There is an element of evil in all of us. Being bad is sometimes so appealing that it seems more heroic than being the hero. A glance at Hindi cinema will tell you that truth always wins and it’s always the hero who gets the bride or wins the battle. Cut to reality. Being bad is good. You just have to get the work done. Ends will justify the means.

The Godfather 1&2: Mario Puzo glorified gangsters with Francis Ford Coppola’s direction. It won the Oscars for best picture, actor (Marlon Brando) and adapted screenplay. It is about Corleone mafia family where Vito (played by Brando) hands over his clandestine crime syndicate to his reluctant son Michael (Al Pacino). It’s a must-watch for every film lover. The second part shows the early life of Vito Corleone which was eliminated from the first part. The third installment is not as impressive.

American Gangster: Denzel Washington is a small time drug dealer, Frank Lucas and Russell Crowe plays detective Richie Roberts. It is a story about the two sides of the American Dream. Lucas uses the US soldiers to import drugs from Vietnam and makes a fortune. He threatens the existence of every other drug dealer and expands his empire. Roberts sacrifices his personal life to pull down Lucas’ kingdom.

No Country For Old Men: In countryside Texas, a hunter Llewelyn Moss discovers a stash of drugs, pile of dead bodies and $2 million in cash. Instead of reporting the incident to the police, Moss keeps the cash and goes on the run. This puts psychopath killer Anton Chigurh on his trail. It won four Oscars and hearts of millions for its engrossing story telling.

The Dark Knight: Director Christopher Nolan presented the joker in a new avatar in this Batman series. Heath Ledger played a hypnotic role as Joker that won him an Oscar for a supportive role posthumously. The joker is more impressive than gadget-rich Batman. A must-see movie before you die.

The Departed: Directed by Martin Scorsese, this must-watch is a remake of the 2002 Hong Kong film Infernal Affairs. The film has a time-tested plot of how one’s identity makes one act in different situations even dreams. Two men go undercover on either sides of law. Blood flows when moles are discovered and covers are busted.

Face Off: This cop and crook story starring Nicolas Cage and John Travolta was made in Hindi and named Aks. A technological breakthrough in medical science helps a detective change his appearance to look like a notorious criminal. The cop infiltrates the crime czar’s organisation jeopardising his personal life and family.

Some good movies with a devil protagonist are V for Vendetta, Watchman and Scarface. Among Hindi movies there’s Tashan with a decent comic role by Akshay Kumar, Dhoom 2, Omkara, Darr, Kaante, Sarkar and Sarkar Raj.