BFI's 50 Essential South Asian Films

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"This list of films is supposed to be a representative sample of the kinds of films that are produced and consumed in South Asia and elsewhere. It formed part of bfi's South Asian Cinema 2002 programme designed to present to the British public for the first time the immense diversity of South Asian cinema."

This is the list that was compiled by experts. BFI also ran a user poll.

The list is divided into 5 sections:
1-10: Bangladeshi
11-20: Diaspora
21-30: Indian
31-40: Pakistani
41-50: Sri Lankan

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  1. 22 -

    Pather Panchali

    1955, in 21 top lists Check
  2. 26 -

    Charulata

    1964 — a.k.a. The Lonely Wife, in 10 top lists Check
  3. 25 -

    Meghe Dhaka Tara

    1960 — a.k.a. The Cloud-Capped Star, in 12 top lists Check
  4. 24 -

    Pyaasa

    1957, in 10 top lists Check
  5. 11 -

    My Beautiful Laundrette

    1985, in 7 top lists Check
  6. 23 -

    Mother India

    1957, in 9 top lists Check
  7. 12 -

    Monsoon Wedding

    2001, in 8 top lists Check
  8. 15 -

    Bend It Like Beckham

    2002, in 2 top lists Check
  9. 27 -

    Subarnarekha

    1965, in 7 top lists Check
  10. 30 -

    Awaara

    1951 — a.k.a. The Tramp, in 6 top lists Check
  11. 28 -

    Mughal-E-Azam

    1960 — a.k.a. The Emperor of the Mughals, in 8 top lists Check
  12. 1 -

    Titas Ekti Nodir Naam

    1973 — a.k.a. A River Called Titas, in 3 top lists Check
  13. 14 -

    Fire

    1996, in 2 top lists Check
  14. 17 -

    Earth

    1998, in 2 top lists Check
  15. 18 -

    East Is East

    1999, in 3 top lists Check
  16. 36 -

    Jago Hua Savera

    1959 — a.k.a. The Day Shall Dawn, in 1 top list Check
  17. 13 -

    Bhaji on the Beach

    1993, in 2 top lists Check
  18. 20 -

    The Warrior

    2001, in 2 top lists Check
  19. 46 -

    Nidhanaya

    1972 — a.k.a. The Treasure, in 0 top lists Check
  20. 5 -

    Beder Meye Josna

    1989, in 0 top lists Check
  21. 16 -

    Hyderabad Blues

    1998, in 0 top lists Check
  22. 4 -

    Shimana Perye

    1976, in 0 top lists Check
  23. 9 -

    Srabon Megher Din

    2000, in 0 top lists Check
  24. 3 -

    Nadir Naam Madhumati

    1994 — a.k.a. A River Named Madhumati, in 0 top lists Check
  25. 33 -

    Zarqa

    1969, in 0 top lists Check
  26. 40 -

    Mujhe Chand Chahiye

    2000, in 0 top lists Check
  27. 44 -

    Aswesuma

    2002, in 0 top lists Check
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Last updated on Jan 14, 2012; source