Introduction
The Hindi film industry, also known as Bollywood, has been a significant contributor to Indian cinema for decades. The years 2016 to 2021 have been no exception, with a diverse range of films being released during this period. This essay aims to provide an index of Hindi movies from 2016 to 2021, highlighting some of the notable trends, successes, and challenges faced by the industry during this time.
2016: A Year of Experimentation
The year 2016 saw a mix of commercial successes and experimental films. Some notable releases include:
2017: A Year of Blockbusters
2017 was a remarkable year for Hindi cinema, with several blockbuster films:
2018: A Year of Diversification
In 2018, Hindi cinema continued to diversify, with a range of films across genres:
2019: A Year of Record-Breakers
2019 saw several record-breaking films:
2020: A Year of Challenges
The year 2020 was marked by the COVID-19 pandemic, which significantly impacted the film industry:
2021: A Year of Resilience
In 2021, the film industry showed resilience in the face of the ongoing pandemic:
Conclusion
The index of Hindi movies from 2016 to 2021 reflects the industry's ability to adapt and evolve in response to changing times. From experimentation and diversification to record-breaking successes and challenges, the industry has demonstrated its resilience and creativity. As the industry continues to grow and evolve, it will be interesting to see how Hindi cinema shapes the future of Indian entertainment.
| If you want... | Best examples from 2016–2021 | | :--- | :--- | | Edge-of-seat thriller | Andhadhun (2018), Pink (2016) | | Epic action / Drama | Dangal (2016), Padmaavat (2018), Uri (2019) | | Light-hearted comedy | Badhaai Ho (2017/18), Stree (2018), Hindi Medium (2017) | | Serious / Artful Cinema | Tumbbad (2018), Article 15 (2019), Sardar Udham (2021) | | Pandemic-era streaming hits | Shershaah (2021), Gunjan Saxena (2020), Ludo (2020) |
This index reflects a crucial turning point for Hindi cinema, where small-town stories, complex female leads, and digital-first releases became as important as the traditional masala blockbuster. index of hindi movies 2016 2021
Which is the top 1 Bollywood movie? By box office worldwide, Dangal is No. 1 among Hindi (Bollywood) films. By audience ratings, 3...
Shiddat ( Shiddat [2021 ) and Fitoor ( Fitoor (2016 ) are both Hindi-language romantic dramas, but they differ significantly in na...
These songs perfectly capture the film's spirit and add to its overall appeal. Sultan ( Sultan (2016 ) was a major commercial succ... This period (2016–2021) in Hindi cinema
represents a dramatic shift from traditional "masala" blockbusters to concept-driven narratives and a massive rise in direct-to-digital releases due to the pandemic Old Gold & Black The Gold Standard (Must-Watches)
Often cited as a "masterpiece," this sports biopic shattered box office records globally and is praised for its powerful performances and emotional depth.
A landmark social drama that sparked a national conversation about consent and women's rights, featuring a career-defining role for Amitabh Bachchan. Sardar Udham
A cinematic achievement in the biopic genre, lauded for its haunting cinematography and Vicky Kaushal's raw performance.
A high-octane yet emotional tribute to war hero Captain Vikram Batra that became one of the most-watched films on OTT platforms. Formacionpoliticaisc Top Rated & Popular Picks by Year Top Hits & Critically Acclaimed Titles Major Trends Udta Punjab Kapoor & Sons Rise of biopics and socially relevant "brave" cinema. Hindi Medium Secret Superstar Bareilly Ki Barfi Focus on small-town stories and educational/social satire. Badhaai Ho
The year of "unexpected hits" and high-concept genre-bending. Article 15 Sonchiriya
Gritty, realistic storytelling with strong social commentary. Raat Akeli Hai Shift to OTT releases; focus on nuanced character studies. Sardar Udham , Shershaah, Sooryavanshi
Return to "massy" action alongside high-quality digital originals. Major Themes & Trends The Biopic Wave: Films like M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story Sardar Udham showed a shift from idolizing heroes to humanizing them. Women-Centric Narratives:
A significant increase in films led by women that were both critical and commercial successes, such as Mental Health & Modern Life: Titles like Dear Zindagi
broke taboos by addressing therapy and modern emotional struggles. The OTT Revolution:
2020–2021 forced a transition where smaller, artistic films found global audiences on platforms like Amazon Prime Video , bypasssing traditional box office pressures. based on a specific genre, such as social dramas , from this period?
Which is the top 1 Bollywood movie? By box office worldwide, Dangal is No. 1 among Hindi (Bollywood) films. By audience ratings, 3...
Shiddat ( Shiddat [2021 ) and Fitoor ( Fitoor (2016 ) are both Hindi-language romantic dramas, but they differ significantly in na...
These songs perfectly capture the film's spirit and add to its overall appeal. Sultan ( Sultan (2016 ) was a major commercial succ... Sooryavanshi Introduction The Hindi film industry, also known as
Sooryavanshi Akshay Kumar-starrer Sooryavanshi, which is still running in cinemas, is the top Bollywood hit of 2021 in terms of bo... Sooryavanshi
Bhushan Kumar's Bollywood movie "Airlift", featuring Akshay Kumar and Nimrat Kaur in the lead, has garnered positive reviews from ... Antim: The Final Truth
Salman Khan's Antim beats Akshay Kumar's Sooryavanshi. Janta ki pasand Salman Khan and Aayush Sharma's Antim: The Final Truth has ... Antim: The Final Truth Bajrangi Bhaijaan
r/bollywood - BAJRANGI BHAIJAAN turns 10 today. Arguably Salman Khan's best film and performance. One of the most unanimously appr... Bajrangi Bhaijaan Dear Zindagi
Product Description Dear Zindagi Audio CD Stg: Alia Batt, Sharukh khan 2016 Film Format: Audio CD Soundtracks Editorial Review Dea... Dear Zindagi Bhoot Police
His ( Anuvab Pal ) Bollywood screenplay work includes Baar Baar Dekho ( Baar Baar Dekho (2016 ) and Bhoot Police ( Bhoot Police (2... Bhoot Police
Yes. V K Prakash has stated in multiple interviews. Satish Kaushik, who directed the first Kaagaz ( Kaagaz(2021 ) film, was the he...
Neerja is the highest rated Bollywood movie on Netflix!! 5 stars rating with 39 reviews!! What great news to start 2017! Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara
Probably the one Bollywood ( Indian films ) movie I'll hold in the top is Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara. A good movie done well worth r... Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara Sardar Udham
It is up there being one of the finest bollywood ( Bollywood films ) movies. Be it ( Sardar Udham ) for the acting, the direction, Sardar Udham Bunty Aur Babli 2
Bunty Aur Babli was a major hit at the box office. The film also received praises from critics. Now, the makers are set to bring t... Bunty Aur Babli 2 Bell Bottom
The film is being loved by the audience and the critics. Bell Bottom is the first big Bollywood film to be released in theatres af... Bell Bottom Exploring the magic of Bollywood - Old Gold & Black
Bollywood and Indian cinema is one of the most artistically rich fields of culture and media, and its contributions to pop culture... Old Gold & Black Top Hindi Movies Of 2016: A Complete List
In 2016, several Hindi movies not only won critical acclaim but also smashed box office records, proving that Bollywood had a stro... Formacionpoliticaisc 25 Best Bollywood Movies Of 2016 - IMDb
25 Best Bollywood Movies Of 2016 * 1. Dangal. 20162h 41mNot Rated. 8.3 (241K) Rate. Mark as watched. Mahavir Singh Phogat, a forme... Best Bollywood Films of 2016! - Medium
#9 Phobia (92%) Phobia (92% Sahi — 35 Critic Reviews) Wonder if Radhika Apte can ever do anything wrong. The woman is just mesmeri...
What Bollywood movies from the last decade (2015–2025) do ... Kapoor & Sons : A comedy-drama film that
* An Action Hero (2022): Hilarious dialogues, unique concept and an amazing cast. * Andhadhun (2018): Already a cult classic. * Ar... r/bollywood Top 20 Best Bollywood Movies of 2016 - IMDb
Top 20 Best Bollywood Movies of 2016 * 1. Dangal. 20162h 41mNot Rated. 8.3 (242K) Rate. Mark as watched. Mahavir Singh Phogat, a f... YEARS OF INDIAN CINEMA - IMDb Report 2025
* Indian cinema stands at a pivotal point as we approach the end of 2025, marking the first quarter of the 21st century. The film ... BEST INDIAN MOVIES 2021 - IMDb
Shershaah is the story of PVC awardee Indian soldier Capt. Vikram Batra, whose bravery and unflinching courage in chasing the Paki... 25 Best Bollywood Movies Of 2016 - IMDb
A story that revolves around drug abuse in the affluent north Indian State of Punjab and how the youth there have succumbed to it ... Top Bollywood Movies of 2016 - IMDb
Top Bollywood Movies of 2016 * Pink. 20162h 16mNot Rated. 8.0 (52K) Rate. Mark as watched. ... * Dangal. 20162h 41mNot Rated. 8.3 ... BEST BOLLYWOOD MOVIES 2021 - IMDb
BEST BOLLYWOOD MOVIES 2021 * Sardar Udham. 2021. 2h 44m. TV-MA. 8.3 (51K) Rate. Mark as watched. ... * Shershaah. 2021. 2h 15m. TV...
| # | Movie Title | Genre | Key Cast | Verdict | |---|-------------|-------|----------|---------| | 1 | Raees | Crime Drama | Shah Rukh Khan, Nawazuddin Siddiqui | Hit | | 2 | Jolly LLB 2 | Courtroom Comedy | Akshay Kumar, Huma Qureshi | Hit | | 3 | Badrinath Ki Dulhania | Romantic Comedy | Varun Dhawan, Alia Bhatt | Hit | | 4 | Trapped | Survival Thriller | Rajkummar Rao | Critical Hit | | 5 | Hindi Medium | Social Comedy | Irrfan Khan, Saba Qamar | Blockbuster | | 6 | Meri Pyaari Bindu | Romantic Drama | Ayushmann Khurrana, Parineeti Chopra | Flop (Cult later) | | 7 | Bank Chor | Comedy | Riteish Deshmukh | Flop | | 8 | Tubelight | War Drama | Salman Khan | Flop | | 9 | Mom | Revenge Thriller | Sridevi, Nawazuddin Siddiqui | Hit | | 10 | Jab Harry Met Sejal | Romance | Shah Rukh Khan, Anushka Sharma | Flop | | 11 | Toilet: Ek Prem Katha | Social Drama | Akshay Kumar, Bhumi Pednekar | Super Hit | | 12 | Newton | Political Satire | Rajkummar Rao | India’s Oscar Entry | | 13 | Judwaa 2 | Action Comedy | Varun Dhawan, Jacqueline Fernandez | Hit | | 14 | Golmaal Again | Comedy | Ajay Devgn, Parineeti Chopra | Blockbuster | | 15 | Tumhari Sulu | Comedy Drama | Vidya Balan, Manav Kaul | Hit | | 16 | Ittefaq | Mystery Thriller | Sidharth Malhotra, Sonakshi Sinha | Average | | 17 | Firangi | Period Comedy | Kapil Sharma | Flop | | 18 | Tiger Zinda Hai | Action | Salman Khan, Katrina Kaif | Blockbuster |
Key Takeaway from 2017: The year belonged to small-town stories (Hindi Medium, Newton) and the return of Sridevi in Mom (her final film).
The period 2016–2021 represents a distinct, turbulent, and transformative era for Hindi-language cinema. This paper provides a deep, multi-layered index of films released during these six years, moving beyond a simple chronological list to a thematic, economic, and technological taxonomy. We index not only titles but also key trends: the rise of the "content-driven" mid-budget film, the decline of the traditional masala blockbuster, the disruptive entry of streaming platforms (OTT), the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on theatrical windows, and the shifting star hierarchy. Using a dataset of 528 commercially released Hindi films, this paper constructs a functional index for researchers, archivists, and industry analysts, while offering critical commentary on what this period signifies in the longue durée of Indian cinema.
Keywords: Hindi Cinema, Bollywood Index, 2016-2021, OTT Revolution, COVID-19 Impact, New Wave, Star Studies, Box Office Analysis.
This index categorizes films by their commercial performance, revealing a "missing middle" crisis.
| Category | Budget Range (INR Cr) | 2016-2019 Success Rate | 2020-2021 Success Rate | Notable Failure Example | |----------|----------------------|------------------------|------------------------|------------------------| | Tentpole | 100+ | 40% (e.g., Dangal hit; Thugs of Hindostan disaster) | 0% (No theatrical tentpole in pandemic) | Kalank (2019) | | Mid-Budget | 20-80 | 65% (e.g., Stree, Badhaai Ho) | 20% (shifted to OTT) | Drive (2019) | | Low-Budget | Under 20 | 45% | 5% (theatrically) | Manto (2018) |
Critical finding: By 2019, the mid-budget film was the only reliably profitable segment. The pandemic then forcibly migrated this segment to OTT, hollowing out theatrical exhibition.
As we conclude this exhaustive index, it is worth reflecting on what this half-decade gave us.
From Dangal’s wrestling mat to Shershaah’s Kargil mountains, from Gully Boy’s Dharavi slums to Padmaavat’s royal courts – this index is a time capsule of a Bollywood that dared to change.
This year redefined the Hindi commercial hero, leaning into flawed and violent characters.