10 Best Indian Period Drama Movies That Will Take You Back in Time: Ponniyin Selvan, Jodhaa Akbar, Baahubali, and More

Every country has its rich heritage, and to depict it, movies are the key. When it comes to India, everyone knows that this land is traditionally and culturally prosperous. Speaking of the old tales and ancient history, there are plenty of best Indian period drama movies that give the viewers a chance to visit the old land where people lived coherently and with insanely good health and wealth.

Amidst hundreds of period drama flicks, we’ve also handpicked some of the finest that received international critics. Let’s check it out.

10 Best Indian Period Drama Movies

Mughal-E-Azam

Starring Prithviraj Kapoor, Dilip Kumar, Madhubala, and other famous actors, Mughal-E-Azam revolves around the love story of young prince Salim and his forbidden love with Anarkali, a court dancer. After years of prayer, King Akbar’s wife, Jodhabai, gives birth to a baby boy, Salim. When he becomes a fine man, his love for a court dancer brings chaos to the land. Will the love story tragically end or succeed?

Ponniyin Selvan

Mani Ratnam took into his hands one of the greatest Tamil epics and made it into a movie. Ponniyin Selvam is based on Kalki’s book, which examines the Chola Dynasty, its princes, revenge stories, romance, and wars. The true story behind Ponni will leave one baffled. 

Jodhaa Akbar

When brave Rajput princess Jodhaa is forced to marry Mughal Emperor Akbar, things don’t go as planned. While initially, the two feel no connection, soon they fall head over heels. To date, this is one of the most romantic films you can’t resist rewatching. The chemistry between Hrithik and Aishwarya is a game-changer. 

Baahubali 

The Telugu film Baahubali, directed by SS Rajamouli internationally succeeded, becoming one of Tollywood’s treasures. The movie was released in two parts, and both won the audience’s hearts. It follows the story of how Bahubali’s vengeful brother carried out a sinister plan and the revenge taken by Bahubali’s son.

Mangal Pandey: The Rising

The film portrays the real story of a soldier, Mangal Pandey, who rebelled against the British. Amir Khan did a brilliant job as Pandey, and the movie received positive criticism. It premiered at the 2005 Cannes Film Festival and brought pride to the Bollywood industry. 

Also read: 8 Worst Hindi Remakes of South Indian Movies: Ok Jaanu, Laxmii, Tevar and More

Imsai Arasan 23am Pulikesi

Comedy Actor Vadivel’s movie Imsai Arasan 23am Pulikesi follows the story of a useless historical king. In this period drama, a greedy minister removes one boy from the twins because he is born with a high IQ. fearing that the minister might not get to rule the kingdom, he proceeds to make the other twin (the one with a low IQ) become the king, as he tends to listen to what others say. The movie will make you crack throughout and leave you with life lessons. 

Best Indian Period Drama Movies to Stream
A still from the movie, “Imsai Arasan 23am Pulikesi.”

Padmaavat

Padmaavat became a blockbuster hit thanks to Deepika Padukone’s splendid acting and dance. Based on the Urdu epic poem Padmavat, the movie follows the story of King Ratan Singh’s second wife, Rani Padmavati, and her extreme sacrifice to save the name of her husband. 

Karnan

Karnan movie starring Nadigar Thilagam Sivaji Ganesan is definitely South India’s pride. The film narrates King Karnan’s bravery from the lens of the protagonist, the most profound character from the Mahabharata. 

Rudhramadevi

The Telugu movie Rudhramadevi, starring Anushka, is based on the story of the Kakatiya Dynasty Queen, one of the few women to rule India. The King of Kakatiya raises his daughter as a boy due to the fear of people rejecting her as a ruler. But when the people are threatened, the Queen reveals herself and leads the soldiers. 

Raja Raja Chozhan 

Another greatest hit of Sivaji Ganesan is Raja Raja Chozhan, the epic movie that tells the original tale of the greatest Chola dynasty emperor. While his close ones believe that he is going out of bounds, in the end, they witness his master plan. 

Best Indian Period Drama Movies to Stream
A still from the movie “Raja Raja Chozhan.”

Which movie are you going to watch first? Let us know in the comment section. 

Also read: Films That Defined Pradeep Sarkar, One of the Phenomenal Directors of the Hindi Film Industry

Taniya CJ
Taniya CJ
Taniya Ishwarya is an English Literature Graduate and a Social Work - Medical and Psychiatry Post-Graduate. Fun Fact, she's also an MSW Asst. Professor who loves writing way too much. She has a writing experience for 5 years.

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