These films are sure to keep you hooked.
If you’re a fan of suspense, intrigue, and edge-of-your-seat Bollywood entertainment, you’re in for a treat.
DESIblitz has curated a list of the top 7 Bollywood murder mysteries to watch.
These aren’t just any films, they’re ground-breaking narratives that are diversifying the genre and taking it to new heights.
In a significant shift from tradition, these movies have made their debut directly on OTT platforms, bypassing the cinema halls.
This change has not only made these masterpieces more accessible to a global audience but also allowed for more creative freedom and experimentation.
So, whether you’re a seasoned fan of murder mysteries or new to the genre, these films are sure to keep you hooked.
Get your popcorn ready, dim the lights, and prepare to dive into the captivating realm of Bollywood murder mysteries.
From unexpected plot twists to intricate character developments, these stories will keep you guessing until the very end.
Welcome to the future of Bollywood, where the unexpected is the new normal!
Jaane Jaan (2023)
Written and directed by Sujoy Ghosh, Jaane Jaan is an adaptation of the 2005 Japanese novel ‘The Devotion of Suspect X’ by Keigo Higashino.
The film features Kareena Kapoor Khan in the role of a single mother entangled in a murder case, alongside co-stars Jaideep Ahlawat and Vijay Varma.
It is produced under the banners of 12th Street Entertainment and Northern Lights Films, in association with Kross Pictures and Balaji Motion Pictures.
Jaane Jaan was released on Netflix on September 21, 2023, and received positive reviews from film critics.
The performances of the lead cast were particularly praised.
The film broke the record for the biggest opening weekend viewership for an Indian film on Netflix and emerged as the most-viewed Indian film on the platform for the year, based on global viewing hours.
During the week of September 18-24, 2023, Jaane Jaan was the most-watched non-English film on Netflix globally, garnering 8.1 million views.
The film had the biggest opening weekend viewership for an Indian film, with 18.8 million viewing hours from 8.1 million views.
It trended at number one in 13 countries and was among the top ten most-watched films across 52 countries.
Drishyam 2 (2022)
Directed and co-produced by Abhishek Pathak, Drishyam 2 is a remake of the 2021 Malayalam film of the same name and serves as a sequel to the 2015 film Drishyam.
The film was jointly produced by Panorama Studios, Viacom18 Studios, and T-Series Films.
The film features a star-studded cast including Ajay Devgn, Akshaye Khanna, Tabu, and Shriya Saran, with supporting roles played by Saurabh Shukla, Rajat Kapoor, Ishita Dutta, Mrunal Jadhav, and Kamlesh Sawant.
The narrative picks up seven years after the events of the previous film.
Development for the remake began shortly after the release of the original film in February 2021 and was finalised within the same year.
All actors from the predecessor were retained, with Khanna and Shukla joining the cast, marking their reunion with Devgn 12 years after Aakrosh (2010) and 4 years after Raid (2018) respectively.
Principal photography for the film began in February 2022 and concluded in June 2022, with shooting locations including Goa, Mumbai, and Hyderabad.
The film’s music was composed by Devi Sri Prasad.
Drishyam 2 was released worldwide in cinemas on November 18, 2022, and received positive reviews.
Kahaani (2012)
Co-written, co-produced, and directed by Sujoy Ghosh, Kahaani stars Vidya Balan as Vidya Bagchi, a pregnant woman searching for her missing husband in Kolkata during the Durga Puja festival.
She is assisted by Assistant Sub-Inspector Satyoki “Rana” Sinha, played by Parambrata Chatterjee, and Inspector General A. Khan, portrayed by Nawazuddin Siddiqui.
Kahaani was conceived and developed by Ghosh, who co-wrote the film with Advaita Kala.
The crew often used guerrilla filmmaking techniques on the streets of Kolkata to avoid attracting attention.
The film’s creative portrayal of the city and its use of local crew and cast members made it stand out.
Kahaani explores themes of feminism and motherhood in a male-dominated Indian society.
The film also makes several allusions to Satyajit Ray’s films, such as Charulata (1964), Aranyer Din Ratri (1970), and Joi Baba Felunath (1979).
The film’s musical score and soundtrack were composed by Clinton Cerejo and Vishal–Shekhar, respectively, with cinematography by Setu and editing by Namrata Rao.
Kahaani was released worldwide on March 9, 2012.
Badla (2019)
Badla stars Amitabh Bachchan, Taapsee Pannu, Tony Luke, and Amrita Singh.
It is produced by Universal Entertainment, Red Chillies Entertainment, and Azure Entertainment and is a remake of the 2016 Spanish film The Invisible Guest.
The plot revolves around an interview between a lawyer and a businesswoman, with the latter insisting she is being wrongfully accused of murdering her lover.
The film received widespread critical acclaim, with particular praise for its adapted story and screenplay, dialogues, visuals, cinematography, and the performances of the cast.
At the 65th Filmfare Awards, Badla received four nominations, including Best Supporting Actress for Singh.
On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has a score of 60% based on 15 reviews, with an average rating of 6 out of 10.
Ittefaq (2017)
Directed by Abhay Chopra and written by Chopra, Shreyas Jain, and Nikhil Mehrotra, Ittefaq is produced by Gauri Khan and Shah Rukh Khan under Red Chillies Entertainment.
This film is a modern-day adaptation of the eponymous 1969 film directed by Yash Chopra.
The film employs a Rashomon effect storytelling style and stars Akshaye Khanna, Sidharth Malhotra, and Sonakshi Sinha.
The film was released on November 3, 2017, and received positive reviews from critics, performing well at the box office.
Ittefaq is an adaptation of a 1969 film of the same name, produced by B. R. Chopra and directed by Yash Chopra.
The original film starred Rajesh Khanna, Iftekhar, and Nanda in lead roles.
In this adaptation, Sidharth Malhotra reprised Khanna’s character, Sonakshi Sinha essayed Nanda’s role, and Akshaye Khanna took on Iftekhar’s role.
HIT: The First Case (2022)
HIT: The First Case is a 2022 thriller film written and directed by Sailesh Kolanu.
This film is a remake of his 2020 Telugu film of the same name.
Produced by Dil Raju Production and T-Series, the film features Rajkummar Rao and Sanya Malhotra in the lead roles.
The film was released on July 15, 2022, and received mixed to positive reviews from critics.
Praise was particularly directed towards the performances of Rao and Malhotra, the pacing of the film, and the direction.
HIT: The First Case began streaming on Netflix on August 28, 2022.
Badlapur (2015)
Badlapur is a 2015 neo-noir action thriller film.
The film is based on the novel ‘Death’s Dark Abyss’ by Italian writer Massimo Carlotto.
The film features Varun Dhawan and Nawazuddin Siddiqui in lead roles, with Huma Qureshi, Yami Gautam, Vinay Pathak, Kumud Mishra, Divya Dutta, and Radhika Apte in supporting roles.
Badlapur was released on February 20, 2015, and received positive reviews from critics.
On January 11, 2016, the film was nominated for Best Film at the 61st Filmfare Awards, among other categories.
On the review aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes, the film has a rating of 92%, based on 8 reviews, with an average rating of 7 out of 10.
There you have it – our top picks for the best Bollywood murder mysteries to watch.
Each of these films offers a unique blend of suspense, drama, and the quintessential Bollywood flair.
Whether you’re a seasoned fan of murder mysteries or new to the genre, these films are sure to keep you hooked.
So, fire up your favourite streaming service, and embark on a thrilling journey through the world of Bollywood.
Happy watching!
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