Happy Birthday Anurag Kashyap: Must-Watch Movies and Web Series of the Filmmaker

Anurag Kashyap is widely recognised as one of the foremost directors in the Hindi film industry, known for his unique style of filmmaking. His acclaimed films include Gangs of Wasseypur, Black Friday and Dev D, all of which are notable for their dark and gritty storytelling.

Kashyap often employs lighting and colour effects to enhance the mood and dramatic impact of his films. In addition to his directing career, he has also made significant contributions as a screenwriter, penning scripts for the Filmfare Award-winning crime film Satya and the Academy Award-nominated Canadian film Water.

ANURAG KASHYAP, THE ACTOR

Anurag Kashyap has made cameo appearances in numerous films, including his own projects and those of other directors. He has appeared in films like Black Friday, No Smoking, Tera Kya Hoga Johnny, Luck by Chance, Dev.D, Gulaal, Soundtrack, Trishna, Bhoothnath Returns, Happy New Year, and I Am, often playing morally ambiguous or villainous characters.

In addition to his cameos, Kashyap has played significant roles in films like Shagird, Akira, Chhuri, Imaikkaa Nodigal, and AK vs AK. He has portrayed a variety of characters, including corrupt police officers, antagonists, and exaggerated versions of himself.

Most recently, Kashyap appeared as the villain Kazbe in the Disney+ Hotstar series Bad Cop.

As Anurag Kashyap celebrates his 52nd birthday, here is a look at his 10 best movies and web series.

Anurag Kashyap’s Best Movies And Web Series

1. Dev DA classic adaptation of Devdas, Dev D adds a pinch of reality and dark humour to the otherwise dramatic story. Featuring Abhay Deol, Mahi Gill and Kalki Koechlin, it is one of the most memorable films of Kashyap’s career. It also featured timeless songs such as emotional atyachaar. The film won the Filmfare Award for Best Cinematography.
2. Gangs of Wasseypur 1 and 2Featured in the Top 100 Best Films Of The 21st Century by the Guardian, Gangs of Wasseypur is a film etched in the glorious history of Indian cinema. Revolving around the rivalry between two gangster families, the film has emerged as a cult classic. Featuring veteran actors such as Manoj Bajpayee and Pankaj Tripathi, the movie is widely praised and loved by critics and audiences unanimously. The film received the Filmfare awards for Best Action and Best Dialogue among several others in 2013.
3. Black FridayBased on Hussain Zaidi’s book, the controversial movie chronicled the events and police investigation around the 1993 Bombay blasts. The film featuring Kay Kay Menon, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Imtiaz Ali and Kashyap himself, was appreciated for its engaging story and courageous subject.
4. GulaalRevolving around grassroots politics, Gulaal featured themes of thepursuit of power, the quest for legitimacy, perceived injustices and hypocrisy of the powerful. Again featuring method actor Kay Kay, Piyush Mishra and Deepak Dobriyal, the movie stood out for lovers of realistic crime films. Apart from the film, the music designed by Piyush Mishra has seasoned well throughout the years among cinema lovers.
5. ManmarziyaanThis sweet drama film among Kashyap’s dark films was well appreciated for its refreshing take on love and relationships. Featuring talented actors such as Vicky Kaushal, Abhishek Bachchan and Taapsee Pannu, Manmarziyaan stands out as a love story told from a less sanitised, volatile and realistic lens of Kashyap.
6. MukkabaazThe film revolves aroundShravan Singh, an aspiring boxer, who develops a risky animosity with Bhagwan Das Mishra, the head of a boxing federation where he trains. His life becomes dangerous after he falls in love with Bhagwan’s niece, Sunaina. The small-town action film was well-received for its writing, story and direction.
7. Sacred GamesDirected by Vikramaditya Motwane and Anurag Kashyap, Sacred Games is one of India’s first original web shows. Helmed as the ‘Golden Period Of Ott’ by Kashyap himself, the show is considered a landmark in the web series genre. The show features Sarataj Singh, played by Saif Ali, aMumbai police officer who must save the city as time runs out, against a gangster claiming to be divinity himself.
8. UglyAnother Kashyap directorial, Ugly is a dark gripping tale revolving around a kidnapping. A review on Film Companion describes this movie as a relentless claustrophobic exploration of the human psyche. It casts Raul Bhat, Ronit Roy and Surveen Chawla in the main roles. The movie received critical acclaim for its plot twists and performances. Some critics even called this movie Kashyap’s ‘finest’.
9. QueenAnurag Kashyap has also been a successful producer in Bollywood with certain masterpieces such as Queen and Udaan to his name.Queenwascited as one of the best Indian films of all time by several publications for its unique story and screenplay. The film received several accolades including the 2015 Filmfare Award for best film. Kangana Ranaut received the national award for this film.