Top 30 Most Inspirational and Motivational Bollywood Movies

Bollywood has produced various genres of movie since time immemorial. But some movies inspire us to see things in a new light, motivates us to take action, to face our adversities with courage or simply make us happy when we are down. These inspirational and motivational movies become our cheerleader and heroes of our sad times. Here’s listing top 30 most inspirational and motivational movies that will inspire you to see life in a new way.

List of Inspirational and Motivational Bollywood Movies

English vinglish (2012)

English vinglish is about a housewife and caterer Shashi living in Britain who gets mocked by her family for poor English and how she decides to learn English and how she rediscovers her role as a wife and mother. The movie stars Sridevi in the lead and is directed by R.Balki.

Munnabhai MBBS (2003)

Munna is a goon who fulfills his father’s dream by getting into the medical college illegally, but he has a heart of gold and teaches doctors how to show compassion for their patients. Directed by Raj Kumar Hirani and SanjayDutt as Munna.

Nayak (2001)

A common man is challenged by the chief minister to act as a CM for a day and how the man brings about a change in the corrupt system. Directed by S.Shankar, Anil Kapoor is in the lead role

Jo jeetawohisikander (1992)

This is a classic story of Sanjay, a carefree young boy who undergoes a physical and mental transformation after replacing his brother in a prestigious bicycle marathon. Directed by Mansoor khan with Aamir Khan as Sanjay.

Iqbal (2005)

Iqbal is about a deaf and mute boy whose dream is to make it into the Indian cricket team. Hindered by his disability, he hires a retired coach to help him. Directed by Naresh Kukunoor, movie stars ShreyasTalpade and Nasiruddin Shah in pivotal roles.

Barfi! (2012)

Barfi is the story of a hearing and speech impaired man and how he finds love in an autistic girl and the happenings around them. Directed by Anurag Basu, the movie stars Ranbir Kapoor and Priyanka Chopra.

Queen (2013)

This is the story of a girl, Rani, who decides to go on her honeymoon alone after her fiancé calls off the wedding and how she makes friends and discovers independence on this journey. Directed by Vikasbahl, it stars Kananga Ranaut in the lead.

Rocket Singh: salesman of the year (2009)

This is the story of an average student, Harpreet Singh bedi, B.com who decides to become a diligent salesman. On being ridiculed by his colleagues, he opens a parallel company secretely. Directed by Shimitamin, Ranbir Kapoor plays Rocket Singh.

I am Kalam (2011)

Directed by Nila Madhab panda, the movie is about Chotu, a poor boy who works at a tea stall and gets inspired by President A.P. J Abdul Kalam and changes his name to Kalam and wants to study. Harsh Mayar stars as Chotu. The film has received much critical acclaim.

Meranaam joker (1970)

The movie tells the story of Raju, who despite having faced many heartaches has to dress up as a clown and make others laugh despite his own sorrows. Raj Kapoor has directed the film and also stars in it. The movie is a cult classic.

Guru (2007)

A simple Gujarati villager comes to Bombay with his wife in 1958 and how he becomes the biggest tycoon in the Indian history is the plot of Guru. Based on DhirubhaiAmbani’s life, Guru stars Aishwarya and Abhishek Bachchan.

Mother India (1957)

This is the story of Radhaa, a poor woman who faces many hurdles to raise her child and survive in the society but never sacrificing her integrity. Directed by Mehboob Khan, the movie stars Nargis, Sunil Dutt and Raaj Kumar.

Mary Kom (2014)

Mary kom is based on the life of an Indian boxer named MaryKom and tells how she fought against her father’s wishes and adversities to become a world champion. Priyanka Chopra essayed the role of Mary Kom and the movie was directed by Omong Kumar.

Airlift (2016)

Airlift is the story of an Indian businessman, Ranjitkatiyal, based in Kuwait who decides to help the Indians stranded in Kuwait when Iraq attacks Kuwait. Airlift has Akshay Kumar in the lead role and is directed by Raja Krishna Menon.

Lakshya (2004)

Lakshya is a coming of age story of a drifter Karan, who joins the army on impulse, but toughens up to prove himself worthy when he gets rejected by his girlfriend. Starring Hrithik Roshan in the lead, the movie is directed by Farhan Akhtar.

Pyaasa (1957)

The film is about a struggling poet Vijay, who wants to get his work known and a prostitute with a kind heart Gulabo who helps in getting him published finally. Directed by and starring Gurudutt, it was ranked among the 100 best films of all time by TIME magazine and Top 25 must see Bollywood films.

3 Idiots (2009)

This is a coming of age comedy drama directed by Rajkumarhirani. It was the adaptation of novel five points someone written by Chetan Bhagat. The story is about three engineering student and their dreams. The film stars Aamir Khan, Karenna Kapoor, and Bomanirani.

Swades (2004)

Swades is the story of Mohan, a project manager with NASA, who visits India to take his nanny with him but ends up staying here. The film is directed by AshutoshGowarikar and Stars Shahrukh Khan in the lead role.

Gour Hari Dastan – The Freedom File (2015)

This movie is an autobiography of freedom fighter Gourhari das and his 32 yrs. long journey to get himself certified as a freedom fighter. Movie is directed by AnantMahadevan and stars Vinay Pathak as Gour Hari Das.

Do AankhenBarahHaath (1957)

The movie was directed by V. Shantaram and is about a young warden who is given permission to take six prisoners to an isolated farm which needs to be reformed. The movie is among 25 must watch Bollywood films.

Rang De Basanti (2006)

Rang De Basanti is about a British documentary maker who wants to make a film on Indian freedom fighters and the college students who plays the role of freedom fighters and how it ends up igniting the patriotism in them. The film stars Aamir Khan, Kunalkapoor, and the Sohaali khan among others and is directed by RakeyshomprakashMehra.

A Wednesday (2008)

Directed by Neeraj Pandey, this is a crime drama thriller. A man calls police station and tell them that he has planted bombs in five different areas and they are going to go off at around 6:30 and in exchange demands four Al Qaeda terrorists. This is the story of power that a single human has. Movie stars Nasirrudin Shah and Anupamkher.

Lagaan: once upon a time in India (2001)

Lagaan is a sports drama in which a group of villagers gets challenged to a game of cricket by a British officer in order to get their land tax being waived. But the only obstacle is they don’t know how to play cricket. Starring Aamir Khan, Lagaan was named in Time Magazine’s list of 25 best sports film.

Chak DE! India (2007)

The movie is about a disgraced hockey player, Kabir khan, who is given the task of coaching the Indian women’s team and how he leads them to victory. Directed by Shimit Amin and starring Shahrukh Khan in the lead, Chak De is high on emotion and Patriotism.

TaareZameen par (2007)

Taarezameen par is about Ishaan, a dyslexic child who can’t seem to get anything right and how an unconventional art teacher, Ram Shankar Nikumbh helps him find his true identity. The teacher is played by Aamir khan and child by Darsheel Safari. Directed by Aamir khan and Amol Gupte, the movie will make your heart melt.

Bhaag Milkha Bhaag (2013)

The movie recounts the struggles of Milkha Singh or Flying Sikh to become a world champion, Olympic and India’s most iconic sports-person. Directed by RakeyshomprakashMehra and starring Farhan Akhtar in the lead this movie is inspirational for a sports-person as well as every Indian.

Black (2005)

Black is the story of a blind and deaf girl, Michelle and her teacher who wants to help her achieve her dream of becoming a college Graduate. Directed by Sanjay Leelabhansali, Black stars Rani Mukherjee and Aditya Chopra in the lead roles. Black is adapted from The Miracle worker

Manjhi: The Mountain man (2015)

Manjhi is inspired by a real story. After his wife dies while crossing a mountain, Manjhi decides to carve a path through the treacherous mountain and single-handedly gets to the task. This is a story of sheer will power and determination. Directed by Ketan Mehta, Manjhi stars Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Radhika Apte in the lead roles.

Udaan (2010)

This is an Indian comes of age drama film about a boy and his dreams of becoming a writer, which conflicts with his father’s  ideologies and also focusses on the abusive relationship that the son and father share. Directed by VikramadityeMotwane, the film is loosely based on Anurag Kashyap’s life. RajatBarmecha and Ronitroy shine as son and father. The story may seem straightforward, but this is a film to be experienced, not explained.

Anand (1971)

Anand is a story of a cancer patient, who, despite his condition lives his life to the fullest and brings happiness to the life of everyone around him. This inspires his doctor, Bhashkar, to write a novel on him. The movie is directed by Hrishikesh Mukherjee and Rajesh Khanna and Amitabh bacchan plays the patient and doctor respectively. The movie will surely touch your heart. The movie was featured in Anupamachopra’s book, 100 movies to see before you die.