Vishal Bhardwaj

Composer, writer, director and producer · Born August 4, 1960 (66) · Bijnor, Uttar Pradesh, India

Vishal Bhardwaj is an Indian film director, screenwriter, producer, music composer and playback singer. He is known for his work in Hindi cinema, and is the recipient of a Filmfare Award and seven National Film Awards in four categories. Bhardwaj made his debut as a music composer with the children's film Abhay (The Fearless) (1995), and received wider recognition with his compositions in Gulzar's Maachis (1996). He received the Filmfare RD Burman Award for New Music Talent for the latter. He went on to compose music for the films Satya (1998) and Godmother (1999). For the latter, he garnered the National Film Award for Best Music Direction. Bhardwaj made his directorial debut with the children's film Makdee (2002), for which he also composed the music. He garnered critical acclaim and several accolades for writing and directing the Indian adaptations of three tragedies by William Shakespeare: Maqbool (2003) from Macbeth, Omkara (2006) from Othello, and Haider (2014) from Hamlet. He has also directed the caper thriller Kaminey, the black comedy 7 Khoon Maaf (2011), and the satire Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola (2013). In addition, Bhardwaj produces films under his banner VB Pictures. He has co-written and produced the films Ishqiya (2010), its sequel Dedh Ishqiya (2014), and the crime drama Talvar (2015), among others. He has composed the musical score for each of his directorial and production ventures, and frequently collaborates with the lyricist Gulzar. He is married to playback singer Rekha Bhardwaj.

Biography from TMDB.

Born: August 4, 1960 (66)
From: Bijnor, Uttar Pradesh, India
Works as: Composer, writer, director and producer
Titles: 24 on MovieCove · 58 credits in all
Links: IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 39 days to Oct 28Down 25% in 30 days

What are Vishal Bhardwaj's films like?

Across their 20 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Bonds.

Genres

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight

Morality

30%

Bonds

25%

Self

20%

Power

13%

Survival

Ideas

Society

Romantic love5 Justice4 Self-worth3 Betrayal3 Family bonds2 Marriage2 Ambition2 Redemption3

What they feel like to watch

their average across 20 films

ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category

Earnest

Tone · Sincerity

ironicearnest

Ironic 1 · Wry 3 · Earnest 16

Dark

Tone · Weight

lightdark

Light 2 · Serious 5 · Dark 13

Stylized

Tone · Style

naturalisticheightened

Grounded 6 · Stylized 9 · Heightened 5

Intense

Feel · Intensity

gentleintense

Gentle 2 · Charged 2 · Intense 16

Shifting

Feel · Swings

steadyswings

Steady 4 · Shifting 11 · Whiplash 5

Straight-faced

Feel · Humor

noneconstant

Straight-faced 12 · Some laughs 6 · Funny 2

Even-paced

Demand · Pace

slowrelentless

Slow burn 3 · Even-paced 14 · Relentless 3

Engaged

Demand · Attention

casualfull focus

Casual 2 · Engaged 10 · Full focus 8

Heavy

Demand · Emotional cost

easyheavy

Easy watch 2 · Affecting 6 · Heavy 12

Open-ended

Demand · Resolution

resolvedambiguous

Resolved 9 · Open-ended 9 · Ambiguous 2

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense

Dread

Melancholic

Romantic

Warm

Other

How their films linger

Bittersweet9 Haunting7 Thought-provoking6 Hopeful5 Unsettling4 Devastating3

How their films end · 6 with a twist

Happy3
Bittersweet6
Tragic5
Ambiguous6

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Vishal Bhardwaj's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 15 of their 24 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Netflix (7).

Also on these channels

Eros Now4 titles, show their 4 titles on Eros Now

Subscription and free streaming for Vishal Bhardwaj's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

58 credits, 24 with a MovieCove page; 6 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

Lust Stories 3(2026)
Director · Composer · Writer
Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films
O' Romeo(2026)
Director · Composer · Lyricist · Producer · Screenplay
Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films
Gustaakh Ishq(2025)
Composer
Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films
Crazxy(2025)
Composer
Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films
Kuch Sapney Apne (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2024)
Songs · Theme Song Performance
Khufiya(2023)
Director · Composer · Dialogue · Lyricist · Producer · Screenplay
Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films
Charlie Chopra & the Mystery of Solang Valley (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)
Show 6 episodes · Director · Composer · Creator · Producer · Writer
Fursat (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)
Director · Composer · Writer
Kuttey(2023)
Additional Writing · Composer · Dialogue · Producer
Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films
Darlings(2022)
Composer · Music Director
Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films
Modern Love Mumbai(2022)
Show 6 episodes · Director · Composer · Lyricist · Writer
Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all shows
Navarasa(2021)
Show 1 episode · Composer
Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all shows
1232 KMs (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2021)
Composer
Sonchiriya (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)
Composer
Pataakha (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)
Director · Composer · Producer · Screenplay
Beyond the Clouds (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)
Dialogue
Carbon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)
Composer
Rangoon(2017)
Director · Composer · Producer · Screenplay
Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films
Roots (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)
Actor
Madaari (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)
Composer
Jugni(2016)
Playback Singer
Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films
Motu Patlu: King of Kings(2016)
Composer
Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films
Talvar(2015)
Composer · Producer · Writer
Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films
Drishyam(2015)
Composer
Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films
Hawaizaada(2015)
Composer
Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films
Haider (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)
Director · Composer · Dialogue · Producer · Screenplay
Dedh Ishqiya (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)
Composer · Dialogue · Producer · Screenplay
Ek Thi Daayan(2013)
Composer · Dialogue · Producer · Screenplay · Story
Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films
Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola(2013)
Director · Composer · Dialogue · Producer · Screenplay · Story
Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all films
7 Khoon Maaf(2011)
Director · Composer · Playback Singer · Producer · Screenplay
Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films
Striker (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)
Composer
Ishqiya (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)
Composer · Dialogue · Producer · Screenplay
Kaminey(2009)
Director · Composer · Dialogue · Screenplay
Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films
Haal-e-Dil (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)
Composer
U Me Aur Hum(2008)
Composer
Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films
No Smoking(2007)
Composer · Producer
Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films
Blood Brothers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)
Director · Dialogue
The Blue Umbrella (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)
Director · Co-Producer · Composer · Dialogue · Screenplay
Nishabd(2007)
Composer
Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films
Omkara(2006)
Director · Composer · Dialogue · Screenplay
Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films
Ramji Londonwaley (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)
Composer
Bhagmati – The Queen of Fortunes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)
Composer
Paanch (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)
Composer
Chupke Se (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)
Composer
Maqbool(2003)
Director · Co-Producer · Composer · Dialogue · Screenplay
Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films
Makdee (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)
Director · Composer · Producer · Screenplay · Story
Love Ke Liye Kuch Bhi Karega (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)
Composer
Dil Pe Mat Le Yaar!! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)
Composer
Gubbare (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)
Show 1 episode · Director
Jahan Tum Le Chalo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)
Music Director
Satya (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)
Composer
Daya (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)
Composer
Chachi 420 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)
Composer
Maachis (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)
Composer
Sanshodhan (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)
Composer
Abhay (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)
Composer
Talvar 2 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)
Director
Untitled Tarun Tejpal Project (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)
Director · Producer · Writer

Career shape

A full career of 57 titles, 55 of them dated from 1995 to 2026.

Biggest box office

Omkara (2006)

$16M worldwide

Highest rated

Drishyam (2015)

Midcredits 98^th

By role

only this rolewith another role

Acting1 of 57Directing20 of 57 · 56^thWriting24 of 57 · 55^thProducing18 of 57 · 55^thMusic47 of 57 · 55^thOther crew7 of 57

57 titles, 24 with more than one role — music and writing overlap on 21 of them.

By decade

1990s8 · crew2000s16 · crew2010s18 · 1 acting · 17 crew2020s13 · crew

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored.

How do Vishal Bhardwaj's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 56^th percentile, the median of all 22; across their 20 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 56^th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

56^thpercentile

Typical film, the median of 20

Approval · how many liked their films

74^thpercentile

Typical film, the median of 20

Reach · how many have seen their films

75^thpercentile

Typical film, the median of 20

Midcredits score across 24 titles, by percentile

75^th and up9
50^th to 74^th6
25^th to 49^th7
Below 25^th2

Shape of the crowd

10 of their 24 titles are Mixed.

Universally Loved8
Loved with Detractors1
Cult Classic4
Crowd Pleaser1
Mixed10

Most divisive · composer

Darlings (2022)

88^th percentile spread · 25% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · composer

Drishyam (2015)

Midcredits 98^th · 89% liked

Reviewers score the sound and music 73/100 in their films, across 19 reviewed titles; fans 78, detractors 54. The element that speaks to their work as a composer.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Vishal Bhardwaj's work okay for kids?

Across up to 15 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore and frightening / intense run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles

Violence & Gore8 titles52–82 · median 65 · intenseheavier than most films

Sex & Nudity15 titles22–59 · median 34 · mildnear the median of all films

Profanity9 titles26–91 · median 36 · moderatenear the median of all films

Alcohol & Drugs9 titles27–80 · median 37 · moderatenear the median of all films

Frightening / Intense7 titles56–80 · median 69 · intenseheavier than most films

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Vishal Bhardwaj work with?

People who share at least 2 of Vishal Bhardwaj's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Rekha Bhardwaj shares the most, 8.

Writers

Abhishek Chaubey4 titles · 3 as writer See all 4 shared titles with Abhishek Chaubey
Rohan Narula2 titles See all 2 shared titles with Rohan Narula
Matthew Robbins2 titles See all 2 shared titles with Matthew Robbins
Sabrina Dhawan2 titles See all 2 shared titles with Sabrina Dhawan

Vishal Bhardwaj

What are Vishal Bhardwaj's films like?

Genres

Themes

What they feel like to watch

Moods and endings

Where can I watch Vishal Bhardwaj's films?

Filmography

Career shape

By role

By decade

How do Vishal Bhardwaj's films land?

Shape of the crowd

Is Vishal Bhardwaj's work okay for kids?

Who does Vishal Bhardwaj work with?

Writers

Actors

Cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles