Avatar is one of the greatest cinematic experience. A game-changing visionary movie. Apart from pathbreaking technology, it introduced us to the blue bodied Na’vi of Pandora moon, raised our environmental consciousness way before Greta Thunberg and made us feel ‘I see you’. It reigned as the highest grossing movie for a decade since its release in 2009.
Avatar 2 is called Avatar – The Way Of Water. It is second of the five instalments that will continue to be released every 2 years till 2028.
Jake Sully and his family flee the forest to take refuge with amphibian tribe Metkayina. The green canvas turns to turquoise Maldives like pristine waters. After the initial tense proceedings, things settle down and they together fight the common enemy – sky people – the humans.
The aquatic flora and fauna is the best part of the movie. Dazzling and enchanting! The whale like tulkun is the showstopper – gentle giant that is bigger than Mumbai flats. The climax is a return to Titanic world for James Cameron – even Kate Winslet joins the reunion!
Avatar 2 is a beautiful spectacle but too long and has no gripping plot to speak of. New owner Disney add family dynamics to the environment and imperialism themes. One can give James Cameron the credit to be singularly focused on the simple narrative.
Avatar – The Way Of Water is a one time big screen watch. It is debuting in more 50,000 screens at the same time across all major countries. If you do not watch it, our hearts will still go on….
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
Tumhari Sulu is a warm slice-of-life movie that touches one’s heart. It once proves that strong content can triumph over XLS Template driven movies. Substance is more important than style. Art of cinema can be bigger than business of cinema.
No doubt Tumhari Sulu has a few flaws, but it has its heart in the right place.
Tumhari Sulu is a movie showcasing the victory of the suppressed voice. The triump of hunger to succeed and positive attitude – ‘Main Kar Sakti Hai’ being the slogan of the protagonist. But more importantly, it is a story of a family wanting to live a normal life, move ahead in life and their trials and tribulations. It is the story of any family and every family.
The movie begs us to answer a basic question: Is there a person behind the tag of a housewife? Or is she just a free maid who takes care of husband and childrens’ needs? Does she have talents that have been sacrificed for the success of children and husband? Can she win respect and success in the competitive world?
Sulu aka Sulochana is a middle class housewife living in distant Mumbai suburb of Virar. She has a very supportive husband Ashok who works in a family firm of uniform manufacturers and a school going son Pranav. Her sisters and father form the extended family. She has no friends that we see. She has pretty ordinary circumstances.
Amidst all this, Sulu aspires to do something. She poses with the handbag in the mirror or looks at Air Hostess neighbours with aspiration – beautiful small nuances. She wants to have her own career – in form of a job or business. She wants to try her hand at almost everything. She participates in the school lemon and spoon races, Radio Contests, society competitions etc. She has won lot of prizes and she is proud that she even won Antakshari contest while waiting for an audition.
The film stops of making her a funny caricature though her sisters never stop of ridiculing her. Things take a turn when Sulu decides to turn a radio jockey. The ‘never say die’ spirit of Sulu helps her land the job of a late night chat show host but she slowly starts owning the show and leaves her distinct impression. She successfully manages to avoid her producer’s cues for the show and that saves the show from becoming a cheap stereotype program. She has smart retorts for loaded questions and situations. Her the film fails as there are only two calls – this aspect could have been explored further and given us more insights into her transformation.
As she turns successful in her show and starts enyoying the success, her husband and son face challenges in their lives – another stereotype situation. Husband is humiliated in the family firm. His loyalty of 12 years is discounted as the family scion takes over the reins of the business. He has to manage household errands, work late in the office, give up his cabin, suffer ridicule for a cancelled order that was never his account etc. He faces loss of respect and he is hurt. The frustration is against the contrasting success of his better-half. The movie tries to avoid the trap of Abhimaan/English Vinglish stereotype. He is not jealous. He is supportive and appreciative husband. But there are issues as he fights his own reactions and society fuelled reactions to his wife. Sulu’s show gets bad spin-off in terms of the cheap SMS and forward factories. Her husband gets affected by this and tensions seem to develop. He is torn apart between his own hurt, his own frustrations and also managing to support his wife’s dreams without affecting her dignity. He has been a good husband – who does not mind massaging her wife’s legs after a long day for her. So he is modern and treats wife as equal in their beautifully agreed and adjusted world of Mrs & Mr Sulu. Do notice the song – Rafu – what a word. They have a fight and they patch-up – like a Rafu in our clothes. Impeccable!
The so-called elder sisters of Sulu having nice banking jobs cannot digest the success of the younger sister in a modern setting. They ridicule her for taking up a cheap and bad job. They again direct comments at her husband for allowing Sulu to take up such a degrading job. Very ironic as usually in-laws are villains – but here her own sisters are villains. Not surprising as real life has shown that sisters can be jealous of sisters and play politics within families. Great portrayal of reality.
At the same time, the son is facing bullying at school and shows how modern parenting can be a great challenge. And the temporary lapse of judgement by the son is conveniently directed to mother’s aspirations. The good husband also claims to take care of the future of son alone. A weak departure in the script.
However, the movie belongs to Sulu and her interaction with all the characters around her. This is a national award winning stuff. Sulu makes you laugh. Sulu makes you cry. Sulu makes you to feel for her. This is a performance of lifetime from Vidya Balan. She was a RJ in Munnabhai and she is a RJ in Tumhari Sulu – what a transformation between those two movies.
Take the scene at the end where is goes to her boss and apologizes for resigning from the job. On one side of the frame is the modern, corporate, intelligent suave, successful, stylish, sexy boss Neha Dhupia. On the other side of the frame is not so intelligent, domestic, loud-mouth, dumbish Vidya Balan. The sincerity of the apology makes it one of the finest scenes in the recent times – she mentions how she never had allowed the lemon to fall from the spoon in her life, how she liked the perfume her boss was wearing on the first day, how she believed that she could do anything. That scene moves you and you want to hug her and do anything for her and make her successful – because if she does not win, we all lose!
Performances from everyone including Neha Dhupia as Maria, Manav Kaul as Ashok, Maurya as producer and all others are good. The sisters are perfect! A victory for casting. The songs are perfect – whether it is Hawa Hawai or Rafu – all take the story forward effortlessly and convey what the words cannot – another victory in this department as well for the movie.
Finally, the movie belongs to the director. He has created a masterpiece of human relations. He has created a voice for the silent majority of housewives – who are the catalyst and anchor of every successful family.
Tumhari Sulu is not a perfect movie. It could have been better. But it is a nice movie. Go watch it!
Nordic Noir is definitely a ‘Tour De Force’ and a genre to reckon with! It is exotic, visually stunning and very refreshing content.
Nordic Noir is the popular term for the Scandinavian / North European crime fiction. It has certain common characteristics – gripping reality, thrilling plots, memorable characters, morally complex themes, dark mood and overall strong impact. People love the distinct and appealing style – often bereft of unnecessary words and actions. It is simple and realistic in its own way. Most popular are the protagonists – often detectives who have own issues and real people and definitely not superheroes.
My own initiation to the cult happened, ironically, via Hollywood. I was fascinated by “The Girl With Dragon Tattoo”. It was long time since Fountainhead that something completely swept me – I researched and watched the original Swedish Series. It took one night to watch all the three movies and after this moviethon, I was hooked to Nordic Noir.
The next stop in my Nordic Noir journey was my favourite Hollywood Director Christopher Nolan’s Insomnia. Another classic movie. And a few more Nordic Noir movies later, I was the latest convert. The most recent stop in Nordic Noir journey was Hypnotist.
“The Girl With Dragon Tattoo” remains the flagship Nordic Noir movie and it led to the rise of Nordic Noir cult. The movie and its sequel by Stieg Larsson are gripping tales of covering up dark secrets. The Millennium Triology consists of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, The Girl Who Played with Fire and The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest. The protagonist is Lisbeth Salander – anti-social, technically slick and brilliant character. The original adaption of the international best-selling novels were telecast on Swedish Television. Based on the mind-blowing success, it was converted to Swedish Movies. The English version of the first part of the trilogy included Noomi Rapace and Daniel Craig. It was also a runaway success. (Only Dan Brown has outsold Stieg Larsson in the past decade). There was only one criticism against Larsson regarding the portrayal of sex but it was part of the plot. However, the other Nordic Noir movies continued to enjoy the success without being controversial.
Some of the top Nordic Noir movies include:
The Millennium Triology
Insomnia
Headhunters
The Hypnotist
The Keeper Of Lost Causes
Pioneer
ID:A
The Hunters
The False Trail
The Hunt
The Accused
The Hour Of The Lynx
Easy Money Triology
The Pusher Triology
In Order Of Disappearance
Detective Kurt Wallander Movie Series – Faceless Killer, The Fifth Woman, The Man Who Smiled etc.
The Brits fell to the charm of Nordic Noir when The Bridge and Borgen swept the British TV Landscape. Nordic Noir was a different canvas and a different shade to the usual fare. Brits responded to the growing popularity of Nordic Noir with their own creative response – adapt the style ! It resulted in works like The Killing and The Tunnel and recently The Fortitude.
The Killing has been one of the most adored British shows! The show, the protagonist Sarah Lund (Sophie Grabol) and her sweater have swept entire Europe. The Bridge is another thriller about the cross-cultural conflict between the Danish and Swedish police forces who must work together to stop a maniacal killer who poses a woman’s body on a bridge between the two countries.
Nordic Noir has truly created a special genre of its own. Now Nordic Noir style movie originate from Belgium, Spain and even France ! Like Iranian movies and Far Eastern horror stories, it has created a new audience.
The ironic thing to note is that Nordic Noir and its themes come from the most advanced, social and happy countries of the world !
“Broken Horses Is About Breaking Prejudices” said Vidhu Vinod Chopra at the interactive evening discussion at SOAS, London.
Vidhu Vinod Chopra was the Guest Of Honor at the ‘In Conversation’ interview session hosted by the National Indian Students Union UK and SOAS South Asia Institute. The evening discussion was chaired by renowned author and SOAS’ Professor of Indian Cultures and Cinema – Professor Rachel Dwyer.
Vidhu is the first Indian filmmaker to write, produce and direct a Hollywood film. Vidhu Vinod Chopra’s emphasis during the entire evening was to drive the point that Indian cinema can match Hollywood but we choose to speak our people in our language. Our Indian people are different and hence Indian cinema is different. Expressing love through song and dance is normal – he also did the same in his early days. Indian cinema is not deficient or subservient – It is different.
His motivation for Broken Horses was the same mantra. Hollywood has looked down upon Bollywood. There are prejudices. He wants to break those. He wanted to tell the world that an Indian can produce a Hollywood movie. A Hollywood movie that only had Vidhu as an Indian name in the entire credits – all lead actors, crew and team were Hollywood. The movie was also a true blue mainstream movie – not a diasporic or NRI linked themes.
Vidhu Vinod Chopra’s earlier movie Eklavya had an impact in Hollywood. It was India’s official Oscar entry as well. It led to opening of few thoughts for a Hollywood movie. And after viewing a screening of The Departed, the urge grew stronger. Abhijat Joshi and Vidhu started worked on a script. Parinda was the initial inspiration (Parinda was also nominated at Oscar) – but after 63 drafts – the 64th movie emerged which was Broken Horses.
Professor Rachel Dwyer brought many important perspectives and Vidhu’s answers to those were the highlight of the evening. There was an interesting conversation about business sense in Indian cinema. Vidhu has been successful with PK, 3 Idiots, Munnabhai etc. His movies seems to bring loads of money and deliver a social message as well. It was rare in Indian cinema. So what contributed to his strong business sense? Vidhu intact said that he had poor business sense. If he was to be interested in business, he should have made 4 Idiots and 5 Idiots after 3 Idiots. He cast Sanjay Dutt in the lead when he was undergoing trial. He made cinema for the sake of cinema. He wanted to deliver a good body of work and hopefully people will remember him. He is successful is a miracle, not a science.
Vidhu said that he has never followed a beaten path. Maybe because he has educated in school of life and not formal education.
Vidhu shared interesting anecdotes – the making of Kuch Na Kaho song, the revival of R D Burman, the fight for “Give Me Some Sunshine” song, the initial reaction to Munnabhai, his return to Kashmir to see his pooja room being cleaned and maintained neat by a namaazi etc.
On differences between West and Indian Film Industry, he noted that Indian industry was very warm but inefficient while Western industry was cold but very efficient. Indian cinema is improving but West is more professional.
The session was wrapped up rather quickly – everyone wanted more. Nevertheless, it was a great evening and a commendable session. The evening had started with a wonderful dance performance – it was mind blowing performance to songs of Vidhu’s movies. Then there was an amazing rendition to the wonderful songs of Vidhu’s movies.
Then, Professor Michael Hutt, Director of SOAS South Asia Institute, welcomed the illustrious guest of honor, Shri Vidhu Chopra and Professor Rachel Dwyer. In his welcome note, Professor Hutt noted that SOAS was the first British university to offer a degree on Indian cinema. He mentioned about the encouragement and support provide to Indian Cinema and South Asian Cinema at SOAS.
A 90 minute talk show was highly desirable. I am sure Sanam Arora and her wonderful team will listen to our wishes. They did a great job organizing this event !
One must credit to Vidhu for the great body of work – from Parinda to 1942 to Munnabhai to 3 Idiots to PK. He has allowed other talent to grow – Sanjay Leela, Raj Kumar Hirani, Pradeep Sarkar etc. Even Eklavya, Mission Kashmir, Ferrari Ki Sawaari were brave attempts. After 3 Idiots, he supported Sharman Joshi when the entire industry was waiting for his call.
He is releasing Broken Horses in India in English only – for proving a point that it is English movie. Not dubbed in Hindi. It is indeed risky. Ash thinks that when even Spiderman is released in Bhojpuri and South Indian Languages, he should reconsider this. Point is already proven I guess. James Cameron is endorsing Vidhu. Movie is ready. Point is proven.
Wishing him all the success. Broken Horses is a brave attempt. It is a statement. It is breaking new ground. And for that he deserves all our support !
Vidhu Vinod Chopra’s Broken Horses releases on 10th April 2015 through UTV Motion Pictures. Set in the shadows of the US–Mexico border gang wars, Broken Horses is an epic thriller about the bonds of brotherhood, the laws of loyalty, and the futility of violence.
Get Ready For The Happy New Year Marketing Juggernaut !
The Marketing for SRK’s ‘Happy New Year’ has already started. If ‘Om Shanti Om’ and ‘RaOne’ and ‘Chennai Express’ experience is considered, expect a mega publicity drive.
It started with the full page advertisements at the start of the year. The latest one is the ‘Happy New Year’ auditions for acting with SRK on Groupon. It is designed to create lot of ‘user engagement’. By being part of the movie, the user will be more connected to the movie. The people who applied for the auditions will have an emotional stake in the movie. People are being gifted certificates etc.
Expect more innovations and more visibility campaigns from SRK. Expect to read more and hear more about SRK and its cast. There will be overt and covert approaches.
