Five Hindi films that explore patriotism, systemic failure, and questioning authority

Hindi cinema has long featured stories where patriotism goes beyond waving flags or singing national anthems, focusing instead on questioning corruption, discrimination, and a failing system. Five specific Bollywood films examine these themes through different characters and settings.

Rang De Basanti and Swades

Directed by Rajkumar Hirani, Rang De Basanti follows Delhi University students who change their outlook after a British filmmaker casts them as revolutionaries in a documentary. Their perspective shifts completely when their friend, Flight Lieutenant Ajay Rathod, played by R Madhavan, dies in a MiG-21 crash, and the government blames pilot error. The students uncover a corrupt defence deal involving faulty spare parts and take a stand against those in power. The film streams on JioHotstar. Meanwhile, Ashutosh Gowariker's Swades stars Shah Rukh Khan as Mohan Bhargava, a NASA career professional who travels to the village of Charanpur to bring back Kaveri Amma, the woman who raised him. Seeing frequent power cuts, limited education access, and caste divisions, Mohan works with schoolteacher Gita, played by Gayatri Joshi, to build a small hydroelectric project. Swades is available on Netflix.

A Wednesday and Article 15

Set in Mumbai, A Wednesday! features retiring Police Commissioner Prakash Rathod, played by Anupam Kher, who receives an anonymous call from an ordinary citizen demanding the release of four jailed terrorists. The caller, tired of a failing justice system, takes matters into his own hands, in a film that also stars Naseeruddin Shah and Jimmy Sheirgill and streams on JioHotstar. In Article 15, directed by Anubhav Sinha, IPS officer Ayan Ranjan, played by Ayushmann Khurrana, investigates the deaths of two teenage Dalit girls in a village in Uttar Pradesh. His search for truth meets resistance from locals and police officers protecting deep-rooted caste discrimination, inspired by Article 15 of the Indian Constitution. The film is available on Netflix.

Mulk

Set in Varanasi, Mulk follows the Mohammed family after younger son Shahid, played by Prateik Babbar, is linked to a terrorist attack and killed in a police encounter. Bilal, played by Manoj Pahwa, faces accusations of helping him, prompting his daughter-in-law and lawyer Aarti, played by Taapsee Pannu, to defend him in court against public prejudice. The film is available to stream on ZEE5.

Context

These films reflect a broader tradition in Indian cinema of using dramatic storytelling to engage audiences with social and political debates. Rather than focusing purely on escapism, such movies draw on real-world issues like administrative accountability, communal harmony, and constitutional rights. While fictionalised, they frequently echo contemporary discussions around governance and civil liberties in modern society.