10 Movies That Feature Disability

Often we imagine ourselves as isolated beings, moving through a world of others-separate, self-contained, and defined by difference. But look closely, and you’ll see that life is not a collection of fixed identities, but a flowing dance of change, perception, and paradox. What we call "disability" is not a lack, but a different rhythm in the music of being.

A lot of the times we forget that we tend to live under a powerful illusion that makes us believe each of us is a separate self, moving through a world of others, defined by the boundaries of body, ability, and identity. In this way of thinking, difference becomes division.

We draw lines: able and disabled, whole and broken, self and other. But these are only ideas—labels we place on the ever-changing flow of life to make sense of it. And while they may be useful at times, they can also blind us to a deeper truth. That no one is truly separate, and no life is more or less valuable than another.

This is where the power of storytelling comes in. Those told through film, especially have a unique ability to break the spell of separation visually. They bypass our usual defenses and speak directly to the heart, allowing us to momentarily step out of our own perspective and into someone else’s world. And when those stories center on differently-abled lives, told not as tales of pity or inspiration, but as full expressions of humanity, something profound happens.

Disability Movies

Here is a list of films that feature tales about disability and differently abled:

Scent of A Woman

This classic film follows Frank Slade (Al Pacino), a blind, irritable retired army officer who embarks on a final weekend trip with a young caretaker. The story reveals Frank’s struggles with blindness, loneliness, and his zest for life despite his disability. Scent of A Woman won Al Pacino the Academy Award for Best Actor for his powerful portrayal of blindness and complex human emotion.

Anjali

Directed by Mani Ratnam, the film is known for its sensitive treatment of disability, a rare theme in mainstream Indian cinema at the time, Anjali is a touching story about a young girl with a developmental disability and her family’s journey to acceptance and love. The film sensitively portrays the impact of disability on family dynamics in Indian society.

Shwaas

A Marathi film,Shwaas explores the life of a young boy suffering from a rare eye disease and his grandfather’s desperate struggle to get him treated. The film highlights themes of hope, parental love, and the medical challenges faced by differently-abled individuals. Directed by Sandeep Sawant, the film was India's official entry for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in 2004 and was a landmark success for Marathi cinema. Moreover, the film starring won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Marathi.

Awakenings

Based on Oliver Sacks’ memoir, the film follows Dr. Malcolm Sayer (Robin Williams), who discovers a drug that temporarily “awakens” catatonic patients who have been frozen in a state for decades due to encephalitis lethargica. Robert De Niro plays Leonard Lowe, one of these patients who experiences a brief return to consciousness and life, grappling with the sudden changes and the limitations of his condition.

Margarita With A Straw

The film follows Laila (Kalki Kochelin), a young woman with cerebral palsy, as she embarks on a journey of self-discovery, independence, and sexuality. It highlights her experiences in India and New York, challenging conventional narratives about disability and desire.

Theory of Everything

A biographical drama chronicling the life of physicist Stephen Hawking, who is diagnosed with ALS. The film explores his groundbreaking scientific work alongside his evolving relationship with his wife, Jane, and the challenges of living with a progressive disability. The film and its portrayal won British actor Eddie Redmayne (Hawking) the Oscar for Best Actor for his nuanced portrayal of Stephen Hawking.

Sadma

A remake of the Tamil film Moondram Pirai with Kamal Hassan starring in it and Sadma, the story revolves around a woman who regresses to a childlike mental state after a head injury and the man who cares for her. It explores themes of vulnerability, compassion, and the fragile nature of memory and identity and has to be one of the must-watch films.

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Srikanth

Srikanth is the biopic of Srikanth Bolla, a visually impaired industrialist born in 1992 near Hyderabad. From the moment he’s born, Srikanth’s life is shaped by both the challenges of his blindness and the prejudices of a society unprepared for difference. He grows up being mocked, denied opportunities, and navigating an educational system that often imposes limits based on ability rather than potential.

Taare Zamin Par

This heartfelt film tells the story of Ishaan, a dyslexic child misunderstood by his family and teachers until a compassionate art teacher played by Aamir Khan helps him discover his potential. The film sheds light on learning disabilities and the importance of empathy in education.

Black

Inspired by the life of Helen Keller, Black tells the story of a deaf-blind girl played by Rani Mukherjee and her teacher played brilliantly by Amitabh Bachchan, who helps her find her voice and independence against all odds. It’s a powerful meditation on communication and human connection.

Special Mentions

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Sitaare Zamin Par

Sitaare Zameen Par is a sports‑comedy‑drama directed by R. S. Prasanna, produced by Aamir Khan and Aparna Purohit. It is a remake of the 2018 Spanish film Champions. The story follows Gulshan Arora, a former basketball coach whose life has derailed due to personal issues (estrangement, disillusionment, etc.) and who is suspended and assigned a court‑mandated community service: to coach a basketball team made up of young adults with intellectual disabilities—including Down syndrome and autism.

Guzaarish

Directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, the film stars Hrithik Roshan, Aditya Roy Kapur, and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Guzaarish follows a former magician based out of Goa who becomes a quadriplegic after an accident and his fight for the right to end his life with dignity. It delves into themes of disability, euthanasia, and the human spirit’s resilience.