Tintin's Top Ten
Most Anticipated Hindi films of 2016
Before we get
started, I would like to spend some time to reflect on the past year in Hindi
cinema. Coming from what is somewhat a to be insider perspective, now that I
have become a part of a film school in India [setting up a career in the Hindi
film industry]; I now have to tread lightly in my criticism [hence no worst of
Hindi cinema 2015] :D :P
Still, the past year
has been a tad disappointment especially when considering the past decade in
itself that has seen great content being churned out in regularity despite the
number of unnecessary blockbusters and commercial films also spat out.
This year did see a
slew of mega commercial film being released as usual, headed by the stars of
the industry; some were surprisingly good [Bajrangi Bhaijaan], some I didn't
even bother with [Dilwale] and then some were an example of shoddy and lazy
filmmaking to the hilt [Welcome Back].
And finally there
were also those that came as an immense shock disappointment [Shandaar and Roy]
Even the best of
list this year is well...not really best of...
This years films do
contain a few that may stand the test of time, yet not so many that would
necessary deserve a mention in any other given year.
Of course one should
for the sake of these efforts take into account my now increased knowledge in
filmmaking, hence my enhanced criticism of these films as well as for one other
major factor.
That factor?
My eyes being opened
to the potential of Regional Language cinema [Any Indian film, not in Hindi;
the national language]
I have seen quite a
few great regional films through the years; mostly Tamil and Malyalam, but this
year simply blew me away.
I managed to take a
sneak peak at not only the stalwarts of the year released in the theaters such
as Court [Marathi], Killa [Marathi], Qissa [Punjabi], Kakaa Muttai [Tamil],
Baahubali [Telegu] and more but also those as of yet unreleased and touted as the
best of the best in film festivals such as Chauthi Koot [Punjabi], Visaranai
[Tamil], Thithi [Kannada] and more.
The year has been an
overall disappointment, and here is a look at how each of my most anticipated
films from last year did for me;
NH10
Though I wasn't too
happy by this film, Anushka Sharma did do something different and how while
Navdeep Singh proved he has still got it; keeping you at the edge with a
devilish twist of humor.
Verdict: Lived Up To
Expectations
Piku
I am one of the few
who really despised Amitabh Bachchan's unnecessarily hammy performance in this
film, but Piku despite being what it was as expected went beyond and above the
call of greatness.
Verdict: Exceeded
Expectations
Baby
Everything I thought
this film could be and it was, in fact at times more so [I cannot stop heaping
praises on the subverted fight between Sushant Singh and Tapsee Pannu]. Yet the
Argo lite ending and something quite odd and unexplainable left a bad taste.
Though still, props to Neeraj Pandey's directorial sensibilities.
Verdict: Mild
Disappointment
Fan
Will release this
year
Verdict: Unreleased
Dil Dhadakne Do
The fact that Zoya
Akhtar's latest has such a great rewatch quality like her past efforts, makes
it a worthy film despite some major flaws. It has one of the most hated
characters of the year, yet it still works wonders just as her films always do.
Verdict: Lived up to
Expectations
Margarita With A
Straw
More than making
people agree that Kalki Koechlin indeed is a phenomenal actor, this one took
two very sensitive subjects and worked marvels with them.
Verdict: Exceeded
Expectations
Badlapur
What was expected
was not delivered and in a good way. Neither was this a revenge thriller nor
one influenced by past efforts. Instead this was a film on change, forgiveness
and moral complexities that made one gasp at the end as much as it did to
ponder and reflect on the futilities of keeping hate boiling for so long.
Verdict: Exceeded
Expectations
Bombay Velvet
Not as terrible as
people seem to claim it to be, but nowhere near a signature Kashyap film
[though who are we to judge that]. Still there are elements of the film that
work wonders and pieces that could have been better had they not been hampered
by our perceptions and expectations such as the writing and Karan Johar's
interesting performance.
Verdict: Mild
Disappointment
Tamasha
Another film that
truly comes from the depths of Imtiaz Ali's heart and thus forgets convention
in favor of cinematic exploration. You are either going to like it or hate it,
for me this one was a winner and more [just so as to stick it to those who didn't
connect and engage].
Verdict: Exceeded
Expectations
Detective Byomkesh
Bakshi
I still have to and
want to rewatch this film. It has some really surprising and good elements such
as the tone, soundtrack, aesthetics and of course Sushant Singh Rajput's
performance. However as far as I can remember, in bits this film really failed
and it hurt coming from my favorite director who I expect nothing less of. His
protégé Kanu Behl delivered in heft last year with Titli, and Dibakar never
left a dent.
Verdict:
Disappointment
While the first one
really hurt in some cases [though I hope a more focused rewatch will change my
opinion], the others were all in a good line; showing that not all is bad.
However what does
2016 have in store for us?
For one, the top
stars are not falling over their feet to do something out right commercial.
Akshay Kumar builds
on his collaborations with Neeraj Pandey to tackle mature and interesting films
like Airlift and Rustom.
Hrithik Roshan
returns to better days with works that will force him to act in Ashutosh
Gowarikar's Mohenjo Dharo.
Aamir Khan from
annoying us as a cute doggy this year to next will build on some of his better
body of works with Dangal. Mind you PK is still one of his finest performances.
Even Salman Khan
will completely shed his masala roots [though Bajrangi was a genuine surprise]
to tackle Sultan, which might turn out terrible under Ali Abbas Zafar's helm
[still not forgiven Gunday] but shows he is putting in better effort.
And most of all, one
man above them all [who is mentioned below]:
