Top 10 Blockbuster Bollywood Movies of the 70s

The 1970s were the transformational decade for Bollywood with some biggest box office successes and best cinema outputs. From action to romance, drama, and music, this decade gave audiences a taste of what was to come for the industry. Let me take you back to the best of 70s blockbuster Bollywood movies with my curated list of top 10 films.

Sholay (1975)

Directed by Ramesh Sippy, the film is considered one of the greatest Indian movies ever made — if not the greatest. A retired police officer hires two ex-convicts (Amitabh Bachchan and Dharmendra) to nab the dreaded bandit Gabbar Singh (Amjad Khan). The film’s mixture of action, drama and quotable dialogues brought a great success. It completed a record over five years run at Mumbai’s Minerva theatre.

Deewaar (1975)

With Yash Chopra at the helm, Deewaar is a two-brother-on-opposite-sides-of-the-law story that gripped audiences. The life and times of suave, flamboyant underworld biggie Vijay (Amitabh Bachchan) and his upright cop brother Ravi (Shashi Kapoor). The film had a gripping storyline and impactful performances that cemented Bachchan’s position as the angry young man of Bollywood.

Amar Akbar Anthony (1977)

Directed by Manmohan Desai, this quintessential masala film follows three brothers who get separated as children and raised in different religious households—Hindu, Muslim and Christian. Starring Amitabh Bachchan, Rishi Kapoor and Vinod Khanna, the iconic film is remembered for its humour, music and message of secularism. It turned out to be a huge success at the box office and continues to hold audiences’ affection.

Anand (1971)

Directed by Hrishikesh Mukherjee, “Anand” is a heartwarming story of Anand (Rajesh Khanna), who is terminally ill but walks into people’s lives like a ray of sunshine. The crux of the narrative centres around his relationship with his doctor, Bhaskar (Amitabh Bachchan). Its emotional depth and the dialogues of this film have made it timeless classic.

Bobby (1973)

Rishi Kapoor and Dimple Kapadia in the movie ‘Bobby’, directed by Raj Kapoor. The film tells the story of a love between two teens whose backgrounds aren’t quite at the same level. With its refreshing story, vibrant vibe and heart warming songs, the film went on to become a blockbuster hit especially amongst the youth of that era.

Don (1978)

Chandra Barot’s “Don,” (1978) as stylized underworld kingpin Ira, Michal Brauer-style Music : Atma Ram. The film delivered on all fronts with its gripping storyline, memorable dialogues and chart-topping music to be a blockbuster. Since then it has inspired remakes and is considered among the important films of action genre in Bollywood.

Muqaddar Ka Sikandar (1978)

Sikandar (Amitabh Bachchan) is an orphan who rises in wealth but not in love, a tragic tale directed by Prakash Mehra. The movie with its mixture of heart and music became a commercial success, also winning acclaim for his performance.

Kabhie Kabhie (1976)

Kabhie Kabhie(Picture Yash Chopra)Epic romance across the generations affected by love, loss, destiny. The soulful music and complex narrative resonated well with the audience, making it a box office success despite an ensemble cast featuring Amitabh Bachchan, Shashi Kapoor, and Rakhee.

Seeta Aur Geeta (1972)

Directed by Ramesh Sippy, the comedy-drama features Hema Malini in double role as a pair of twin sisters separated at birth. The film was widely successful in the decade, credited to its captivating story, and an excellent performance from Malini.

Gol Maal (1979)

Gol Maal: A comic gem by Hrishikesh Mukherjee, the premise of the movie is a man who lies about having an identical twin brother to get a job and lands himself in hilarious situations. Starring Amol Palekar and Utpal Dutt, this box-office hit has funny dialogues and situational comedy that made it a favourite among viewers.