Millions of people worldwide suffer from alopecia areata, also called spot baldness, which results in hair loss. Though it may be apparent in its physical form, the emotional pain it causes is often ignored. However, luckily cinema has picked up on this touchy subject and there have been many films made around it. From endearing tear-jerkers to drama-ridden comedies these movies get at the heart of life with alopecia areata and celebrate differences along with strength.
Let us have a look at the top 10 films that truly portray the condition beautifully by telling stories about bravery, acceptance and self-discovery.
1. Gone Kesh (2019)
- Genre: Comedy/Drama
- Run Time: 110 minutes
- Director: Qasim Khallow
- Cast: Shweta Tripathi, Jitendra Kumar, Vipin Sharma, Deepika Amin
- IMDb Rating: 6.8/10
“Gone Kesh”, directed by Qasim Khallow, follows a young girl whose life changes when she gets diagnosed with alopecia, a condition where one loses their hair rapidly till they become bald. Enakshi is an aspiring dancer struggling with her condition as she gradually loses her hair and her dream of becoming a dancer. Shweta Tripathi in the leading role as Enakshi, in this comedy-drama, did a stellar job to pull us into the story. “Gone Kesh” isn’t just about the struggles of alopecia areata. It is also about friendship, family, and the importance of staying true to yourself. It is a heartwarming and inspiring movie with the ability to make you laugh, cry, and cheer for Enakshi every step of the way.
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2. Bala (2019)
- Genre: Comedy/Thriller
- Run Time: 133 minutes
- Director: Amar Kaushik
- Cast: Ayushmann Khurrana, Bhumi Pednekar, Yami Gautam
- IMDb Rating: 7.3/10
Starring Ayushman Khuranna, “Bala” follows the life of Balmukund “Bala” Shukla who deals with premature balding. Bala, who as a kid made fun of his elderly balding teacher, is now dealing with premature patterned hairloss himself that affects his love life. In a series of misunderstandings, his crush accepts his marriage proposal without knowing about his condition. Things go awry when she discovers his baldness. This film touches on topics of obsession with beauty stands like perfect hair and fair skin. The movie is excellent at bringing out the shallowness of societal beauty standards through clever comedy. We recommended this film for its social message on the topic!
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3. Beautifully Insecure (2016)
- Genre: Drama/Romance
- Run Time: 86 minutes
- Director: Nakia T Hamilton
- Cast: Nelson J. Davis, Yesse Rodriguez, Jenique Bennett
- IMDb Rating: 5.7/10
“Beautifully Insecure”, stars Jennifer Bennett as Leanna, an Alopecia patient who falls in love while trying to accept herself. Leanna, who lost all her hair by age 9 was never so keen showing her baldness to the world and continued to hide her insecurities with wigs. Things change when she falls in love with Terrance and can no longer hide her secret.
“Beautifully Insecure” is a warm-hearted tale of finding oneself and daring to be vulnerable. If you are looking for movies that talk about self-love and acceptance, this hits right in the spot!
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4. Ujda Chaman (2019)
- Genre: Comedy/Thriller
- Run Time: 120 minutes
- Director: Abhishek Pathak
- Cast: Sunny Singh, Maanvi Gagroo, Saurabh Shukla, Karishma Sharma
- IMDb Rating: 6.9/10
“Ujda Chaman” is a 2019 satirical drama and a remake of the popular Kannada film, “Ondu Motteya Kathe”. The story follows the life of Chaman Kohli, a 30-year-old man who is frustrated in his search to find a bride. What follows is Chaman’s struggles to find a suitable wife and his own prejudices over Apsara, an oversized girl with whom he develops a strange dynamic. Starring Sunny Singh as Chaman, this film delves into the themes of societal expectations and inner biases. The movie has some really funny parts, especially in the first half where it mocks societal standards of beauty. It is surely an entertaining watch!
5. Ondu Motteya Kathe (2017)
- Genre: Comedy/Romance
- Run Time: 124 minutes
- Director: Raj B. Shetty
- Cast: Raj B. Shetty, Usha Bhandary, Amrutha Naik, Deepak Rai Panaje
- IMDb Rating: 7.9/10
“Ondu Motteya Kathe” follows the story of a 28-year-old lecturer named Janardhan (played by Raj B. Shetty). When an astrologer predicts that he will become celibate for life if he does not get married within one year, he becomes desperate to find himself a wife. Janardhan, who has never had a great rapport with females, comes across many as girls reject him due to looks, especially his balding head. The actors have performed well and there are some really funny moments in the movie. Shetty does a fantastic job as Janardhan and adds lots of charm and humor to the character. The supporting cast is also strong, with memorable turns by Prakash Belawadi and Pramod Shetty among others. The main theme in the movie is important because it teaches self-acceptance through entertaining and thought-provoking ways. This film should be watched by anyone who has ever worried about how they look.
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6. Thamaasha (2019)
- Genre: Drama/Romance
- Run Time: 120 minutes
- Director: Ashraf Hamza
- Cast: Vinay Forrt, Chinnu Chandhini, Divya Prabha, Grace Antony
- IMDb Rating: 7.7/10
“Thamaasha” is a 2019 Malayalam film about a 31-year-old lecturer named Srinivasan, with plain looks and a passive personality, struggling with alopecia. In his determination to find a wife, he meets many women but gets rejected due to his baldness. When his family makes him get to know an obese girl named Chinnu, he is overcome with his own prejudices and things turn south. The movie is only about romance; rather the film looks into the difficulties Srinivasan encounters in this market for marriage. “Thamaasha” digs much deeper making us realize the significance of embracing our own selves and making sincere bonds which don’t just rely on outward appearances alone.
7. An Everlasting Piece (2000)
- Genre: Comedy/Drama
- Run Time: 108 minutes
- Director: Barry Levinson
- Cast: Barry McEvoy, Brían F. O’Byrne, Anna Friel, Billy Connolly
- IMDb Rating: 6.2/10
“An Everlasting Piece” is a comedy-drama movie that will have you ROFL-ing! Set in 1980s Belfast, two friends Colm and George set out to dominate the market for toupees in Northern Ireland. The two business partners get a madman named “The Scraper”, former toupeé monopolist, to give them his client’s list. Then, they set out to sell wigs and compete with a rival company through a hilarious series of misadventures keeping their religious differences aside. Directed by Barry Levinson, “An Everlasting Piece” is a hilarious feel-good comedy that will make you happy no matter your mood. With its eccentric characters, clever banter, and moments that melt your heart, it’s perfect for a cozy evening at home with friends.
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8. Herman (1990)
- Genre: Family/Drama
- Run Time: 106 minutes
- Director: Erik Gustavson
- Cast: Anders Danielsen, Frank Robert, Elisabeth Sand, Kai Remlov
- IMDb Rating: 6.1/10
Based on a novel of the same name by Lars Saabye Christensen, “Herman” is a Norwegian film about a young boy (Anders Danielsen Lie) with a rare genetic condition known as childhood baldness. He struggles in school as his classmates shun him while some others bully him. The latter causes him to have numerous violent mood swings and, consequently, he withdraws into a world of fantasy more often than before. Nonetheless, Herman’s parents (Elisabeth Sand and Bjørn Floberg) stand by him thus making his difficult teenage years easier for this abnormality-afflicted teenager.
9. I am 24 (2010)
- Genre: Comedy/Romance
- Run Time: 118 minutes
- Director: Saurabh Shukla
- Cast: Rajat Kapoor, Ranvir Shorey, Neha Dhupia, Manjari Fadnis
- IMDb Rating: 6/10
“I M 24” is a hilarious rom-com directed by Saurabh Shukla. The story follows a 42-year-old balding writer Shubendu (played by Rajat Kapoor) who falls in love with a beautiful 22-year-old Kanika played by Manjari Fadnis. To woo his love interest, he does the unthinkable—pretends to 24. What follows is a series of hilarious events including lies, more lies and cover ups to not reveal his actual age. This underrated gem with its balanced mix of humor and entertainment is highly recommended.
10. Hair is Falling (2011)
- Genre: Comedy/Drama
- Run Time: 75 minutes
- Director: Vicky Bhardwaj
- Cast: Rajesh Bhardwaj, Sanjana Tiwari, Mahender Singh
- IMDb Rating: 5.4/10
Released in 2011, “Hair is Falling” is a comedy-filled roller coaster that narrates the life of Akshay, a young man whose dreams of becoming a model starts to waver as he grapples with alopecia. The first half of the movie shows Akshay’s youth and his struggles with hair loss and the second half gives us a glimpse of his desperation as he tries various methods to bring his hair follicles to life. Directed by Vicky Bhardwaj, this is a light entertainment with superb songs and a social message.
Alopecia is a serious condition that can cause psychological stress and loss of identity. These films help bring awareness to the issue of baldness. We hope you like this list containing the top movies on alopecia areata!
