July 1 is celebrated in India as National Doctor’s Day. The day coincides with the birth and death anniversary of Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy, who was an eminent physician and former Chief Minister of West Bengal.
On the occasion of Doctor’s Day, we have compiled for our readers a list of five must-watch Bollywood movies that are either based on doctor’s lives in India or have beautifully portrayed the patient-doctor relationship in the film. You can watch these films on various OTT platforms in India.
1. Munna Bhai M.B.B.S. (Streaming on Amazon Prime Video)
This was celebrated filmmaker Rajkumar Hirani’s directorial debut feature film. The story follows a gangster called Munnabhai (Sanjay Dutt) whose parents believe that their son is a doctor.
When his secret is exposed by a medical college dean (Boman Irani), who also insults his family, the gangster takes the help of his sidekick goon (Arshad Warsi) to take admission in a medical college to actually become a doctor. That brings him face to face with his adversary amidst the rib-tickling chaos that ensues.
2. Dear Zindagi (Streaming on Netflix)
The feel-good film was helmed by Gauri Shinde (Director – English Vinglish). The story revolves around a talented but unhappy cinematographer (Alia Bhatt) who is going through a rough phase in her life. Her life changes for the good when she encounters an unconventional psychologist (Shahrukh Khan), who transforms her perspective towards life.
3. Ankur Arora Murder Case (Streaming on Amazon Prime Video)
The medical thriller film follows the story of medical negligence by a reputed surgeon (played by Kay Kay Menon). When an intern doctor (Arjun Mathur) finds out about the death of an 8-year-old boy due to the surgeon’s negligence, he helps the mother (Tisca Chopra) fight a legal battle to bring the culprit to justice.
4. Ek Doctor Ki Maut (Streaming on YouTube & EpicOn)
Veteran filmmaker Tapan Sinha helmed this profound tale of a doctor (Pankaj Kapur), who has dedicated his life to medical research even at the cost of his marital relationship.
When the doctor discovers a vaccine for leprosy, he garners international acclaim but eventually faces harassment from unexpected quarters. The heart-warming film also featured actors like Irrfan Khan and Shabana Azmi in important roles.
5. Last Train to Mahakali (Streaming on Disney+ Hotstar)
This offbeat thriller is a hidden gem by powerhouse filmmaker Anurag Kashyap. The story revolves around a former scientist (Kay Kay Menon) who claims to have found a vaccine for any virus-based disease but is now facing a death sentence owing to the death of his subjects.
A journalist takes an interest in the case and an interaction with the doctor makes her believe in his incredible story. The 45-minute short film was aired as a Star Bestsellers episode and is now streaming on the Disney+ Hotstar platform.