Amidst all the sweeping romance and the action blockbusters, Bollywood has produced a few of the best Hindi thriller movies of all time. Directed by some of the best directorial geniuses, these movies have managed to break the mold of traditional Indian cinema and entertained the audience simultaneously. These movies covered numerous topics from societal issues to commentary on the human psyche. Clever scripting, banger performances, and creating an eerie atmosphere, these top 10 Hindi thriller movies have ruled audience hearts for decades.
Kaun? (1999)
Plot Summary
Directed by Ram Gopal Varma, Kaun is a cat-and-mouse thriller, narrating the story of a young woman who, alone at home, receives an unknown guest. With a serial killer on the loose, the woman grows suspicious of the stranger who has taken shelter from the storm in her home. Later, the matter becomes complicated when a police officer arrives at the scene searching for the killer. The movie is an edge-of-the-seat thriller with escalating tension throughout its runtime, keeping the audience guessing about the serial killer’s identity.
Powerhouse Performances
The movie boasts some of the best performances in Hindi cinema, starring Urmila Matondkar, Manoj Bajpayee, and Sushant Singh. Matondkar is excellent as the hapless woman alone at home and convinces the audience of her helpless situation with a stranger. The stranger played by Bajpayee injects much-needed suspense and eeriness into the plot. Sushant Singh is also convincing as the police officer bound by his duties to protect the citizens. The ambiguous performance of the cast members is a major reason why this film is among the top 10 Hindi thriller movies
Ram Gopal Varma’s Direction
Ram Gopal Varma’s direction shines through this dark and twisted thriller with proper use of shadows and silences. The use of sounds such as creaking floors and doors lends to the eerie atmosphere. The setting of the film during a thunderstorm is also a masterstroke that makes the plot more menacing. The cinematography creates a sense of claustrophobia and paranoia in the audience, making them anxious about the killer’s next move. The proper use of sound and camera movements makes this film one of the best Hindi thriller movies of all time.
Manorama: Six Feet Under (2007)
Plot Summary
Inspired by Chinatown, the director Navdeep Singh crafts a thriller in a rural small town in Rajasthan. An aspiring writer and down-on-his-luck engineer, Satyaveer Singh (Abhay Deol) is hired by a woman to investigate her influential politician husband. What started as a casual investigation spiraled deeper into a lie and a corruption scandal. Singh soon realises that he has entangled himself in a dangerous mystery where appearances can be deceptive.
Neo-Noir Style in Bollywood
The film has elements of neo-noir due to its rural setting in a small town, moral ambiguity, and political intrigue. Inspired by Chinatown, this movie was the first of its kind to have a dark and gritty tone, along with moral ambiguity. The thrill is atmospheric and slowly builds up its mystery, ditching the past-paced thrillers. Its neo-noir sensibilities make it one of the top 10 Hindi thriller movies.
Abhay Deol’s Performance
Abhay Deol’s powerful performance is another major reason why this film is listed as one of the best Hindi thriller movies of all time. Deol’s Satyaveer Singh comes off as a reluctant detective who takes on the case and eventually stumbles upon a bigger story. The character presents multiple layers of transformation as the mystery unfolds in front of him.
A Wednesday! (2008)
Plot Summary
A Wednesday is a Hindi thriller movie starring Naseeruddin Shah and Anupam Kher, directed by Neeraj Pandey. The main plot of the film happens in flashback as narrated by Shah’s character, of a caller who claimed to have placed multiple bombs all across Mumbai. A cat-and-mouse chase ensues between the caller and the police, with the latter trying to avert a disaster. The movie was praised for invoking a sense of urgency and suspense unlike any other.
Memorable Performance
The performances by the lead actors Shah and Kher are the lifeblood of the movie. Naseeruddin Shah drives the plot forward with his portrayal of the “common man”, both grounded and impactful. Anupam Kher, as the police officer, lives in a moral dilemma and gives a balanced performance treading the line between empathy and authority. The performances secured their place among the echelons of the best suspense thriller movies in Hindi.
Universal Relevance and Legacy
A Wednesday was a box-office sleeper hit that year and was remade into remakes in multiple languages, such as Tamil, Telugu, and English. The themes of terrorism, paranoia, and frustration with the system resonated with the audience on a universal level. With powerful performances, a bold and unpredictable script, and thought-provoking moments, this movie is considered a modern classic and one of the best family suspense movies Bollywood has ever produced.
Kahaani (2012)
Plot Summary
Directed by Sujoy Ghosh and starring Vidya Balan, Kahaani is a Hindi thriller movie set in Kolkata during Durga Puja. The story follows a pregnant woman in Kolkata searching for her missing husband. She navigates the metro station and government, with her journey becoming more dangerous as time passes. With the festivities as a backdrop, it becomes a quest for justice as much as survival.
Strong Female Protagonist
Vidya Balan carries the movie through her performance, breaking the stereotype of a woman in thriller movies. Vidya Balan encapsulates the essence of an ordinary woman taking on a power bigger than herself. Her performance exudes determination and courage to find her husband and get her revenge. Considered one of the best Hindi thriller movies, the film is iconic because of Balan’s heroic performance.
Critical and Commercial Success
The movie was a critical darling and a commercial hit, cementing the fact that thrillers could work with the Indian audience. Kahaani also won big at the award season with multiple National and Filmfare Awards under its belt. With a commercial success and recognition, Kahaani cemented itself as one of the pioneering family suspense movies Bollywood has made.
Drishyam (2015)
Plot Summary
Directed by Nishikant Kamat, Drishyam is the Hindi adaptation of a Malayalam film of the same name starring Ajay Devgn. He plays the role of a cableman staying in Goa, living a calm and uneventful life until trouble comes knocking at the door. Vijay Salgaonkar (Devgn) must rely on his wit and his knowledge of his movies to pull himself and his family out of danger. The movie is considered among the top 10 best suspense thriller movies in Hindi because of its layered structure and performances.
Smart and Layered Screenplay
Dishyam has a layered structure that reveals the mystery in stages, keeping the audience on their toes. The movie is unpredictable, logically consistent, and airtight with little to no plot holes. Also, the screenplay places the family at the core of the film, with Salgaonkar being an ordinary man finding himself in an extraordinary situation. Unlike most action thrillers, the screenplay portrays the protagonist as a relatable character.
Pan India Appeal
The movie found instant pan-Indian appeal among the movie-going audience for its relatable characters and Devgn’s intense performance. The film was internationally acclaimed and remade into a Chinese version for the local audience. The relatable story made this film one of the most unique family suspense movies Bollywood had made in a while.
Badlapur (2015)
Plot Summary
Badlapur is a 2015 psychological thriller starring Varun Dhawan opposite Nawazuddin Siddiqui, directed by Sriram Raghavan. The movie follows two characters over 15 years, revolving around revenge and obsession. After suffering a devastating loss in his life, Raghu (Dhawan) spirals into darkness and vengeance as he descends into a life of crime. The movie portrays the world of the criminal underworld as treacherous, with no morality and shifting loyalties.
Varun Dhawan and Nawazuddin Siddiqui
Varun Dhawan gives one of his most iconic performances in his career, breaking the mold of the traditional romantic “chocolate boy” of his generation. His performance is raw, intense, and portrays his character’s transformation from an ordinary man to a vengeance machine with sincerity. Siddiqui portrays the character Liaq with equal parts menace and dark humour, providing much of the movie’s memorable moments.
Sriram Raghavan’s Direction
Badlapur stands on the shoulders of Sriram Raghavan’s directorial prowess. Known for noir thrillers, Raghavan crafts a story that’s dark, morally complex, and deliciously suspenseful. Unlike conventional thrillers, there are no specific heroes or villains, which makes the audience question their allegiance and sympathies. Raghavan diverts from the usual tropes of whodunit thrillers to explore more of the human psyche.
Raman Raghav 2.0 (2016)
Plot Summary
Raman Raghav 2.0 centres around a psychopathic killer who stalks the dark alleys of present-day Mumbai. Starring Nawazuddin Siddiqui, director Anurag Kashyap creates a cat-and-mouse chase between the killer, Raman (Siddiqui), and ACP Raghav (Vicky Kaushal). The movie is loosely inspired by the 1960s serial killer Raman Raghav, set in contemporary Mumbai. Raman Raghav focuses on the psychology of the protagonist and the antagonist as well as the connection between them.
Stunning Performances
Considered one of his most chilling roles in his career, Siddiqui performs Raghav with cold and calmness, which is unlike any other mainstream villain. His relatability makes it one of the most powerful performances of his filmography. Kaushal portrays one of the morally complex characters of his career. ACP Raghav is fighting with his demons while also chasing after Raman, adding nuance to the story. The raw and powerful performances are one of the reasons why this movie is considered among the top 10 Hindi thriller movies.
Anurag Kashyap’s Signature Direction
Anurag Kashyap has carved out a niche for himself in the industry for telling gritty and dark stories. Instead of making a conventional thriller, he diverted the story to be a character study and exploration of the human psyche. The killer is revealed at the beginning of the movie to make a connection with Raman and Raghav at a psychological level. His hand-held shots, dark settings, and edge-of-the-seat storyline are meant to create unease. His experimental approach makes this film one of the top 10 must-watch Bollywood thrillers.
Andhadhun (2018)
Plot Summary
The second Raghavan directorial on the list, this movie follows a blind pianist, Akash (Ayushman Khurrana), who gets entangled in a criminal conspiracy. The tale begins as a quirky story about a struggling musician and descends into a murder mystery involving a movie star. Tabu plays the character of Simi, who is harbouring a dead body in her home while hiring Akash to play the piano. With each passing minute, the story takes a sharp turn, revealing new information and making the story unpredictable. This rollercoaster ride of a story makes it one of the best family suspense movies Bollywood has in its repertoire.
Raghavan’s Direction
Sriram Raghavan does it again with his stellar direction of playing with the audience’s mind until the end. His characterisation of putting a blind pianist in the lead blurs the line between truth and lies, making the audience question their perception. The movie also allows Khurrana to portray his career-defining performance as Akash. Tabu as the femme fatale is also brilliant, adding depth and menace to the character.
Commercial Blockbuster
Andhadhun opened to record-breaking numbers at the box office, becoming an immediate blockbuster upon release. The movie also earned international fame, including in China, where it was remade into a blockbuster in their local language. With an unpredictable plot and a blend of comedy and thriller, the movie has become one of the top 10 must-watch Bollywood thrillers.
Badla (2019)
Plot Summary
A remake of “The Invisible Guest”, Badla is a Hindi thriller starring Amitabh Bachchan and Tapsee Pannu. The movie revolves around a businesswoman who is accused of murdering her lover. Naina Sethi, the accused, hires Badal Gupta, the seasoned lawyer, to defend him in court. The two characters have their conversation, revealing multiple layers of secrets, a web of lies, and contradictory statements. The plotline moves between past and present, with information revealed through flashbacks.
Amitabh Bachchan and Tapsee Pannu Face Off
Both lead actors, Bachchan and Pannu, give a formidable performance in the movie. The thriller is a dialogue-heavy movie and features verbal sparring between two of the most seasoned actors of Bollywood; it is one to watch. Tapsee Pannu brings a sense of vulnerability and a mysterious essence, and Bachchan brings gravitas to his role. Both actors deliver the razor-sharp dialogue with authenticity, thus making the intense conversation sincere.
Sujoy Ghosh’s Direction
Sujoy Ghosh of Kahaani fame crafts this film with intricacy, with every detail contributing to the mystery and misdirection. The London setting with pale skies and a blue colour palette lends to the eeriness of the scene. With every scene revealing a new detail, the movie emphasises that appearance can be deceptive, a hallmark of one of the best Hindi thriller movies.
Kill (2023)
Plot Summary
Kill is an action thriller directed by Nikhil Nagesh Bhat, starring Laksya and Raghav Juyal, inspired by a true incident of train robbery by the director. In the film, Amrit (Lakshya) boards a train with his fiancée for a romantic getaway, but his plan goes awry when a band of robbers hijacks the train. Amrit is an army commando, and now he must use his combat skills to fight his way through to protect the passengers as dangers lurk in every compartment. Kill is a claustrophobic action thriller and is considered one of the best Hindi thriller movies in recent memory.
High-Octane Action
Kill diverges from traditional masala action movies, which have more over-the-top action. Instead, the film focuses on visceral hand-to-hand combat in a limited space, drawing inspiration from Korean and Hollywood movies. The confined spaces enhance the brutality and increase the stakes for this survival thriller. The tight pacing of the film also lends to the transition of the action scenes and takes the audience on a rollercoaster ride.
Global Acclaim
Kill was praised upon release, with multiple critics praising its innovative action scenes and storytelling. The movie premiered at the TIFF and has been praised by international critics as one of the most hardcore and top 10 Hindi thriller movies in Bollywood.
Conclusion
From psychological mind games such as Kaun and Andhadhun to emotionally charged action movies like Drishyam, Badlapur, and Kill, the thriller genre has always been a playground for experimentation for multiple directors and actors. These top 10 Hindi thriller movies have proven that thrillers are not just about mystery but also about memorable characters and stylised tone and action. However, viewing them from the comfort of your home without juggling multiple subscriptions can be a challenge. Here’s where DHOOMDB comes into the picture. DHOOMDB presents you with all of these movies and many other gems from a diverse range of genres on a single platform. Sign on to DHOOMDB now and start your movie night with a thrill.
