I would have liked to write an emotional introductory speech to kick start the blog in a more cheesy way but fortunately I too am a person with vacations and have to hurry (to greet the new year in a more embarrassing way than last year) So here's a very quick but thoughtful compilation of the best of Hindi cinema that came out this year. 2013 was a better year at the movies than the last for this year we saw films that were socially relevant, satirical, unafraid of taking risks, more entertaining and fortunately got a better distribution too. This year mostly belonged to low budget independent cinema and short films for which we can never thank UTV enough.
Why this top ten list - I can't say. I probably love doing this. But yes standing up for a film takes a lot more than writing it off. When you open your heart, you are open to ridicule and so does this list. So fearing less and loving more, here we go :
PS: I have excluded Chennai Express and Dhoom 3 from the list because they are truly great films and the list found itself too poor to include them.
Disclaimer : This list remains what it is - a scribble of my personal humble brag opinions and verdicts. In no way does it express the view of TFPS as a whole.
10. Ram-Leela
.jpg "ram-leela")
Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet travelled to Gujarat this time and still didn't get lost in the over indulgent canvases of the director. Even with all the ingredients of a typical Indian masala film - (bandooks, naach-gaana, thoda action-thoda jackson etc.) this one managed to stand out mostly due to the sizzling pair of Ranveer & Deepika who can easily stake their claim for the best Physics, Chemistry and Biology of the year award for blazing the screen to smoke like never before. Sanjay Leela Bhansali not only finds his feet after a string of flops but makes them dance with the grace and power only he is capable of. I tried to hate it for all the reasons that I could come up with but in the end COULD NOT. Man, it looked gorgeous even in the CAM-RIP. What could I do?
9. Shahid
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Based on the life of human rights lawyer Shahid Azmi who was murdered in cold blood in his office while defending the wrongly accused of his community, this film not only brings out the extraordinary story about his fight for justice in a nation fragmented by communal divides but also maintains a non sentimental, non heroic tone throughout - the quality of every good biopic which Bhaag Milkha Bhaag ceremoniously lacked. Was doing the rounds of festival circuits for quite sometime before UTV decided to give it a theatrical release. As they say about justice in the film - "देर लगती है पर हो जाता है ।" Hard hitting and gritty film.
8. Bombay Talkies + Shorts
An amazing year for short films.
7. Jolly LLB
Similar in tone with the outrageously funny 'Phas gaye re Obama' - which also happened to be the director's first film - this one, based on the famous BMW hit and run case of Sanjeev Nanda, too cracks up your ribs while being a topical, intelligent and power packed courtroom drama. Most important of all it breaks the stereotyping of courtrooms (and all the melodrama that came with it), and brings the actual face of Indian courts to the screens. A few songs tad unnecessary but in fact remains a genuinely funny crowd pleasing film with its soul in the right place.
6. Madras Cafe
Yes. For John Abraham - the producer (not the actor) for making a political thriller when everybody in the industry was shying away from it. A sensitive topic (the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi) and even more sensitive country but still they went and made it. All the credit goes to the explosive screenplay that cleverly hid all the flaws and shortcomings and turned it into a gripping piece of cinema. And afterwards it also triggered a 3 hour long wiki freefall for me which I was only grateful. Excellent film.
5. Shuddh Desi Romance
This came as a stunner from the Yashraj camp. Jaideep Sahni - the man behind Chak de India and Khosla ka Ghosla once again surprised us with his delicious cocktail of Crush, Lust, Attraction, Love, Commitment and what not. This 'Chanchal Man ati random' take on marriage and relationships perhaps didn't go down well with even the so called 'liberal thinkers' and I think that's where this film gains the brownie points. After all where's the fun if you don't keep pissing off people? Not only the most audacious film but also the most contemporary and crackling romantic comedy which hit the screens this year.
4. Inkaar
The most overlooked film of the year. I know there is a common perception that Sudhir Mishra is a serious filmmaker and very 'arthouse' but this film totally fits into the commercial mould of filmmaking and is very easily accessible to the wider demographic which makes me wonder all the more why this film was underrated as badly as it was. About the film - it deals with sexual harassment in corporate set-up following the story of the CEO of an ad advertising company, who has to follow the lawsuit of sexual harassment filed by his protégé - Both of who also happen(ed) to be lovers. Very topical in its plot and treatment, filled with tension and conflicts, the film takes a semi-Rashomon route to dissect the hot cake of sexual harassment and arrives at this beautiful dialogue that sums up everything - तुम और मेरे जैसे लोग जो ज़िन्दगी में प्यार के अलावा भी बहुत कुछ चाहते हैं, क्या उनके बीच कुछ मुमकिन है ?
3. Ship of Theseus
If you have somehow got to know the plot of the film and what its about, you probably have already watched the movie or you simply have an enormous patience. This film is like opening a can of worms - once you watch it, you will be discussing it for days and weeks, I bet. Don't believe me? then take the challenge.
Very Very Essential cinema.
2. The Lunchbox
How stupid of the FFI to not send this to the Oscars! The beauty of the film lies not just in the unique epistolary romance between Saajan and Ila but in the themes it touches upon that have a resounding global resonance. The fine subtlety displayed throughout the film wins hearts many times over. कभी कभी गलत ट्रैन भी सही जगह पहुंचा देती है ।
And Oh! Irrfan Khan - he sure can ACT.
1. Raanjhanaa
Honestly speaking, this position would have belonged to any of the above three films but while picking one over another I go by their commercial viability. Raanjhanaa was mindblowing in so many ways that I cannot explain. This film will certainly be remembered for the its clever screenplay (the Communism connection among many other facets), AMAZING dialogues (the monologue at the climax - who is going to forget that?), ARR's mesmerizing music and obviously for the flamboyant wristcutter that was Kundan (First Nawaz, then Dhanush - totally changing the concept of a Bollywood hero. Powerhouse acting.). More importantly, came up with that innocent idea of romance that had gotten lost amid the nagging logic and chutiyaapa of modern day relationships. The film deserved all the accolades it got.
As Himanshu Sharma, writer of the film warns - इश्क़ में आबाद हो जाइए या बर्बाद हो जाइए पर बीच का जुगाड़ मत कीजिये । Priceless.
Honourable Mentions :
Matru ke Bijli ka Mandola (the film takes a very much required anti commerce stand but falls in the trappings of commerce. Ironic. Pankaj Kapur's marvellous though.) The 1st half of D-Day (nail-biting like anything and Irrfan again delivers! Why they made the other half is a mystery till now.) B.A Pass (Shilpa Shukla and neon lights is what I will take with me from this film, rest was too morally bankrupt for me to appreciate.) Kai Po Che (a film you can't believe is based on a Chetan Bhagat novel. Superb acting and direction. Missed this list by a whisker - maybe I was looking for a profounder picture.) & Special 26.
Major Disappointments :
Bhaag Milkha Bhaag (drowned deep in kitsch and melodrama) Lootera (technically brilliant but failed to move. When have the background tracks taken the story forward?) Yeh Jawaani hai Deewani (I simply can't believe this was the guy who made 'Wake up Sid'. A heap of clichés. Meh!) Satyagraha (Praksh Jha should go back to Congress, if he wants to fail so badly.)
You too must be having your favorites, so please do let us know in the comments. It'll be much appreciated. Here's wishing you all a Happy New Year and a great time at the movies.
( +Satyam Sai, the author of this blog post is one of the ex-governors of TFPS.)
.jpg "ram-leela")
Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet travelled to Gujarat this time and still didn't get lost in the over indulgent canvases of the director. Even with all the ingredients of a typical Indian masala film - (bandooks, naach-gaana, thoda action-thoda jackson etc.) this one managed to stand out mostly due to the sizzling pair of Ranveer & Deepika who can easily stake their claim for the best Physics, Chemistry and Biology of the year award for blazing the screen to smoke like never before. Sanjay Leela Bhansali not only finds his feet after a string of flops but makes them dance with the grace and power only he is capable of. I tried to hate it for all the reasons that I could come up with but in the end COULD NOT. Man, it looked gorgeous even in the CAM-RIP. What could I do?
9. Shahid
.jpg)
Based on the life of human rights lawyer Shahid Azmi who was murdered in cold blood in his office while defending the wrongly accused of his community, this film not only brings out the extraordinary story about his fight for justice in a nation fragmented by communal divides but also maintains a non sentimental, non heroic tone throughout - the quality of every good biopic which Bhaag Milkha Bhaag ceremoniously lacked. Was doing the rounds of festival circuits for quite sometime before UTV decided to give it a theatrical release. As they say about justice in the film - "देर लगती है पर हो जाता है ।" Hard hitting and gritty film.
8. Bombay Talkies + Shorts
An amazing year for short films.
Bombay Talkies not only marked the completion of 100 years
of Indian cinema (Raja Harishchandra was released on the same date a century
back!) but also got the honour of being the first anthology film of India. . And it’s not everyday that Anurag Kashyap makes a film as sweet as a
Murabba!
Taking the lead from Bombay Talkies, Shorts gave us 5 dark and chilling short films that unleashed
upon us a breed of filmmakers who were young, bold and unafraid of challenging conventions and tell the stories that they wanted to. Two thumbs up.
7. Jolly LLB
Similar in tone with the outrageously funny 'Phas gaye re Obama' - which also happened to be the director's first film - this one, based on the famous BMW hit and run case of Sanjeev Nanda, too cracks up your ribs while being a topical, intelligent and power packed courtroom drama. Most important of all it breaks the stereotyping of courtrooms (and all the melodrama that came with it), and brings the actual face of Indian courts to the screens. A few songs tad unnecessary but in fact remains a genuinely funny crowd pleasing film with its soul in the right place.
6. Madras Cafe
Yes. For John Abraham - the producer (not the actor) for making a political thriller when everybody in the industry was shying away from it. A sensitive topic (the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi) and even more sensitive country but still they went and made it. All the credit goes to the explosive screenplay that cleverly hid all the flaws and shortcomings and turned it into a gripping piece of cinema. And afterwards it also triggered a 3 hour long wiki freefall for me which I was only grateful. Excellent film.
5. Shuddh Desi Romance
This came as a stunner from the Yashraj camp. Jaideep Sahni - the man behind Chak de India and Khosla ka Ghosla once again surprised us with his delicious cocktail of Crush, Lust, Attraction, Love, Commitment and what not. This 'Chanchal Man ati random' take on marriage and relationships perhaps didn't go down well with even the so called 'liberal thinkers' and I think that's where this film gains the brownie points. After all where's the fun if you don't keep pissing off people? Not only the most audacious film but also the most contemporary and crackling romantic comedy which hit the screens this year.
4. Inkaar
The most overlooked film of the year. I know there is a common perception that Sudhir Mishra is a serious filmmaker and very 'arthouse' but this film totally fits into the commercial mould of filmmaking and is very easily accessible to the wider demographic which makes me wonder all the more why this film was underrated as badly as it was. About the film - it deals with sexual harassment in corporate set-up following the story of the CEO of an ad advertising company, who has to follow the lawsuit of sexual harassment filed by his protégé - Both of who also happen(ed) to be lovers. Very topical in its plot and treatment, filled with tension and conflicts, the film takes a semi-Rashomon route to dissect the hot cake of sexual harassment and arrives at this beautiful dialogue that sums up everything - तुम और मेरे जैसे लोग जो ज़िन्दगी में प्यार के अलावा भी बहुत कुछ चाहते हैं, क्या उनके बीच कुछ मुमकिन है ?
3. Ship of Theseus
If you have somehow got to know the plot of the film and what its about, you probably have already watched the movie or you simply have an enormous patience. This film is like opening a can of worms - once you watch it, you will be discussing it for days and weeks, I bet. Don't believe me? then take the challenge.
Very Very Essential cinema.
2. The Lunchbox
How stupid of the FFI to not send this to the Oscars! The beauty of the film lies not just in the unique epistolary romance between Saajan and Ila but in the themes it touches upon that have a resounding global resonance. The fine subtlety displayed throughout the film wins hearts many times over. कभी कभी गलत ट्रैन भी सही जगह पहुंचा देती है ।
And Oh! Irrfan Khan - he sure can ACT.
1. Raanjhanaa
Honestly speaking, this position would have belonged to any of the above three films but while picking one over another I go by their commercial viability. Raanjhanaa was mindblowing in so many ways that I cannot explain. This film will certainly be remembered for the its clever screenplay (the Communism connection among many other facets), AMAZING dialogues (the monologue at the climax - who is going to forget that?), ARR's mesmerizing music and obviously for the flamboyant wristcutter that was Kundan (First Nawaz, then Dhanush - totally changing the concept of a Bollywood hero. Powerhouse acting.). More importantly, came up with that innocent idea of romance that had gotten lost amid the nagging logic and chutiyaapa of modern day relationships. The film deserved all the accolades it got.
As Himanshu Sharma, writer of the film warns - इश्क़ में आबाद हो जाइए या बर्बाद हो जाइए पर बीच का जुगाड़ मत कीजिये । Priceless.
Honourable Mentions :
Matru ke Bijli ka Mandola (the film takes a very much required anti commerce stand but falls in the trappings of commerce. Ironic. Pankaj Kapur's marvellous though.) The 1st half of D-Day (nail-biting like anything and Irrfan again delivers! Why they made the other half is a mystery till now.) B.A Pass (Shilpa Shukla and neon lights is what I will take with me from this film, rest was too morally bankrupt for me to appreciate.) Kai Po Che (a film you can't believe is based on a Chetan Bhagat novel. Superb acting and direction. Missed this list by a whisker - maybe I was looking for a profounder picture.) & Special 26.
Major Disappointments :
Bhaag Milkha Bhaag (drowned deep in kitsch and melodrama) Lootera (technically brilliant but failed to move. When have the background tracks taken the story forward?) Yeh Jawaani hai Deewani (I simply can't believe this was the guy who made 'Wake up Sid'. A heap of clichés. Meh!) Satyagraha (Praksh Jha should go back to Congress, if he wants to fail so badly.)
You too must be having your favorites, so please do let us know in the comments. It'll be much appreciated. Here's wishing you all a Happy New Year and a great time at the movies.
( +Satyam Sai, the author of this blog post is one of the ex-governors of TFPS.)
