'Asoka' To 'Rangoon': Historical Drama Films To Watch On OTT This Weekend

One can only guess what made someone explore history in media and undoubtedly, since India's first motion picture, the historical drama Raja Harishchandra, we have come a long way. Since then, Bollywood has been enthralled by the prospect of revisiting and retelling history, as this is a genre that excels at enveloping the viewer in its story. Several historical period films, such as Mughal-E-Azam, Yahudi, and Anaarkali, have been released over the years.

In the last decade, when it comes to the filmmaking process, a lot has changed, and Indian filmmakers have been effective in adapting to this changing medium. Several films about great legends of the country have been released in the last decade, from Gandhi, The Legend Of Bhagat Singh, Mangal Pandey: The Rising, to films on great warriors and royalties like Jodha Akbar etc.

Samrat Prithviraj is the most recent historical film, and it is based on the life of Prithviraj Chauhan, the emperor of Mewar from 975 to 1025 AD. The film is based on the Braj epic poem Prithviraj Raso. Akshay Kumar and Manushi Chhillar appear in the film, which was released in theatres on June 3rd. Meanwhile, if you've seen Samrat Prithviraj in theatres and are still in the historical zone, and if the new film has left you wanting to add some more historical films to your watchlist, here's a specially chosen film to add to your weekend watch list.

5 Historical Dramas To Watch On OTT This Weekend

Rangoon, 2017

Rangoon is a World War II period war drama film set between 1939 and 1945. On his trip to Burma, Nawab Ali, a British Army officer, meets superstar Julia by chance. Rusi Billimoria, the most powerful film producer at the time, is head over heels in love with Julia. The film chronicles Julia's excursions to the Indo-Burma border to meet the troops during World War II, which she does at the request of Billimoria, her lover. There, she falls in love with Jemadar Malik, a soldier. The key roles are played by Saif Ali Khan, Shahid Kapoor, and Kangana Ranaut. The film is available on Amazon Prime Video.

Mangal Pandey: The Rising, 2005

Mangal Pandey: The Rising is a historical biographical drama film based on the story of Mangal Pandey, an Indian soldier who played a key role in the 1857 Indian insurrection (also known as the First War of Indian Independence). The film, a slice of history about the 1857 mutiny, effectively blends form and content. Mangal Pandey is effectively mounted and meticulously recreates the era, and he has everything it takes to assist Bollywood take a major stride into world cinema with pride. Amir Khan plays the lead role in the film. The film is available on Amazon Prime Video.

Devdas, 2002

The film is set in the early 1900s and follows Devdas and Paro, two childhood friends and neighbours who seem to be made for each other. However, due to their social class differences, Devdas and Paro's families clash over the possibility of marriage. Paro soon marries a man who is much older and wealthier than Devdas' family. Meanwhile, Devdas quits his house to live in a brothel, where he falls in love with Chandramukhi, one of the courtesans. Devdas is a sad love story that stars Shah Rukh Khan, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, and Madhuri Dixit. The film is available on Amazon Prime Video, Voot and Jio Cinema.

Devdas

Suggested Reading: Summer Binge-Watching: Top Five Movies And Shows To Watch This Weekend

Asoka, 2001

It narrates the story of Asoka, the famous Mauryan king and Chandragupt Maurya's grandson, who gained the kingdom of Magadha in the third century B.C. While attempting to conquer Kalinga, Mauryan emperor Asoka falls in love with Kaurwaki, the princess of Kalinga, unaware that she is intended to be his opponent. The film is an epic portrayal of King Asoka's life; however, due to the dramatisation of the plot, it is not fully historically accurate. There are no magnificent palaces, and the kings, queens, and princes are not decked with heavy jewels. Everything about the look, the language, the outfits, the music, and the dancing is modern. The film stars Shah Rukh Khan and Kareena Kapoor Khan in the major roles. The film is available on Netflix.

Lagaan, 2001

 The film is set in India during the Victorian era, when the country was still a British colony. The plot centres on a small village whose residents, who are burdened by hefty taxes, find themselves in an unusual predicament when an arrogant official dares them to a game of cricket as a wager to evade the taxes. The story revolves around this circumstance, with the villagers facing the difficult challenge of learning the cricket game and playing for a prize that will alter the fate of their community. This film accurately illustrates British harshness and unabashed colonialism, as well as the question of how far humans may go to break their chains. The film stars Amir Khan and Gracy Singh in the major roles. The film is available on Netflix.

Gracy Singh alongside co-star Aamir Khan in Lagaan