One of the best things about Netflix, and arguably streaming in general, is its ability to promote films that would otherwise be difficult for the average consumer to track down. While the dreaded algorithm has its issues for sure, it’s allowed a vast content library of films from around the world to gain more popularity and viewership than they would otherwise.
India, the country with the highest film output in the world, has always been a big name in the world of cinema, but over the past decade has become something of an international powerhouse. Regardless of what language you are watching their films in, it’s unmistakable where you are watching them from, and their action films in particular are some of the best out there. The best Indian action movies on Netflix represent the best, boldest, and most entertaining of the genre, and will have viewers binge-watching for countless hours.
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‘Doctor’ (2021)
Considering just how much of a trend it has become in American action films to see non-violent occupations placed onto a journey of revenge, it was only a matter of time before India would create a similar style of action film. Doctor stands out as one of the most prominent in recent memory, following army doctor Dr. Varun (Sivakarthikeyan), who utilizes his strict and practical skills in able to help rescue his fiancée’s missing niece, who has been kidnapped by a dangerous criminal.
While the American version of this style of action thriller tends to take a more grounded and serious approach to its storytelling and the scale of its operation, Doctor isn’t afraid to add a much-needed comedic edge to this formula. Through a compelling central performance and fun utilization of intelligent creativity over brute strength, Doctor consistently delights as a crowd-pleasing thriller comedy whose tonal execution makes a major difference in its memorability.
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‘Saaho’ (2019)
India really seems to love its crime films. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, though, if audiences get movies like Saaho, a film about two covert operatives who discover a brewing gang war that could have disastrous consequences.
Admittedly, Saaho‘s story goes to absurd places, but like a lot of films from this era of Indian cinema, that comes to be expected, and it’s a ton of fun regardless. When the actual movie itself is this well-made to boot — the action sequences and VFX in particular are stellar – it’s hard to complain, and its performances are great across the board, making it a must-see Indian flick on Netflix.
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‘Sooryavanshi’ (2021)
As the 4th installment of Rohit Shetty‘s so-called “Cop Universe”, Sooryavanshi works as a good introduction to the series as it stands alone as its own story. Following Veer Sooryavanshi, head of the Anti-Terrorism Squad tracking down sleeper cells in the 1990s, and outside of brief cameos from other characters in the universe, it works mainly as a standalone entry for this particular character.
While its politics aren’t exactly the best, that’s true of most cop films around the world, and as such, as long as you can ignore that fact, you’ll find that Sooryavanshi still has some of the best action and setpiece design in the business. And in the end, that’s what most fans are coming here for in terms of action films, and Sooryavanshi does its job wonderfully in that regard.
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‘The Man Who Feels No Pain’ (2018)
An action comedy that fully leans into the creative absurdity of its premise to create some of the most cathartic and entertaining action imaginable, The Man Who Feels No Pain fully lives up to its incredible title. The film follows Surya, a young man who has a strange condition that allows him to withstand any pain inflicted upon his body as long as he stays hydrated and drinks water. Now, as a dorky adult, Surya has been training for years to better himself as a martial arts hero, having to put his skills to the test to take down a vicious evildoer.
The Man Who Feels No Pain has a more absurdist, meta approach to action comedy that helps it stick out amongst various other Indian action films, with a distinct energy and personality coming through in every scene. The premise itself also allows for a wide array of different possibilities in terms of both compelling action sequences and great comedic moments, making it hard not to have a great time with the film.
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‘Leo’ (2023)
Not to be confused with the animated film of the same name, Leo is an action thriller that follows the story of Parthiban (Vijay), a mild-mannered café owner and animal rescuer who is simply doing his best to get by in the city of Theog. However, because of a similar appearance that he shares with the estranged son of a gangster, known as Leo (also played by Vijay), Parthi is now the target of pursuit from a duo of dangerous gangsters. It now becomes up to Parthi to not only escape the gangsters but also find Leo before it’s too late.
It’s always a treat when an action movie has both its main hero and the villain played by the same actor, with Vijay showing off his exceptional range not only in character acting but also in styles of action choreography in the film. Vijay’s acting is easily the highlight of the film, while the action and overall story also do a great job of getting the audience invested and excited about the wild possibilities that it can have.
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‘Bajrangi Bhaijaan’ (2015)
Blending together compelling action with a heartfelt dramedy premise, Bajrangi Bhaijaan seamlessly balances its array of well-crafted action sequences with a beautiful story of family and connection. The film follows Bajarangi (Salman Khan), a devoted man with a heart of gold who dedicates himself to helping Munni (Harshaali Malthorta), a young mute girl from Pakistan, return home after she is lost in India. However, the task of returning to her home and reuniting her with her family proves to be a massive undertaking, as the duo encounters all sorts of wild obstacles on their quest for family.
While the film certainly features enough dynamic action and fun sequences to make for a compelling action film, it’s one of the few Indian action films where the major draw isn’t just the action, but instead the genuine emotion and drama in the story being told. The dynamic between Bajarangi and Munni is one that easily pulls at the heartstrings of the audience, giving the film a feel-good familial energy that is often missing from this style of action film.
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‘Dhamaka’ (2021)
While more of a thriller than a straight action film, Dhamaka contains a solid amount of action regardless, and is a more serious affair compared to some others featured on Netflix. A remake of the acclaimed South Korean film The Terror Live, it follows a news anchor who starts fearing for his life after interviewing a terrorist who had recently blown up a bridge.
While its premise is a hard pill to swallow due to the circumstances, Dhamaka is a suitably tense, well-directed espionage film that also brings out a great lead performance from its main star, Kartik Aaryan. Even beyond that, though, it’s a great commentary on how corrupt officials exploit those for personal gain and how it’s connected to the current news landscape.
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‘Indian’ (1996)
One of the most influential crime thrillers in Indian filmmaking history, as well as one that has been timeless and whose execution is still ringing true with its powerful themes of anti-establishment and corruption, Indian is one of the most important Indian action movies out there. The film finds inspiration from other rallying cry thrillers through the 80s and 90s, following an ex-freedom fighter growing tired of the rampant corruption of the bureaucracy and setting out to clean up this corruption at any cost.
Especially for the era in which it was made, Indian is massively ahead of its time in terms of scope, scale, and action capabilities when it comes to Indian filmmaking, helping further the capabilities of the region as a whole for action movies as a genre. The film has continued to be a fan favorite in the decades since its release, to the point where it even received a legacy sequel just this past year with Indian 2: Zero Tolerance. However, this legacy sequel proves to be worth only a fraction of the still-effective storytelling and action of the ’90s original.
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‘Kalki 2898-AD’ (2024)
It’s relatively rare to see Indian blockbusters tackle a sprawling sci-fi story in the same vein as something like Star Wars or Dune, yet Kalki 2898-AD fills this itch and finally gives India a top-notch sci-fi epic to rally behind. The film takes place in a futuristic post-apocalyptic world, following a select group including a jaded warrior and a wisecracking bounty hunter, who have been chosen to save a lab subject’s unknown child known as Kalki. Their efforts to protect this possible future messiah force them to go against a notorious totalitarian lord who rules over the apocalyptic world, Supreme Yaskin.
Kalki 2898-AD provides all the scale and worldbuilding of a classic sci-fi blockbuster but with the mythos and impactful storytelling of a modern Indian blockbuster, creating a perfect blend of the two styles. Even more than telling its own high-octane story, the film acts as the answer to Hollywood’s continued use of franchises for its action stories, setting up the first steps toward a massive cinematic universe within this post-apocalyptic world.
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‘Malang’ (2020)
Stylish as hell, Malang follows a killer with a purpose who is on the run from cops and other criminals. The less said now, the better, as part of the fun with Malang is its twists and turns that constantly make it difficult to predict where it’s going to go next in terms of story. It’s one of those movies viewers should go into blind.
Obviously, that’s part of the fun for audiences, and once viewers figure out what’s really going on, everything becomes clear as day. The drug-infused editing is a highlight here, as it makes each action scene pop in ways viewers wouldn’t expect.