While writing my Top 10 Greatest Films from the 21st Century list, I realized I hadn't put any Indian films on it. Rather than try to restructure that list, I decided to give Bollywood its own top 10 list. I tried to include films of different genres, styles, and directors. Like the last list, I looked at both artistic merit and historical impact. So please enjoy!
On paper, this wedding rom-com might seem like a forgettably pleasant diversion. Thanks to Habib Faisal's script, Namrata Rao's editing, stars Anushka Sharma and Ranveer Singh, and Aseem Mishra's camerawork, the execution is an incisive and glamorous look at young Delhi residents following their goals. Band Baaja Baaraat is an excellent expression of how the typical Bollywood formula can come to life through innovative filmmaking.
When I think about movies that have had a lasting impact in the last 15 years, K3G comes to mind. The film is the epitome of glossy, big-budget, melodrama entertainers with lots of songs and star-studded ensembles. While the movie is very funny and quite sentimental, it's also a stealth look at classism and adjusting to life as immigrants. K3G was immensely popular at the time, and has since become iconic.
Filmfare Award winner Deepika Padukone stars in the title role in this offbeat, sharp, and funny movie about a daughter dealing with her grumpy hypochrondriac dad (Amitabh Bachchan). The best thing about this movie is its simplicity, both in style and story. The performandes are strong all around, and the film subverts many Bollywood conventions. It's essentially a character study, with a thin plot. But it's effective and really charming.
A sexy neo noir, this film is just oozing with style and confidence. The plot features many surprising twists, and the dialogue is sharp. Raghavan stages several nail-biting set pieces, including the intermission point. Neil Nitin Mukesh makes a terrific debut, with Dharmendra, Rimi Sen, Vinay Pathak, and especially Ashwini Kalsekar in astounding supporting roles. This is a great crime film, because it's fun along with thrilling.
Without being preachy, Swades is an extremely important movie about India's technical advancement. Gowariker's filmmaking is quite sumptuous to highlight the insightful and intelligent script. Filmfare Award winner Shah Rukh Khan delivers his best performance yet; it's the kind of role he too rarely gets to play. A.R. Rahman's score is eclectic but very desi. Swades is a special film that balances being About Something with providing endearing characters and authentic emotions.
Kangana Ranaut received a National Film Award for this performance and it's absolute dynamite. Bahl's film is a scathing indictment of the Indian patriarchy and men's entitlement. Ranaut is delightful, vulnerable, determined and her gradual self-liberation is infectious and compelling. Though the film drags a little in the second half, it's nonetheless very skillfully made. The cinematography is radiant, and compliments the locations quite well.
This Bollywood satire is a striking but affectionate parody of Bollywood culture, and it offers some fascinating insights about hard work vs. luck, and the different definitions of success. Akhtar's film is funny and devastating at the same time. The film features a knockout lead performance from Konkona Sensharma, and her supporting cast is uniformly excellent. Akhtar's direction is sophisticated and confident.
I couldn't decide between these two versions of the Devdas story, both of which offer stunning visuals and interesting themes. Bhansali's story is an elegant melodrama, with lavish sets, opulent costumes, and eye-catching cinematography. The film deals with upper class hypocrisy and pride. Kashyap's is a modern take on the story, with trippy visuals, raw performances, and twisted dialogue. The film is a bold look at gender and sexuality. These movies both have groundbreaking soundtracks, but in very different ways.
If there is one film that brought Bollywood into the 21st century, it is Dil Chahta Hai. Farhan Akhtar crafted this sprawling but intimate look at three young men trying to figure out their lives. The film is authentic and natural, with a precise structure and recognizable characters. The soundtrack was experimental at the time, the leads are commanding onscreen, and the film feels youthful and vibrant. Dil Chahta Hai was a landmark film, ushering in a new era of Bollywood filmmaking.
Sonam Kapoor delivers a career defining performance in this tense, emotionally resonant hijack thriller. The editing by Monisha R. Badlawa is spectacular, and the film uses it to build suspense. The film carries a message about courage and sacrifice, taking on feminist themes in a most urgent way. Shabana Azmi leads the supporting cast with aplomb. Neerja is spellbinding. The film doesn't make Neerja Bhanot into some otherworldly superhero. She's a very real woman, with fears and anxiety. Her triumph comes from channeling those feelings into action. Kapoor displays multiple emotions at once, bending her "princess persona" into something that can withstand horror. The film is a devastating in all the right ways, and it's unmissable.
The Alternate Universe Top 10 aka Movies I Felt Bad About Leaving Off the List (in alphabetical order)
Jab We Met (Imtiaz Ali; 2007)
Kahaani (Sujoy Ghosh; 2012)
Kapoor & Sons Since 1921 (Shakun Batra; 2016)
NH10 (Navdeep Singh; 2015)
No One Killed Jessica (Rajkumar Gupta; 2011)
Omkara (Vishal Bhardwaj; 2006)
Raincoat (Rituparno Ghosh; 2004)
Rock On!! (Abhishek Kapoor; 2008)
Talvar (Meghna Gulzar; 2015)
Veer Zaara (Yash Chopra; 2004)
Like what you read? Please like my blog at Facebook.com/MathurMarquee. Also, follow me on Twitter @HippogriffRider. Agree? Disagree? Sound off in the comments below!
1 comment:
Still debating on how I feel about this list. But it's given me a lot to watch and to think about! Thanks!
Post a Comment