#VOGUEFROMHOME
10 engaging biopics to watch on Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Disney+ Hotstar
Witness the intriguing life of an Olympian, a con artist, a mathematician and a myriad of people who made a difference
Numerous people with fascinating journeys have walked the earth. However, the stories of a lot of them are either too convoluted to read in the history books, or completely unheard of. A well-produced cinematic work, in that case, can serve to be an uncomplicated, if small, peek into their lives, struggles, inspirations and ideologies—while also teaching us a few things along the way. If you're planning on catching up on some great biographical dramas to watch this weekend, here are 10 films to add to your list.
Mary Kom (2014)
Based on the life of India's decorated boxing champion, the film chronicles Mary Kom's life—from her discovering a boxing glove from an airplane wreckage as a child to winning the 2008 World Boxing Championship. A farmer's daughter, Mary faces a lot of challenges as her father is against the idea of her pursuing the sport and her family is facing financial troubles. She sticks to her passion and sees success. While she does go through a phase of self-doubt, she restarts her career to prove the doubters wrong, nevertheless. The movie features Priyanka Chopra in the lead role.
Streaming on Netflix
The Theory of Everything (2014)
One of the greatest physicists in recent times, professor Stephen Hawking's life was nothing short of a battle. Based on a memoir by his first wife, Jane Hawking, the film tells the story of the couple from their Cambridge days in the 1960s. It highlights the inception of his interest in black holes and his diagnosis of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). The journey is showcased brilliantly as they defy all odds together. Stephen's struggle to cope with his condition along with progressing in his research and theories is a delight to experience.
Streaming on Amazon Prime Video
Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl (2020)
Having always dreamt of becoming a pilot, Gunjan Saxena's passion knows no bounds. Her mother and brother are against the idea, but she has the constant support of her father. After applying to an aviation school, she is forced to step down due to the exorbitant fee required for the course. This is when she comes across an ad for the first-ever Indian Airforce camp for recruiting female pilots. Gunjan goes for it and is the only one selected. Her struggles don't end here as constant discrimination and sexism follow her into the forces. Despite the odds, she ended up becoming the first female airforce officer to go to war in 1999.
Streaming on Netflix
The Social Network (2010)
Mark Zuckerberg is a Harvard student who hacks the university servers to create a website for rating female students based on appearance after he gets dumped. Despite breaking rules, this website materialises into an idea for a social media hub, exclusive for ivy league schools. As it grows in popularity, the Winklevoss twins and their business partner decide to sue the company, Facebook, claiming that Mark stole the idea from them. He faces further issues with his friend, Eduardo Saverin, whose stake in the company is reduced drastically after incorporation. The film tells a dark version of events that led to the creation of the world's biggest social media company.
Streaming on Netflix
Bhaag Milkha Bhaag (2013)
Farhan Akhtar gets into the shoes of Milkha Singh, aka The Flying Sikh, in this intense biopic that narrates the journey of one of India's best athletes. The film chronicles his childhood in pre-Independence Pakistan, the death of his parents during partition, his recruitment in the Indian Army, and eventual discovery of his running ability that leads to him becoming an Olympian. The title is a reference to Milkha Singh's life which symbolises looking ahead and running forward, no matter the consequence.
Streaming on Disney+ Hotstar
I, Tonya (2017)
Gifted figure skater, Tonya Harding, becomes the first American woman to perform a triple axel in a competition in 1991. Despite her steady rise in the sport, in 1994, her reputation is tarnished as her ex-husband hires people who injure a fellow skater, Nancy Kerrigan, forcing her to withdraw from the upcoming competition. After the arrests and hearings, Tonya is found to have known of the attack and is banned from the sport for life. The film showcases her abusive mother forcing her to skate as a child and then after finally achieving success, to have it all snatched in one of the biggest sports scandals of the world.
Available to buy on Amazon Prime Video
Chhapaak (2020)
In 2005, Malti Agarwal's whole life comes crashing down when someone throws acid on her face in a busy market. She receives aid from concerned people who help her in getting surgeries and hiring a lawyer to get justice. She fights the system to force a change in the penal code as it does not consider acid attacks as a major crime. Even though the ones responsible are arrested, the fight is much bigger than that. More acid attacks come into the limelight and the film highlights the fact that despite a change in laws and check on acid sales, the heinous crimes still continue. Starring Deepika Padukone as the protagonist, the movie is inspired by the life of Laxmi Agarwal.
Streaming on Disney+ Hotstar
Catch Me If You Can (2002)
The movie follows the real-life story of Frank Abagnale, a New York resident whose father gets into trouble with the Internal Revenue Service due to tax issues. This results in them moving into a small apartment. Frank eventually runs away after his parents' divorce and takes to scam and forgery to earn his way. Before his 19th birthday, Frank successfully cons people worth millions of dollars by posing as a pilot, a doctor and a prosecutor.
Streaming on Netflix
Manjhi: The Mountain Man (2015)
Dashrath Manjhi is a common man who lives in a small village, Gehlaur, in Bihar. The locals have to climb a mountain in order to get to the nearest town for supplies as there is no road. One fateful day, Dashrath's pregnant wife falls while climbing and succumbs to her injuries. He takes it upon himself to break the mountain and carve a road through it. He is deemed a lunatic by the people but after 22 years of endless labour, he single-handedly carves a 360-feet-long path through the structure.
Streaming on Netflix
The Wolf of Wall Street (2013)
In the 1990s, Jordan Belfort, with his partner, Donny Azoff, opens a brokerage firm. The small-time broker uses his skills and unfair means to grow the company drastically. Success flows in with a lot of substance abuse, cheating and misuse of power. As they draw attention to their lavish lifestyles, the FBI takes an interest in the firm's functioning. Jordan, blinded by fame and fortune, continues his ways and watches his empire slowly slip away from his hands as the authorities close down on him.
Streaming on Amazon Prime Video
Also read:
10 new movies and shows coming to Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and Disney+ Hotstar this week
