Tintin's Top Ten: Bollywood Movies to Watch out for in 2014

TinTin's Top Ten

Bollywood Movies to Watch out for in 2014

I really liked doing last years top ten feature on the best of Bollywood in 2012. So I decided to expand this so called feature this year with different grouping relating to both the best, the worst and the most anticipated.

2013 is the 100th year of Bollywood, its been a good year but couldn't really live to the expectations that the movies of 2012 had generated. Lets hope that 2014 knocks it out of the park as the beginner for the next century of Hindi cinema. So on that note, here are my ten anticipated films for next year. 



10. Dedh Ishqiya

Directed by Abhishek Chaubey

Written by Vishal Bharadwaj, Abhishek Cahubey and Gulzar

Starring Naseeruddin Shah, Arshad Warsi, Madhuri Dixit, Huma Qureshi and Vijay Raaz


A sequel to the rib tickling black crime comedy that was Ishqiya. While we will miss the presence of the dynamic Vidya Balan, this cast will be bolstered by the dazzling Huma Qureshi, hilarious Vijay Raaz and the sensual Madhuri Dixit.

The film promises to up the ante regarding the hijinx of nephew-uncle duo Khalujaan and Babban. Warsi and Shah are typically dependable character actors and from what can be seen of the trailer, their chemistry will never disappoint. Not to mention the writing of Vishal Bharadwaj.

9. Total Siyapaa

Directed by Eshvar Niwas

Written by Neeraj Pandey

Starring Ali Zafar, Yami Gautam, Sara Khan, Vishwa Badola, Kiron Kher and Anupam Kher 





While I've definitely lost some of my fandom for Ali Zafar after this year (more on that later), this Indo-Pak romantic comedy seems to be a laugh riot if taken by the trailer. Zafar plays a Pakistani boy wishing to impress his Indian girlfriend's (the lovely Yami Gautam) family.

Riot ensues when they find out he's Pakistani, and the whole family goes for a toss. It’s the supporting actors I look forward to most. Anupam Kher and his wife Kiron Kher appear together for the first time ever. Where Anupam can easily slide between genres, Kiron Kher has the tendency to brilliantly portray the OTT filmy mother. Can't wait to see how this mini war ends up. 


8. Shaddi Ke Side Effects

Directed by Saket Chaudhary

Starring Farhan Akthar, Vidya Balan, Ram Kapoor, Vir Das and Purab Kohli  

Recently I highlighted how, Pyaar ke Side Effects is one of my 100 favorite Bollywood films of all time. Its sequel removes the old cast in favor of a new one in a new situation. While I really like Akthar and Balan, I wish Sherawat and Bose had been taken into this film as they were real highlights in the previous installment.

The trailer really hasn't enticed me much, but I still trust this to work with the two talented actors involved.  By the time this film releases, Akthar will have come off a year where he put on the best male leading performance (Bhaag Milkha Bhaag) and possibly bagged multiple awards. On the other hand Vidya Balan seems to be channeling the qualities of her role in Ghanchakkar, which isn't a bad thing.

Add in the likes of Vir Das, Purab Kohli and Ram Kapoor and you have a formula for a surefire hit in your hands. 


7. Roy

Directed By Vikramjit Singh

Starring Ranbir Kapoor, Arjun Rampal and Jacqueline Fernandez 
    
While not has been revealed about this film. Roy looks to be a turn back for Ranbir Kapoor into an experimental film and role, after what has been a generic commercial movie year. Alongside him will be Arjun Rampal and Jacqueline Fernandez.

A romantic action thriller, I would really love to see how this one unravels itself.

 
6. Finding Fanny Fernandes

Directed By Homi Adjania

Starring Deepika Padukone, Arjun Kapoor, Naseeruddin Shah, Dimple Kapadia and Pankaj Kapur 


Homi Adjania blasted us with the layered psychological thriller Being Cyrus years back, and then he changed gears into a soft semi-typical yet intriguing romantic film in Cocktail last year.

Next year he arrives with his second English language Indian film (after Being Cyrus), Finding brings together young superb talents like Arjun Kapoor and Deepika Padukone with master thespians like Nasseruddin Shah, Dimple Kapadia and Pankaj Kapur.

The plot snippet makes it sound really interesting; as five goons on a road trip in search of an old postman's childhood love Stephanie 'Fanny' Fernandez. 


 5. Gunday

Directed by Ali Abbas Zaffar

Starring: Ranveer Singh, Arjun Kapoor, Priyanka Chopra and Irrfan Khan 

The trailer for Gunday is out and what I will do is let it do the talking,  but I will say IRRFAN KHAN!;

 

4. Bombay Velvet

Directed by Anurag Kashyap

Written by Gyan Prakash and Anurag Kashyap

Starring Ranbir Kapoor, Anushka Sharma, Karan Johar, Kay Kay Menon and Raveena Tandon 
 

Based on the book Mumbai Fables

Rarely do you get directors delving in different genre without making Bollywood style adjustments, from the news it seems Anurag Kashyap is hell bent on making a proper neo noir film for Hindi Cinema.

To date this might just be his most mainstream film, considering the actors involved; the charismatic Ranbir Kapoor, the enchanting Anuskha Sharma and making his full fledged debut in a negative role Karan Johar.

Yes the director Karan Johar, of sappy melodramatic romantic films and the brand ambassador for spilling beans while drinking Coffee.

Kashyap who can be always trusted, stated the Johar a revelation in the film as the nefarious man opposite lovebirds Kapoor (a street fighter) and Sharma (a jazz musician). This will be one to watch for.

Not to mention this a first film in a trilogy, establishing Mumbai's change into a Metropolis.

3. Qissa

Directed by Anup Singh

Written by Anup Singh

Starring Irrfan Khan, Tilotama Shome, Rasika Duggal and Tisca Chopra


Already garnering acclaim at festivals, Qissa doesn't have a set distributor in India or even a release date but I cannot wait to see it release (which will hopefully happen next year).

The film sees the talented Irrfan Khan playing a displace Sardar in 1947 partition time India. He migrates to Punjab with three daughters, wishing for a male heir when his fourth daughter is born he raises her as a boy.

Eventually she goes on to become a truck driver and fall in love and marries a girl Neeli eventually causing problems.

A period film with the motifs of gender change, gender birth issues, male heritage and homosexuality. Qissa sounds like a film filled with intelligent depth and I cannot wait to see where Khan goes with this film and role. 

2. Detective Byomkesh Bakshi

Directed by Dibakar Banerjee

Starring Sushant Singh Rajput

Based on the Bengali Literature character of the same name, Bakshi will be an Hindi adaptation of the character. While I don't know much about this detective like I do Sherlock, DBB interests me because of the people involved.

My favorite modern day director Dibakar Banerjee teams up with this years star debutant Sushant Singh Rajput for the film. I cannot wait to see how this one goes down.

1. Ugly

Directed by Anurag Kashyap

Starring Rahul Bhat, Ronit Roy, Girish Kulkarni, Tejaswini Kolhapure, Vipin Sharma and Surveen Chawla

Anurag Kashyap returned to the directors chair post his mega success with Gangs of Wasseypur. The somber yet thrilling trailer seems to make this look like a return for the director to a lower scaled film.

Ugly has garnered rave reviews at festivals, and was set to release this past October. Unfortunately I have no idea why it didn't but it seems now the film might get a confirmed release in 2014. 

Former TV actor Rahul Bhatt makes his re-debut with this film and has been touted as the centerpiece to an intriguing core narrative. He is joined by the talented Ronit Roy in yet another impact full villainous turn after Udaan. From the trailer this looks set to be another masterpiece by the auteur.

Next: Misogynist sleaze, undeserving crore making films, a copycat superhero movie mashup and some of the most blatantly embarrassing remakes.  The ten worst Bollywood films of the year 2013

'Nuff Said

Aneesh Raikundalia