International Men’s Day, celebrated every year on 19 November, is meant to do two simple but important things: say “thank you” to the men and boys who show up for us, and shine a light on the issues they often hide behind a straight face — mental health, pressure to “provide”, loneliness, and changing roles at home and work.
It isn’t a “counter” to any other day. Remember this: men play more than one role; they stand as sons, brothers, fathers, friends, and coworkers who wrestle with fear and heavy goals. You can open hard talks at home when you sit side by side, watch a screen, and let a rich tale lift the weight.
When you build an International Men’s Day marathon, our movies catalogue does half the work and points your eyes to clear picks. Choose small family dramas, massive patriotic hits, angry cops who chase the truth, and brothers who would torch the world for each other. If you seek Hindi stories, start with our huge Hindi movies shelf, and if you crave thrills, hit the Action and Thriller rows with brave picks. For soft, heart-first pieces, step into the Drama section and take your time with calm, wise choices.
This 12-film line-up streams on our platform and fits International Men’s Day with care, hope, and steady grit. Share the films with your dad, your friends, your partner, or watch them by yourself if you need a clear, true sign that all your feelings matter.
What To Watch On International Men’s Day To Celebrate Even More
Sam Bahadur – Leadership With A Human Face
Vicky Kaushal’s Sam Bahadur is an obvious International Men’s Day pick, but for good reason. The film follows Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw’s journey from a young officer to one of India’s most respected military leaders, focusing on his wit, courage and refusal to bend when it mattered most.
What makes it perfect for this day is not just the war-room swagger; it’s the way the film shows Sam as a husband, friend, boss and mentor. You see a man who can make hard calls without losing his humour or empathy, a kind of masculinity that quietly holds everyone else together.
Kadak Singh – A Father Owning His Mistakes
In Kadak Singh, Pankaj Tripathi’s AK Shrivastav wakes up on a hospital bed with retrograde amnesia and several people telling him very different versions of who he used to be. As the truth slowly surfaces, so do his failures as a father and partner.
For International Men’s Day, this film hits hard because it gives a middle-aged man something Indian cinema often denies him — the space to admit, “I messed up,” and still try to repair his relationships. It’s about accountability without humiliation, and about the quiet bravery of going back to your family as a better man.
Kaalidhar Laapata – Loneliness, Memory And Dignity
Kaalidhar Laapata follows Kaalidhar, a middle-aged man struggling with memory loss who overhears his family’s plan to abandon him and decides to run away. On paper it’s a drama; on screen it feels like a gentle punch to the gut.
You watch a man who once had authority and pride trying to hold on to basic dignity. It’s a strong International Men’s Day choice if you want to talk about ageing, illness, and how easily older men can slip into loneliness when they stop being “useful” in society’s eyes.
Bhagwat Chapter One: Raakshas – A Cop Versus His Own Darkness
In Bhagwat Chapter One: Raakshas, Arshad Warsi’s Inspector Vishwas Bhagwat is thrown into a brutal case that forces him to stare directly at the monsters humans can become. Jitendra Kumar’s darker turn adds another layer to the moral maze.
This is International Men’s Day viewing for when you want something gritty: a man wrestling not just with a criminal, but with his own methods, limits, and conscience. It’s about how far a “good man” can go before he starts to look like the thing he’s chasing.
Game Changer – Anger, Power And Cleaning Up The System
Game Changer puts Ram Charan in the role of an IAS officer who refuses to look away from corruption, even when the enemy is one of the most powerful politicians around.
This one fits International Men’s Day because it’s built around a man who has every reason to compromise — career, security, pressure — and still chooses the harder path. It’s about anger funnelled into reform instead of random violence, and about masculinity anchored in public service rather than ego.
Gadar 2 – Fatherhood In The Middle Of A Storm
Sunny Deol’s Tara Singh returns in Gadar 2, set against another wave of Indo–Pak conflict as he heads across the border to rescue his son. The stakes are patriotic and personal at the same time.
On International Men’s Day, Gadar 2 works as a full-throttle tribute to fathers who would walk into fire for their children. It’s loud, emotional, and unapologetically old-school — and sometimes that’s exactly the energy a family get-together needs.
Uri: The Surgical Strike – Discipline, Camaraderie And “How’s The Josh?”
Uri: The Surgical Strike follows Major Vihaan Singh Shergill and his team as they plan and execute the 2016 surgical strike in response to the Uri attack.
You already know the iconic “How’s the josh?” line. What makes it ideal for International Men’s Day is what sits behind that slogan: the mental preparation, the trust inside the unit, the quiet moments when soldiers text home and then head into danger anyway. It’s a portrait of men who carry fear and duty together, without letting one cancel the other.
Raksha Bandhan – A Brother Carrying The Whole World On His Shoulders
Aanand L. Rai’s Raksha Bandhan follows Lala Kedarnath, a small-shop owner who has promised his dying mother he will get his four sisters married into good homes before thinking of his own life.
The film is wrapped in humour and old-school emotion, but at its core is a very Indian version of masculinity: the brother who quietly takes on everyone’s responsibilities while ignoring his own needs. On International Men’s Day, watching this with family can open up real conversations about emotional labour, dowry pressures, and why “eldest son” isn’t a job description for life.
Vanvaas – When The Family Patriarch Is Also Just A Man
Vanvaas, directed by Anil Sharma, casts Nana Patekar as the head of a family trying to hold fraying bonds together in a changing world.
This is not a glossy festival postcard; it’s a story of sacrifices, misunderstandings and the ego clashes that simmer in almost every joint family. For International Men’s Day, Vanvaas is a reminder that even the most “powerful” father in the house is often scared of becoming irrelevant, and that older men, too, want to be heard rather than just obeyed.
Simmba – From Loud, Corrupt Cop To Reluctant Hero
In Simmba, Ranveer Singh starts off as a cop who happily milks his uniform for comfort and cash — until a brutal crime forces him to confront what he has become.
As International Men’s Day viewing, Simmba is a crowd-pleaser that still leaves you with something to chew on: the idea that masculinity isn’t fixed. A man can be selfish, cocky, even corrupt, and still choose a different path when reality finally hits hard enough.
Sankranthiki Vasthunam – Festival, Family And Second Chances
Venkatesh Daggubati leads Sankranthiki Vasthunam, an action-packed Telugu entertainer set around the festive season, blending comedy, drama and high-stakes confrontations.
Beneath the masala, it’s about a man juggling expectations from different sides — tradition versus modernity, family versus system, heart versus duty. On International Men’s Day, it’s a good reminder that a lot of men are constantly trying to keep everyone happy while figuring out who they are in the middle of it all.
Bhairavam – Friendship, Betrayal And The Cost Of Power
Finally, Bhairavam brings you to a village torn up by land politics and ambition. The film tracks three childhood friends whose bond gets slowly poisoned by power games and conspiracies.
For International Men’s Day, this one is all about male friendship — how it can be a lifeline, and how easily it can crack under pressure. It’s a sharp look at what happens when money, ego and politics start speaking louder than loyalty.
How To Watch Smarter And Actually Enjoy International Men’s Day
Don’t just scroll, pick one random title, and hope for the best. Build a small International Men’s Day “playlist” that matches the men and boys around you:
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With your dad or grandfather: try Sam Bahadur, Vanvaas and Raksha Bandhan — three very different takes on responsibility and legacy.
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With friends: stack Game Changer, Simmba, Bhairavam and Bhagwat Chapter One: Raakshas for a long night of action, politics and moral dilemmas.
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For a patriotic mood: go with Uri: The Surgical Strike and Gadar 2 back-to-back, then cool down with the more introspective Kadak Singh or Kaalidhar Laapata.
On the practical side, keep it simple:
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Open the app or website, search each of these titles and add them to your watchlist so you’re not hunting at 9 pm.
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Decide an order and a cut-off time in advance — it keeps the mood light instead of everyone arguing over “one more film”.
If younger kids are around, start with lighter or festival-friendly titles like Raksha Bandhan or Sankranthiki Vasthunam and save the darker thrillers for later. International Men’s Day should feel like a shared experience, not homework.
Wrapping Up: Why International Men’s Day Belongs On Your Watchlist
International Men’s Day doesn’t need speeches, balloons or long social media posts. Sometimes, all it needs is a good film, a shared couch, and the willingness to see the men in your life as full human beings — brave and fragile, stubborn and soft, all at once.
From the battlefield courage of Sam Bahadur and Uri, to the messy family duties in Raksha Bandhan and Vanvaas, to the moral U-turns in Simmba, Game Changer and Bhagwat Chapter One: Raakshas, these 12 movies give you enough angles on manhood to keep the conversations going long after the credits roll.
So this International Men’s Day, don’t just send a text or forward a quote. Build your own little festival of stories, press play, and let these men on screen quietly nudge the men you know — and the man you are — toward something a little more honest, kind and courageous.
Bio of Author: Gayatri Tiwari is an experienced digital strategist and entertainment writer, bringing 20+ years of content expertise to one of India’s largest OTT platforms. She blends industry insight with a passion for cinema to deliver engaging, trustworthy perspectives on movies, TV shows and web series.
