1 Deedar
A film that set the benchmark for Indian films about disabilities, Deedar had Dilip Kumar at his tragic and sensitive best. Dilip Kumar's sensitive handling turned his anti-hero into a melancholic lover who would rather give up his sight than his love.
2 Shor
Probably the only Indian film in mainstream cinema to deal with the issue of sound pollution, Manoj Kumar's 'Shor' was a beautiful collage of symbolism and emotions. As the single father struggling to bring up his mute son, Manoj Kumar delivered one of the best performances of his career.
3 Koshish
Koshish was a superlative film about complex human emotions by Gulzar. Starring Sanjeev Kumar and Jaya Bhaduri at their peak, the film displayed finesse and restraint while depicting the story of mute and deaf parents bringing up a child.
4 Sparsh
Sai Paranjpye brought a fresh perspective to the age-old love story in this bittersweet tale of love between a blind teacher and a widow. Naseeruddin Shah played the blind, but proud, Anirudh Parmar, while Shabana Azmi displayed seasoned skills in her role as the widowed Kavita.
5 Khamoshi: The Musical
Sanjay Leela Bhansali made a magnificent debut with the wonderful 'Khamoshi'. Though surrounded by the usual Bhansali opulence, the film's core was a sensitive tale about the child of deaf-mute parents. Nana Patekar and Seema Biswas gave a complete acting lesson with their sensitive and emotional portrayal of the parents.
6 Black
After the magnum opus of Devdas, Sanjay Leela Bhansali returned to an emotional tale. An adaptation of the story of the blind genius, Hellen Keller, Black had Amitabh Bachchan and Rani Mukherji at the apex of their abilities.
7 Dosti
The debut film of a newly formed Rajshri Productions, Dosti proved to be the biggest hit of 1964. The tale of a blind boy and a cripple, it proved to be a real tearjerker. The beautiful compositions of Laxmikant-Pyarelal added to the magic of the film.
8 My Name is Khan
As the Asperger's affected Rizwan Khan, Shah Rukh Khan put in one of the best performances of his career. A film focussed on the claustrophobic fear in post 9-11 America, My Name Is Khan was lauded for its realistic portrayal of the struggle faced by a patient with an Asperger's syndrome.
9 Margarita, With A Straw
Fun, delicious and full of spirit, Margarita with a Straw had Kalki Koechlin displaying the full oeuvre of her acting. The story of a girl afflicted with cerebral palsy, the film the traditional drama and displayed the more courageous and independent side of Kalki's character.
10 Iqbal
Shreyas Talpade's debut film had him playing a deaf and mute boy who dreams of becoming an Indian cricket star. With the acting prowess of Naseeruddin Shah and the sensitive handling of Nagesh Kukunoor, the film went on to become a sleeper hit throughout the country. It also had a guest appearance by India's World Cup winning captain, Kapil Dev.