It is that time of the year when we discuss the list of Best Hindi Movies of 2022. This year, there were a lot of releases in theatres and various OTT platforms. Some movies made the audience happy, while several failed to impress them. No matter the conversation on Twitter or what a director-producer says in roundtable interviews, the Hindi film industry has treated us with some spectacular content in 2022.
In 2022, filmmakers and actors did their best to give us something extraordinary and memorable through their stories and performances. So here are some of my favourite picks (in no particular order).
10 Best Hindi Movies of 2022
Best Theatrical Releases
An Action Hero
Even though the list is not in a ranking order, Ayushmann Khurrana and Jaideep Ahlawat starrer is my top favourite Hindi Movies of 2022. I remember, after watching the film in the theatre, I texted a colleague that I had just watched the best Hindimovie of the year. Directed by Anirudh Iyer, in An Action Hero, Ayushmann plays superstar Maanav who is being chased by Bhoora, played by Jaideep, for revenge.
I won’t give a lot of spoilers. But if you are looking for a very real, unpredictable movie that packs great action, drama and entertainment, it’s this. Ayushmann and Jaideep keep you guessing about their next move till the end. So watch it before the year ends.
You can book your tickets here.
Gangubai Kathiawadi
Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Gangubai Kathiawadi starring Alia Bhatt released when we were just out of the Omicron wave, and the theatres were following 50% seating restrictions. But no rules and restrictions could stop moviegoers from watching it on the big screen, which also made great box office collections. The actor portrayed Ganga Harjivandas/Gangubai, a sex worker and brothel owner of Mumbai’s Kamathipura area, giving one of the best performances of 2022.
SLB’s 2022 release is a masterclass of outstanding direction and storytelling, hitting hard with emotions, beautiful cinematography, soul-stirring music and power-packed performances. With Gangubai’s story, Bhansali told us one of the best feminist tales in Hindi cinema.
Watch the movie here.
Badhaai Do
When Badhaai Do trailer starring Rajkummar Rao and Bhumi Pednekar dropped, I felt they showed everything in it. But when I watched the movie, I was won over by such a loving queer romance on the big screen. Directed by Harshavardhan Kulkarni, the movie sensitively highlights the needs and wants of the LGBTQA+ community, not only in terms of love and marriage, but also parental desires.
When I reviewed the movie, I gave it 3 stars. However, when I rewatched it on Netflix, I fell more in love with the story and the amazing performances. If there’s one movie, I think I should’ve rated better, it is Badhaai Do. So leave everything and watch it if you haven’t already.
The movie is available to stream on Netflix.
Brahmāstra: Part One – Shiva
This is director Ayan Mukerji’s dream project to which he dedicated almost a decade of his life. Starring Amitabh Bachchan, Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt in the leading roles, Brahmāstra: Part One – Shiva took the audience to a world of fantasies and myths with an Indian touch. The story of fire, power and love received a lot of love.
What makes Brahmāstra one of the best movies of 2022 is the visual experience it gave, which the audience never got from a Hindi film before. For the first time, Twitter, Reddit and Quora were filled with fan theories about a Bollywood release. Shah Rukh Khan and Nagarjuna Akkineni treated us with powerful special appearances. Pritam’s music is the cherry on the cake.
Watch the movie on Disney+ Hotstar.
Chup: Revenge of the Artist
Dulquer Salmaan terrified me with his performance in the R Balki directorial. Also starring Sunny Deol and Shreya Dhanwanthary, the film is about a man who killed film critics for the bad ratings they give to movies. The movie depicts the impact of Guru Dutt’s filmmaking on Dulquer’s character Danny in the present times to reason his behaviour. So much could’ve gone, but Balki took a risk and delivered a mind-blowing film.
Chup has a gripping story, excellent acting, and good music, with remarkable insight into filmmaking and film criticism.
Watch the movie on Zee5.
Best OTT Releases
Gehraiyaan
Directed by Shakun Batra, Gehraiyaan is a dark take on complex modern relationships. The Amazon Prime Video movie stars Deepika Padukone, Siddhant Chaturvedi, Ananya Padnay and Dhariya Karwa. Through his film, Shakun tells us that there is no black and white. People are the result of their decisions and actions, more in the grey area.
Gehraiyaan is less about relationships and more about people. The last 40 minutes took unexpected turns and left me anxious. Deepika Padukone gave a strong and impactful performance as Alisha. The music by Kabeer Kathpalia (OAFF) and Savera Mehta gives the gloomy and mysterious feel a story like this requires. Check it out on Prime Video.
Also Read: 15 Best Hindi Web Shows of 2022 That Were a Class Apart
Jalsa
Starring Vidya Balan and Shefali Shah, the Amazon Prime Video movie is directed by Suresh Triveni. Jalsa is another intricate story featuring human emotions, actions and decisions. It often puts you in a moral and ethical dilemma. The intense story and the plight of two mothers put you in a situation where you can’t decide whose side to take. Both Vidya and Shefali give stellar performances. Watch the film here.
Darlings
The Netflix release is a dark comedy film on domestic violence. Directed by Jasmeet K Reen, the film stars Shefali Shah, Alia Bhatt and Vijay Varma. The tale of abuse makes you laugh in some of the darkest moments of our protagonist Badru’s life. It comes easy for Alia and Shefali to give superlative performances, but Vijay creeps you out with his portrayal of Hamza. The actor did such a brilliant job that not just Badru, but at times, he even fooled me with his gaslighting and manipulative behaviour.
Check out Darlings on Netflix.
Monica O My Darling
Netflix’s Monica O My Darling stars Rajkummar Rao, Huma Qureshi, Radhika Apte, Sikander Kher and Bagavathi Perumal. Directed by Vasan Bala, the murder mystery thriller is my second favourite Hindi movie of 2022. It is a wholesome package of entertainment, quirky and dark characters, superb music, easter eggs and good old Hindi movie nostalgia. Rajkummar gives another fantastic performance. The songs also tell us the hilarious stories of these notorious characters. I won’t give any spoilers because you should check out the movie ASAP!
The movie is streaming on Netflix.
Qala
Qala on Netflix stars Tripti Dimri, Swastika Mukherjee, Babil Khan and Amit Sail. It is Anvita Dutt’s second movie with Tripti, which has a dark and serious tone. It is a spine-chilling tale of art and womanhood in a male-dominated world that pierces through your heart and stays with you for a long time. Tripti has a poetic on-screen presence and a charming, expressive face. Watch the film here.
Well, this is our list of Best Hindi Movies of 2022. Which one was your favourite from the same? Is there any other movie that you loved this year? Do let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.