very exciting film.
The film is renowned for RD Burman’s genius score, which includes the evergreen ‘Aaja Aaja‘.
Shammi Sahab’s chemistry with Asha Parekh (Sunita) is a highlight of the film.
Teesri Manzil keeps the audience guessing through its twists and turns. It is truly a powerful film.
Interestingly, Dev Anand was initially signed for the role of Rocky.
However, Shammi Sahab makes the role his own. This is a film not to be missed.
Jewel Thief (1967)
Director: Vijay Anand
Stars: Ashok Kumar, Dev Anand, Vyjayanthimala, Tanuja
Continuing with the genre of suspense and with the work of Vijay Anand, we come to Jewel Thief.
Dev Anand appears as Vinay / Prince Amar, a thief who steals precious jewels around India.
In doing so, he comes across doppelgangers and vivacious women.
Dev Sahab strikes divine chemistry with Vyjayanthimala (Shalini ‘Shalu’ Singh), as shown in the racy song, ‘Hothon Pe Aisi Baat‘.
The film presented Dev Sahab without his signature puff and in a different genre.
Although his romantic persona holds, he brilliantly intertwines it with suspense and mystery.
For that, this film is remarkable.
A sequel, Return of Jewel Thief, was released in 1996. However, this is the original entertainer.
Ram Aur Shyam (1967)
Director: Tapi Chanakya
Stars: Dilip Kumar, Waheeda Rehman, Mumtaz, Nirupa Roy, Pran, Nazir Hussain
One of the reasons this film is a key point in Dilip Kumar’s career is that it presents him in his first dual role as the titular brothers.
Separated while young, Ram is timid and feeble, while Shyam is outgoing and boisterous.
Ram has been tormented by his merciless brother-in-law, Gajendra (Pran) and runs away from home.
In hilarious circumstances, Ram and Shyam swap places.
In one scene, Shyam leaves a restaurant having enjoyed a lavish feast. Ram walks in and finds himself burdened with the bill.
Dilip Sahab aces this comedy drama. For his flawless act, he won the Filmfare ‘Best Actor’ Award in 1968.
Ram Aur Shyam was a huge money-spinner at the box office, assuring viewers of Dilip Kumar’s incandescent talent.
The film has been the template for blockbusters, including Seeta Aur Geeta (1972) and Kishen Kanhaiya (1990).
Upkar (1967)
Director: Manoj Kumar
Stars: Manoj Kumar, Asha Parekh, Prem Chopra, Pran
In this ode to patriotism, Manoj Kumar makes his directorial debut.
This was also the first film in which he cultivated his ‘Bharat’ persona. Upkar carved his identity as ‘Bharat Kumar’.
In Upkar, a farmer named Bharat (Manoj Kumar) makes unending sacrifices for his brother Puran (Prem Chopra).
Puran returns from education a selfish and unkind man. This juxtaposes with Bharat’s path towards serving in the 1965 Indo-Pakistan war.
With lives so different, Upkar explores whether the brothers will ever reunite on common ground.
The film is the quintessential Manoj Kumar – a film for which he won the Filmfare ‘Best Director’ Award in 1968.
Mahendra Kapoor’s superb chartbuster, ‘Mere Desh Ki Dharti‘, is still frequently played at patriotic celebrations and events.
The 1960s would not be the same without Upkar.
Neel Kamal (1968)
Director: Ram Maheshwari
Stars: Waheeda Rehman, Manoj Kumar, Raaj Kumar
Waheeda Rehman once again shows why she deserves a ruling place among the finest actresses of the 1960s.
In Neel Kamal, she becomes Rajkumari Neel Kamal / Sita.
Sita is saved from a moving train by Ram (Manoj Kumar), which leads to their marriage.
However, this relationship also leads Sita to discover her previous life.
Waheeda outdoes herself in Neel Kamal. For the film, she won a Filmfare Award for ‘Best Actress’ in 1969.
In an interview, the actress divulges how she almost left the movie due to her commitment to the aforementioned Guide.
Luckily for fans, she ultimately did both films, and proves her versatility like no other.
Aradhana (1969)
Director: Shakti Samanta
Stars: Sharmila Tagore, Rajesh Khanna, Sujit Kumar, Farida Jalal, Ashok Kumar
Shakti Samanta’s Aradhana gave Bollywood far more than just a spellbinding film.
Rajesh Khanna entered the industry with Aakhri Khat (1966), a box office disappointment.
To say that Aradhana changed his fortunes would be a great understatement.
The film focusses on Vandana Tripathi (Sharmila Tagore), and her romance with Arun Verma (Rajesh Khanna).
After a heartbreaking incident, Vandana is left destitute. Her only reason for living is her son, Suraj, who is also played by Rajesh.
Aradhana is gratifying and vivid. It made a superstar out of Rajesh, whose height of fame is the stuff of legend in Bollywood.
Beginning with Aradhana, he starred in 15 consecutive solo hits from 1969 to 1971.
Aradhana also marked the transition of Kishore Kumar to a full-time playback singer. Over the years that followed, he hypnotised the nation with his virile voice.
Aradhana signifies a new chapter in the Indian film industry.
How often do we get a great film, a legendary singer, and a superstar all at once?
The 1960s was unmistakably a turning point for Hindi cinema.
The seamless wave to colour from black-and-white is only one of many major changes.
While familiar faces still amassed love, the decade also produced new stars, daring stories, and fine music.
The 1950s may be regarded as Bollywood’s Golden Era, but the 1960s will always be a significant chapter.
So, go ahead and enjoy the colour, boldness, and beauty of the 1960s!
