In the realm of storytelling, both literature and cinema hold a special place, each offering a unique canvas to paint the vivid landscapes of imagination. When these two creative worlds collide, magic happens.
Bollywood, the vibrant and dynamic film industry of India, has consistently sought inspiration from the world of literature, bringing to life some of the most cherished stories penned by talented authors. From the heartfelt emotions of classic romance to the spine-tingling thrills of suspense, Bollywood has masterfully adapted a myriad of literary gems onto the silver screen, creating a cinematic experience that resonates with audiences worldwide.
In this blog, we embark on a journey through the enchanting fusion of literature and cinema, as we explore the best 20 Bollywood movies that have beautifully translated the essence of books onto celluloid. These adaptations not only capture the essence of their source material but also introduce a fresh perspective, making them a must-watch for book lovers and movie buffs alike.
Also watch: 20 Upcoming Bollywood Movies 2024
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20 best Bollywood movies based on books
1. The Blue Umbrella
Cast: Pankaj Kapoor, Shreya Sharma, Deepak Dobriyal, Rahul Kumar
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Family
Book: The Blue Umbrella
Writer: Ruskin Bond
The Blue Umbrella is a book written by an Indian author named Ruskin Bond in 1980.
They made it into a Hindi movie in 2005, also named 'The Blue Umbrella,' and it was directed by Vishal Bhardwaj.
This movie won a major award in India for being the best children's film.
Ruskin Bond's amusing and brief tale takes place in the lovely hills of Garhwal.
It depicts life in a village where ordinary people can become heroes and discover redemption.
2. 3 idiots
Cast: Amir Khan, R. Madhavan, Sharman Joshi, Boman Irani, Kareena Kapoor, Omi Vaidya, Javed Jaaferi, Mona Singh, Rahul Kumar
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Book: Five Point Someone
Writer: Chetan Bhagat
Two buddies, R Madhavan and Sharman, go on an adventure to find their lost friend Buddy. During this journey, they stumble upon a long-forgotten bet, gate-crash a wedding, and end up in a funeral that spirals out of control. As they navigate through this challenging journey, they also begin another one – a trip down memory lane, reminiscing about their friend, the irrepressible free-thinker, Rancho (Aamir Khan). Rancho, in his unique way, left a mark on their lives, changing them forever.
This story is set during their hostel days, featuring Rancho's romantic escapades with the spirited Pia (Kareena Kapoor) and his conflicts with the oppressive mentor, Viru Sahastrabudhe (Boman Irani). Then, one day, Rancho disappears without a trace. Who was he? Where did he come from? Why did he leave? He was the friend who encouraged and inspired them to think creatively and independently, even when the world labeled them as "3 Idiots." But now, where is the original idiot?
3. The Mistress of Spices
Cast: Aishwarya Rai, Dylan McDermott, Nitin Ganatra, Anupam Kher, Adewale Akinnoye-Agbaje, Caroline Chikezie, Shaheen Khan, Nina Young, Cosima Shaw
Genre: Romance, Drama
Book: The Mistress of Spices
Writer: Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni
This is a famous book called "The Mistress of Spices" by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni.
It's about a young woman named Tilo who comes from a different time and has a special talent for working with magical spices.
Tilo is now immortal but lives in the body of an old woman with achy joints.
She has a store in Oakland, California, where she helps people with her special spices.
However, her life takes a surprising turn when she falls in love with a handsome stranger. Now, she has to decide between living forever or facing the challenges of modern society.
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.webp "Maqbool, Omkara, Haider movie Poster")
4. Maqbool
Cast: Irrfan Khan, Tabu, Pankaj Kapur, Naseeruddin Shah, Om Puri, Masumeh Makhija, Piyush Mishra
Genre: Thriller, Crime, DramaBook: Macbeth
Writer: William Shakespeare
The movie's story is kinda like Macbeth in terms of what happens and how the characters are portrayed. It didn't do super well at the box office, but the director, Vishal Bhardwaj, got famous around the world for it. Besides directing, he also made the music for the background and songs in the movie. After that, he made another movie called Omkara in 2006, which was based on Shakespeare's Othello. This one did really good both in theaters and with the critics. In 2014, he made a movie called Haider, which was based on Hamlet, and now people call these three movies his Shakespeare trilogy.
5. Omkara
Cast: Ajay Devgn, Kareena Kapoor, Saif Ali Khan, Konkona Sen Sharma, Vivek Oberoi, Bipasha Basu, Naseeruddin Shah, Pankaj Tripathi, Deepak Dobriyal
Genre: Action, Crime, Drama
Book: Othello
Writer: William Shakespeare
In this Indian version of Shakespeare's "Othello," we meet a guy named Omkara Shukla, who's a bit of a mix, and he's kind of like a bandit. He does something crazy and kidnaps his girlfriend, Dolly Mishra, from her family. Somehow, he manages to pull off this kidnapping because he's pretty smart. But trouble brews when he refuses to give a promotion to his right-hand guy, Langda Tyagi. This leads to a big plan against him, and it not only messes up his relationship with Dolly but also puts their lives and the lives of their friends at risk.
6. Haider
Cast: Shahid Kapoor, Shraddha Kapoor, Tabu, Kay Kay Menon, Irrfan Khan, Kulbhushan Kharbanda, Narendra Jha, Ashish Vidyarthi
Genre: Action, Crime, Drama
Book: Hamlet
Writer: William Shakespeare
In the midst of the troubled times in Kashmir in 1995, Haider is a contemporary version of Shakespeare's sad story Hamlet. It's also inspired by Basharat Peer's book, Curfewed Night. Haider, a young student and poet, comes back to Kashmir when things are really tough to find out what happened to his dad. But he gets caught up in the politics of the state. Haider is the third part of Bhardwaj's series of movies based on Shakespeare, following Maqbool (2003) and Omkara (2006)
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7. The Namesake
Cast: Kal Penn, Irrfan Khan, Tabu, Jacinda Barrett, Zuleikha Robinson, Brooke Smith
Genre: Drama
Book: The Namesake
Writer: Jhumpa Lahiri
The Namesake movie shows how Ashoke and Ashima Ganguli faced difficulties when they moved from West Bengal to the United States. They had two kids, Gogol and Sonia, who were born in America. Most of the story happens in Kolkata, New York City, and the nearby areas of New York City.
8. Slumdog Millionaire
Cast: Dev Patel, Ferida Pinto, Madhur Mittal, Saurabh Shukla, Anil Kapoor, Irrfan Khan, Ayush Khedekar, Azharuddin Ismail
Genre: Crime, Drama, Romance
Book: Q & A
Writer: Vikas Swarup
"Slumdog Millionaire" is a movie from 2008. It's a British drama that's based on a book called "Q & A," written by an Indian author named Vikas Swarup in 2005. The story is about Jamal Malik, who's 18 years old and comes from the slums of Juhu in Mumbai.
In the movie, Jamal takes part in a show called "Kaun Banega Crorepati," which is the Indian version of "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?" He surprises everyone by answering all the questions correctly and winning ₹2 crore (US$460,000). But people accuse him of cheating. To prove he didn't cheat, Jamal tells the police his life story, showing how he knew all the answers.
9. Mohalla Assi
Cast: Sunny Deol, Sakshi Tanwar, Ravi Kishan, Saurabh Shukla, Rajendra Gupta
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Book: Kashi Ka Assi
Writer: Dr. Kashi Nath Singh
The movie is kinda inspired by a famous Hindi book called "Kashi Ka Assi" written by Dr. Kashi Nath Singh. It's about how the city of Varanasi has changed because of tourism and how some fake gurus fool foreign tourists. Assi Ghat is a place in Varanasi by the Ganges River, and the movie is set in a well-known neighborhood near this ghat in the southern part of Varanasi.
In the movie, you'll also see Ravi Kishen and Sakshi Tanwar. The story takes place after India became independent. Sunny Deol plays the main character, who is a Sanskrit teacher and a traditional religious priest (Pandit), and Sakshi Tanwar plays his wife. The movie tells the story of what happened in the years 1990 and 1989, including events like the Ram Janmabhoomi movement and the implementation of the Mandal Commission.
10. Raazi
Cast: Alia Bhatt, Vicky Kaushal, Amruta Khanvilkar, Rajit Kapoor, Shishir Sharma
Genre: Action, Drama, Thriller
Book: Calling Sehmat
Writer: Harinder Sikka
The movie is based on a book called "Calling Sehmat" by Harinder Sikka, which was written in 2008. It tells the true story of an Indian spy working for the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW). At the request of her father, she gets married into a family of Pakistani military officers to gather information for India before the Indo-Pakistani War in 1971.
11. 2 States
Cast: Alia Bhatt, Arjun Kapoor, Amrita Singh, Revati, Ronit Roy, Shivkumar Subramaniam
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance
Book: 2 States
Writer: Chetan Bhagat
"2 States: The Tale of My Wedding," often referred to simply as "2 States," is a book written by Chetan Bhagat in 2009. This book tells the story of a young couple from different states in India. They encounter challenges as they try to get their parents to agree to their marriage.
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12. Devdas
Cast: Shah Rukh Khan, Aishwarya Rai, Madhuri Dixit, Jackie Shroff, Kirron Kher, Smita Jaykar
Genre: Musical, Drama, Romance
Book: Devdas
Writer: Sarat Chandra Chattopadhya
This movie is based on a book written in 1917 by Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay. It tells the story of a guy named Devdas Mukherjee (played by Khan). He's a rich guy who studied law in London and comes back to India to marry his childhood friend, Parvati, who everyone calls "Paro" (played by Rai). But the problem is, his own family doesn't want him to marry her. This makes him really sad, and he starts drinking a lot. Eventually, he becomes really emotionally messed up and goes to a kind-hearted lady named Chandramukhi (played by Dixit) for help.
13. Aisha
Cast: Sonam Kapoor, Abhay Deol, Karamjeet Madonna, Amrita Puri, Cyrus Sahukar, Arunoday Singh, Ira Dubey, Lisa Haydon
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance
Book: Emma
Writer: Jane Austen
This movie is based in posh Delhi, India. It's like a modern version of Jane Austen's book Emma from 1815, and it's got the same vibe as the popular Hollywood movie Clueless, which is also based on Austen's book. The music in the movie, made by Amit Trivedi and with words written by Javed Akhtar, got really good reviews from music experts.
14. Kai Po Che
Cast: Sushant Singh Rajpoot, Amit Sadh, Rajkummar Rao, Amrita Puri, Digvijay Deshmukh, Asif Basra
Genre: Drama, Sports
Book: The 3 Mistakes of My Life
Writer: Chetan Bhagat
The title originally comes from a Gujarati saying that means "I have cut," which is about Makar Sankranti, known as Uttarayan in Gujarat. During this festival, one person uses their kite to cut another person's kite and shouts this phrase.
The movie, "Kai Po Che!", is set in Ahmedabad from 2000 to 2012. It's about three friends: Ishaan "Ish" Bhatt (played by Rajput), Omkar "Omi" Shastri (played by Sadh), and Govind "Govi" Patel (played by Rao). They want to open their own sports shop and sports academy. The film also covers significant events like the 2001 Gujarat earthquake, the 2002 Godhra train burning, and the 2002 Gujarat Riots. The movie shows how their strong friendship is affected by religious politics and communal hatred, changing their innocence over time.
15. Parineeta
Cast: Vidya Balan, Saif Ali Khan, Sanjay Dutt, Dia Mirza, Raima Sen
Genre: Drama, Musical, Romance
Book: Parineeta
Writer: Sarat Chandra Chattopadhya
Parineeta mainly tells the story of the main characters, Lalita and Shekhar. They've been buddies since they were kids, and over time, their friendship turns into love. But things get messed up because of some sneaky plans by Shekhar's dad, and they end up apart. Then, Girish comes into the picture, helping Lalita's family. In the end, Shekhar decides to choose love over his father's selfishness and goes after Lalita.
16. Saawariya
Cast: Ranbir Kapoor, Sonam Kapoor, Salman Khan, Rani Mukheji, Zohra Sehgal, Begum Para
Genre: Drama, Musical, Romance
Book: White Nights
Writer: Fyodor Dostoevsky
The story is told by Gulabji, who is a sex worker and often goes to RK Bar, the fanciest club in town. The main singer at the bar, Raj, who she lovingly calls "Saawariya" or "beloved," is a person who is free-spirited and kind-hearted. Even though he knows what Gulab does for a living, he treats her with kindness. Unlike other men, Raj is also friendly to the other sex workers and tries to bring some happiness into their difficult lives.
One day, Raj tells Gulab that he needs a job and a place to stay. Gulab informs him that there's only one woman who might offer him a place to stay: Lillian. However, Lillian is selective about who she allows to stay with her, and she only chooses people she likes.
17. Hello
Cast: Salman Khan, Sharma Joshi, Gul Panag, Isha Koppikar, Katrina Kaif, Amrita Arora, Arbaaz Khan, Sohail Khan
Genre: Drama, Romance
Book: One Night at the call center
Writer: Chetan Bhagat
Hello... is a story about what happens one night at a call center. It's told from the perspective of the main character and it's a tale of nearly forgotten love, dreams that got blocked, the lack of family love, the challenges of a traditional family, and the workplace in a global office.
18. 7 Khoon Maaf
Cast: Priyanka Chopra, Vivaan Shah, Neil Nitin Mukesh, John Abraham, Irrfan Khan, Kokona Sen Sharma, Alexander Diachenko
Genre: Drama, Comedy, Mystry
Book: Susanna's Seven Husband's
Writer: Ruskin Bond
This movie is all about Susanna Anna-Marie Johannes, a woman with mixed Indian and British heritage. She goes on a quest for love and ends up causing six deaths in the process.
7 Khoon Maaf is based on a short story called "Susanna's Seven Husbands" by Ruskin Bond. When Bhardwaj thought it could be a great movie, he asked Bond to make it into a film. Bond turned his 4-page story into an 80-page book, and later, Bhardwaj and Matthew Robbins worked together on the script. Bhardwaj made the music, and Gulzar wrote the lyrics. They started filming in Kashmir and then moved to Coorg for more scenes.
19. Half Girlfriend
Cast: Shraddha Kapoor, Arjun Kapoor, Vikrant Massey, Shriidhar Dubey, Rhea Chakraborty, Ella Ayberg, Anisa Butt
Genre: Drama, Romance
Book: Half Girlfriend
Writer: Chetan Bhagat
"Half Girlfriend" is a Bollywood movie all about love and drama. It's based on a book by Chetan Bhagat with the same name.
Madhav meets a girl named Riya, and they fall in love. He tries hard to make her his girlfriend, and she kinda agrees to be his "Half Girlfriend."
20. Dev D
Cast: Abhay Deol, Mahie Gill, Kalki Koechlin, Dibyendu Bhattacharya, Manoj Bakshi
Genre: Drama, Romance, Comedy
Book: Devdas
Writer: Sarat Chandra Chattopashyay
The movie takes place in today's Punjab and Delhi, where families follow traditional customs, and marriages involve power and honor. The movie has three main characters: Paro, Chanda, and Dev. These three characters, whose lives come together, are each trying to understand themselves better. I've changed some things from the original story. Chanda, played by Kalki Koechlin, is a normal college girl who works as a call girl at night.
Also watch: 20 Upcoming Bollywood Movies 2024
In the ever-evolving landscape of cinema, we can only anticipate more exciting adaptations to come. With each new project, Bollywood continues to bridge the gap between the written word and the silver screen, weaving tales that will endure for generations to come. As we eagerly await the next chapter in this delightful cinematic journey, let us celebrate the magic of storytelling, a timeless art form that binds us all in the shared joy of imagination and emotion.