The genre of science fiction has been prevalent in the Indian film industry since the second half of the 20th century. Beginning in 1952, the English-Tamil film Kaadu was made, which was an Indian-American co-production. The 1963 Tamil film Kalai Arasi, 1965 Telugu film Dorikithe Dongalu, and 1967 Hindi film Chand Par Chadayee also have science fiction in their storyline. The Alien was a science fiction film under production in the late 1960s which was eventually cancelled. The film was being directed by Bengali Indian director Satyajit Ray and produced by Hollywood studio Columbia Pictures. The script was written by Ray in 1967, based on "Bankubabur Bandhu", a Bengali story he had written in 1962 for Sandesh, the Ray family magazine.
In 1987, the superhero film Mr. India was a huge success, which strengthened the hold of sci-fi films in India, especially Hindi cinema. Indiatimes Movies ranks the movie amongst the Top 25 Must See Bollywood Films. Mr. India brought the idea of science fiction to the general population in India. The 1991 Telugu film Aditya 369 was the first time travel film made in India. The film explored dystopian and post-apocalyptic themes in a satirical manner. It was a critical and commercial success and is considered a landmark film in the science fiction genre in Indian cinema. In 2003, the blockbuster film Koi... Mil Gaya marked the beginning of the successful Krrish, which is the first sci-fi/superhero film series in Indian cinema.
2.0 (2018) and Kalki 2898 AD (2024), in the sci-fi genre, have emerged as the most expensive Indian films.
List of films
The following list contains the names of the Indian science fiction films released since 1952. Early 21st century has seen the release of more than 30 such films, compared to the previous 14, there is less info about it now they Indian film classics.
Space Opera films The following are the list of space opera science fiction films. TitleYearLanguageDescriptionKalai Arasi1963TamilKalai Arasi is a well-blended story of romance, science fiction, action and drama with the main cast of M. G. Ramachandran and Bhanumathi playing double roles. The film was the first in Indian cinema to illustrate a story which describes aliens, alien abduction, alien weapons, space travel and futuristic technology.Chand Par Chadayee1967Hindi The film stars Dara Singh, Helen. After landing on the Moon, an astronaut and his associate face off against a variety of warriors and monsters from another planet. Directed by T. P. Sundaram.Amrutham Chandamamalo2014TeluguThe film is a spin off of the comedy TV series Amrutham where the characters go on a trip to the moon.Tik Tik Tik2018TamilTik Tik Tik is written and directed by Shakti Soundar Rajan. It features Jayam Ravi, Aaron Aziz, and Nivetha Pethuraj in the lead roles. First Tamil film based on space. Antariksham 9000 KMPH 2018TeluguDirected by Sankalp Reddy starring Varun Tej, Aditi Rao Hydari and Lavanya Tripathi. Received praise for the Visual effects. Film is based in space.Cargo2019HindiThis philosophical science fiction morbid humor Film is written, directed and co-produced by Arati Kadav, produced by Anurag Kashyap, Shlok Sharma, Navin Shetty, Zain Matcheswalla, Rahul Puri. It features Vikrant Massey and Shweta Tripathi in lead roles.
Others TitleYearLanguageDescriptionKaadu1952EnglishA Tamil-American co-production, this film was about an expedition to find the cause of strange behaviour of animals in an area. As it turned out, the reason of this abnormal behavior was an invasion of wooly mammoths. This film was the first science fiction film in India.Maya Manithan1958TamilScientist has developed a serum that renders the user invisible.Naan Vanangum Deivam1963TamilScientist has developed medicine for human, to remove bad characteristics and enhance good behaviors.Shikari1963HindiShikari, directed by Mohammed Hussain, starring Ajit Khan and K N Singh as 'Dr. Cyclops' a mad scientist experimenting on humans and gorillas.Mr. X in Bombay1964HindiMr. X in Bombay, directed by Shantilal Soni, is a 1964 Bollywood classic film starring Kishore Kumar, Kum Kum, and Madan Puri.Dorikithe Dongalu1965TeluguThe film features a group of scientists experimenting with flying cars, the invisible man, ray guns, etc. who commit a lot of atrocities using their muscular and scientific powers. The Alien1965BengaliEnglishA science fiction film under production in the late 1960s which was eventually cancelled. It was based on a short story named Bankubabur Bandhu ("Banku Babu's Friend") by Satyajit Ray and was about an extraterrestrial by the name of "Mr. Ang" who befriends a Bengali boy while visiting a village in the 1960s.Karutha Rathrikal1967MalayalamFilm starring Madhu, Gemini Ganesan, S. P. Pillai in lead roles and directed by Mahesh. The music director is MS Baburaj and lyrics are by ONV Kurup. It is a film involving a doctor played by Madhu who takes revenge for his uncle's death by using a medicine he invents. This medicine creates split personality. This movie was inspired by The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, a novel written by the Scottish author Robert Louis Stevenson and first published in 1886. It is supposed to be the first Malayalam science fiction film.Wahan Ke Log1967HindiThe film stars Pradeep Kumar, Tanuja, Johnny Walker . It tells the story of a supposed martial threat on India by aliens from outer space intending to rob the rich of their diamonds.Sabash Satyam1969TeluguThe film stars Krishna and Rajasree. The plot revolves around Satyam who falls in love with Chaya. When Satyam becomes invisible, he must find a way to become visible again and win his love.Elaan1971HindiStarring Vinod Mehra, Rekha and Vinod Khanna. Naresh Kumar Saxena lives with his widowed mom and sister, Seema. He works as a freelance photographer and journalist. One day he meets with Mala Mehta and her dad, who is the Editor of a Newspaper. Mr. Mehta hires Naresh and assigns him to go to a remote island to investigate and expose some illegal activities there. Naresh goes there in the company of his friend, Shyam. Unfortunately, Naresh is caught by the island guards and lodged in a cell along with two others, one a scientist and Ram Singh, a hoodlum. The scientist confides in Naresh that he has invented an atomic ring that when inserted in someone's mouth will turn that person invisible, and subsequently passes away. Naresh puts the ring in his mouth, takes off his clothes, turns invisible and escapes. The news of his escape creates waves in the underworld and the Boss and Mr. Verma join forces to find Naresh, kill him, and keep the ring for themselves. Naresh and Shyam must now find ways to stay alive as well as take the ring to the authorities - that is if the Boss and Mr. Verma let them live long enough. Ulagam Sutrum Valiban1973TamilStarring M. G. Ramachandran Ulagam Sutrum Valiban ( Globetrotting Youngster) is a 1973 science-fiction action film directed by M. G. Ramachandran.Hirak Rajar Deshe1980BengaliWritten and directed by Satyajit Ray. Starring Tapen Chatterjee, Rabi Ghosh, Soumitra Chatterjee and Utpal Dutt. The film features a tyrannical king (played by Utpal Dutt) who, along with a scientist (played by Santosh Dutta), uses extraordinary gadgets to brainwash people who protest against him.Shiva Ka Insaaf1985HindiSuperhero film directed by Raj N. Sippy, starring Jackie Shroff, Poonam Dhillon, and Gulshan Grover.Jaithra Yaathra1987MalayalamStarring Nizhalgal Ravi, Thilakan, Babu Antony in lead roles and directed by Sasi Kumar. The music director is Shyam and lyrics are by Poovachal Khader. It is a film involving a scientist played by Thilakan who invents a locket that makes a man invisible. Using the locket Nizhalgal Ravi the hero takes revenge against Babu Antony the villain.Mr. India1987HindiSuperhero film written by Salim–Javed and directed by Shekhar Kapur, starring Anil Kapoor, Sridevi, and Amrish Puri.Nalaya Manithan1989TamilSet in the 21st century a doctor finds a drug that can give back life to dead upon injecting it to a dead body within 2 hours of death. After testing it on a human subject he discovers that the zombie he created is immortal.Toofan1989HindiSuperhero film directed by Ketan Desai, starring Amitabh Bachchan, Meenakshi Seshadri. It stars Amitabh Bachchan in a double role as twin brothers. One is the title character Toofan, a superhero who uses his crossbrow as a weapon and the other is a magician named Shyam.Adhisaya Manithan1990TamilIt is a sequel to blockbuster Nalaya Manithan in which the zombie killed in the end, still lives and hunts human trespassers in an abandoned mansion.Aditya 3691991TeluguIt is the first time travel film made in India. The film explored dystopian and post-apocalyptic themes in a satirical manner. It was a critical and commercial success and is considered a landmark film in the science fiction genre of Indian cinema. The film revolves around a time machine and a diamond robbery.Laal Paree1991HindiFilm starring Aditya Pancholi, Sohani, Javed Jaffrey and Gulshan Grover. Story is about Shankar, who falls in love with a girl, unaware of that she is a mermaid. Dr Jacob discovers this and tries every possible way to expose her, not knowing that she will encounter danger. It was inspired from 1984 American movie 'Splash'.Hollywood2002KannadaHollywood is a 2002 sci-fi Kannada movie directed by Dinesh Babu. It starred Upendra in a triple role as "Surendra," "Upendra" and "US 47" (an android robot) along with the Australian actress Felicity Mason as "Manisha." The movie was dubbed into Telugu the following year retaining the same title.Patalghar2003BengaliThe film is about a gang of criminals was searching for an ancient sleeping machine in old houses directed by Abhijit Chaudhuri.Funn2shh..2003HindiA comedy film depicting time travel to the 10th centuryKoi... Mil Gaya2003HindiA Bollywood alien visitation film starring Hrithik Roshan, Rekha and Preity Zinta. The story revolves around a mentally handicapped young boy Rohit Mehra, who comes to meet with an alien into the earth. He gets a supernatural powers from the alien, by which he gradually becomes physically and mentally smart and strong. Even after the alien returns to his world, Rohit gets a power permanently from the alien. Naani / New2004Telugu