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  • The Annual Bollywood Round-Up 2018

    The Annual Bollywood Round-Up 2018

    Bollywood’s paradigm shift towards content-driven cinema and death of template movies cemented itself strongly after the strong winds of last few years. If you have reading my annual Bollywood reviews and other blogs, I have abhorred the template movie making where you leverage star access, big production house camps, promote mediocre cinema with heavy marketing and sell artistic cinema to commercial interests.

    Public sab jaanti hai….

    The Khurranas, Kaushals, Raos, Pannus have dismantled Khans…Content driven cinema of real India has charmed the audience over foreign locales and over-the-top cinema.

    Let us start with a quick round-up of my favourite movies of 2018. Treat this as a watch-list for the Holiday Season!

    Top 5 movies of 2018:

    1. AndhaDhun

    What a movie! Sriram Raghavan’s never-wracking and awesome thriller which keeps you on the edge of the seat. Brilliantly written, perfectly directed and wonderfully enacted, this is one of the best Indian thrillers.

    Ayushmann Khurrana owns the film and enriches it with his complete subversive act. Tabu is a master-class and shows the eternal talent she is. Each and every character shine and keeps us hooked till the last second – including talented and under-felicitated Ashwini Kalsekar, cannot not see her in 2018 Radhika Apte and welcome back charming Anil Dhawan.

    The scene where Ayushmann is playing a melody on piano and suddenly a dead body is seen in the room – it hits you out of nowhere. Or the cat scene. The movie is full of interesting shock and awe treatments with soft gloves.

    Filled with Hitchcock motifs, effective music and open to multiple interpretations like Bhagvad Gita and Matrix, AndhaDhun is the best Bollywood movie of 2018.

    2. October

    Everything is not spoken in love and relationships. The feeling and spiritual connect is more important than the words and symbols. October is about love in its purest form. And it about us, our battles and our connect with the internal and external world.

    Juhi Chaturvedi’s beautiful writing is amplified with empathy and care by Shoojit Sircar, after their earlier collaboration on Vicky Donor and Piku. One of the finest performances of Varun Dhawan and ably supported by Banita Sandhu. Watch out for the scene where Dan and Shiuli acknowledge the relationship – moving! Shiuli – what a name and aptly given!

    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.

    3. Badhaai Ho

    Badhaai Ho is the complete wholesome entertainer of the year! Ayushmann Khurrana shines in yet another celebration of small-town India’s coping with progressive views.

    Amit Sharma challenges the age-old prejudices, shame and taboo of sex, desire, choice and individuality of senior citizens. The screenplay, editing and award-winning performances of the entire cast of Ayushmann Khurrana, Neena Gupta, Gajraj Rao and Surekha Sikri will give you a movie to relish and think. Humour is the best way to drive a message and Badhaai Ho does it in a perfect way!

    4. Tumbbad

    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 awesome cinematography make Tumbbad a very distinctive movie. The Ship of Theseus man Sohum Shah delivers a performance that is par excellence. The transformation of his character from childhood to young man to father to his death is depicted beautifully. A original, courageous and haunting Indian movie! A different experience!

    5. Stree

    Rajkumar Rao charms us in an earthy horror comedy set in a small village Chanderi. The movie drives the message successfully through the travails of charming tailor Rajkumar. Terror strikes the village during four days of annual puja. Men are locked into homes in the evening. The eerie and comic situation arising out of a female ghost is nicely narrated by director Amar Kaushik. Pankaj Tripathi excels, and Shraddha Kapoor lends a strong support.

    Apart from the above movies, the following movies deserve a strong mention:

    1. Raazi

    Meghna Gulzar directs super talented Alia Bhatt for a spy thriller. The Alia super show presents transformation of a Kashmiri girl into a trained spy with her vulnerabilities intact. Vicky Kaushal shines in the movie and cements his position as the emerging star of Bollywood.

    The movie has been a safe play for Meghna Gulzar. The music is beautiful. The best part of the movie was equal and respectful treatment of both countries – unlike Pak-bashing Gadar type movies.

    2. Manto
    The moving story of the enduring and timeless Saadat Hasan Manto – honest, controversial and thought-provoking writer of the Indian subcontinent. Nawaz shines once again in a brilliantly directed Nandita Das movie.

    Read my Manto Review.

    3 Manmarziyaan

    Trust Anurag Kashyap to give a compelling, layered love story. The Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam inspired movie has fabulous performances by Taapsee Pannu, Vicky Kaushal and Junior Bachchan.

    4. 102 Not Out
    The successful Gujarati play was brought to the big screen with Amitabha and Rishi Kapoor leading the cast. The strong script was brought to life by the stalwarts and drove the message of living life to the fullest.

    5. Veere Di Wedding
    This is an important movie that strengthened the feminine power and broke more established views than any other movie. Full credit to the Shashanka, Rhea and the beautiful cast of Sonam, Kareena, Swara Bhaskar and Shikha.

    6. Kedarnath
    The Babri Masjid demolition anniversary saw the release of Hindu-Muslim love story set against the backdrop of Uttarakhand floods. Sara Ali is a product of Hindu-Muslim love story and Sushant is a heart-melter – the magic shines in bit and pieces in the beautiful backdrop of Kedarnath and today’s India. Could have been much better like Abhishek’s earlier Kai Po Che!

    Sonu Ki Titu Ki Sweety was the sleeper hit of the year. The most average movie with a hit song and nice narrative hit the chord with the audience and went to make 150 crores. Pari and Mulk were nice ventures with Mulk shining with strong performance of Taapsee Pannu and Rishi Kapoor.

    Karwaan and Qarib Qarib Single were the easy feel-good pictures featuring Irrfan. Karwaan was philosophical road trip with nice performances by Mithila Parkar and Dulquer Salmaan.

    Hichcki, Helicopter Eela, Baaghi 2 were ventures with defined objectives. Canadian citizen Akshaya Kumar continued to charm Indians with Bharat ‘Manoj’ Kumar positioning in Padman and Gold. Padman has its heart in the right place and should help more conversations on the important topic for the emerging India.

    Padmaavat and 2.0 (Hindi) were huge movies with the former courting controversies and controversies. Ranveer Singh emerged taller from the movie and Sanjay Leela Bhansali laughed all the way to the bank.

    The Rise of Online Streaming in India
    One must not forget the emergence of video streaming in India with HBO Go, Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hotstar, Eros Now and Zee leading the pack. Netflix and Amazon Prime are in the hot race with significant spends. Netflix relies on its global model and both are investing in local content. It will help both the new talent and tired talent. Mirzapur and Sacred Games were gripping tales matched by powerful acting, strong direction and marketing-distribution of Amazon and Netflix respectively. Pankaj Tripathi ruled Mirzapur and gave one of the most memorable performances. Nawaz’s Sacred Games was yet another gangsta outing for him, where he ruled the show effortless – but no new breaking ground for him. Manto was more powerful and let’s wait for Thackeray movie.

    The Fall of Mighty Names
    The one you love the most can be the source of your biggest anger. Rajkumar Hirani’s Sanju deserves the top award for the most misdirected wasteful channelling of energies and resources of 2018. Raju Sir – How much we love you and own you for Munnabhai, PK and 3 Idiots. Why this Kolaveri Di?

    Read my Sanju Review

    Aamir Khan sacrificed his Midas touch for a few pieces of gold and created the biggest robbery against himself and his values in Thugs of Hindustan. I will not criticise Race 3 because I did not expect anything from it. SRK’s Zero proved that Khans need to move to new pastures and reinvent the game once again.

    The Numbers

    You read a lot about the new age movies and the fall of big names. What do numbers say? Sanju made 350 crores, Padmaavat made 300 crores, Thugs made 150 crores, Race 3 made 170 crores. Wow!

    AndhaDhun made 110 crores, Badhaai Ho made 150+ crores, Raazi made 200 crores, 102 Not Out 112 crores, Stree made 130 crores. Manto and Tumbbad did not make much money.

    The future is bright for Bollywood as the rise of content-driven new cinema continues with fresh talent. The hegemony of the camps and star-power has been shaken. The audience have clearly voted with their feet and the commercial Bollywood is smart enough to smell the coffee.

    And as a Cinephile with interest crossing Silicon Valley and Cinema, I welcome the newest Bollywood fan – Elon Musk. Apple is due for the investment in Indian Entertainment space. Will Elon and Apple surprise us? Elon has lots on his place while Apple will take its time. Can Indian marketplace create a global impact?

    Happy New Year 2019! May your life and year be a blockbuster hit!

    Related:
    The Best of Bollywood – 2017
    The Best Of Bollywood – 2016
    The Best of Bollywood – 2015
    The Best of Bollywood – 2014
    The Best of Bollywood – 2013
    The Best of Bollywood – 2012

  • Piku – The Perfect Digestive Of 2015

    Piku – The Perfect Digestive Of 2015

    Piku is the triumph of the Indian Film Industry. A very interesting subject powered with perfectly written screenplay, extremely strong performances, sensitive treatment and awesome direction.

    Piku is a must watch ! It is one of the best movies of 2015 !

    Shoojit Sircar and Juhi Chaturvedi move from the front to back this time – from Vicky Donor’s sperm to shit.

    An ageing father Bhaskhor (Amitabh) has challenges his with daily motions. A caring, determined and independent daugther Piku (Deepika) lives with her had and has a daily question – Hua? She is a strong-headed architect and has frequent run-ins with the car agency cab drivers. The car agency owner Rana (Irrfan) becomes their unlikely companion when they drive from Delhi to Calcutta on a road journey with the portable potty (Sinhasan)

    Watch out for the Bhaskar’s open declaration of her daughter’s sexual independence to potential suitor, Rana’s theory on Indian toilet styles and Bhaskar’s brutal comments on Rana’s dad’s death. Rana says that “Death and potty can strike anytime, anywhere”.

    The constant dad-daughter fights, the car agency owner’s direct rebuttals, the aunt’s remarks, dad’s tantrums, the highway journey, the traditional house sale question, the undercurrents of different relations, the unlikely romance, the visuals, wonderful songs – all register a strong mark – they make you smile, they make you think.

    Piku (Deepika) and Bhaskar (Amitabh) steal the show. They own the movie and give a stupendous performance. Deepika is independent and kick-ass yet deeply devoted and caring for her father. Amitabh selfish irritating person but pleasingly brutal and honest. Irrfan completes the trio and creates his own space in an effortless universe of dad-daughter. Moushumi Chatterjee, Raghubir Yadav give a credible support.

    At the end of the movie, you want more !

    The real winner of course is Shoojit Sircar. Take a bow ! The movie seems like a slice of life – a conversation happening somewhere. Yet very observant. Very simple yet touching and enduring ! And Juhu Chaturvedi. Her writing is amazing and very observant. Brings out the special touch to everyday conversations of life.

    Piku2

  • Haider – Making Shakespeare Proud !

    Haider – Making Shakespeare Proud !

    Haider – A Must Watch Film

    Haider Is The Third Film In Vishal Bharadwaj’s Shakespearean Triology – A Fitting Finale !

     

    Haider2

    Vishal Bharadwaj Is One Of The Finest Talents In Indian Cinema. He Proves It Again With Haider. Vishal Has Wore Multiple Hats For The Film – Proving His Genius.

    Vishal Took Shakespeare To Eastern UP and Mumbai Underworld Via Omkara And Maqbool Respectively – This Time His Spotlight on Kashmir. The Kashmir Situation Provides A Perfect Backdrop To The Complex Human Relationship Drama.

    Shahid Kapoor Delivers His Best Ever Performance – Clearly Scoring Several Brownie Points And Showing His Real Talent ! Shahid’s ‘To Be Or Not To Be’ Speech Is Just One Example Of A Perfectly Optimized And Balanced Performance. ‘Chutzpah And AFSPA’ Is Another Example. Shahid’s Transformation From A Poet To A Rebel Is Very Commendable.

    Tabu Outgrows Everyone. This Is The Tabu We Have Been Missing. An Woman With Ambivalent Feelings. Watch Her Talk About She Being The Villain Always! Or Her Looks When Shahid Meets Her After Her Second Marriage. Her Fragile, Heartbreaking, Vulnerable Portrayal Is The Stellar Performance Of The Film.

    Kay Kay, Irrfan, Shraddha Kapoor Deliver Power-packed Performances In The Important Characters In The Opera. The Grave Diggers, The Two Salmans, Haider’s Father Are Equally Important Portrayals. Cinematography Is Captivating Indeed.

    The Film Could Have Done With Sharper Editing, Removal Of Forced Romantic Song.

    Shahid And Vishal Did Not Charge For The Movie – Proves That Best Things Are Priceless.

    This Is Definitely Vishal’s And Shahid’s Best Film. National Award For Vishal, Shahid And Tabu? Fingers Crossed !

  • The LunchBox – Food For Thought – Watch It !

    The LunchBox – Food For Thought – Watch It !

    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.

    Mr Saajan Fernandes is a widower on the verge of retirement. Ila is a neglected wife busy with her daily routine. Ila sends lunch to her husband via the Mumbai Dabbawallas. The lunch box reaches Mr Saajan instead of her husband and this is where their connect starts. They exchange notes and get some solace from each other.

    The outstanding performances of Irrfan, Nimrat and Nawazuddin light up the movie. Aunty’s voice is the fourth lead in her own way. Irffan delivers another stellar performance after Paan Singh Tomar . His body language, his eyes, his his walk, his sadness, his smoking, his dilemma – Irrfan is the finest actor in the country. Nawaz is a strong match to Irrfan and he shines as Irrfan’s junior. But the heart of the movie is Nimrat Kaur – her effortless acting and her portrayal of the neglected and cheated wife moves you. You want her to be happy – you want to make her smile. Amazing act ! What a find !

    The movie shines by capturing observations of Mumbai city and humans trapped in the city. The Mumbai Dabbawallas are the backbone of the movie. The Dabbawalla refuses to acknowledge the mistake and claims that Harvard School and Prince Charles have come to study their famed delivery – how can they go wrong? Mr Saajan is a Catholic and is disturbed that he will get a vertical burial. “I’ve spent my life standing in trains and buses,” he says, “now I will have to stand even when I’m dead.”

    Nawaz’s Act, Playful Children, Ila’s Mother’s Loneliness, Ila’s Husband’s Adultery add strong shades in this colorful painting. Orient Fan, Streetside Painter’s Paintings, Ila’s Seduction Attempt, Banana Eaters are the other rich textures.

    Go watch it ! One of the best movies of the year !

    LunchBox is Food For Thought but somehow it makes you hungry after the movie !

  • D-Day : Impressive Movie

    D-Day : Impressive Movie

    Nikhil Advani’s D-Day Is An Impressive Movie. The Movie Attempts To Be In The Same League As Zero Dark Thirty, Argo Etc. It Works Partly.

    The Plot Is About Getting Back India’s Most Wanted Criminal From A Neighbor Nation. The Indian Anger For Terrorist Act And Hunger For Getting Back The Criminal Is Exploited Well (Like The Wednesday). The Four Protagonists Have Their Stories, Which Is Built Up Well In The First Half. The First Half Ends With A Foiled Attempt. The Second Half Is Interesting Except For The Last 5 Minutes. The Movie Ends Predictably.

    Irrfan, Rishi Kapoor And Nasser Shine In The Movie. Irrfan Gives Another Power-House Performance. The Range Of Emotions Displayed By Him Is Phenomenal. Rishi Kapoor Is A Sheer Delight To Watch. The Lover-Boy Of Indian Cinema Is Shining As A Villain In His Second Innings. Agneepath Was Another Gem From Him. People Will Ask For Rishi-Ranbir Act Now !

    Arjun Rampal Is His Usual Self. Shruti Has Two Releases – D-Day Showcases Her In A Very Different Role From Ramaiya. Huma Qureshi, Chandan Roy Sanyal Give Good Support.

    The Song Alvida Is A Visual Delight. Nikhil Advani Redeems Himself. We Forgive Him For Chandni Chowk To China. The Movie’s Length Is A Problem.

    D-Day Is A Good Movie. Worth A Watch !