Top 10 Bollywood Black And White Movies You Need To Watch Now

1. Pyaasa (1957)

Director: Guru Dutt

Actors: Guru Dutt and Waheeda Rehman. This movie is named in Time Magazine’s list of 100 Best Films of all time and tells the story of a struggling and disillusioned poet who is trying to find his place in the world. His world changes when he meets a kind-hearted prostitute who falls in love with his poetry. The film has dramatic yet subtle direction and one of the most well-written music scores in the decade. Pyaasa was also among the Top 10 Romantic Movies of all time in Time Magazine’s 2011 Valentine’s Day edition.

2. Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam (1962)

Director: Abrar Alvi

Actors: Guru Dutt and Meena Kumari

This film tells the story of a daughter-in-law of a wealthy household who desperately tries to appease her unfaithful husband and a lower-class man from the countryside who becomes her servant as well as her confidante. On a larger plane, it showcases the fall of Havelis and Zamindars in Calcutta during colonial rule. Reasons to watch the movie includes a great script, brilliant cinematography, and Meena Kumari’s award-winning portrayal of Choti Bahu which is one of the best performances in Hindi cinema till date.

3. C.I.D. (1956)

Director: Raj Khosla

Actors: Dev Anand, Johnny Walker, Shakila, and Waheeda Rehman

C.I.D. is a Bollywood noir film that revolves around the murder of the editor of a newspaper. It is one of the earliest examples of Bollywood crime thrillers and is famous for its fast-paced direction, memorable songs, and critically acclaimed acting performances. It is also Waheeda Rehman’s first movie.

4. Dekh Kabira Roya (1957)

Director: Amiya Chakrabarty

Actors: Anoop Kumar, Jawahar Kaul, 'Ameeta', and Anita Guha

The 60s romantic comedy is about three women who are interested in art, poetry, and music respectively and wish to meet partners who share the same interests as them. Hijinks ensue when men with different interests fall in love with these ladies. This movie is a rare light-hearted story among the serious films released during this time and is a comedic portrayal of modern love.

5. Khamoshi (1969)

Director: Asit Sen

Actors: Rajesh Khanna and Waheeda Rehman

Khamoshi tells the story of a nurse in a mental asylum who falls in love with a depressed and traumatized patient while treating him. This film earned much deserved critical acclaim for its black and white cinematography, engaging script, and what is considered to be one of their best performances in both Rajesh Khanna and Waheeda Rehman’s careers.

6. Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi (1958)

Director: Satyen Bose

Actors: Kishore Kumar and ‘Madhubala’

This Bollywood comedy starring Kishore Kumar alongside his two brothers Ashok Kumar and Anoop Kumar received a lot of love for its funny scenes as well as the songs sung by Asha Bhosle and Kishore Kumar. The story is about the lives of three brothers who run a garage, the eldest of whom hates women. Things take an interesting turn when the other two brothers meet women and fall in love.

7. Andaz (1949)

Director: Mehboob Khan

Actors: Dilip Kumar, Nargis Dutt, and Raj Kapoor

Andaz has one of the most famous love triangles of early Bollywood cinema in which Dilip Kumar falls in love with Nargis, the spoiled daughter of an affluent man, who is engaged to marry Raj Kapoor. This movie was the highest grossing Hindi film when it released and is memorably owing to the songs sung by Lata Mangeshkar.

8. Chori Chori (1956)

Director: Anant Thakur

Actors: Raj Kapoor and Nargis Dutt

This movie is the Hindi remake of It Happened One Night (1934) about the daughter of a wealthy businessman who runs away from home as her father disapproves of the man she likes. On her journey to meet her lover, she runs into a journalist, who decides to use her for an exclusive article, and eventually falls in love with her. It is one of the best romantic comedies of Bollywood till date, and it cemented the chemistry between Raj Kapoor and Nargis.

9. Teesri Kasam (1966)

Director: Basu Bhattacharya

Actors: Raj Kapoor and Waheeda Rehman

This tells the story of a bullock cart driver who is hired to drive a nautanki dancer, and how they begin to confide in each other and eventually fall in love. It was declared the Best Feature Film at the National Film Awards and is popular due to its subtle yet beautiful direction and excellent acting.

10. Anupama (1966)

Director: Hrishikesh Mukherjee

Actors: ‘Dharmendra’ and Sharmila Tagore

This critically acclaimed film is about a girl who reminds her father of her mother’s death and hence, grows up to be introverted and timid. She changes when she meets a young poet who teaches her about love and opens up a world of possibilities. This movie has both, a brilliant storyline, as well as skillful acting with a beautiful music score composed by Hemant Kumar.