Team FC
K. Asif spent fourteen years of his life bringing to the screen the epic love story of Salim (Dilip Kumar), the heir to the Mughal throne, and the courtesan Anarkali (Madhubala), and ultimately produced one of Indian cinema's most enduring productions.
Raj Kapoor directed and starred in this love triangle that marked his debut in colour, with Vyjayanthimala and Rajendra Kumar joining him in front of the camera for the nearly four hours of the film.
Mani Ratnam fictionalised the friendship of the two most iconic Tamil politicians in Independent India with this drama, using the film as a means through which to look at the many ways in which political life interrupts every other form of existence in the country.
Kamal Haasan directed and starred in this historical epic that probed the circumstances of and the psyche that prevailed at the time of India's Partition, with Shah Rukh Khan, Rani Mukerji, Vasundhara Das, and Atul Kulkarni appearing in supporting roles.
Ashutosh Gowariker dreamt up this epic story of Indians who take on the local British administration in a game of cricket, hoping to beat off the tax levy forced upon them. Aamir Khan's star power and willingness to produce allowed Lagaan to fly and become a real trailblazer for the production of cinema in India itself.
Anurag Kashyap married gory, sharp violence with warring families in this multi-generational saga that roared into cinemas like nothing before it, transforming viewers' consumption patterns and disrupting the mainstream order.
SS Rajamouli concocted a fictional adventure for Indian freedom fighters to embark upon, and cast NTR Jr. and Ram Charan to star as the leads of this cultural behemoth of a film.
Thank you for reading!