Mumbai is called the ‘Film City’, and rightly so. But there is another city that has captured the imaginations of filmmakers for decades: Delhi. The capital of our country just has that je ne sais quoi about it. The duality between Old Delhi and New Delhi, the meeting of the old world and the new one. The fact that the best food you’ve ever tasted in your life could be hidden away in some tiny corner shop. The city that withstood king after king, empire after empire, and emerged as a colourful mosaic of different styles of architecture and cuisine. Delhi. Reading that must have given you a rush of nostalgia for the city, and possibly a sense of disappointment that the quarantine prevents you from rushing over and taking it in. Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered, with this list of movies you can watch this weekend that’ll immerse you in the city and its culture from the comfort of your own home.
Rang De Basanti (2006)
Whether it was through the eyes of an enchanted filmmaker from the West, or through the local squad’s midnight joyrides around the city, Rakeysh Om Prakash Mehra and crew definitely succeeded in capturing the aesthetic of Delhi in Rang De Basanti. The movie, which is about a group of college students being forced to grow up quick, become adults, and stand up for what’s right, began and ended in the capital.
Streaming on Netflix
Delhi 6 (2009)
This movie, starring Abhishek Bachchan and Sonam Kapoor Ahuja, is based around the lives of people living in one of the most iconic locations in the capital, Chandni Chowk. Delhi 6 is one of the few movies that manage to capture the sheer chaos of the daily lives of people living in this part of the city, all seen through the naïve eyes of a Non-Resident Indian (NRI), played by Abhishek Bachchan.
Streaming on Netflix
Aisha (2010)
Prior to the online explosion in popularity of the whole ‘South Delhi Girl’ on the internet, this movie showcased the opposite side of the previous movies, the hi-fi lifestyle of the upper class in New Delhi. The titular Aisha (Sonam Kapoor Ahuja) takes Shefali (Amrita Puri) under her wing and takes it upon herself to make her presentable so that she can be set up with an eligible bachelor. She takes her to some of the most expensive stores in Delhi (possibly the country), and restaurants, contrasting the street-food/knockoff-clothes vibes of the other movies on this list.
Streaming on Amazon Prime Video
