6 heist films better than Thunivu you need to watch right now

Thunivu can be billed as one of the most ambitious heist movies of 2023 as yet. But despite a reasonably average theatrical run and managing to cross swords with Vijay’s Varisu in cinemas, it is, essentially, a very exaggerated if not overrated film. Indian movies about great robberies have ranged from plagiarised versions of Hollywood blockbusters such as Sanjay Gupta’s Kaante to those which elaborately furnish inconceivable thefts that almost seem impossible to pull off such as Dhoom 2. From considering wildly unlikely scenarios and unprecedented turn of events, these films have managed to thrill us beyond measure. And Thunivu surely pales in comparison to some of the more compelling Indian heist movies. In fact, on a scale of ‘avoidable’ to ‘mind-blowing’, Thunivu probably falls under ‘for Ajith fans only’. But worry not, you’re in luck, we’ve put together a list of some of the best Indian heist movies ever made that you need to stream right now:

Special 26

Easily one of Akshay Kumar’s most compelling films, Special 26 is, well, a special film for more reasons than one. Written and directed by Neeraj Pandey, this film follows a group of conmen who pull off elaborate scams in the guise of government officials. They specifically target unsuspecting victims who happen to hoard excessive sums of black money. But what happens when a virtuous CBI official who’s close on their heels, tracks their every move as they prepare for one of their most ambitious heists? Also starring Manoj Bajpayee, Anupam Kher and Jimmy Shergill in promising roles, this is a film that will keep you hooked throughout and even manage to pull a fast one on you

Gentleman

S. Shankar is one of Tamil film industry's most celebrated filmmakers, having helmed groundbreaking films such as Indian, Jeans, Boys, Anniyan, Sivaji: The Boss, and Enthiran. His debut film Gentleman, however, is often buried beneath his impressive list of blockbuster releases since the 90s. Nevertheless, the 1993 heist action film is revered as one of Shankar’s best works. The film stars Arjun Sarja, Madhubala and Subhashri in lead roles, and narrates the tale of a respected entrepreneur who moonlights as a bank robber. But his ill-gotten gains are donated to the destitute to provide them with access to education. In many ways, his character can easily be regarded as a modern day Tamil Robin Hood.\

Thiruda Thiruda

Directed by the legendary filmmaker Mani Ratnam, Thiruda Thiruda, is a black comedy Ratnam co-wrote along with Ram Gopal Varma. The film stars Prashanth, Anand, Anu Aggarwal, and Heera Rajagopal in prominent roles. The plot revolves around a police inspector who is tasked with hunting down a gang of robbers who stole a princely sum of 1000 crores. In the course of this investigation, he comes across a myriad of characters from all walks of life – from small-time crooks to those belonging to an international crime syndicate. The high-octane film was lauded for its gripping narrative and groundbreaking special effects, and it went on to win the National Film Award for Best Special Effects.

Dhoom 2

Yash Raj Films attempted to up the ante of Indian heist movies with the Dhoom franchise, giving us our very own Fast and Furious, with a stronger script and more bankable performances. The second film in the series, Dhoom 2 has our crime-busting duo of ACP Jai Dixit and Ali played by Abhishek Bachchan and Uday Chopra taking on a rather slippery criminal. This master of disguise who goes by ‘A’ manages to pull off some remarkably executed robberies and even has the audacity to leave a telltale sign at the scene of the crime to take ownership. This one is a must-watch just for Hrithik Roshan whose portrayal of an anti-hero raised the bar for all to follow.

Bunty aur Babli

Initially dubbed by some as a desi version of Bonny and Clyde, Bunty aur Babli is surely one of the most defining Indian movies to be ever made on con artists. Set in the milieu of a mofussil town, this one narrates the story of two unlikely individuals who are drawn to the world of crime and to each other by mere chance if not circumstances. But what follows, is a series of meticulously-planned scams and heists that will leave you in splits. Starring Abhishek Bachchan, Rani Mukherji and Amitabh Bachchan, this action comedy offers a hilarious ride to remember.

Aankhen

This Hindi heist thriller directed by Vipul Shah is based on his Gujarati play Andhalo Pato which roughly translates to ‘Blindman’s buff’. This one revolves around a vengeful former banker who plans an elaborate heist at the very bank he was once employed with. To execute his masterplan, he enlists three blind men for the job, setting the stage for what would seem like one of the most inconceivable crimes ever committed. Starring Amitabh Bachchan, Akshay Kumar, Paresh Rawal and Arjun Rampal, this is a thriller packed with betrayals and thrilling turns that cannot be anticipated.

Well thats all we got time for this episode of List hai toh hit hai, until the next time its your host Nikhil signing out

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Written by Ryan Gomez and Kunal Guha