Needless to say, movies have always served as an effective way for Indians to celebrate the 15th of August with pride. Despite all the differences in cultures, this day, the feeling that it brings, and, of course, these Indian Spy Thriller movies unite us all. Take a look.
This Siddharth Anand directorial broke all box office records set by a Hindi movie ever. Starring Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone and John Abraham, it shows Shah Rukh’s Pathaan of RAW and Deepika’s Rubina of ISIS going up together against John’s Jim, a former RAW agent who went against his country. A high-octane thriller with revenge at its core, it's a must-watch.
Directed by Neeraj Pandey - a guy known for his spy movies and shows, Baby tells the tale of Ajay (Akshay Kumar), who, along with his team of intelligence officers, has to race against time to prevent a terrorist attack on Indian soil. A critical and commercial success, this movie never gets old and will serve as a patriotic treat on Independence Day.
A movie that thrives on sacrifice and secrecy, Raazi has been directed by Meghna Gulzar. Alia Bhatt plays the role of Sehmat, a young Indian girl who is married to a Pakistani family so that she can relay intelligence to India. These events take place prior to the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971.
Another Kabir Khan directorial, the movie is set in the aftermath of the 26/11 Mumbai attacks. It stars Saif Ali Khan as a wronged officer in the Indian Army who is sent to track the ones responsible for the attacks that shook the nation. The action sequences, as well as the story, merge seamlessly as a part of the world that the movie establishes, making it a wholesome thrilling experience.
Starring Salman Khan as Tiger and Katrina Kaif as Zoya, the movie deals with the repercussions of an Indian and a Pakistani agent falling in love with each other. This movie established Tiger as a cult character for Cinephiles and especially Salman fans. If you are looking for a large-scale spy thriller, begin with this one and then move on to Pathaan because Ek Tha Tiger is where it all began.
Directed by Kamal Haasan, who is also the lead in the movie, Vishwaroopam deals with Haasan’s Viswanath, a pro-Kathak dancer in front, but there’s a lot more to him than meets the eye. The movie is a masterpiece as far as Indian Spy Thriller Movies are concerned.
Directed by Shoojit Sircar, the movie, starring John Abraham and Raashii Khanna, is set in the late 1980s against the backdrop of the Sri Lankan Civil War. Vikram, an Indian Army officer, is sent to Sri Lanka by RAW to carry out covert operations but gets caught in politics. The movie is one of Shoojit’s best movies and one where John is at his absolute best as an actor, pulling off his character like a pro.
Perhaps the best addition to this list is 16 December, directed by Mani Shankar. It shows how a team of Indian agents botch a plot to destroy the capital city of Delhi with a nuclear bomb. But as straightforward as the plot sounds, the movie is one of the most engrossing spy thrillers of all time. It stars Sushant Singh, Danny Denzongpa, Milind Soman, and Dipannita Sharma.