HIndie Awards 2016: Best Picture [Comedy/Romantic]

Best Picture

[Comedy/Romantic]

 

So here goes, the final award of the night!

Yes, I know Talvar made a hell of a statement with it's multiple big wins but this film also struck gold at important junctures and while might not be as technically brilliant was overall the better one.

I'd tell you why but then you'd say I'm bias, also you'd know then who the winner is.

Yet, the winner in advance in my opinion never should take away from the other nominees, it is after all a big deal to be nominated and get this far, maybe that's why I was always a loser at the annual Sports Day.

Still at least the nominees beat these ones to the cake;

Ritesh Sidhwani and Farhan Akhtar for Dil Dhadakne Do: Yes, a dazzling rich people problems film but one with some intriguing characters and ideas that burst through the seams of the comedic-ally inept and emotionally vulnerable family.

Salman Khan and Rockline Venkatesh for Bajrangi Bhaijaan: Khan takes a glorious slightly different turn reigning in his mass persona for a very sweet and likeable film that shines the message of peace this world sorely needs for this day and age.

Nila Madhab Panda for Kaun Kitne Panee Mein: The Little Indie that tried, KKPM is a fable like feature that highlights the profundity of true love in the backdrop of a satirical peer into water scarcity.


Those are it, but what of the big five...where do they stand in the scheme of things and who takes it all away...which distributor smiles his darnedest when their efforts bear fruit?

The HIndie Award for Best Picture [Comedy/Romantic] nominees are...

Aditya Chopra and Maneesh Sharma for Dum Laga Ke Haisha [Yash Raj Films]

The only size that matters is that of the love in this beating heart, for her.


In the ever growing cinema of India it's important to evolve but never forget one's roots, Yash Raj doesn't. Their latest is a film that sets itself in a wildly different milieu for most, from it providing a relishing experience unlike anything else. The reverence to Kumar Sanu 90's music adds another wonderful touch to the feature.

It is however the character struggle at the core for the young confused and conflicted couple that provides a sense of relief. Sandhya [Pednekar] pushed around by the world stands her ground and has her own limits, making her headstrong but affable persona a really strong character worth rooting for. Yet Katariya also never makes Prem [Khurrana], the rude but internally insecure husband a bad guy either, his redemption is a cheerful moment.

Coupled by a plethora of well textured songs including a neat ode to Nineties Hindi music and some very well scripted moments; their last conversation, the library moment, first night and more including the supporting performance make this another great push for subjects that treat both counterparts of the equation; with dignity and equality.

NP Singh, Ronnie Lahiri and Sneha Rajani for Piku [Yash Raj Films]

It's all about loving your parents...even if they bite back.


How endearing is it to see comedies that take themselves seriously but know when to provide a breezy feel good...well, feel.

Piku is another genuine masterpiece from the house of Shoojit Sircar and Juhi Chaturvedi, bolstered by producers willing to go all out in the battle for great content. At the center of it all is Chaturvedi's own marvelous screenplay that holds steadfast to the notion; the writer is all.

This core is strengthened by the nature of the unraveling of a Father-Daughter relationship with both it's muddled issues and genuine emotions. Side characters manage to dazzle with their own identities embellished perfectly.

But the films not just reliant on the script, it has the eyes of a selfless director; waving his wand and bringing it all together. Crisp [runner up] editing, touching tunes, references to the masters and their works that never feel gratuitous and also some fine performances. Deepika Padukone leads the pack with a career best that outshine her co-stars; none other than the towering Mr. Amitabh Bachchan and the phenomenal Irrfan Khan.

It's another film that will most definitely hold strong for years to come.

Sajid Nadiadwala and Imtiaz Ali for Tamasha [UTV Motion Pictures]

Find yourself and you shall find the world. Love yourself and you can love all.


It's flawed; I admit it.

It's a film not all will like, not anyone can be on the fence about.

For me and for many like me, the moment in the cinema hall as the film played; we were entranced into a spirit that was...there are no words to describe.

That should be enough to highlight why this film stands true and tall.

That's from a favorites perspective, however the film is still deeply flawed with a narrative and character inconsistency hard to miss. Yet one feels that Imtiaz Ali speaks from the heart when it comes to Tamasha and if that's what director's indulgence is...then well, there's nothing more cinematic than that.

A.R. Rahman once again at the top of his game, Ravi Varman capturing the scenic poetry in motion, Aarti Bajaj's kinetic editing, Ranbir Kapoor and Deepika Padukone at the top of their game, together breaking those yearning hearts but above all and I cannot stress this enough, again and again;

Imtiaz Ali's passion that bleeds everywhere in order to capture and dazzle you with the story told of a storyteller with such beauty.

Sanjay Leela Bhansali and Kishore Lulla for Bajirao Mastani [EROS International]

Love's definition is as simple as Time itself.


Another Bhansali magnum opus...ugh!

Well, not really, not this time. This is simply put the film Bhansali wanted to make, it's what he fell in love with cinema for. For once amidst the serious director with a penchant for building a singular vision [his] strict regime became the man molded by the masters.

In Bajirao Mastani, we don't find his masterpiece but probably his most poetic gift to this art form we call films.

It's hard to describe how despite the narrative flaws and the self destructive script are still able to become something resembling a film worth the experience. It just shows the far reaching prowess of the film maker that in spite of this, he is able to craft something that is unmissable.

Imagine what he could do with a near perfect script?

But that doesn't stop the majestic opulence from shining through, the producers knew what they were getting into and they got it right.

For any other film maker this would have been that one grand film, for Bhansali this is another in his growing repertoire. However that should not take away from the heart he has in it.

Vikas Bahl, Vikramaditya Motwane, Anurag Kashyap, Kirti Nakhwa, Rohit Chugani and Ketan Maru for Hunterrr [Shemaroo Entertainment]

Ask the Pet Dog leashed at home, ask the one free in the streets with his tongue out. The fun is always in the chase!


This one's the little indie that could, Hunterrr is the latest in the line of sex comedies that seem to have become a sudden rage in Hindi cinema.

Yet there's something more and with good reason, there's a spark of humanity just as there is of sexuality. The Hunterrr is by far and wide a sociopath bordering on a sense of blind misunderstanding of women and womanhood yet the film never falls into a misogynistic trap that clings onto the genre like a bad odor.

In essence the film is more of a light, breezy yet dark and twisted character study that engages itself with the notions of finding someone who can accept you with your faults while also maintaining tracks on brotherhood, friendship and general understanding of sexual habits.

The dark horse of the evening, Hunterrr is a look see into not just how well constructed a much maligned genre can be but also the changing face of genre cinema today, thankfully.



And the Winner is...

NP Singh, Ronnie Lahiri and Sneha Rajani and Team

 for
Piku!

There it is, the HIndie Award finally come to a glorious end. Congratulations to all the winners and to the films this year, the road has already begun and it's moving quite fast and furious.


'Nuff Said

 Aneesh Raikundalia