There’s something entirely captivating about real-life incident-based films and shows, those that eliminate the extra noise and glamour only to throw light on events that have already occurred. And Bollywood has successfully gifted us some of the most exciting ones. Take a look:
The Sabarmati Report: Released in 2024, The Sabarmati Report revolves around the Godhra train burning incident that took place in 2002 in Gujarat, involving the Sabarmati Express. Directed by Dheeraj Sarna and Ranjan Chandel, the film successfully struck a balance between highlighting the incident while keeping the intrigue intact.
Inspector Zende: Writer-director Chinmay Mandlekar’s Inspector Zende arrived in 2025 and revolved around the story of serial killer Carl Bhojraj, who returns to Mumbai where Inspector Zende pursues him to capture the criminal once again after he escapes prison. Mandlekar’s humour-infused approach made the film less about grim realities and more about the spirit of policing.
Governor: Chinmay Mandlekar reunites with Manoj Bajpayee yet again for Governor, a story revolving around A. Ramanan, appointed as an RBI Governor during India’s 1990s economic crisis, who must protect the nation from a complete economic breakdown. Mandlekar, alongwith Bajpayee, serves another impactful thriller, winning positive reception from the audience and critics.
The Kashmir Files: Vivek Agnihotri’s The Kashmir Files continues to be one of the most talked-about movies, as it centers around the 1990 exodus of Kashmiri Hindus. A heart-wrenching tale that captures the pain, suffering and loss of the Kashmiri Pandit community in 1990.
Article 370: Director Aditya Suhas Jambhale helmed Article 370 as its director. It is based on the 2019 revocation of the special status to Jammu and Kashmir granted in Article 370 of the Constitution of India. Headlined by Yami Gautam Dhar and Priyamani, the film received strong reviews for its performances, direction, and narrative style.
URI: The Surgical Strike: Director Aditya Dhar helmed URI: The Surgical Strike, a war action film based on the real story of the retaliation to the 2016 URI attack. Released back in 2019, the film continues to be talked about for its compelling performances, masterclass direction and fabulously executed single-shot combat scenes.
Which of these are your favourites?
