You might be living the perfect life, but one wrong turn and things might come crumbling down like a pack of cards. Shit does happen. And it can very well happen to you. Here are 17 flicks from Bollywood that show how harsh life can get. Some of these films have been loathed, others banned, and some haven’t even seen the light of day because of their gory portrayal of the reality.
1. NH 10 (2015)
Set on the outskirts of Delhi, this edge-of-the-seat thriller throws light on the highly sensitive topic of honour killings in India. It’s unapologetically brutal in its depiction of violence and for most parts of the film, you wait with baited breath anticipating what’s going to happen next. And when you leave the theatre, you can’t help feeling terrified.
2. Shaitan (2011)
Shaitan paints a disturbing portrait of the inherent shaitan inside each one of us. This thriller revolves around the lives of a bunch of urban 20-something kids who come from affluent but dysfunctional families. In a bid to make some easy money, they pretend to abduct the richest kid among them. But the plan backfires and what ensues is mindless violence. The film’s genre sways back and forth between a psychological thriller and an out-and-out gory film. Honest and scary.
3. Ugly (2013)
4. Paanch (Unreleased)
This film is so violent in nature that it still hasn’t been given the green signal by the Censor Board. Anurag Kashyap’s directorial debut has become a cult classic among loyalists of film noir thanks to its screenings at various film festivals. The hard-hitting depiction of drug abuse, sex and violence in this delectably trippy film delivers the quintessential Anurag Kashyap thrills and more.
5. Gulaal (2009)
Another classic churned out by the maverick Anurag Kashyap, this film is an intricate tale of betrayal, desire, power, corruption and lust. Set in Rajasthan, this film explores the topic of ragging and student university politics. The movie is drenched in so much violence that the title of the film refers to the bloodbath that happens throughout the movie.
6. Bandit Queen (1994)
Based on the life of dacoit-turned-politician Phoolan Devi, this film by Shekhar Kapur faced severe resistance from the Censor Board due to its excessive violence and aggressive depiction of gang rape. The fact that all of this actually happened in reality and could have been much worse than portrayed will send a chill down your spine.
7. Sangharsh (1999)
Driven by Ashutosh Rana’s stellar performance, Sangharsh focuses on the ritual of sacrificing children for religious appeasement. Loosely based on ‘The Silence of the Lambs’, Rana’s depiction of a saree-clad religious fanatic is compelling and disturbing at the same time. It’s a bold attempt at showcasing the hypocrisy of the society we live in. Stark and gory.
8. B.A. Pass (2012)
Going by the trailer, B.A. Pass can easily be passed off as another sleazy flick to titillate the audience. But this film is much more than just sensuality. It is a bold attempt at giving us a sneak peek into what happens behind closed doors of a society that thrives on pseudo morals and values. The plot revolves around the illicit relationship between a young college-goer and a married woman and how things go awry between them. It is a gruesome saga of sex, seduction and betrayal.
