Tintin's Top Ten
Onto 100 Year's of Bollywood, Looking back at 2012's Top Ten
Happy New Year!!! I
know I am a little late, but as I mentioned previously; Personal duty called.
The previous year was majestic in it's way especially for Movies. The big
Marvel Avengers gamble paid off, The greatest CBM series ended with a Rising,
Science Fiction rocked cinephiles, Spider-Man celebrated his 50th year with
brother in arms Agent 007 AKA James Bond.
Most importantly
however, Bollywood entered into a century of entertaining fans around the world
with the end of 2012. The year saw a loss of some great legends, women
shouldering blockbusters in cinemas, A bevy of 100 crore (1 billion rupees)
grossers (out of which most were really just crap!!!) and the vital rise of the
Hindies (a topic for another day)
So, in ode to the
100 years of Bollywood that culminates this year. I will be counting down the
10 Best Bollywood movies of the year. This list will be in my opinion, so let
me make this crystal clear; I am a huge fan of Bollywood Art House Cinema.
Movies that make the viewers think and are not very entertaining to the masses*
will be all included here. This year's big blockbusters (apart from a few) were
not worth the money they grossed at the box office so I will definitely not
include those in my countdown. There will also be mention of a few other
notable choices to look into as well as those movies I have yet to see. Also
all ten of these movies could have easily featured at the top spot, So here
goes, from number 10;
Director: Umesh
Shukla
Cast: Paresh Rawal
as Kanji Lalji Mehta, Akshay Kumar as Krishna Vasudev Yadav/Krishna (God),
Mithun Chakraboraty as Leeladhar Swami, Om Puri as Advocate Hanif Qureshi,
Mahesh Manjrekar as Lawyer Sardesai, Govind Namdeo as Siddeshwar Maharaj,
Poonam Jhawer as Gopi Maiyya and Lubna Salim as Susheela Mehta
Genre:
Comedy/Satire/Social
Budget/Box Office:
20/83 Crore (1 Crore= 10 million)
Best Scene: Kanji in
court explains that he saw a beggar watching the milk run through a dirty
sewage outside a temple. This milk was being poured inside the temple on an
idol of a god. Seeing this Kanji says to the court, he realized that he would rather give the milk to the poor beggar than
pour it on just some statue.
Best Performance:
Paresh Rawal as Kanji Lalji Mehta
Score: 8.1/10 (Story-8.7, Direction-8.1, Performance-9.3,Score-6.3)
At number 10 is Oh
My God! The movie charts the tale of an idol seller and atheist Kanji Lalji
Mehta (Paresh Rawal) who abuses God believing him to be a Hoax. His accusations
soon create a storm among Hindu priests causing an earthquake that destroys only
his shop within the market area. With the insurance company claiming it as an
'act of god' and preventing him from reclaiming any money. In turn Kanji
decides to sue god and here begins the main plot. He begins to fight for his
right and in turn becomes a lawyer for all those who have been denied by the
Insurance company under the 'act of god' claim. His fight reels in priests from
church, temples and mosques most importantly antagonist Mithun Chakraboraty as
corrupt and wicked Leeladhar Swami. His case then ends up bringing in God
(Akshay Kumar) himself to help him understand that Kanji should rather fight
against those who use the name of god to swindle people. This in turn teaches
Kanji to go from not believing in God into believing him in the correct way
(not praising and giving money to idols etc.).
The Movie is a
splendid entertainer mixed with a moral. The performances are top notch with
the lead protagonist Paresh Rawal (fame Hera Pheri) giving it his all, his
reliable comic timing and the passionate way in which he potrays a ordinary man
fighting as a lawyer is one to watch for. The supporting characters are also a
thrill, most important of all is Akshay Kumar (fame Khiladi franchise), as God
he plays of Rawal's timing and situational comedy to create a believable but
not too preachy character. Wishing, to see this Akshay Kumar style of acting in
his next movies.
9. Agneepath
Director: Karan
Malhotra
Cast: Hrithik Roshan
as Vijay Deenanath Chauhan, Rishi Kapoor as Rauf Lala, Sanjay Dutt as Kancha
Cheena, Priyanka Chopra as Kaali Gawde, Om Puri as Commissioner Gaitonde,
Zarina Wahab as Suhasinin Chauhan and
Chetan Pandit as Master Deenanath Chauhan.
Genre: Action/Drama
Budget/Box Office:
60/121 Crore
Best Scene: Vijay
gets his revenge, as he hangs Kancha to the tree where his father was hanged.
He does this while reciting the poem 'Agneepath' as taught by his father with
wild fury and passion.
Best Perfromance:
Sanjay Dutt as Kancha
Score: 8.3/10 (Story-7.1, Directing-8.5, Performance-9.6, Score-7.8)
Action Packed!
Intense! And Masala Entertainer! This is you typical big budget, big
superstars, big producer's Bollywood film. The first mega blockbuster of 2012
for Bollywood. Agneepath is a harrowing revenge tale which sees a young Vijay
(Hrithik Roshan) seeking vengeance against the man (Kancha) who wrongly accused
his father of rape and got him hanged by the villagers of Mandwa as well as got
his family to run away. Vijay uses the Mumbai underworld and it's overlord Rauf
Lala (Rishi Kapoor) to defeat Kancha and regain the drug induced and now
military camp-like Mandwa.
The movie is a
Bollywood spectacle that urges it's viewers to get a feel of the Indian film
culture. It has the catchy tunes, the beautiful women, the heroic and driven
lead and his grotesque over the top foes. While it does seem stereotypical in
it's theme and genre, Agneepath is relatively better than other Masala
entertainer's this year in hindsight due to it's gritty nature, mature content,
fearless drama and dynamic performances.
The three male leads are a must watch, each
one brings a lot to the table and is a show stealer in their own right. Hrithik
(fame Krrish) as the protagonist provides a range of emotions to allow Vijay to
vent both his frustrations and desire for vengeance. The narrative allows him
darker shades veering him towards anti-hero and thus enhancing the character
and performance. Rishi Kapoor (fame Bobby) plays a negative character for the
first time in his illustrious career, he is one who enters the skin of his
character and is hard to identify in the Muslim garb. A man known for his
choclate boy looks and sweet nature, Kapoor proves why he is a talented actor
and makes you believe he is vicious (with his dialogue delivery) and rough (his
action scenes). The movie however hinges of Sanjay Dutt's (fame Lage Raho
Munnabhai) Kancha, whenever on screen Dutt's misshapen look and menacing
demeanor make him a sensation to take in. Dutt who is no stranger to villainous
roles (see Vastav), brings an over the top performance to his villain without
ever veering into campiness. His portrayal is realistic and in tone with the
movie as well as his posture is one that causes an influx of fear. I would
suggest people to watch this for these performances and the typically
entertaining revenge story.
8. Kahaani
Director: Sujoy
Ghosh
Cast: Vidya Balan as
Vidya Bagchi, Parambrata Chatterjee as Inspector Satyaki 'Rana' Sinha,
Nawazuddin Siddiqui as Khan, Indraneil Sengupta as Milan Damji and Saswata
Chatterjee as Bob Biswas
Genre:
Crime/Thriller
Budget/Box Office:
8/104 Crore
Best Scene: A
pregnant Vidya Bagchi is resting up on the platform waiting for the Metro and
assassin Bob Biswas pushes her onto the railways as the train comes speeding.
Best Performance:
Vidya Balan as Vidya Bagchi, Saswata Chatterjee as Bob Biswas
Score: 9.2/10 (Story-9.2, Directing-9.5, Performance-9.7, Score-8.3)
Vidya Bagchi (Vidya
Balan) is a London based Software Engineer who arrives in Kolkota during Durga
Puja (Holy festival) to find her missing husband who she claims came on an
assignment. She gains the aid of rookie cop Rana (Parambrata Chatterjee) but
soon falls under the scanner of Intelligence Bureau officer Khan (Nawazuddin
Siddiqui) and other corrupt officials and terrorists who send in assassin Bob
Biswas (Saswata Chatterjee).
The movie is a
tightly scripted thriller and a first time 100 crore (1 billion) grosser for a
female centric film with no famous male actors. The Bengali setting is feverish
yet serene and is grandiose to watch. While this garnered critical acclaim and
is considered the best film of 2012 in many critics lists I felt it wasn't such
a big deal hence the current position on my list. The film takes a leaf out of
films such as Kill Bill and A Brave Heart. It however immerses itself within
Indian culture and characters.
Vidya Balan makes it
5 in 5 with her performance after her varied range of characters and eclectic
showings in The Dirty Picture, No One Killed Jessica, Paa and Ishqiya (must
watch movies!!!). Her Vidya is a vulnerable
woman due to her pregnancy but is driven and strong willed, She gives her male
contemporaries in the movie and the industry a run for their money. Her
dialogue delivery is hard hitting to watch. She is aptly supported by a wide
range of thespian actors and Bengali cinema stalwarts.
Prime among these is
Nawazuddin Siddiqui (who features quite a bit on this list) as Khan, this was
the beginning of mainstream exposure for the gifted actor and he grabs the role
with his two hands. His Khan is rough with a no nonsense attitude and provides
the template for the Faizal Khan from Gangs Of Wasseypur audiences would see
later in the year. Balan is also given simpleton character Rana to play off
from, Rana as played by Parambrata is the voice of reason and the ordinary
character. He is fleshed out to be the hidden protagonist of the film and the
typical rookie cop character; hard headed, soft hearted, noble. Parambrata who
is a mainstay in Bengal Cinema gives the role his best and makes sure that with
his characteristic qualities does not
try to steal the show from Vidya Balan and remains the subtle supporting
character. Balan is matched toe to toe by relatively unknown and underrated
Bengali actor Saswata Chatterjee, if like me you had clearly not seen the
promos in depth then his introduction will come from nowhere.
We see Biswas at
his daily job being ridiculed by his boss, viewers won’t understand as to why in between Bagchi's
search we are witnessing this. All get's cleared as we see Biswas receive a
message and soon end up assassinating a woman aiding Vidya Bagchi. The use of
relative unknown's is an advantage as it keeps the mystery of the movie intact
and allows it to be shocking once the climax approaches. A intelligently
crafted and firmly woven Indie (or should I say Hindie) film with some career
turning performances makes this a simple must watch this year.
7. Chittagong
Director: Bedabrata
Pain
Cast: Manoj Bajpai
as Master-da Surya Sen, Barry John as Magistrate Wilkinson, Delzad
Hiwale/Subodh Roy (young) Jhunku, Vega Tamotia as Pritilata Waddedar,
Nawazuddin Siddiqui as Nirmal Sen, Raj Kumar Yadav as Lokenath Bal, Jaideep
Ahlawat as Ananta Singh and Dibyendu Bhattacharya as Ambika Chakroboraty
Genre: Period/Drama
Budget/Box Office:
4.5/0.31 Crore
Best Scene: Jhunku
informs Magistrate Wilson that the Indian villagers are finally rising, in the
background we see villagers rising from the ground and then going on to take
their granary back from the British authorities thus culminating in their revolution
for independence.
Best Performance:
Manoj Bajpai as Surya Sen
Score:8.9/10 (Story-9.1, Directing-9.7,Performance-9.1, Score-7.5)
Chittagong charts
the saga of the unsung heroes of the Indian independence revolution. It is a
near perfect true story based on the oft forgotten 1930's Chittagong uprising.
The film follows young Jhunku who studies with British emissary and Magistrate
Wilkinson. His father wishes to see Jhunku head to London and become a big
lawyer, but an incident changes Jhunku's views and takes him on a path to
becoming the youngest rebel leader. The film is directed by Bedabrata Pain, who
left his dream job at NASA to direct this introspective period picture.
The film hinges on
superlative performance especially from veteran Bajpai (fame Satya) and young
lead Subodh Roy gracefully supported by a collection of unknown talents. The
movie is quite short but gives ample time to take in the full scope of the
uprising as well as the changing views of Jhunku. It is crafted with class, the
lower budget makes the film seem grainy in nature and the use of a brown and
grey color scheme gives off the period setting. A movie steeped in reality,
Chittagong is harrowing and thought provoking allowing viewers to witness a
part of the Indian independence revolution that is lost in the annals of
history. There are some places however where the film seems to lag whether it
be a few shoehorned in romantic excursions or intense emotional
characterizations but even then these do add layers no matter how underexposed
and unresolved they feel. If you like serious poignant cinema then this one is
a must watch.
6. Gangs of Wasseypur
Saga
Director: Anurag
Kashyap
Cast: Part 1-Manoj
Bajpai as Sardar Khan, Piyush Mishra as Nasir, Jameel Khan as Asghar, Jaideep
Ahlawat as Shahid Khan, Richa Chada as Nagma Khatoon, Reema Sen as Durga,
Nawazuddin Siddiqui as Faizal Khan, Tigmanshu Dhulia as Ramadhir Singh, Huma
Qureshi as Mohsina, Vipin Sharma as Ehsaan Qureshi, Pankaj Tripathi as Sultan Qureshi and Vineet
Kumar as Danish Khan
Part 2-Nawazuddin Siddiqui as Faizal
Khan, Richa Chada as Nagma Khatoon, Huma Qureshi as Mohsina Khan, Reema Sen as
Durga, Piyush Mishra as Nasir, Jameel Khan as Asghar, Pankaj Tripathi as Sultan
Qureshi, Satya Anand as JP Singh, Zeishan Quadri as Definite Khan, Aditya Kumar
as Nawab Khan/Perpendicular, Raj Kumar Yadav as Shamshad Alam and Tigmanshu
Dhulia as Ramadhir Singh
Genre:
Crime/Action/Anthology
Budget/Box Office:
9.2 and 9.2/27.85 and 22.96 Crore
Best Scene: When
Ramadhir Singh sits down among a few loyal companions he explains that he has
survived two generations of Khans and amidst multiple changes in crime only due
to the fact that he has never been an avid fan of cinema. Dhulia's delivery of a
crisp dialogue is worth the ticket money itself.
Best Performance:
The full cast. With the time given to each cast member, they do the optimum
best. If however I was to choose one then; Manoj Bajpai as Sardar Khan.
Score: 9.8/10 (Story-9.9/ Directing-10, Performances-9.8, Music-9.3)
Hindi Cinema just
got it's own Godfather crime anthology!!!
The movie chronicles the tale of Gang war between the Khan clan lead by
a surreal Manoj Bajpai (fame Satya) and dynamic Nawazuddin Siddiqui (fame
Peepli Live) against former coal mine owner and criminal businessman Ramadhir
Singh (Tigmanshu Dhulia) and the feared Qureshi muslim clan. It's a complicated
anthology of crime in Wasseypur in India so instead of explaining the plot I
would suggest you hurry and go watch the two parter now!
Debuting at the
Cannes Film Festival Director Fortnight 2012, GOW is a critically acclaimed and
commercially successful film. It's feel is reminiscent of Sergio Leone
spaghetti westerns (The Good, The Bad and The Ugly and Once Upon A Time In
America), Martin Scorsese mafia crime thrillers (Goodfellas), Francis Coppola's
classic family Mafioso/gang war dramas (The Godfather Trilogy), Quentin
Tarrantino narrative flow (Pulp Fiction) and Coen Brothers dark humor (The Big
Lebowski and Fargo) but is essentially rooted in Indian aesthetics.
Anurag Kashyap is
the star of the show, he brings the realistic feel of crime ridden Wasseypur to
life on the big screen. His characters are harsh, bloody and powerhouses. As
director, Kashyap is able to bring forth stellar performances from every member
of his colossal ensemble cast but also define a gritty cinematography and crisp
dialogue's as well as a briskly paced but overreaching and wholly satisfying
script (penned by debutant actor Zeishan Quadri and others). It is the first
Indian movie (both parts were played as one) to be screened at the monumental
Cannes Director Fortnight and that speaks volumes of the movie and it's
content.
Both parts are pitch
perfect and rarely falter, the actors on screen make due to prevent any scenes
from lagging. Among Part 1 the lead role (of Sardar Khan)is played by the
underused and driven method actor Manoj Bajpai. He proves his mettle with
impeccable dark comedic timing and devilishly charming antics. His dramatic
delivery and slick expressions are a treat, the passionate way in which he
explains to his wife as to why he is steeped in crime brings forth a trope not
typically seen in revenge films; the monologue as to why revenge is the only
necessity for a protagonist. . He is aptly supported by his large cast, notable
performers of which are; Richa Chada's feisty Nagma, Piyush Mishra's troubled
narrator Nasir, Nawazuddin's junky Faizal and debutant actor Tigmanshu Dhulia
as powerful Ramadhir.
Where part 1 builds
slowly towards crescendo, it's part 2 that provides the pay-off. It is
specially intriguing to see part 2 and even part 1 play off Wasseypur's
situation itself. Part 2 is much more blood soaked and feverish, mirroring the
state of Wasseypur itself. Where the gang war in the first part resulted
between Sardar Khan and Ramadhir Singh, the second one provides a change in
tempo as multiple hooligans begin to want to reign over as crime lords of the
murky city.
Part 2 sticks to
it's guns as the pay-off and provides a higher dose of action. The only problem
within part 2 is there is excessive violence which has no dramatic resonance.
It's the performances that lead the second part to a closer range with the first.
Leading Part 2 is Siddiqui's Faizal who goes from a down in luck junkie into
the intimidating mafia boss of Dhanbad and Wasseypur. Nawazuddin reminds the
viewer of a young Al Pacino in his stunning leading man performance, his
character is a stirring mix of both Michael Corleone and Scarface. It's deadly
to watch his turn as he realises his friend's betrayal and hand in murdering
both his father and brother and soon chops off the said friend's head thus
declaring his arrival. It's also interesting to witness his chemistry with
debutant actress Huma Qureshi (as his wife Mohsina) who provides the moral
support but is the dominator within their relationship.
With Siddiqui's
character arc it is impossible for him to gain the deeper layers of humor and
romanticism provided for Manoj Bajpai's
Sardar. Thus it falls on his other brothers to give some enhanced support,
chief among these is Definite Khan (Zeishan Quadri) who is violent, savage and
witty. Quadri who makes a debut with this film, makes most of his role as the
step-brother to Faizal and plays his character with under the surface
wickedness. It's a testament to the unknown talent that he handles both the new
world of acting and crafts the 300 plus minute story (yes Zeishan Quadri is
also the writer for GOW). The other actor is young Aditya Kumar as
Perpendicular, his character doesn't get a lot of screen time but stays with
the viewer. Perpendicular brings black humor and a window into the youth that
is swayed by crime within Wasseypur.
Overall I can
guaranteed say that this movie(s) stands as a revolutionary in Gangster flicks,
not only for Hindi Cinema but for the genre itself. I can place this among
classics such as The Godfather Trilogy and Scarface. I Suggest if you are an
avid fan of crime films, this two part masterpiece is for you. Plus check out
the zany soundtrack which moulds in the background, perfectly with the montage
sequences.
5. Vicky Donor
Director: Shoojit
Sircar
Cast: Ayushmann
Khurana as Vicky Arora, Yami Gautam as Ashima Roy Arora, Annu Kapoor as Dr.
Baldev Chaddha, Dolly Ahluwalia as Mrs. Dolly Arora and Kamlesh Gill as Bijji
Genre:
Romantic/Comedy
Budget/Box Office:
5/46 Crore
Best Scene: A drunk
Dolly and her mother-in-law (Bijji) discuss their friendly rivalry and
relationships. Splendid comedic timing spiced with insightful emotion.
Best Performance:
Ayushmann Khurana as Vicky Arora
Score:8.9/10 (Story-8.9, Directing-8.4, Performances-8.9, Score-9.5)
Vicky Donor is the
tale of a loafer Vicky (Ayushmann Khurana) who lives off his deceased father's
and working mother's money. He has no job or goal in life apart from drinking,
playing cricket and having fun with friends. Soon during a scuffle Vicky is targeted
by a fertilization specialist Doctor Chaddha (Annu Kapoor) who believes him to
be an 'Aryaputar (descendant of Alexander the Great)' with the ability to
donate sperm to save his clinic from closing down. Vicky is soon convinced and
begins earning money, thus bringing him into confrontation with bank assistant
Ashima (Yami Gautam). Romance blooms and soon enough the couple are married,
with pregnancy issues arising Vicky's past is open and it brings him to
struggle to prove that what he had done was not wrong.
Donor is a
simplistic and genuine movie that deals with a taboo subject within India. The
movie deals with the serious issue using a comedic background which never veers
into vulgar, instead using a genuine romantic plot and lighthearted fare to do
this topic justice and craft a heartwarming story. Vicky Donor pulls the
audience with it's kindred form and lush Delhi based palette.
The irresistible
youthful charm of lead actor and debutant Ayushmann Khurana is what gives the
audience a staying reason. He invokes a array of emotions to the role and has a
witty comic timing and fluid delivery and posture. It never feels like a debut film
for the former VJ and TV regular. He is also given a great foundation by his
cast; whether it be the heart fluttering Bengali Yami Gautam, wickedly
hilarious Dolly or typically crisp Kapoor. It's one of the warmest films of the
year and although the second half lags due to the misguided drama and
stereotypical climax, the film reaches from negativity to provide a satisfying
conclusion. This is a must watch not only to laugh, but to take in the finesse
explanation of Sperm donation as provided by Sircar as well as the influx of
Delhi culture in today's Hindi cinema.
4. English Vinglish
Director: Gauri
Shinde
Cast: Sridevi as
Shashi Godbole, Priya Anand as Radha, Mehdi Nebbou as Laurent, Adil Hussain as
Satish Godbole, Navika Kotia as Sapna Godbole and Master Shivansh Kotia as
Sagar Godbole
Genre: Comedy/Drama
Budget/Box Office:
15/85 Crore
Best Scene: Shashi
gives a speech in English on her niece's wedding day and stuns her husband and
daughter as well as close relatives with her fluency in the language.
Best Performance:
Sridevi as Shashi Godbole
Score:9.2/10 (Story-9.4, Directing-9.1, Performance-9.5, Music-8.6)
If your mother is a
housewife/takes care of the family 24-7 and you ever felt that you or any
family member under appreciates her, then go hug her and say Thank You straight
away!
The film that
premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival and warmed a million
hearts, Sridevi's comeback resulted in bumper success that began at TIFF with
an after movie 10 minute standing ovation. In Indian cinema not only is it hard
for a female actor to shoulder a picture but it is also hard for an actress to
make a comeback to films after a decade and more away. Sridevi pulls it with
aplomb, her Shashi may seem like an underdog but Sridevi carries herself with
dynamic confidence. There is no slip-up visible within her acting range and
emotional depth, Sridevi in fact seems to have transcended into a much better
performer prior to her hibernation.
In the film viewers
witness Mumbai housewife Shashi Godbole (Sridevi) who also makes Ladoos (Indian
Sweets) to sell go through everyday verbal jabs from her teenage daughter and
her husband Satish (Adil Hussain) due to her inability to speak fluent English.
Eventually opportunity arises for her to leave family, She heads off to USA to
help her sister in her daughter's wedding preparation and there gets a chance
to learn English. Her underdog struggle culminates in her being able to
eventually speak English and make her daughter and husband realize her true
value.
The story is quite
typical of an underdog formula but uses the point of a housewife and language
barrier to inject an offbeat visual. As mentioned earlier Sridevi is splendid,
there are no words to describe the range the character allows her to act with.
The topic in general does not filter her but rather allows expansion in
expression (a depth not plundered in her previous films, due to the times back
then), inclusive of which are; fear after being unable to speak up at a
restaurant, chirpiness whence going to learn English, joviality when getting
answers right, fury at her daughter's embarrassment towards her and pride when
she finally delivers her speech with a spice of humility. An emotionally
satisfying homemade (cooked by the mother's hand) dinner!
For the genre and
plot it is necessary to have an under the surface antagonist and in this case
one that is also clueless and inattentive. Adil Hussain (fame Ishqiya) delivers
this in spades, his Satish is a typical Indian or any other husband who has married
a wife with a lesser education and thus feels he is much more superior, he
doesn't intentionally mean to insult her but also does not understand her in a
deeper level. The performances aside, cinematography based on Manhattan is
splendid as with every movie and the dialogues are clear but not repeatable as
such. This one is a must watch for it's typical but blissful ending.
3. Barfi!
Director: Anurag
Basu
Cast: Ranbir Kapoor
as Murphy 'Barfi' Johnson, Priyanka Chopra as Jhilmil Chatterjee, Lleana D'Cruz
as Shruti Ghosh/Sengupta/Narrator, Akash Khurana as Mr. Johnson, Ashish
Vidyarthi as Mr. Chatterjee, Rupa Ganguly as Mrs. Ghosh and Saurabh Shukla as
Inspector Sudanshu Dutta
Genre:
Romantic/Comedy/Period
Budget/Box Office:
30/106 Crore
Best Scene: Barfi
tries to rob a bank to pay for his father's hospital bill. A hilarious
rendition of a Charlie Chaplin classic but Ranbir Kapoor presents shades of his
late legendary grandfather Raj Kapoor in his body language.
Best Performance:
Priyanka Chopra as Jhilmil Chatterjee
Score: 8.8/10 (Story-7.7, Directing-7.9, Performances-9.6, Music-9.9)
Does it copy
multiple Hollywood and Bollywood films? Yes. But is it the most sweetest,
sincere and off-beat romantic tale of the year? Definitely. Barfi is a dazzling
movie just like it's lush and eye catching Kolkota setting. The film follows
the titular Barfi AKA Murphy (Ranbir Kapoor) as a wayward man and notorious
thief in Darjeeling 1972, who falls in love with the visiting Shruti (Lleana
D'Cruz). Shruti who is off to be married does not wish to be around Barfi much
but soon falls for his charm and eventually falls in love. Her mother forbids
this, questioning on how he (Barfi) will provide for them and Shruti succumbs
to reality. Barfi due to an incident ends up kidnapping his childhood friend
and autistic girl Jhilmil (Priyanka Chopra), he soon uncovers another internal
kidnapping plot regarding her and there hiding together ends up in a budding
friendship to a quirky blossoming of romance.
A lot happens in
this film that will feel repetitive but it's the humility of the story and it's
weird yet deliberately sweet tale that catches the viewer. This would not be
possible in a Bollywood movie without extra-ordinary performances, a catchy
soundtrack and sincere cinematography of a aromatic Kolkota. The score is soft
and really hinges on the tune, it's full of songs worth viewing on the screen
and also tells it's own story. With deep influences from silent era films, the
background music fits perfectly.
Performances wise
this is essentially a Ranbir Kapoor starrer, after his passionate and edgy turn
as a Rock star in Rockstar, Kapoor delivers again. His comedic timing equaled
with the mute handicap is riveting, a frame by frame ode to Chaplin style and a
legacy shining of his grandfather Raj Kapoor's acting form. Ranbir truly proves
his mettle as a son of the first dynasty of Bollywood. He is however greatly
outshined by Priyanka Chopra (fame Fashion), her vision of an autistic girl
places on realism but get's depth with her emotions and attachments. Chopra has
gone form strength to strength in the past few years, now she's no more a
pretty faced model but a high caliber actor if she is given a meaty role as
this one. Lleana gives a restrained debut that allows her contemporaries to
freely act, her Shruti may be one character that get's hated but as the
narrator she is a crux point of introducing and engaging viewers. Be assured
that this is one of the spectacular movies of the year. Although not a negative
on the movie's part, it however didn't deserve the Indian Films Boards official
entry into the Oscars. There's quite a bit off regional cinema films and the
next film on the list that deserved that nomination, but that still doesn't
take away from Barfi's charm.
2. Paan Singh Tomar
Director: Tigmanshu
Dhulia
Cast: Irrfan Khan as
Paan Singh Tomar, Mahi Gill as Indira, Vipin Sharma as Major Masand, Imran
Hasnee as Matadeen Singh Tomar, Nawazuddin Siddiqui as Gopi, Zakir Hussain as
Inspector Rathore, Jahangir Khan as
'Daddaa' Bhanwar Singh, Rajendra Gupta as HS Randhawa, Ravi Sah as Paan's
Nephew, Swapnil Kothriwal as Hanumant, Rajeev Gupta as Corrupt Cop and
Brijendra Kala as Journalist
Genre:
Biographical/Sports/Crime/Drama
Budget/Box Office:
8/38.4 Crore
Best Scene: Paan
Singh finally get's his chance to face his tormentor and cousin, intimidating
him with questions regarding why the cousin caused Paan's downfall from a
national treasure and sporting legend to a wanted dacoit.
Best Performance:
Irrfan Khan as Paan Singh Tomar
Score: 9.6/10 (Story-9.8, Direction-9.8, Performances-9.6, Score-8.6)
Irrfan Khan proves
that he is the best Khan acting in the Hindi film industry today. For those who
do not understand, multiple Khan actors have ruled the box office since the
nineties among these is the trinity of Sharukh Khan, Salman Khan and Aamir Khan.
However I can guarantee that among these Khans, there is no better actor than
Irrfan and the proof is this eye opening gem; Paan Singh Tomar.
The movie is a
biographical story that presents the social issues of sportsmen in India (that
are not cricketers), Paan Singh is an army man who decides to join sports to
satisfy his hunger (sportsman have a large diet), he becomes a steeple chase
runner and eventually a national champion. Due to family and village issues, he
retires and returns home. The issues escalate and eventually cause a snowball
effect as no one comes to aid the so called National Treasure. Paan Singh goes
from runner to dacoit and becomes the king of bandits among the ravines.
For the sake of the
movie, Paan Singh's story is over-dramatized however the aesthetic,
cinematography , dialogue and language give the film a layer of realism.
Tigmanshu does not fall into the tropes of giving his bandit an over the top
look or style, his feet are firmly grounded and even the issue that causes
Paan's turn is viable. According to Wikipedia, the film took Dhulia ten years
to make and this shows in the pain staking detail put into adapting the period
setting especially of notorious Dacoit area Chambal.
The film has a
riveting pace as swift as Paan himself. It's told to a reporter by Paan and
sees him go from his youthful exuberance into his rage induced adulthood. PST
is a shock and awe to those who witness Cricketers earning millions in sports
in India where other sportsmen suffer. This could not have been accomplished
without a stalwart performance from the films lead. As mentioned above, Khan
does this without hesitation. It's a demanding role and he delivers, his sports
scenes in the steeple chase look realistic thanks to his lanky but athletic
frame and the fact that he also trained himself vigorously for the role. His
dialogue delivery is uncanny and it shows as to why he is a natural selection
for top Hollywood casting agents in many a film requiring an Indian character
with staggering presence. It's been a fine year for Irrfan, he has been part of
three successes; with a niche supporting role (elder Pi) in Life of Pi, a
sinister cameo (Dr Ratha) in Amazing Spider-Man and this deserved leading role
in Paan Singh Tomar. A must watch movie and sadly one that was deserving the
official Indian entry for the Oscars. After all it is a tale steeped in Indian
culture that makes sports fan aware of a dire situation with a beloved Indian
actor among Hollywood.
1. Shanghai
Director: Dibakar
Banerjee
Cast: Abhay Deol as
TA Krishnan, Emraan Hashmi as Joginder Parmar, Prosenjit Chatterjee as Dr.
Ahmadi, Kalki Koechlin as Shalini Sahay, Supriya Pathak as Chief Minister
Madamji, Pitobash Tripathy as Bhagu, Anant Jog as Jaggu and Farooq Sheikh as
Kaul
Genre:
Political/Thriller
Budget/Box Office:
12/25 Crore
Best Scene: Krishnan
(Abhay Deol) having been exposed to the plot must decide whether to do the
right and honest thing or play a part in the corruption and secure his future.
Deol moves backwards across the room in a state of shock, the camera placement allows
him to move between full light and complete shadows to show the ticking choices
between right and wrong within his characters mind.
Best Performance:
Emraan Hashmi as Joginder Parmar
Score:9.5/10 (Story-9.6, Direction-9.9, Performances-9.4, Score-8.9)
Here it is, the best
and my favorite Bollywood movie of 2012; Shanghai. Shanghai is an official
adaptation of the French novel Z written by Vassilis Vassilikos, in the up and
coming city of Bharat Nagar the ruling political party has planned to create a project
(IBP) that will turn the city into a staggering metropolis so as to outrun
China and their city Shanghai. For this the government requires to relocate the
people living in slums, fighting for them is Dr. Ahmadi (Prosenjit Chatterjee).
During a speech against the party, Ahmadi is overrun by a truck and an
investigation is set up to find the hit and run criminals. Where the
investigation begins, Ahmadi's student Shalini (Kalki Koechlin) believes it to
be murder where as Joginder (Emraan Hashmi) gains evidence to back this claim.
The investigation is headed by honourable and righteous Krishnan (Abhay Deol)
but head of the project IBP. Together these characters discover a conspiracy
plot that runs deep within the party and it's higher officials.
A political thriller
with more on the politics and less on the thrills, Shanghai is a fast paced and
short film thus minimizing risks of riddling it with plot holes. Dibakar
Bannerjee makes one of the most near perfect films I have been glad to witness.
The film has a gripping narrative, terrific performances from it's ensemble
cast, detailed cinematography and a steady hand.
Among the
performances the three leads deliver as expected, they are aptly supported by
veteran thespians such as Supriya Pathak (fame Kichdi) and Farooq Sheikh (fame
Chasme Badoor). Emraan Hashmi (fame Jannat) proves his mettle as the most
underrated actor in cinema today. His Jogi is the most honorable and selfless
character of the bunch (considering he also films adult movies). Hashmi gets
into the skin of his character with the paunch and the rotten teeth giving an
insight into his performance style as well. Apart form him, Abhay Deol (fame
Dev D) as usual is dependable in the acting range. Being a Northern lad it is
hard for him to get the Southern accent right and he does so with sheer
honesty. His Krishnan sounds genuine without being a caricature that most other
actors would portray with a south Indian voice (looking at you Sharukh Khan
from Ra One). Kalki (fame Dev D) as well brings gravitas to her performance and
is certain to be under toned, so as to let her male co stars dominate when need
be but she also makes sure to steal the limelight when she needs to.
However it is the
cinematography that takes the cake. The use of dusty brown, murky yellow and
sepia tones give Bharat Nagar the rustic look of India and it's politically
gloomy situation. Camera work is stunning whether it be the aforementioned
scene of using lighting to show the flux of decision between right and wrong.
Or a simple scene of presenting main characters in danger when walking, as
showing the scene behind them where our view of them is blocked by shops and we
only get glimpses once they pass entrances to gullies (sorry hard to explain
this one, go watch the movie). So as mentioned, go watch this one and be
enamored by a bevy of great talent and a sensational director's vision.
Also check for the
full review in a few weeks!!!
Other Movies to
check out: Chakravyuh, Ferrari Ki
Sawari, Ek Main aur Ek Tuu, Talaash, Gattu, Cocktail, London Paris New York,
Arjun-Warrior Prince, Luv Shuv Tey Chicken Khurana, Aiyaa, Ishaqzaade
Not to watch: Bol
Bachchan, Son of Sardaar, Khiladi 786, Rowdy Rathod, Agent Vinod, Joker,
Players, Heroine
Movies to watch our
for in 2013: Inkaar, Special Chabbis, Kai Po Che!, Chasme Badoor Remake, Saheb
Biwi aur Gangster Returns, Nautanki Saala, Ek Thi Dayaan, Shootout at Wadala,
Ghanchakkar, Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, Satyagraha-Democracy under Fire, Bullet Raja,
Besharam, Dhoom 3
