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Over the years, Indian cinema has brought several real-life social issues to the big screen through powerful and thought-provoking stories. From sanitation and education to women's rights and caste discrimination, these films have encouraged audiences to look beyond entertainment. Joining the list is Shreyas Talpade and Kajal Aggarwal's social courtroom drama The India Story, which released in theatres today, July 24. Directed by Chetan DK, the film highlights issues like chemical farming, food adulteration, and their possible impact on public health.
10 Bollywood Films That Highlights India's Basic And Biggest Problems
From health-based movies such as Pad Man and Toilet: Ek Prem Katha to gender based films Pink and Mrs, bere are 10 best Indian films that highlight India's biggest social issues.
1. The India Story, 2026 (Food adulteration and pesticide-related health concerns)
Released on July 24, 2026, The India Story is a courtroom drama with social implications pertaining to the issue of contamination of food and intensive use of pesticides in agriculture. The movie is directed by Chetan DK and features Shreyas Talpade as Major Yogesh Patil and Kajal Aggarwal as lawyer Archana Patil, who battle the corporate world in the courtroom after their daughter’s cancer diagnosis.
2. Pad Man, 2018 (Menstrual hygiene)
Pad Man is a biographical drama released in the year 2018. The movie was directed by R. Balki, starring Akshay Kumar in the lead role, who is depicted as Lakshman Chauhan. Radhika Apte is depicted as Lakshman’s wife Gayatri, and Sonam Kapoor is shown as the social worker Pari. The story follows a man who develops affordable sanitary pads to improve women's health despite facing social criticism.
3. Toilet: Ek Prem Katha, 2017 (Open defecation and sanitation)
Toilet: Ek Prem Katha, 2017, stresses the importance of sanitation and stopping open defecation. The film is directed by Shree Narayan Singh and stars Akshay Kumar as Keshav and Bhumi Pednekar as Jaya. Keshav fights social stereotypes to build a toilet and protect his wife's dignity after marriage.
4. 3 Idiots, 2009 (Education system and academic pressure)
Aamir Khan’s popular film 3 Idiots is a 2009 Indian film that criticizes the education system of India and the pressure on students. Directed by Rajkumar Hirani, it stars Aamir Khan as Rancho, R. Madhavan as Farhan, and Sharman Joshi as Raju. The journey inspires students to chase their passion rather than chasing marks blindly.
5. Taare Zameen Par, 2007 (Learning disabilities & parents' pressure)
Taare Zameen Par, a 2007 release, looks at dyslexia and the importance of recognising the potential of each child and the trauma of parental pressure. The movie is directed by Aamir Khan and features Darsheel Safary as Ishaan and Aamir Khan as teacher Ram Shankar Nikumbh. A caring teacher helps a struggling child find his talent and confidence.
6. Jolly LLB, 2013 (Corruption in the legal system)
Jolly LLB is a 2013 courtroom drama that highlights the corruption in the legal system. The film is directed by Subhash Kapoor and features Arshad Warsi as Jagdish ‘Jolly’ Tyagi and Boman Irani as Tejinder Rajpal. The film follows a young lawyer who takes on a powerful case while fighting for justice.
7. Article 15, 2019 (Caste discrimination)
Article 15 is a crime drama movie on social inequalities in terms of caste. The movie released in 2019 is based on real events. Ayushmann Khurrana stars as IPS officer Ayan Ranjan in this film directed by Anubhav Sinha. Ayan learns the harsh reality of social inequalities in rural Indian society through an investigation.
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8. Laapataa Ladies, 2024 (Patriarchy, women's identity and gender inequality)
Released in 2024, Laapataa Ladies is a social comedy-drama that highlights patriarchy, women's identity, and gender inequality in rural India. Directed by Kiran Rao, the film stars Nitanshi Goel as Phool Kumari, Pratibha Ranta as Jaya, and Sparsh Shrivastava as Deepak. The story follows two newlywed brides who are accidentally exchanged during a train journey, leading to a life-changing journey of self-discovery and empowerment.
9. Mrs., 2025 (Gender roles and unpaid domestic labour)
Sanya Malhotra's starrer film Mrs. explores gender stereotypes and the stress of unpaid domestic work in its 2025 release. Directed by Arati Kadav, Sanya plays Richa in the movie, who gives up her aspirations for family obligations after getting married before setting out on a quest to restore her individuality and freedom.
10. Pink, 2016 (Women's rights and consent)
Pink, a legal drama about women's rights and consent, was released in 2016. Amitabh Bachchan plays attorney Deepak Sehgal in the Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury-directed movie, while Taapsee Pannu plays Minal Arora. The crucial lesson that ‘No means No’ is conveyed through the courtroom struggle.