40 movies you should see before you die

There are these few movies, a minority out of the many, that can gently, and then suddenly, touch your heart and/ or leave you bewildered and at a loss for words. These films are crafted so perfectly- their plots woven with utmost thought and depth, their characters so richly built and explored, and the direction of photography so beautifully appropriate that the feel and mood firmly sinks in at once. These are the films you may or may not see as nominations in award shows. Films that may be wildly popular or even barely known. Films that either make your heart melt, or leave you ruthlessly alienated. Films that make you reflect upon the most discerning philosophical questions, or flood you with so much emotion that you temporarily lose all thought.

Out of a plethora of languages and regions of the world, I have hand-picked, based on my movie-watching experience, 40 such films. This was no easy task.

I am not well-exposed to films of many regions of the world, yet I try to keep my list diverse. Most of the films I’ve seen are in Hindi and English so my list comprises primarily of them. Please bear with my not-so-cosmopolitan self thanks. Also, I haven’t seen every classic there is to watch of the past century. And so, since I haven’t seen them all, it is possible my list varies from yours. If it does, which it most probably will, feel free to add to the list in the comments section.

40 movies you should see before you die (in NO specific order)

1. Kai Po Che! (2013)

Kai Po Che! (2013)

2. The Virgin Suicides (1999)

The Virgin Suicides (1999)

3. Argo (2012)

Argo (2012)

4. Hachi-ko, Hachikô monogatari (1987)

Hachi-ko (1987)

5. Pulp Fiction (1994)

Pulp Fiction (1994)

6. Rashomon, Rashômon (1950)

Rashomon (1950)

7. The Silence of the Lambs (1991)

The Silence of the Lambs (1991)

8. The Body, El Cuerpo (2012)

The Body (2012)

9. Devdas (2002)

Devdas (2002)

10. The Orphanage, El Orfanato (2007)

The Orphanage (2007)

11. Dallas Buyers Club (2013)

Dallas Buyers Club (2013)

12. Taare Zameen Par (2007)

Taare Zameen Par (2007)

13. Mysterious Skin (2004)

Mysterious Skin (2004)

14. 21 (2008)

21 (2008)

15. The Travelling Players, O thiasos (1975)

The Travelling Players (1975)

16. Thirteen (2003)

Thirteen (2003)

17. Swades: We, the People (2004)

Swades: We, the People (2004)

18. Inception (2010)

Inception (2010)

19. 3 Idiots (2009)

3 Idiots (2009)

20. Requiem for a Dream (2000)

Requiem for a Dream (2000)

21. Chakde! India (2007)

Chakde! India (2007)

22. Milk (2008)

Milk (2008)

23. Dor (2006)

Dor (2006)

24. Titanic (1997)

Titanic (1997)

25. Shanghai (2012)

Shanghai (2012)

26. Life of Pi (2012)

Life of Pi (2012)

27. Casablanca (1942)

Casablanca (1942)

28. Anand (1971)

Anand (1971)

29. Blood Diamond (2006)

Blood Diamond (2006)

30. The Usual Suspects (1995)

The Usual Suspects (1995)

31. Black (2005)

Black (2005)

32. Schindler’s List (1993)

Schindler’s List (1993)

33. Memento (2000)

Memento (2000)

34. Queen (2014)

Queen (2014)

35. Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India (2001)

Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India (2001)

36. The Way Home, Jibeuro (2002)

The Way Home (2002)

37. Rang De Basanti (2006)

Rang De Basanti (2006)

38. 12 Years a Slave (2013)

12 Years a Slave (2013)

39. Hard Candy (2005)

Hard Candy (2005)

40. Seven Samurai, Shichinin no samurai (1954)

Seven Samurai (1954)