The southern surge continues on OTT. After Bahubali, Pushpa, RRR & KGF, Suzhal sets the ball rolling for southern web series!
A sleepy small town of Sambaloor is awakened from it lazy slumber by a factory fire and a young girl gone missing! The two incidents open up many fault lines – old hostilities, complicated relationships, parental kid disconnect, abrasiveness of police, class struggle, sexual tenebrosity etc. Ladies and gentlemen, this is ‘The Mare Of Easttown’ in South Indian forgotten town where everybody knows everyone – or so they think!
The town is celebrating the nine-day carvinalisque Mayana Kollai festival and each day of the festival unveils a layer of mystery. The festival elements – music, colors, beautify adorned Goddesses, religious fervour, passionate devotees, mythology, dance and swaying – strengthen the tense drama. Full marks for the fusion – creates a unique look and feel!
The festival celebrates the Goddesses and the series is an ode to Women power – None are black and white. Have made interesting choices. Escaped. Challenged the glass ceiling. Regina (Shriya) reminds of Vijaya Shanti cop avatar but she is more brutal and vulnerable. Sakkarai, Shanmugam and Nandini give top notch performances.
The characters are very well defined and have a great depth and arc. Emotions as well as mystery. The amazing writing keeps us glued till the end – a challenge in thrillers as all of us know that only the last episode will reveal the true killer and all other possibilities are deceptive diversions!
Watch Suzhal for:
– Southern spice to OTT Thrillers
– Beautiful canvas of rich colors and layered drama
The Big Screen Extravaganza from ‘Bahubali’ Rajamouli.
Fast and Furious with ‘Naacho Naacho’
Gladiator with Bromance!
Adjectives aside, Rise Roar Revolt (RRR) is a paisa vasool entertainer with overflowing action, creative thrills and visual marvels.
A story of two revolutionaries – Fire Raju and Water Bheem – who take on the might of British empire. Bheem is on a mission to rescue a little girl that is forcefully taken away by a British Lord Scott and his cruel wife. Raju is a a loyal officer whose assignment is to stop and arrest Bheem. Rajamouli weaves the magic and melodrama as ‘friends turn foe turn friends’.
The Fire & Water elements are presented in a compelling fashion. The camaraderie is authentic. Watch-out for spell-bounding drama – the unleashing of animals, the bridge scene, Raju’s capture of a freedom fighter etc. ‘Naacho Naacho’ song deserves a special credit.
The film is not without its flaws. The film drags in the second half and story does not hold firmly. The emotional depth is missing. Ajay Devgan & Alia Bhatt ensure Bollywood diversity in their cameos.
Despite its length and loopholes, RRR’s magic works like a charm. The film is technically perfect with awesome production values and world-class Hollywood matching VFX.
Bahubali with its romance, emotional core, revenge, Katappa and overall glamour remains a much better Rajamouli movie.
RRR – Load, Aim & Shoot! Watch it on the big screen only!
What happens when an apostle of truth tries to hide something?
What happens when momentary lapse threatens to derail an entire career and image?
What happens to ethics and values when life stress tests it?
Jalsa is a story of two unequal yet equal women whose life changes due to a twist of fate. Maya Menon is the face of truth of a digital channel. An accident threatens to derail her career and life. She is a mother of specially abled son who shares a great rapport with house-maid Rukshana and grandmother. Rukshana is a maid from the margins who makes an attempt to hold on to a life of dignity. She takes pride in her work and honesty like her boss Maya.
Maya is imperfect, sassy, bossy, vulnerable, confused, rebellious, smart.
Rukshana is real, raw, righteous, proud, hopeful, humane.
The outburst of Maya on her defenceless son is one of the highlights.
A great potential lay in other characters. Young journalist who is obstinate and wanting to break a story. An honest cop who is fearing a blemish on verge of his retirement. A youngster crazy about social media likes. Divorced husband. But the director ensures that the focus is on the core story and two strong fiery women.
The movie is not judgemental. The conflict is hidden. No over attention-seeking melodrama. Beyond gender and religion. It has one of the best beginnings that keeps you hooked. Great production values.
The ending will determine the way you relate to the movie. Weird like Maya and life? Improbable? Or a hurried climax – which not everyone appreciates!
Watch Jalsa for this…but watch Jalsa for the phenomenal brilliance of Vidya Balan and Shefali Shah. The way they have unleashed the storm of their talent – just amazing! The eyes, the expressions, the emotions, the body language, the voice modulation – sheer acting masterclass! And Rohini Hattangadi and Vidhatri Bandi make it a perfect women team. Shefali has an edge over Vidya for sure!
One more strong reason to watch Jalsa is the highly commendable and appreciative decision to cast Surya Kasibhatla as a specially abled Ayush. Surya has cerebral palsy and his character makes a great impact.
Risk Hai To Ishq Hai….Harshad Mehta’s Equivalent of Gorden Gekko’s ‘Greed Is Good’
The versatile and classy director of Aligarh and Citylights, Hansal Mehta, presents the riveting tale of Harshad Mehta – once celebrated aas the ‘Big Bull’ of Indian stock markets. The 10 episode series is presented from former Times Of India journalist Sucheta Dala’s perspective and is based on her book Scam.
Harshad Mehta’s rise from an outsider to ‘BSE Ka Bachchan’& ‘Big Bull’ is shown amazingly well. It showcases how Harshad Mehta found loopholes in the Indian stock market and exploited them for his benefit. It also depicts the unholy nexus between banks, financial institutions, government officials and Godmen. Many names are clearly targeted – Chandraswami, Prime Minister Rao, Citibank etc. One can also see the early days of Ketan Parekh and Rakesh Jhunjhunwala in the series.
Sucheta Dalal and Debashis Basu get a tip on the wrong-doings of Mehta and gang and they pursue it to relentlessly.
Pratik Gandhi shines as Harshad Mehta and does full justice to the character – smart, shrewd, arrogant, showman. Shrey Dhanwanthary shines as the passionate and fiery journalist. The support cast is excellent and they add great texture to the layered drama – Satish Kaushik, Anant Mahadevan, Nikhil Dwivedi, Rajat Kapoor, K K Raina etc.
Loved the old warm charm of Bombay – 80s and 90s! Writer and Director do a good balancing act – Scam 1992 does not end as adulatory Hagiography nor it is a witch-hunt. The series could have done with better editing. The songs in the credits are wonderful. Mat Kar Maya Ka Ahankar is the beautiful end song to wrap the series…….Awesome!
A dark murder mystery of a family with lots of skeletons in the cupboard. Everyone is a complicit in the well-layered locked room crime.
Nawazuddin shines as a small town cop who unravels the truth – Reminds of his Kahaani avatar! Radhika Apte and all other characters are well sketched.
Rusty UP feel, nice direction, memorable simple dialogues and engrossing suspense! Reminds us of Knives Out, ChinaTown and Manorama Six Feet Under! Nordic Noir in Desi UP Avatar!
Shakuntala Devi: The Vidya Balan Show! Vidya-Kasam!
The unraveling of personal life of India’s most famous mathemagician Shakuntal Devi – Who tries to get the mathematical equation of life right – Celebrated career vs motherhood. Why woman cannot have it all?
Shakuntala is a genius whose aim was clear from day one -become a ‘Bada Aadmi’, not a ‘Badi Aurat’! The prodigy’s difficult childhood gives way to the fame and riches of Shakuntala Devi’s ‘human computer’ cult. The movie takes an emotional turn as Shakuntala tries to focus on family and daughter.
Its all about loving your parents – famous words from Karan Johar. But Shakuntala Devi has challenges with her parents as well as with her only child Anupama. The movie spends more time on this, leaving other strands ignored.
It is good that Shakuntala was not presented as photoshopped and Instagram perfect figure. No one likes hagiography !!!
Yet one must not forget that this is one perspective and all heavily fictionalised. True life may remain a Paheli – as the song said!
There has been a discussion on her husband’s homosexuality. Pros and cons of her approach for not sending the girl to school. Yet she should have done a better job – but she was no ordinary lady! Maybe the sheer ambition and storm that she was – helped her to go from an obscure village to a global phenomenon!
Movies help us to discover these characters and ignite discussions to help us discover our true north. Learn both small things like snowflakes and big things like importance of following your passion! And try to avoid their mistakes! And make our own unique path!
The movie is a complete Vidya Balan show. Her powerhouse performance is the life of the movie – Showing all shades of Shakuntala – Genius. Ambitious. Confident. Strong. Independent. Vibrant. Charming. Brave. Powerful. Flawed. Imperfect. Human!
Vidya is ably supported by Sanya Malhotra and others. Strong editing and overall well presented. A good watch!!
Dil Bechara Review: The Sushant Singh Swansong Is An Imperfect Farewell
Dil Bechara will always be seen as Sushant’s final goodbye. Millions will be moved to see him brighten the screen for one last time. And emotions will run high when he dies on the screen – clearly reminding us of his tragic suicide. Tears Guaranteed!
The love story of two young cancer patients – Immanuel Rajkumar Junior aka Manny (Sushant) and Kizie Basu (Sanjana) – the film depicts the fragility of life. Manny is full of life and charm while Kizie slowly starts being happy under Manny’s influence. While Kizie’s parents strengthen the proceedings, Manny’s parents and other tracks are not developed. Saif’s cameo is decent. Excellent music by genius Rahman, beautiful Jamshedpur locations and lively Sushant. Watchable….
As a Sushant Singh fan, this is a must-watch! As a ‘The Fault In Our Stars’ fan, the movie could have been better. As a typical Bollywood romance, the movie is an average fare As an A R Rahman musical, it is amazing!
Dil Bechara is indeed a reminder of the fine talent Sushant was and is a celebration of Sushant!
India’s first big brand movie to go direct on a digital streaming platform is an average fare.
Juhi Chaturvedi & Shoojit Sircar’s have a history of amazing movies – Vicky Donor, Piku and October. But Gulabo Sitabo falls short.
Fatima Mahal is the protagonist of the movie – a dilapidated and forgotten ruin with rich history and past glory. Amitabh and Ayushmann, loggerheads with each other, share a common love for the mansion. Both excel in portraying the flawed characters – emotions, mannerisms and insecurities. Excellent supporting cast with special mention for Shrishti Srivastava – out-spoken and unapologetic!
Love the slice of life of Lucknow! Amazing writing, humorous anecdotes, great cinematography and nice direction. But the film is slow and stretched and crumbles like the toilet wall of the falling mansion! Can watch it or can miss it!
Wise decision to release on digital platform – movie is not for mainstream multiplexes!
During The Course Of My Professional And Personal Interactions, The Topic Of Personal Interests Often Crops Up! As Soon As People Know That I Am Passionate About Movies And Have Professionalized My Passion Through PhD In Management Of Movies, The Next Question Is : Which Are The Best Bollywood Movies? Which Are Your Best Bollywood Movies? Can You Give Your Recommendations? As Everyone Knows, It Is A Really Difficult Question…
Everyone’s Idea Of Favorite Movie Is Unique. It Depends On Individual Preferences & Taste. And Every Indian Has Their Favorites In Bollywood, Cricket And Politics. But This Is The List For My Friends, Film-Buffs, Non-Indians & Everyone Who Like Movies – We Can Match Our Favorites ! And I Have Created A Shortlist And A Long-List.
Part 1: The Essential Bollywood List
The aim of this list is to introduce Bollywood to the newbies – people who want to explore Bollywood. The 20 movie list has mix of all genres and periods with a view to introduce versatile Indian stories and colours of India. The list was first compiled during my European abode.
3 Idiots Perfect example of a movie that wins the love of masses and classes. A complete entertainer with excellence as a theme. A comic take on Indian education system through the eyes of three friends. Impeccable acting and beautiful direction. A movie with the heart in right place. Aamir Khan, Boman Irani, Madhavan shine in the Rajkumar Hirani adaptation of Chetan Bhagat’s best-selling novel. Comedy / Drama
Amar Akbar Anthony Entertainment entertainment entertainment. The trademark magic and masala of Manmohan Desai. One of the best ensemble cast with Amitabh Bachchan, Vinod Khanna and Rishi Kapoor. The mirror scene of Amitabh is legendary. Comedy / Action.
Anand The classic! Inspirational masterpiece! A dying cancer patient spreads happiness. Art of living! Stalwarts of Indian cinema – Hrishikesh Mukherjee, Gulzar, Amitabh Bachchan and Rajesh Khanna. Beautiful music and memorable moments including: “Babumoshai, Zindagi badi honi chahiye – lambi nai”. Drama.
Baahubali The cinematic event of the Indian film industry. The South Indian industry showed that Indians can create our own ‘Lord of The Rings’. ‘Why did Katappa killed Baahubali?’ was the question that bothered millions of Indians. Drama / Action / Visual Extravaganza.
Badhaai Ho A peek into everyday Indian household with the versatile Ayushmann Khurana – the poster boy of unique characters of real India. But there is a twist – what happens when 25 year old man finds his parents are expecting another child? An awesome screenplay with spectacular performances by the entire cast. A taste of Indian cinema’s new stories. Comedy.
Bobby Innocent, refreshing and beautiful romance of the youth – unchallenged till Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak. Music and freshness were the highlight of the showman Raj Kapoor’s project to pay off debts of Mera Naam Joker and Kal,Aaj Aur Kal. The movie launched the romantic era of Rishi Kapoor and introduced Dimple Kapadia. Romance / Musical.
Dangal A sports biopic and an emotional saga of a father who fulfils his dream of winning a gold medal for the country by training his daughters. Indian sport of wrestling captured in Aamir Khan’s classic. The movie became a phenomenon in China as well. Sports / Drama.
Deewar Yash Chopra packs simple ‘Good vs Bad’ plot with a dynamite treatment. Two brothers on the opposite sides of law. Salim Javed’s dialogues and acting master class of Amitabh Bachchan, Shashi Kapoor and Nirupa Roy. ‘Mere paas maa hai’ is one of the most popular dialogues of all time. Drama / Crime / Action.
Devdas Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s grandeur and larger-than-life treatment of Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay’s novel Devdas. Perfect casting, amazing music, ‘Dola Re’ dance and overflowing emotions….Magical. Shah Rukh Khan, Madhuri Dixit and Aishwarya Rai deliver towering performances. Never has been a loser’s tale presented so magnificently! Drama / Romance / Musical.
Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jaayenge DDLJ. Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol in the mustard fields is one of the most iconic image of Indian cinema. Love is supreme but parental approval is must – the perfect Indian recipe that touched billion NRI and domestic hearts. A love story with perfectly etched characters, evergreen songs and iconic train scene in the climax. Romance / Musical.
Disco Dancer The 80s musical. Rags to riches story. Mithun was the heart throb of India and garnered amazing fan following in Russia and other parts of the world. Musical / Dance.
Do Bigha Zameen The Rabindranath Tagore poem inspired socialist drama was a trendsetter. Impressed with ‘The Bicycle Thieves’, Bimal Roy directed Balraj Sahni and Nirupa Roy in the 1953 classic. A dream to watch Balraj Sahni – he is in another zone. Drama.
Guide The masterpiece of Indian cinema. A path breaking movie that challenged societal norms and showcased the interesting journey of its lead characters – fallible humans can transform. Excellent music, most memorable songs and amazing moments showcased magically – Genius at work! Dev Anand’s home production was based on R K Narayan’s acclaimed novel of same name – though the author hated the movie. Drama / Romance.
Hum Aapke Hai Kaun The Indian wedding movie with 14 songs. The wholesome feel-good family movie with a delicate twist. All happy and smiling faces in the Rajshri drama of 1990s. Launched at a single theatre, the movie became a craze of the nation. Salman Khan and Madhuri Dixit song and dance lighted weddings for years to come. Romance / Music / Drama.
Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s sensitive treatment of an interesting dilemma of a young Indian woman. What is true love? A strong story with amazing visuals, powerful dialogues and world-class music. Salman, Aishwarya Rai and Ajay Devgan give dazzling performances. Cryptic title. Romance / Musical / Drama.
Kabhi Khushi Kabhi sGham The quintessential Bollywood family movie with the right dose of all the right emotions. The finest looking ensemble cast in beautiful locales with foot tapping music. Shah Rukh Khan, Amitabh Bachchan, Hrithik Roshan, Kareen Kapoor and Kajol with Rani Mukherjee and Jaya Bachchan. Karan Johar’s glorious success! Keh diya! Romance / Family / Drama / Music.
Mother India An iconic India movie. Mehboob Khan’s remake of his own movie (Aurat) was the most expensive and most successful revenue earner of that time. Despite facing numerous hardships and exploitation at the hands of money-lender, poverty-hit protagonist Nargis stands for integrity and righteousness. Inspirational Drama.
Mughal E Azam K Asif’s Mughal-E-Azam is a landmark of Indian cinema. A movie that took 14 years to make! The epic timeless saga of romance broke all box office records. Emperor Akbar’s son Salim loves a courtesan but the emperor does not approve the relationship. Each and every dialogue is memorable. Also, the mesmerising music and amazing cast of Madhubala, Prithviraj Kapoor and Dilip Kumar. Jab Pyaar Kiya To Darna Kya….Music / Drama / Historical.
Pakeezah Meena Kumari’s finest performance as a courtesan in Kamal Amrohi’s musical drama. Timeless music, strong dialogues, royal grandeur and impeccable direction. Drama / Music.
Sholay The complete Bollywood masala movie. It had the perfect mix of action, drama, adventure, romance, comedy, suspense with memorable characters, dialogues and songs. Ramesh Sippy directed the biggest names of the industry and created an all-time popular movie. Each and every character was perfectly sketched and given full life. Al the stalwarts – Amitabh Bachchan, Dharmendra, Hema Malini, Amjad Khan and Sanjeev Kumar. ‘Kitnay Aadmi the’ and other dialogues are popular even today! Drama / Action.
Noteworthy Movies: Lagaan, Dil To Pagal Hai, Pyaasa are many other great movies.
Part 2: The Unique & Universal Bollywood List
Bollywood has experienced a paradigm shift and found a new confidence in recent years. The death of the formula movies and rise of content-driven stories is a much needed change – Ironically people in more than a dozen unique countries have lamented the death of old Bollywood. Interesting! The aim of this list is to introduce 20 unique and different Bollywood movies. The brave and new stories. The movies that are universal. It does include a few earlier age movies that still fit the theme of the list.
3 Idiots A complete entertainer with excellence as a theme. A comic take on education system through the eyes of three friends. Impeccable acting and direction with a strong script. A movie with the heart in right place. Aamir Khan, Boman Irani, Madhavan shine in the Rajkumar Hirani adaptation of Chetan Bhagat’s best-selling novel. Comedy / Drama
A Death In The Gunj A disturbing melancholic film about a shy introvert young man set in a small hilly town of the 70s. A rich ensemble cast, beautiful script, haunting background score and an impeccable direction by Konkona Sen Sharma. The films grows on you! A masterpiece, a beautiful painting – a must watch movie!
Article 15 A brave and courageous piece of cinema. Thought provoking and hard-hitting movie. An urban officer defends the Indian constitution and fights caste discrimination. A masterpiece. Anubhav Sinha and Ayushmann Khurana – take a bow. Drama / Crime.
Black Friday Anurag Kashyap directs the powerful and gritty Bombay Blast investigation drama. Kay Kay Menon, Imtiaz Ali, Pavan Malhotra and others leave you speechless. Crime / Drama / Thriller.
Dor A gem of a movie. A moving story of forgiveness and friendship of two women in beautiful Rajasthan. One lady’s husband accidentally kills another woman’s husband and she is seeking forgiveness. Gul Panag and Ayesha Takia’s beautiful performances take Nagesh Kukonoor poetic movie to the next level. ‘Yeh Hosla Kaise’ is a song for all times. Drama.
Ek Doctor Ki Maut A classic tale of how a scientist gets reprimand and hardship instead of recognition for his discovery of a cure for leprosy. Pankaj Kapur shines in the Tapan Sinha directed masterpiece. Drama
Guide The masterpiece of Indian cinema. A path breaking movie that challenged societal norms and showcased the interesting journey of its lead characters – fallible humans can transform. Excellent music, most memorable songs and amazing moments showcased magically – Genius at work! Dev Anand’s home production was based on R K Narayan’s acclaimed novel of same name – though the author hated the movie. Drama / Romance.
Haider Vishal Bharadwaj’s Shakespearean magnum-opus. Breath-taking Kashmir. Shahid’s portrayal of Haider. Tabu in another class act with equal support from Kay Kay and Irfan. Mind-blowing music. Movies are like this ! A rare blend of critical acclaim and commercial success. Equally good are Maqbool and Omkara – the other movies in Vishal Bharadwaj’s Shakespearean trilogy. Drama.
Lootera A visual poetry. Beautiful and slow and stunning. The romance drama is based on O Henry’s ‘The Last Leaf’. Ranveer and Sonakshi’s amazing and heart-warming performances. Out of world music of Amit Trivedi. The music is a character in itself. One of the best endings. Magical. Romance / Drama.
Masaan Poetry, pain and beauty against the multicoloured Varanasi. Neeraj brings heart and art into cinema and showcases four lives stuck in Varanasi. Tu Kisi Rail Si Guzaarti Hai – Just Wow ! Masterpiece. Romance / Drama.
Mukti Bhawan An amazing film about death, life and father-son relationship set in Varanasi raises many interesting questions. What happens when you are waiting for your death? Drama.
Newton Rajkumar Rao shines as a honest and stubborn government official assigned to election duty in remote naxal-infected Chhattisgarh forest. Watch-out the beautiful screenplay, cinematography and strong cast including the brilliant Anjali Patil. Drama.
October Poetry on screen. Visually arresting. Touching story of love, loss and longing. Slow down India – this is the movie for the soul. Movie of the unconditional love and beauty of silence in a loud loud India. Romance
Queen Kangana rules! Inspiring story – Seek your own happiness, live life to the fullest and fight one’s own battle. Perfect treatment of a great script. Nice direction. Lisa Haydon, Europe and Rajkumar Rao provide great support. The ‘London Thumakda’ and the movie rocked the box office as well!
Taare Zameen Par One of the finest movies that explores the sensitive topic of dyslexia. Every child is special. The eight year old Ishaan and his struggles are captured in a touching manner. The art teacher inspires the young boy and develops confidence through compassion and patience. Aamir Khan’s directorial debut with Amol Gupte’s rich story. Music is another highlight with ‘Maa’ emerging as a universal tear machine. Drama.
The Lunchbox The LunchBox is a ‘Food For Thought’ movie that will make you hungry after the movie! The Lunchbox is a moving story of two lonely individuals in a big metropolis, who accidentally get connected and developed a liking for each other. It is a simple love story made with lot of care and attention to detail. Very layered and textured. The outstanding performances of Irrfan, Nimrat and Nawazuddin light up the movie. Romance.
The Ship Of Theseus A thought provoking and soul-stirring movie based on Theseus Paradox. Three stories of a photographer, an ailing monk and a young stockbroker with a common theme. A visual treat with great direction and awesome screenplay. Cinema par excellence.
Tumbadd An Indian movie to be proud of! A visually gorgeous treat. Deep and intriguing metaphors. Set in a small village of Maharashtra, Tumbbad is a psychological horror at its best. Fear is scary but greed of humans is scarier and it turns men into monsters. Solid writing, world-class CGI, Hollywood style production values, background music and cinematography make Tumbbad a very original and distinct movie. The Ship of Theseus man Sohum Shah delivers a performance that is par excellence. An original and a different Indian movie!
Udaan A courageous movie. A highly captivating coming-of-age movie. The young protagonist escapes an abusive father and follows his dreams. Powerful content, mind-blowing acting and awesome direction. Vikramditya Motwane’s classic directorial debut with touching music and Jamshedpur backdrop. Drama.
Udta Punjab Alia Bhatt steals the show in a hard-hitting and strong movie on the drug menace in Punjab. Abihshek Chaubey shows his prowess with a deft handling of a powerful script and total control over characters. Shahid Kapoor and music are the other highlights. Drama.
Gulaal, Dev D, Rocksar, Gangs of Wasseypur, Haasil, Tamasha, Titli, Highway, Jagga Jasoos and many other do deserve attention.
Part 3: Ash Favourites
A list of personal favourites – the 20 movies that I loved and enjoyed and connected to them! No rationale!
3 Idiots A complete entertainer with excellence as a theme. A comic take on education system through the eyes of three friends. Impeccable acting and direction with a strong script. A movie with the heart in right place. Aamir Khan, Boman Irani, Madhavan shine in the Rajkumar Hirani adaptation of Chetan Bhagat’s best-selling novel. Comedy / Drama
Anand Classic! Inspirational masterpiece. A dying cancer patient spreads happiness. Art of living! Stalwarts of Indian cinema – Hrishikesh Mukherjee, Gulzar, Amitabh Bachchan and Rajesh Khanna. Beautiful music and memorable moments including: “Babumoshai, Zindagi badi honi chahiye – lambi nahi”. Drama.
Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jaayenge DDLJ. Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol in the mustard fields is one of the most iconic image of Indian movies. Love is supreme but parental approval is must – the perfect Indian recipe that touched billion NRI and domestic hearts. Romance / Musical.
Dor A gem of a movie. A moving story of forgiveness and friendship between two women in beautiful Rajasthan. One lady’s husband accidentally kills another woman’s husband and she is seeking forgiveness. Gul Panag and Ayesha Takia’s towering performances take Nagesh Kukonoor poetry to next level. ‘Yeh Hosla Kaise’ is a song for all times. Drama.
Guide The masterpiece of Indian cinema. A path breaking movie that challenged societal norms and showcased the interesting journey of its lead characters – fallible humans can transform. Excellent music, most memorable songs and amazing moments showcased magically – Genius at work! Dev Anand’s home production was based on R K Narayan’s acclaimed novel of same name – though the author hated the movie. Drama / Romance.
Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi One of the finest political films. Only Sudhir Mishra can mix poetry and politics – Marx and Ghalib. A beautifully crafted movie of the pre and post emergency area. The meticulously defined characters speak about ideals, inequality, socialism, capitalism, oppression with passion. Drama / Politics.
Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron Kundan Shah’s Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron is landmark movie. A dark comedy about corruption and conspiracy connects universally. Politics, mafia, builders, bureaucracy, murder, the grand finale of Mahabharata – the movie is an example of perfect screenplay, mind-blowing acting and genius direction. Drama / Comedy.
Jab We Met One of the most popular romantic movies of the new millennium. A wholesome entertainer with impeccable timing and energy of live-wire Kareena – free spirited vivacious Geet inspires the heart-broken business tycoon Aditya (Shahid) and changes his perspective of life. The perfect chemistry of the lead pair, comic timing, amazing music and beautiful direction – Imtiaz Ali is the guru of modern day romance. Romance / Comedy.
Kabhi Haa Kabhi Naa Nice guys finish last. Shahrukh Khan is a loser in the coming of age cult romcom. SRK’s emotions are expressed through his eyes throughout the movie – no physical attachment to the women he loves. Unrequited love at its best – ahead of Saagar and Raanjhana. And simplicity of Anna (Suchitra), raw songs of Jatin-Lalit and the overall natural charm of Goa. Romance / Comedy.
Koshish Gulzar’s masterpiece. Extraordinary tale of different abled. The journey of a couple with speech and hearing impairment. The simplicity of the movie is its biggest victory – even this married couple fight in unique way – proving that disability is just another aspect of life. Sanjeev Kumar and Jaya Bahaduri’s heart-touching performances. Drama.
Manorama Six Feet Under A hidden gem. An under-rated movie. A thriller with layered story, powerful performances and brilliant climax. Abhay Deol impresses. Thriller / Drama.
Masaan Poetry, pain and beauty against the multicoloured Varanasi. Neeraj brings heart and art into cinema and showcase four lives struck in Varanasi. Tu Kisi Rail Si Guzaarti Hai – Just Wow ! Masterpiece. Romance / Drama.
Masoom A canvas with all the colors of human emotions at play – Love, hate, attraction, jealousy, repentance, self-realisation, forgiveness. The music and its lyrics are a high point of the movie. Trust Gulzar to give his special tough to script, lyrics and dialogues. Drama.
Mughal E Azam K Asif’s Mughal-E-Azam is a landmark classic of Indian cinema. The epic timeless saga of romance broke all box office records. The music, dialogues and amazing cast of Madhubala, Prtihviraj and Dilip Kumar. Music / Drama / Historical.
Munnabhai MBBS Rajkumar Hirani’s perfect entertainer of a good-hearted goon who enrols in a medical college to fulfil his father’s dream. An absolutely amazing movie with superb comedy and incredible timing. A simple and beautiful message of life. Sanjay Dutt shines in his comeback. Arshad Warsi and Boman Irani’s rocking performance. Jaadu K Jhappi. Comedy / Drama.
Pyaasa The towering landmark of Indian cinema. Guru Dutt’s Pyaasa is the best advertisement for great filmmaking. A struggling poet meets a prostitute who falls in love with him. And his life changes. Guru Dutt bares his sensitive soul and highlights the eternal struggle between materialistic and spiritual aspirations. ‘Yeh Duniya Agar Mil Bhi Jaaye To Kyaa Hai?’ Drama.
Swades A heart-warming movie with right dose of idealism and patriotism. Be the change. An NRI employed with NASA returns to his village. One of Shah Rukh’s best performance. Excellent script and amazing direction by Ashutosh Gowarikar. Drama.
The LunchBox LunchBox is a ‘Food For Thought’ movie that will make you hungry after the movie! The Lunchbox is a moving story of two lonely individuals in a big metropolis, who accidentally get connected and developed a liking for each other. It is a simple love story made with lot of care and attention to detail. Very layered and textured. The outstanding performances of Irrfan, Nimrat and Nawazuddin light up the movie. Romance.
The Ship Of Theseus A thought provoking and soul-stirring movie based on Theseus Paradox. Three stories of a photographer, an ailing monk and a young stockbroker with a common theme. A visual treat with great direction and awesome screenplay. Cinema par excellence.
Zakhm Mahesh Bhatt’s own story. An emotional roller coaster set in the backdrop of communal tensions. A unique love story that challenges as well as touches you. One of the finest acting performances of both Ajay Devgan and Kunal Khemu – who are the soul of the movie. Pooja Bhatt’s splendid acts as well. ‘Maa aur Mulk badle nahin jaate’. Drama.
Lot of movies from Vishwal Bharadwaj, Anurag Kashyap, Hrishikesh Mukherjee, Rajkumar Hirani will also feature in personal favourites. And many many more gems….
Part 4: The Long List
Indian Cinema releases more than 1000 movies a year. In more than 100 years, tens of thousands of movies have been produced and presented – telling the story of the times. Here is a long list of some movies I liked and recommend. Hope this helps all my friends who have been asking for recommendations for surviving Covid lockdown. More focus on recent movies.
Bollywood lives in the heart of Indians and they own it. So everyone has their own list – let us exchange notes and celebrate the magic of movies!
Ash Long List A Death In A Goonj Aandhi Ab Tak Chappan Abhimaan Aligarh Amar Prem Andaz Apna Apna Andhadhun Article 15 Badhaai Ho Bajranji Bhaijaan Band Baaja Baarat Barreily Ki Barfi Bheja Fry Bhoomika Black Friday Bobby Chak De India Chandni Bar Chennai Express CityLights Company Dabanng Dangal Dil Chahta Hai Deewar Dev D Devdas Do Aankhen Barah Haath Do Bigha Zameen Dum Laga Ke Haisha Ek Doctor Ki Maut Ek Duje Ke Liye Ek Haseena Thi Ek Ruka Hua Faisla English Vinglish Firaaq Gangs of Wasseypur Golmaal Gulaal Gully Boy Haider Highway Hindi Medium Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam Hum Tum Ishq Vishq Ishqiya Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron Jagga Jasoos Jodhaa Akbar Kachche Dhaage Kahaani Khamoshi Kuch Kuch Hota Hai Lagaan Lootera Maachis Manmarziyaan Manto Maqbool Mother India Mukti Bhawan Mulk Munnabhai MBBS Newton No One Killed Jessica No Smoking October Omkaara Paan Singh Tomar Page 3 Pakeezah Piku PK Premrog Pyaar Ka Punchnaama Queen Raanjhaana Raazi Rang De Basanti Rockstar Saaheb Bibi Aur Ghulam Saaransh Saathiya Satya Shahid Shubh Mangal Savdhaan Silsila Singham Taare Zameen par Tamasha Tanu Weds Manu The LunchBox Trapped Tumbadd Udaan Udta Punjab Uski Roti Vicky Donor Viraasat Wake Up Sid Waqt Wednesday Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani Zindagi Milegi Na Dobaraa
The Premise Is Simple: A Husband Cannot Slap His Wife & Expect Her To Ignore It! Not Even Once!
An Important Movie That Showcases How Marriages & Relationships Are Taken For Granted! How Perfectly Charming Men Can Lack Empathy! How Indian Women Are Equal Accomplice In The Great Indian Patriarchy Project!
“It Happens – He Loves You – He Is A Decent Guy – Bardasht Kar Lo – Shaadi Is Compromise – Ek Hi Baar Hua Hai”
All The Above Excuses Are No Longer Tenable In The Movie That Is Set In Aspiring & Settled India – Not The India On Fringes!
The Movie Shines In It Small & Simple Moments. One Visual, One Remark, One Act – Effortless To Make You Uncomfortable! That Is The Success Of The Movie!
Tapsee Pannu’s Best Performance – She Keeps Raising The Bar With Every Movie! From Initial Shock To Withdrawal To Determined Strength – A Great Arc! Kumud Mishra Is Amazing As Ever! His Own Guilt Is Amazingly Captured Sensitively Though He Encourages His Daughter! Anubhav Sinha Has Delivered Yet Another Masterpiece After Article 15 & Mulk! Heartening To See Male Director & Writer Creating A Sensitive & Touching Portrayal Of Women Protagonist!
The Song Is Awesome Amazing!
Toot ke hum dono mein Jo bacha woh kam sa hai Ek tukda dhoop ka Andar andar namm sa hai
Ek dhaage mein hain uljhe yoon Ke bunte bunte khul gaye Hum the likhe deewaron pe Baarish huyi aur dhul gaye
