‘Mr India’ To ‘Koi... Mil Gaya’, A Look At Popular Indian Sci-Fi Movies Amid Release Of ‘Kalki 2898 AD’
Amid the release of Nag Ashwin’s ‘Kalki 2898 AD’, we decided to take a look at popular Indian sci-fi movies.
Bollywood, the vibrant and prolific film industry based in Mumbai, India, is renowned for its diverse array of genres, captivating narratives, and larger-than-life sets. Known for its rich tapestry of genres, Bollywood movies offer a cinematic experience like no other, blending drama, romance, action, comedy, and more into a unique narrative style. These films offer an immersive experience that transports audiences into a different world altogether. At the core of Bollywood films lies a distinctive combination of music and dance, elaborate costumes, and magnificent sets, all of which contribute to their universal appeal and cultural significance.
A hallmark of Bollywood movies is their vibrant music and dance sequences. Songs are seamlessly woven into the narrative, serving as a vehicle for expressing emotions and advancing the plot. From soulful songs to peppy dance numbers, Bollywood music is an integral part of the film-watching experience. Choreographed dance sequences also make for a visual treat. These dances draw from traditional Indian styles like Bharatanatyam and Kathak, as well as contemporary and Western influences.
The visual brilliance of Bollywood films is further enhanced by their extravagant costumes and meticulously designed sets. Costumes play a crucial role in defining characters, reflecting their personalities, social status, and cultural background. Traditional Indian attires, such as sarees, suits and sherwanis, is often showcased alongside modern, Western-influenced fashion.
Elaborate sets transport audiences to various locations, from bustling Indian markets to lavish homes and picturesque foreign destinations. Art directors and set designers put in all the efforts in creating beautiful environments that add authenticity to the storytelling.
Bollywood encompasses a wide array of genres, each bringing its own flavour to the big screen. Romantic dramas are a staple, often featuring lovers overcoming societal and familial obstacles to be together. Classics like ‘Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge’ and modern hits like ‘Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani’ explore themes of love and relationships.
Action-packed films, such as the ‘Dhoom’ series and ‘War’, are characterized by high-octane sequences, daring stunts, and larger-than-life heroes. These movies taking the audiences on a thrilling ride with their adrenaline-pumping and spectacular fight scenes.
Comedy is another beloved genre, with films like ‘Hera Pheri’ and ‘Garam Masala’, offering laughter and light-hearted entertainment. Some movies, like ‘Badhaai Ho’, also tackle serious themes with a humorous twist, making them relatable and enjoyable for all age groups.
Bollywood also delves into socially relevant and thought-provoking themes through its drama and biographical films, like ‘Rang De Basanti’, ‘Taare Zameen Par’, ‘Dangal’ and ‘Bhaag Milkha Bhaag’.
Another genre that is becoming a fan-favourite is horror-comedy. India has tried coming up with entertaining horror comedy movies, and several films have tasted phenomenal success at the box office. Several projects have also earned critical acclaim. ‘Bhool Bhulaiyaa’, ‘Bhoothnaath’, ‘Stree’ and ‘Bhediya’ are some of the best horror comedies in India.
Now that we have spoken about action, comedy, drama, horror-comedy, biopics and Bollywood’s favourite genre – romance, let’s touch upon sci-fi Indian movies. Science fiction hasn’t been a genre that we frequently encounter when examining Bollywood movies. And when it comes to producing such movies, Indian cinema still has a lot to learn.
Barring a few movies, there haven’t been many films or even web series, where science fiction has been thoroughly explored. But a few Indian directors have ventured to push this genre to new heights, giving us an indication of the creativity that can be incorporated.
Recently, director Nag Ashwin came out with the biggest Indian sci-fi movie ‘Kalki 2898 AD’. The sci-fi epic, starring Deepika Padukone, Amitabh Bachchan, Prabhas, Kamal Haasan and Disha Patani, is on a money-making spree despite receiving mixed reviews.
Some people believe that ‘Kalki 2898 AD’ is the best sci-fi movie India has ever produced. Despite facing criticism for its slow first half, the movie has managed to boggle the minds of cinephiles, and it is all due to the brilliant VFX work, Nag Ashwin's vision and the actors’ impeccable performances.
Amid the massive success of ‘Kalki 2898 AD’, we decided to take a look at some popular Indian sci-fi movies.
Without further ado, check out the list here:
1. ‘Mr. India’: This is cult classic Indian sci-fi film, directed by Shekhar Kapur. Released in May 1987, the movie starred Anil Kapoor, the late Sridevi and the late Amrish Puri in the lead roles. It became a significant milestone in Indian cinema due to unique blend of science fiction, drama and action. ‘Mr. India’ also starred the late Satish Kaushik, Annu Kapoor and more. The story revolves around Arun Verma, an orphaned violinist who adopted a group of orphaned children. Struggling financially, Arun discovers a device created by his late scientist father that can make its wearer invisible. He uses this device, along with his newfound powers, to fight crime and corruption, adopting the alter ego ‘Mr. India’. The sci-fi element is primarily centered around the invisibility device, a concept that was groundbreaking in Indian cinema at the time. The invisibility theme is used creatively throughout the film, contributing to both the humor and action sequences.
‘Mr. India’ was a box office success and has since attained cult status. The movie was praised for its innovative special effects, engaging storyline, and memorable performances, especially by Anil Kapoor and Amrish Puri. The film's dialogues, particularly Mogambo's catchphrase “Mogambo khush hua” became iconic. The movie's music, composed by Laxmikant-Pyarelal, also became very popular.
2. ‘Koi… Mil Gaya’: When I think of an Indian movie that introduced me to the science fiction genre as a kid, ‘Koi… Mil Gaya’ instantly pops up in my mind. The movie, directed by Rakesh Roshan, was released in cinemas on August 8, 2003. Starring Hrithik Roshan and Preity Zinta in the lead roles, the movie is known for its unique storyline, innovative special effects and strong acting performances. The movie also starred Rekha, Johnny Lever and Prem Chopra. The film’s story revolves around Rohit Mehra (Hrithik Roshan), who is suffering from developmental disability. He lives with his mother, Sonia Mehra (Rekha). Rohit's life changes dramatically when he stumbles upon a computer left by his late scientist father, which sends signals to outer space. The signals attract the attention of an extraterrestrial spaceship, which leaves behind an alien named ‘Jadoo’. With his advanced powers, Jadoo enhances Rohit's mental and physical abilities, transforming him into a superhuman. This transformation helps Rohit confront the bullies in his life and win the heart of Nisha, a kind-hearted young woman (Preity Zinta).
The concept of contacting aliens via computer signals, the depiction of Jadoo's spaceship, and the subsequent bond between Rohit and Jadoo added a unique sci-fi twist to the narrative. The movie was a major box office success and received widespread critical acclaim. It was also praised for its heart-warming story, special effects and Hrithik’s standout performance. The character of Jadoo also became iconic. The film's music, composed by Rajesh Roshan, also played a crucial role in its success.
3. ‘Krrish’ series: ‘Koi… Mil Gaya’ became a significant success, popularizing the sci-fi genre in Indian cinema. It spawned a successful franchise, with sequels ‘Krrish’ (2006) and ‘Krrish 3’ (2013), and an upcoming installment ‘Krrish 4’. Rakesh Roshan returned as the director for both ‘Krrish’ and ‘Krrish 3’. ‘Krrish’, the 2006 superhero film, starred Hrithik Roshan, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Rekha, Naseeruddin Shah and more. The film followed Krishna Mehra, a young man with superhuman abilities, who discovers his legacy as the son of Rohit Mehra. Krishna Mehra takes on the alter ego ‘Krrish’ to save the world from the evil scientist Dr Siddhant Arya. ‘Krrish 3’ continued the legacy of the superhero Krrish, played by Hrithik Roshan. Apart from Hrithik and Priyanka Chopra, the movie introduced new faces like Vivek Oberoi as the main antagonist and Kangana Ranaut. ‘Krrish 3’ was a commercial success, grossing over Rs 374 crore worldwide. It received mixed reviews from critics, with praise for Hrithik Roshan's performance, visual effects, and action sequences, but criticism for its predictable plot and screenplay.
4. ‘RA. One’: Shah Rukh Khan came out with this science fiction superhero film in October 2011. Directed by Anubhav Sinha, the movie also starred Kareena Kapoor Khan opposite SRK. The movie, known for its extensive use of visual effects and high production value, featured a futuristic storyline involving advanced technology and artificial intelligence. Co-starring Arjun Rampal, the film’s plot revolved around Shekhar Subramanium, a video game designer who creates an artificial intelligence-based game where the antagonist, Ra. One, is more powerful than the protagonist, G.One. The science fiction film explored the concept of AI gaining power and acting independently. The transition of video game characters into the real world forms the crux of the plot. The film also featured futuristic gadgets and virtual battles.
‘Ra. One’ received mixed reviews from critics with praise for its visual effects, action sequences, and SRK’s performance, but criticism for its screenplay and pacing. The film performed decently at the box office, grossing approximately Rs 207 crores worldwide. The film's music, composed by Vishal-Shekhar, was a major highlight. Songs like ‘Chammak Challo’, sung by international artist Akon, and ‘Dildara’ became very popular.
5. ‘Robot’: Originally made in Tamil with the title ‘Enthiran’ and later dubbed in Hindi as ‘Robot’, this 2010 sci-fi movie starred the legendary actor Rajinikanth alongside Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. The 2010 Indian sci-fi movie is recognised for its elaborate visual effects and powerful innovative storyline. Two Filmfare awards were also given to the film for its special effects and production design. Directed by S. Shankar, it is known as one of the most significant sci-fi films in Indian cinema. The film’s story revolves around an andro-humanoid robot who becomes self-aware and develops human emotions. The film focuses on the problems that emanate from it and how lives of everyone are severely affected by it. The story followed Dr. Vaseegaran (Rajinikanth), a brilliant scientist who created a humanoid robot named Chitti (Rajinikanth). It is designed to assist humans with various tasks and possesses advanced artificial intelligence, superhuman strength, and agility. Sana, Vaseegaran's girlfriend, develops a friendly relationship with Chitti. As Chitti begins to understand human emotions, he starts developing feelings for Sana, which complicates matters. It received widespread critical acclaim for its visual effects, performances (especially by Rajinikanth), and direction.
The movie led to ‘2.0’, a standalone sequel to the 2010 film ‘Robot’. ‘2.0’ was released in November 2018, and starred Rajinikanth, Akshay Kumar and Amy Jackson. The science fiction film showcased a fight between a disassembled humanoid robot, and a former ornithologist. The movie grossed over Rs 400 crore in India and Rs 723 crore globally.
6. ‘Brahmastra Part One: Shiva’: The movie, which is heavy blend of Hindu mythology with sci-fi, adventure and fantasy elements that serve as the backdrop of a love story, starred Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt in the lead roles. It had released in theatres in September 2022. Upon its release, the Hindi film received mixed reviews from critics. However, the Ayan Mukerji directorial, which also starred Mouni Roy and Amitabh Bachchan in key roles, turned out to be a money-spinner and it was one of the rare Hindi movies of 2022 to taste success. The movie also featured Shah Rukh Khan and Nagarjuna in cameo appearances. Ayan Mukerji directed the film and he was also a co-producer along with Karan Johar, Apoorva Mehta, and Namit Malhotra. Upon its release, 'Brahmastra: Part One - Shiva' had received backlash for its dialogues and the lack of chemistry between Alia Bhatt and Ranbir Kapoor. Despite all the criticism, the sci-fi, fantasy adventure film had collected Rs 75 crore on its opening day and went on to mint nearly Rs 430 crore worldwide.
The story revolved around Shiva (Ranbir), a young man with a mysterious connection to fire, which he is immune to and can control. Undiscovered by him, he is an Astra, a weapon of the gods, with immense power. Shiva's life changes when he meets Isha (Alia), and they embark on a journey to uncover his past and the secrets of the ‘Brahmastra’, a powerful ancient weapon capable of destroying the universe. Known for its ambitious scope and use of visual effects, ‘Brahmastra Part One: Shiva’ is the first installment of a planned trilogy.
The film's music, composed by Pritam, was well-received. Songs like ‘Kesariya’ and ‘Deva Deva’ became popular.
7. ‘Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya’: While 2024 gave us the biggest Indian science fiction movie yet in the form of ‘Kalki 2898 AD’, it also saw the release of another sci-fi film titled ‘Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya’. This one is a Bollywood sci-fi rom-com. Starring Shahid Kapoor and the ever-so-stunning Kriti Sanon, the movie is directed by debutante filmmakers Amit Joshi and Aaradhana Shah. The movie featured the ‘Mimi’ actress in the role of a humanoid robot named SIFRA, who fell in love with Shahid Kapoor’s character Aryan, a robot scientist (Shahid Kapoor). The movie also featured Dharmendra, Dimple Kapadia, Rajesh Kumar, and Rakesh Bedi in supporting roles. The film explores Sifra and Aryan’s relationship dynamics and the challenges they faced. Sifra is designed to understand and respond to human emotions, but a malfunction leads to chaotic consequences as she starts acting on previously cancelled commands, causing mayhem.
The Hindi movie, which made for the perfect Valentine’s Day watch as it released in cinemas on February 9, 2024, turned out to be a surprise box office hit. The 2024 Hindi movie opened to mixed reviews from critics. While some praised the chemistry between Shahid Kapoor and Kriti Sanon and the film's visual appeal, others felt that the writing and plot execution were lacking. But its fresh concept seemed to have worked in the favour of the film as it made more than Rs 85 crore in India and over Rs 140 crore worldwide.
The film’s songs, such as ‘Laal Peeli Akhiyaan’, ‘Tum Se’, and ‘Akhiyaan Gulaab’, gained immense popularity upon their release.
P.S.: While these were some of our top picks, Priyanka Chopra and Harman Baweja’s ‘Love Story 2050’, Akshay Kumar and Sonakshi’s ‘Joker’, Amitabh Bachchan’s ‘Ajooba’, Kishore Kumar’s ‘Mr X In Bombay’, Dara Singh’s ‘Chand Par Chadayee’, and Vinod Mehra and Vinod Khanna’s ‘Elaan’, are some other movies with sci-fi elements.
