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. 21 -

    Sholay

    1975 — a.k.a. Embers, in 11 top lists Check
  2. 28 -

    Mughal-E-Azam

    1960 — a.k.a. The Emperor of the Mughals, in 8 top lists Check
  3. 30 -

    Awaara

    1951 — a.k.a. The Tramp, in 6 top lists Check
  4. 23 -

    Mother India

    1957, in 9 top lists Check
  5. 34 -

    International Gorillay

    1990, in 0 top lists Check
  6. 1 -

    Titas Ekti Nodir Naam

    1973 — a.k.a. A River Called Titas, in 3 top lists Check
  7. 5 -

    Beder Meye Josna

    1989, in 0 top lists Check
  8. 9 -

    Srabon Megher Din

    2000, in 0 top lists Check
  9. 39 -

    Aina

    1977 — a.k.a. The Mirror, in 0 top lists Check
  10. 24 -

    Pyaasa

    1957, in 10 top lists Check
  11. 33 -

    Zarqa

    1969, in 0 top lists Check
  12. 27 -

    Subarnarekha

    1965, in 7 top lists Check
  13. 32 -

    Heer Ranjha

    1970, in 0 top lists Check
  14. 6 -

    Surja Dighal Bari

    1979, in 0 top lists Check
  15. 25 -

    Meghe Dhaka Tara

    1960 — a.k.a. The Cloud-Capped Star, in 12 top lists Check
  16. 31 -

    Baji

    1963, in 1 top list Check
  17. 35 -

    Bandish

    1980 — a.k.a. The Bar, in 1 top list Check
  18. 38 -

    Ghoonghat

    1962, in 1 top list Check
  19. 22 -

    Pather Panchali

    1955, in 21 top lists Check
  20. 3 -

    Nadir Naam Madhumati

    1994 — a.k.a. A River Named Madhumati, in 0 top lists Check
  21. 8 -

    Rupali Shaikate

    1979, in 0 top lists Check
  22. 26 -

    Charulata

    1964 — a.k.a. The Lonely Wife, in 10 top lists Check
  23. 4 -

    Shimana Perye

    1976, in 0 top lists Check
  24. 43 -

    Mathu Yam Dawasa

    2002 — a.k.a. Some Day in the Future, in 0 top lists Check
  25. 29 -

    Amma Ariyan

    1986 — a.k.a. Report to Mother, in 1 top list Check
  26. 12 -

    Monsoon Wedding

    2001, in 8 top lists Check
  27. 15 -

    Bend It Like Beckham

    2002, in 2 top lists Check
  28. 44 -

    Aswesuma

    2002, in 0 top lists Check
  29. 2 -

    Chitra Nodir Pare

    1998, in 0 top lists Check
  30. 17 -

    Earth

    1998, in 2 top lists Check
  31. 50 -

    Hansa Vilak

    1980, in 0 top lists Check
  32. 46 -

    Nidhanaya

    1972 — a.k.a. The Treasure, in 0 top lists Check
  33. 7 -

    Dhire Bohe Meghna

    1973, in 0 top lists Check
  34. 19 -

    Masala

    1992, in 0 top lists Check
  35. 14 -

    Fire

    1996, in 2 top lists Check
  36. 47 -

    Me mage sandai

    2000 — a.k.a. This Is My Moon, in 0 top lists Check
  37. 13 -

    Bhaji on the Beach

    1993, in 2 top lists Check
  38. 11 -

    My Beautiful Laundrette

    1985, in 7 top lists Check
  39. 18 -

    East Is East

    1999, in 3 top lists Check
  40. 36 -

    Jago Hua Savera

    1959 — a.k.a. The Day Shall Dawn, in 1 top list Check
  41. 20 -

    The Warrior

    2001, in 2 top lists Check
  42. 16 -

    Hyderabad Blues

    1998, in 0 top lists Check
  43. 45 -

    Anantha Rathriya

    1996 — a.k.a. Dark Night of the Soul, in 0 top lists Check
  44. 41 -

    Pura Handa Kaluwara

    1997 — a.k.a. Death on a Full Moon Day, in 0 top lists Check
  45. 42 -

    Ahas Gawwa

    1974 — a.k.a. One League of Sky, in 0 top lists Check
  46. 48 -

    Chanda Kinnarie

    1998 — a.k.a. Moon Lady, in 0 top lists Check
  47. 37 -

    Haseena Atom Bomb

    1990, in 0 top lists Check
  48. 40 -

    Mujhe Chand Chahiye

    2000, in 0 top lists Check
  49. 49 -

    Ponmani

    1977, in 0 top lists Check
  50. 10 -

    Sat Bhai Chompa

    1968, in 0 top lists Check
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Last updated on Jan 14, 2012; source