Anurag Kashyap is a celebrated Indian filmmaker, screenwriter, producer, and actor who has left an indelible mark on contemporary Indian cinema. Known for his gritty realism, subversive storytelling, and uncompromising artistic vision, Kashyap has been a driving force behind India’s independent film movement since the early 2000s. 10 Best Films by Anurag Kashyap You Can’t Miss!
Kashyap is often credited with pioneering India’s “new wave” of neo-noir cinema. His films are known for:
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Raw, realistic depictions of crime, politics, and human behavior
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Non-linear narratives
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Gritty urban settings and morally complex characters
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Dialogues that reflect street realism over cinematic polish
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Music that blends alternative, folk, and experimental sounds
Whether it’s the brutal honesty of Black Friday, the gangster epic Gangs of Wasseypur, the socio-political undercurrents of Gulaal, or the tragic irony of Ugly, Kashyap’s work often exposes the underbelly of Indian society.
Here are his top 10 IMDb-rated films that audiences and critics alike celebrate.
1. Black Friday (2004) — IMDb ~8.4
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Director & Producer: Anurag Kashyap
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Cast: Kay Kay Menon, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Pavan Malhotra, Ashutosh Rana
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Plot: A raw, documentary-style reconstruction of the 1993 Bombay bombings and the subsequent police investigation, based on Hussain Zaidi’s account.
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Moral: It emphasizes the importance of uncovering truth—even at personal and institutional cost—challenging viewers to confront horrific realities.
2. Gangs of Wasseypur (2012) — IMDb ~8.2 (Both parts as one)
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Director & Producer: Anurag Kashyap
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Cast: Manoj Bajpayee, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Richa Chadda, Huma Qureshi
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Plot: A sprawling, multigenerational saga of coal-mine power struggles and revenge in Jharkhand, with grit, dark humor, and cultural detail.
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Moral: A potent testament to how cycles of vengeance and social decay authenticate themselves across generations.
3. Gulaal (2009) — IMDb ~8.0
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Director & Producer: Anurag Kashyap
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Cast: Kay Kay Menon, Mahi Gill, Abhimanyu Singh, Deepak Dobriyal
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Plot: Set in student politics and caste conflict, a young man is pulled into violent power plays while exploring legitimacy, ambition, and betrayal.
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Moral: Power corrupts idealism. When identity becomes a weapon, morality often loses the battle.
4. Mukkabaaz (2017) — IMDb ~8.0
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Director & Producer: Anurag Kashyap
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Cast: Vineet Kumar Singh, Jimmy Shergill, Ravi Kishan, Zoya Hussain
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Plot: A boxer from Uttar Pradesh fights the institutionalized corruption of the sports federation and caste-based prejudice to pursue his dream.
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Moral: Integrity and determination—sometimes more powerful than physical strength—can challenge systemic injustice.
5. Dev D (2009) — IMDb ~7.9
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Director & Producer: Anurag Kashyap
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Cast: Abhay Deol, Mahi Gill, Kalki Koechlin
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Plot: A modern, unfiltered take on Devdas: Dev spirals into self-destruction after heartbreak, while Paro and Chandramukhi reclaim their agency with raw power.
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Moral: Emotional detachment spirals into ruin—redemption arrives when empathy replaces arrogance.
6. Ugly (2013) — IMDb ~7.9
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Director & Producer: Anurag Kashyap
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Cast: Rahul Bhat, Ronit Roy, Surveen Chawla
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Plot: A child’s disappearance turns familial relationships into suspects; desperation and deceit expose human frailty and greed.
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Moral: In panic, truth becomes malleable. It’s a grim exploration of how fear fractures trust.
7. Paanch (2003) — IMDb ~7.6
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Director & Producer: Anurag Kashyap
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Cast: Kay Kay Menon, Vijay Maurya, Aditya Srivastava, Tejaswini Kolhapure
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Plot: Five friends stumble into a kidnapping-turned-killer spiral. As paranoia escalates, their plan collapses under betrayal.
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Moral: Small choices create big consequences. Morality fades as survival instincts dominate.
8. Raman Raghav 2.0 (2016) — IMDb ~7.3
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Director & Producer: Anurag Kashyap (also Vikramaditya Motwane, Vikas Bahl, Madhu Mantena)
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Cast: Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Vicky Kaushal, Sobhita Dhulipala
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Plot: A serial killer terrorizes Mumbai; a corrupt beat cop recognizes his own darkness reflected in the murderer. The story unfolds in eight tense chapters.
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Moral: Evil is not always monstrous—it hides in reflection. Our inner shadows echo outward.
9. No Smoking (2007) — IMDb ~7.3
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Director & Producer: Anurag Kashyap
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Cast: John Abraham, Ayesha Takia, Paresh Rawal, Irrfan Khan
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Plot: A man’s attempt to quit smoking spirals into surreal, Kafkaesque transformations—haunted by cults, strange rules, and psychological unraveling.
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Moral: Freedom from addiction demands more than willpower—sometimes it challenges identity itself. Bold and hallucinatory.
10. That Girl in Yellow Boots (2010) — IMDb ~7.5
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Director & Producer: Anurag Kashyap
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Cast: Kalki Koechlin, Naseeruddin Shah, Piyush Mishra, Prashant Prakash
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Plot: A British-Indian woman arrives in Mumbai searching for her father. Her journey through underbelly characters and shocking revelations manifests emotional torment and societal cruelty.
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Moral: Identity and belonging often collide. In harsh truths, healing becomes an act of rebellion.
🎬 Why These Films Are Essential
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These 10 films, rated between ~8.4 to 7.3 on IMDb, represent the boldest facets of Kashyap’s creativity—from crime epics and psychological thrillers to emotionally charged dramas.
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Each film carries a distinct moral or thematic punch: social inequality (Mukkabaaz), humanism (Anbe Sivam-style though not directed by him), identity, resistance, and resilience.
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They stand as cinematic hallmarks—raw, complex, and unforgettable.
✅ Final Recommendation
These 10 must-watch films provide an immersive dive into Anurag Kashyap’s fearless storytelling. Whether you’re curating a cinephile itinerary or showcasing modern Indian cinema, this list delivers uncompromising vision and emotional truth.