Bollywood has evolved significantly in a variety of specialized genres over the years, including horror, thrillers, and black humour, to name a few. However, the espionage or spy film genre remains relatively untapped, and moviegoers must continue to rely on Hollywood blockbusters for their spy thriller fix. However, Alia Bhatt's next spy flick 'Raazi,' directed by Meghna Gulzar, offers optimism for B-town. People are waiting with bated breath to see the film on May 11th, after seeing the intriguing trailer. So, in anticipation of the big release, here are a couple of Bollywood spy films to get you in the mood.
1. 16 December
16 December' is a spy thriller film from India that set the standard for future films in the category. The film, which stars Milind Soman, Gulshan Grover, Danny Denzongpa, and Sushant Singh among others, is a suspenseful thriller about a secret agency's efforts to prevent a terrorist gang from launching a nuclear strike on India. The day of the attack must, of course, be December 16th, as the film's title suggests. The Indo-Pak war of 1971, also commemorates the day Pakistan surrendered to India. Overall, '16 December' is a must-see spy film with some strong political undertones.
2. D-Day
D-Day is a thrilling spy thriller based on a fictional scenario in which Indian special operatives invade Pakistan to apprehend a high-ranking criminal. Irrfan Khan, Arjun Rampal, Rishi Kapoor, Huma Qureshi, and others are among the film's outstanding cast members. Irrfan Khan is particularly effective as Wali, an Indian operative working as a spy on Pakistani land, gathering information on his target and reporting back to his superior. The film is dark, gritty, and takes you to areas few Bollywood films go, making it a must-see.
3. Agent Vinod
The Saif Ali Khan-led movie, is a welcome addition to Bollywood spy thrillers, despite its lacklustre box office performance. The actor plays an international spy in 'Agent Vinod,' and he has a James Bond-like flair about him that makes him a lot of fun to watch on the big screen. Not to mention the film's fantastic action sequences, as well as some cunning covert work to obtain secrets and, of course, Saif's casual attitude throughout the film, which adds a layer of dry comedy to the proceedings. To summarize, 'Agent Vinod' had some wonderful moments despite being a little long and disorganized.
4. Jewel Thief
This 1967 classic is one of Bollywood's oldest spy films. The film "Jewel Thief" tells the story of Vinay, the son of a police commissioner, who is mistaken for a legendary jewel thief named Amar. Vinay then decides to have Amar arrested by impersonating him and infiltrating his group to spy on their actions. The case of mistaken identities, of course, makes this film a compelling viewing, with Dev Anand's powerful performance serving as a bonus.
5. Ek Tha Tiger
With plenty of mind-blowing action sequences, 'Ek Tha Tiger' is also a film that brought the modern spy genre to life. In the film, Salman Khan plays a RAW agent who gets himself into difficulty after falling in love with Katrina Kaif's ISI agent Zoya. Of all, it's a Salman picture, so there are plenty of massy and lighthearted moments, which the actor effortlessly pulls off. As a result, 'Ek Tha Tiger' is a terrific blend of a smart spy story with traditional Bollywood masala, making it a fun film to watch.
6. Madras Café
The spy thriller directed by Shoojit Sircar is one of the most realistic and riveting films ever created. The film stars John Abraham as an Indian spy dispatched to a civil war-torn Sri Lanka to thwart rebel factions fighting the government. 'Madras Café,' with its political implications and constant sense of anxiety, will keep you on the edge of your seat the entire time. Furthermore, the aspect of thwarting an assassination attempt on an Indian Prime Minister is remarkably similar to the real-life episode in which Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated by a Tamil rebel group operator and thus serves as a history lesson.
7. Baby
'Baby' is a no-holds-barred, action-packed spy thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end. The film follows the final mission of Baby, an Indian covert unit tasked with preventing more terrorist attacks in the country. The film features a stellar cast, including Akshay Kumar, Rana Daggubati, Anupam Kher, and Danny Denzongpa, and is jam-packed with action, drama, and deception, making it the quintessential spy thriller. It's not surprising that 'Baby' is a great film because it's directed by Neeraj Pandey, a master storyteller.
