The period from 2016 to 2021 in Hindi cinema was marked by a shift toward high-concept storytelling, biopics, and gritty realistic dramas alongside traditional blockbusters. 2016: The Year of Biopics and Powerhouse Dramas
: The highest-grossing Indian film of all time, based on the life of wrestler Mahavir Singh Phogat.
: A thriller based on the 1990 evacuation of Indians from Kuwait during the Iraq-Kuwait war. M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story
: A massive biographical hit chronicling the journey of India's cricket captain.
: A social drama focused on women's safety and consent, which sparked national conversations.
: A biopic of Neerja Bhanot, the flight purser who sacrificed her life during a 1986 hijacking. 2017: Record Breakers and Social Satires Baahubali 2: The Conclusion
: Technically a Pan-India film, it shattered box office records across India in its Hindi-dubbed version. Tiger Zinda Hai
: A high-octane action sequel starring Salman Khan that was among the year's top earners. Hindi Medium
: A critically acclaimed satire on India's education system. Secret Superstar
: A musical drama that became a global phenomenon, particularly in the Chinese market. Toilet: Ek Prem Katha
: A social drama addressing hygiene and sanitation in rural India. 2018: Genre-Defying Hits
The period between 2016 and 2021 was a transformative era for Hindi cinema, marked by the rise of high-concept biopics, a significant shift toward streaming platforms during the global pandemic, and the unprecedented success of "Pan-India" blockbusters. This index highlights the key films that defined the box office and critical landscape during these six years. Yearly Index of Major Hindi Films (2016–2021) 2016: The Year of Biopics and Powerhouse Performances
Dangal: A biographical sports drama starring Aamir Khan that became the highest-grossing Indian film of all time globally.
Sultan: A wrestling drama featuring Salman Khan that dominated the domestic box office.
M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story: A widely acclaimed biopic of India’s former cricket captain, featuring Sushant Singh Rajput in his breakout role.
Pink: A hard-hitting courtroom drama that sparked national conversations on women’s consent.
Udta Punjab: A controversial but critically lauded exploration of the drug crisis in Punjab. 2017: Record-Breaking Sequels
For those who want a quicker reference, here is a genre-based breakdown.
As theatres reopened cautiously, 2021 showcased the "hybrid model." Big-budget spectacles like "Sooryavanshi" and the epic "83" (released late in the year) tried to lure audiences back to multiplexes. Meanwhile, digital releases matured, delivering masterpieces like "Sardar Udham" (a haunting, patient period drama) and the sprawling, character-driven "Mimi" . An index of 2021 also highlights the rise of regional integration, with Hindi-dubbed versions of South Indian films like Pushpa: The Rise beginning to dominate the conversation, foreshadowing the pan-Indian trend that would explode in 2022.
For researchers, film students, or casual binge-watchers, an organized index of Hindi movies from 2016 to 2021 serves several critical functions: index of hindi movies 2016 2021
| # | Movie Title | Genre | Key Cast | Platform/Verdict | |---|-------------|-------|----------|------------------| | 1 | Master (Hindi Dub) | Action | Vijay Sethupathi, Vijay | Amazon Prime (Hit) | | 2 | The Girl on the Train | Thriller | Parineeti Chopra, Aditi Rao Hydari | Netflix (Flop) | | 3 | Roohi | Horror Comedy | Rajkummar Rao, Janhvi Kapoor | Theaters (Average) | | 4 | Saina | Sports Biopic | Parineeti Chopra, Manav Kaul | Theaters (Flop) | | 5 | Mumbai Saga | Gangster Drama | John Abraham, Emraan Hashmi | Theaters (Average) | | 6 | Sandeep Aur Pinky Faraar | Thriller | Arjun Kapoor, Parineeti Chopra | Theaters/OTT (Flop) | | 7 | Pagglait | Comedy Drama | Sanya Malhotra, Shruti Sharma | Netflix (Critical Hit) | | 8 | Kaagaz | Social Drama | Pankaj Tripathi, Monal Gajjar | ZEE5 (Hit) | | 9 | The Big Bull | Crime Drama | Abhishek Bachchan, Ileana D'Cruz | Disney+ Hotstar (Average) | | 10 | Sardar Ka Grandson | Drama | Arjun Kapoor, Neena Gupta | Netflix (Hit) | | 11 | Mimi | Surrogacy Drama | Kriti Sanon, Pankaj Tripathi | Netflix/Disney+ (Super Hit) | | 12 | Bhuj: The Pride of India | War Drama | Ajay Devgn, Sanjay Dutt | Disney+ Hotstar (Flop) | | 13 | Shershaah | War Biopic | Sidharth Malhotra, Kiara Advani | Amazon Prime (Blockbuster) | | 14 | Chehre | Mystery | Amitabh Bachchan, Emraan Hashmi | Theaters (Flop) | | 15 | Dinosaurs: The Final Season | Animation | VFX Cast | Theaters (Average) | | 16 | Hum Do Hamare Do | Comedy | Rajkummar Rao, Kriti Sanon | Disney+ Hotstar (Average) | | 17 | Sooryavanshi | Action | Akshay Kumar, Katrina Kaif | Theaters (Blockbuster – Diwali) | | 18 | Antim: The Final Truth | Action | Salman Khan, Ayush Sharma | Theaters (Average) | | 19 | Satyameva Jayate 2 | Action | John Abraham, Divya Khosla | Theaters (Flop) | | 20 | Bunty Aur Babli 2 | Comedy | Saif Ali Khan, Rani Mukerji | Theaters/OTT (Flop) | | 21 | Tadap | Romantic Action | Ahan Shetty, Tara Sutaria | Theaters (Average) | | 22 | 83 | Sports Biopic | Ranveer Singh, Deepika Padukone | Theaters (Released Dec 24 – Hit) |
Key Takeaway from 2021: Shershaah became the most loved OTT film of the year. Sooryavanshi proved that Salman-Akshay action still works in theaters. The year ended on a high with Ranveer Singh’s 83.
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The period between 2016 and 2021 was a significant era for Hindi cinema, featuring record-breaking blockbusters like (2016) and critically acclaimed social dramas like Article 15
. This era also saw the rise of the "Supernatural Universe" with and the expansion of major action franchises Highest-Grossing Hindi Movies (2016–2021)
These films represent the massive commercial hits of the era, many joining the "100 Crore Club" or higher Highest Grossing Hindi Movies of All Time - IMDb
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...
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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 The period from 2016 to 2021 in Hindi
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?
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These songs perfectly capture the film's spirit and add to its overall appeal. Sultan ( Sultan (2016 ) was a major commercial succ... Sooryavanshi
Sooryavanshi Akshay Kumar-starrer Sooryavanshi, which is still running in cinemas, is the top Bollywood hit of 2021 in terms of bo... Sooryavanshi
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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
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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
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This index of Hindi movies from 2016 to 2021 covers a transformative period for Bollywood, characterized by a shift toward content-driven narratives, the rise of biopics, and the significant impact of the global pandemic. 2016: The Year of Reality and Resilience
The year 2016 was marked by powerful performances and socially relevant themes, transitioning away from standard commercial tropes toward realism.
Dangal: An all-time blockbuster based on the life of wrestler Mahavir Singh Phogat and his daughters.
Sultan: A massive commercial success starring Salman Khan as a small-town wrestler.
Pink: A critical legal drama addressing women's safety and consent.
Airlift: A patriotic thriller based on the real-life evacuation of Indians from Kuwait.
Neerja: A biopic centered on the heroic flight attendant Neerja Bhanot.
Udta Punjab: A controversial but highly acclaimed film exploring the drug crisis in Punjab. 2017: Commercial Hits and Small-Town Stories
In 2017, Bollywood continued to explore "issue-based" narratives even within big-budget formats. 2017 TO 2019 INDIAN MOVIE - IMDb