I am keeping the romantic mushy-wushy stuff out of these recs. Bollywood is more famous for such movies and if you want to know more about them, I ll be glad to oblige.
To note, none of the Amitabh ones I listed above are romantic flicks. Some of them contain SOME romance but overall their subject matter is way different - some are hard-hitting dramas, other tense thrillers and reality-based actor-driven plots.
Not to go TOO far back in my recs, but if you are interested, definitely check out some of Satyajit Ray's masterful works in cinema - Pather Panchali, Apur Sansar, Aparajito...the man was a genius, in the veins of a Kurosawa or a Hitchcock. Each of his movies is a visually stunning masterpiece.
Anyway, onto those which I consider as must-sees...
Ghulami (set in pre-Independence India) -
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0089201/
Pushpak (a very unique flick, watch and see why) -
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0251355/
Arth -
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0083578/
Ankush (wonderful) -
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0157316/
Parinda -
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0102636/
Prahaar -
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0102701/
Company -
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0296574/
Satya -
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0195231/
Bombay -
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0112553/
Lagaan -
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0169102/
Rang De Basanti -
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0405508/
Dil Chahta Hai -
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0292490/
Ek Hasina Thi -
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0352314/
Anjaam -
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0109134/
Mother India -
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0050188/
Nayakan -
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0093603/
Omkara -
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0488414/
More recs later.