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5 Best Bollywood Heist Movies
Let us root for crooks, thieves, liars, and misfits for a while. That is what we do when we watch a movie where the protagonist has moral issues. In a heist movie, usually, there is a protagonist devising a plan, puts together a team and then pulls off the job. Maybe it’s a revenge or just a shortcut to making a lot of money, a good heist movie keeps the audience on the edge of their seats. While many heist movies are not even up to the lowest mark in Bollywood, every once in a while there comes a heist movie that deserves to be in this list. A film can’t just be praised for as simple plot structure such as where the protagonist or crew just get an idea to rob a casino and then start to compare casinos in India. It needs to be more complex than that and if it going to be that simple, then there better be some well written and executed scenes.
The main characters in the movie are promised a short and dangerous route to make too much money in too less time. It’s just about working hard to outline a plan and then work even harder for a day and then they’re probably set for life monetarily. The plot follows a pre-job, on the job and post job structure or sometimes it’s the reverse. Most of the time, it’s the noble thief that robs an immoral man or corporations. Sometimes, it’s the morally troubled protagonist seeking out a revenge and rarely, it’s the bad man who wins.
- Special 26
This is a period heist crime thriller. Special 26 was directed by Neeraj Pandey, the man who has directed masterpieces like “A Wednesday”. It is inspired by a true story of 1987 Opera House Heist. Just like the Opera House Heist, the con-group executed a fake income tax raid on a jeweler in Mumbai while impersonating as CBI officers. The talented cast gave one of their best performances and the movie is critically appreciated for its gripping storytelling with twists until the very end.
2. The Jewel Thief
The film is completely noir in its story there’s nothing noir about the presentation. The name should give it away but this story is not about a robbery instead it’s about a man who is mistaken for a robber who is a jewel thief. The spy-thriller film was released in 1967 and was directed by Vijay Anand. The story is about a character named Vinay who is a doppelganger of a notorious thief Prince Amar. Once the confusion clears, the police then use Vinay to track down his notorious counterpart. Sometimes the (Intentional) confusion may seem to be overwhelming but once the cards unfold, it’s almost cathartic. It is inspired by the famous bond series and Vijay Anand did justice to it.
3. Dhoom 2
This is the second installment in the Dhoom franchise. The first Instalment was a first-of-its-kind in Bollywood. Directed by Sanjay Gadhvi, Dhoom 2 is an adrenaline rushing movie. It is about a chase between a thief and a righteous cop. Dhoom 2 reinvents the action comedy genre. This may be a movie about a cop trying to catch a thief but this is one of those movies where the bad guy takes the limelight, though the bad guy becomes righteous in the end. In terms of story, the movie doesn’t really stand out but the robbery and chase scenes are well written and executed. The only reason for this movie to be in the list is because it is better than the first part and it, sort of, propels the reinvented action-comedy genre into the 21st century.
4. Ankhen
The movie is an adaptation of a Gujarati play “Andhalo Pato (Blindman’s bluff)”. The play was also written by the film’s director Vipul Amrutlal Shah. It was a freshly brewed idea. The movie introduces us to three blind men who are hired by a character named Vijay Singh Rajput. Rajput had always been honest all his life but his temperamental issues get him fired from the bank he works in. This sets Rajput on the path of revenge from the bank and its owner, who fired him. The three blind men are trained by a woman who worked with blind people. It’s not just the plot twists that make this movie great, it’s the emotions and the well written & directed planning part of the heist. It opened quite well in India and eventually became a hit.
Oye Lucky Lucky Oye
It’s one of the most underrated movies in India, mostly because it doesn’t have a superstar cast. Based on a true story of real life “Super Chor (thief)” Davinder Singh, the film was an instant success among critics. Under the brilliant direction of Dibakar Bannerjee and even brilliant performances by actors, the film was bound to be a hit. The film Chronicles the life of a character named Lucky. Lucky, no matter how hard the journey, has always managed to con and rob anything and anyone possible. The film has a perfect balance of humor and seriousness. Lucky stole from rich and poor, big and small, without any prejudice and by the time he was caught, he had stolen millions. The film opens with a courtroom scene with an ongoing hearing for Lucky’s case. What makes it worth watching is how he outwits the law and order at every turn. Because the film was released just after 26/11 attacks, it didn’t get the success it deserved.
