Great Bollywood Films

For those unfamiliar with Bollywood films, you're in for a real treat. Based out of Mumbai, India, Bollywood is one of the largest producers of cinema on the planet. Their audiences expect to get plenty for their money, so such films often clock in at three hours (with an intermission) and include romance, action, and plenty of singing and dancing. They're also not above blatantly ripping off the plots of Hollywood films, and I've even seen a Bollywood version of Reservoir Dogs (yes, there was singing).

The following list provides a selection of Bollywood films perfect for those unfamiliar with Hindi cinema. After watching a few, you may find that a whole new world of filmmaking has opened up to you.

My Name is Khan (2010) - The highest-grossing Bollywood film in foreign markets, the movie follows the efforts of autistic Rizwan Khan (Shahrukh Khan) to meet the President of the United States and utter the following phrase "My name is Khan, and I am not a terrorist." Along the way, he assists hurricane survivors, informs the FBI of possible terrorist activity, and tries to win back the love of his wife.

3 Idiots (2009) - The highest-grossing Bollywood film of all time, 3 Idiots is a wacky comedy about three engineering students (Aamir Khan, Sharman Joshi, and Madhavan) who chafe under their school's strict rules. Based on Five Point Someone, the best-selling novel from Chetan Bhagat.