Buzz Ka Dus

Editor’s Note: Welcome to the first edition of “Buzz Ka Dus” or, literally, Buzzine’s Top 10. This new feature of Bollywood Buzzine will highlight some of the greatest aspects of Indian art, cinema and culture. Check in with Bollywood Buzzine to stay updated on this regular series, which will be featured several times per month. In its first week, “Buzz Ka Dus” will feature the Top 10 Bollywood films of All Time.

1. Sholay (1975)

Starring Dharmendra, Amitabh Bachchan, Hema Malini, Jaya Bhaduri

The highest-grossing film in Bollywood history, Sholay had it all -– a star-studded cast, a riveting plot about India’s underbelly, and poor critical acclaim before turning into the greatest cult hit in Indian cinematic history. Think of this film as a spaghetti western version of Scarface made specifically for Indian audiences. While it indeed tanked at the box office, it has made up for it through aggressive success in the VHS and DVD market, both in India and abroad.

What made the film a classic was the high volume of copycat films that were produced in the almost 35 years since its release. Itself inspired by Hollywood’s Spaghetti Westerns, Sholay inspired a whole new sub-genre of filmmaking known as “Curry Westerns.” Naturally, the only film of the sub-culture to realize true financial success was Sholay.

Accordingly, with the movie’s success in the video market, reception as a cult classic and overall influence on Bollywood filmmaking help make this flick one of the greatest ever in Indian cinema. It also helps that it was one of the earliest films of Bachchan’s young career. Afterwards, he would go on to marry his co-star, Jaya Bhaduri, and the two went on to become Bollywood’s royal family.

2. Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995)

Starring: Shah Rukh Khan, Kajol, Amrish Puri

The longest-running film in Bollywood history, Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge spent more than 700 weeks in Indian theaters. A winner of several Filmfare Awards in 1996, DDLJ was ranked by India Times Movies in its 25 Must-See Bollywood Films list. It was also one of two Hindi films to make it onto the 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die list.

Literally translating into “The Brave-Hearted Will Take The Bride,” DDLJ is considered the greatest love story ever written, touching on issues of arranged marriage and soul-mates finding each other. To this day, young girls throughout India only wish they can be Kajol, and their dream man will do all in his power to earn her love, just like Shah Rukh Khan.

3. Bharat Mata (Mother India) (1957)

Starring: Nargis, Sunil Dutt, Rajendra Kumar

The third highest-grossing film in Indian cinema, Mother India was the fifth Indo-Russian production and first-ever Indian submission for the Academy Award category of Best Foreign Language Film. Just like DDLJ, it too ranked among the 25 Must See Bollywood Films and is the only other Hindi film to qualify for the 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die list. A tale of family bickering, poverty and personal pride, Mother India is considered one of the greatest renditions of Indian culture through cinema.

4. Lagaan: Once Upon A Time In India (2001)

Starring: Aamir Khan, Gracy Singh, Rachel Shelley

Set in the Victorian period of British colonial rule in India, Lagaan was as much a movie of Indian patriotism as it was about legitimizing Aamir Khan as one of the most influential actors and filmmakers in Bollywood history. Very few Bollywood actors achieved as much international acclaim as Khan did, due to his role on both sides of the camera.

Not only did it place Khan on the map in India, the international success of Lagaan ushered a whole new era of global appreciation of Indian cinema. The third Hindi film to ever be nominated for an Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film, Lagaan, or “Tax,” was the highest-selling Bollywood DVD through 2007.

5. Salaam Bombay! (1988)

Starring: Shafiq Syed, Hansa Vithal, Chanda Sharma, Anita Kanwar

No list of best Bollywood films is complete without a Mira Nair production. Chronicling the life and times of children living on the streets of Mumbai (formerly Bombay), Salaam Bombay! garnered international acclaim for its gritty rendition of the daily struggles of the film’s characters.

Before Lagaan, it was just the second Hindi film to be nominated for the Academy’s Best Foreign Language Film category, and also nabbed three awards at the Montreal Film Festival and an Audience Choice Award at Cannes Film Festival. Since many of the child actors in the film were actual street children, Salaam Bombay! was the Hindi version of Slumdog Millionaire…20 years earlier!

6. Mughal-e-Azam (1960)

Starring: Dilip Kumar, Prithbiraj Kapoor, Madhubala, Durga Khote

Perhaps one of the greatest epics in Indian cinematic history, Mughal-e-Azam would be the highest-grossing Bollywood film of all time, if its box office numbers were adjusted for inflation. The film is a re-telling of a popular Indian tale of the Mughal Indian prince Salim, who tragically fell in love with a woman against his father’s wishes. The entire movie is a battle between father and son, with each at the other’s throat over a forbidden love. It was perhaps one of the greatest epic love stories ever created in Indian cinema, with lavish sets and intricate stage designs that would make Shakespeare proud.

7. Sangam (1964)

Starring: Raj Kapoor, Vyjayantimala, Rajendra Kumar

Just like Wizard of Oz revolutionized the American film industry with the use of Technicolor, Sangam was one of the first Bollywood films to use the popular post-production technique. The film also set a new standard for filmmaking -– traveling to exotic locations outside of India during production. Among the locales serving as a backdrop were Venice, Paris, and Switzerland. Ever since, it became a trend for Indian productions to travel to Europe to shoot lavish dance sequences. A film of love, friendship, brotherhood and sacrifice, the film was also remade in Tamil and Kannada languages.

8. Devdas (1955)

Starring: Dilip Kumar, Vyjayantimala, Motilal, Suchrita Sen

While many have attempted to properly do justice to the tragic tale as told in the 1917 Bengali novel, it was the 1955 version of Devdas that was perhaps the truest of interpretations to make it to the big screen — though the 2002 production of Devdas, starring Shah Rukh Khan and Aishwarya Rai, would have been just as worthy of ranking this high.

Another film dubbed by India Times Movies as a Top 25 Must See Bollywood Film, Devdas is a tragic tale of two childhood friends who ultimately fall in love with each other before their love is forbidden. A title character, Devdas is devastated and gave up on all love, even though he is introduced to another woman who also falls in love with him. Unaware of her love, Devdas falls into a drunken stupor, never letting go of his first true love. While themes of unapproved love stories abound in Indian cinema, Devdas is considered one of the most tragic and has been retold at least ten times on the big screen.

9. Deewaar (1975)

Starring: Amitabh Bachchan, Shashi Kapoor, Neetu Singh, Parveen Babi

Deewaar did to Amitabh Bachchan what Chinatown did to Jack Nicholson. Despite solid work on earlier films, it was Deewaar that made Bachchan a legitimate superstar in Bollywood. Yet another film ranked by India Times Movies’ Top 25 Must See Bollywood Films list, Deewaar was one of the most influential Hindi flicks ever made, primarily because of what it did for Bachchan’s acting career and serving as the first production to portray a “liberated” leading lady in Parveen Babi.

In her revolutionary role, Babi played a heroine who drank, smoke and slept with her lover. Winning a Filmfare Award for Best Picture in 1975, the film also helped establish Yash Chopra (founder of Yash Chopra Films) as one of the greatest filmmakers in India.

10. Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998)

Starring: Shah Rukh Khan, Kajol, Rani Mukherjee, Salman Khan

In a list full of intricate love stories, what makes this film stand out is the sheer number of A-List Bollywood celebrities associated with it. In addition the quartet of stars in Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, Kajol and Rani Mukherjee, several other major stars declined to star in the movie, including: Saif Ali Khan, Aishwarya Rai, Shilpa Shetty, Twinkle Khanna, Raveena Tandon and Karisma Kapoor. The flick also starred Johnny Lever, Anupam Kher, Nikhil Advani and Neelam, among others.

Unlike most films with a deeply talented cast, the names associated with Kuch Kuch Hota Hai actually enhanced the film instead of handicapping it, as fans loved the movie enough to make the film one of the highest-grossing Bollywood flicks of all time. It was also just the second Hindi film to nab the top four awards of Best Film, Best Director, Best Actor and Best Actress at the Filmfare Awards. (The first was Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge).

Honorable Mentions:

Lage Raho Munnabhai (2006)
Devdas (2002)
Silsila (1981)
Maine Pyaar Kiya (1989)
1942: A Love Story (1993)
Mr. India (1987)