FILM BUZZLIST: TOP 5 BOLLYWOOD MOVIES OF 2011
Kids Taking Over a School, an Unsolved Murder, a Deaf Deejay, Life in Mumbai, and More
It is that time of year to reflect back upon what has been. It is that time of year to review the year that was. In 2011, Bollywood witnessed a proliferation of new talent on both sides of the camera, as fewer films were headlined by superstars such as Abhishek Bachchan, Aishwarya Rai, Hrithik Roshan, Kareena Kapoor, and the like. And while Akshay Kumar, Shah Rukh Khan, and Salman Khan all starred in major blockbusters such as Khatta Meetha, Ra.One, Don 2, Ready, and Bodyguard, the only megastar to make our Top 5 list may perhaps be the biggest Bollywood name of them all: Aamir Khan. Meanwhile, one newcomer superstar – Vidya Balan – managed to bookend 2011 with two memorable performances, both of which made our Top 5 list.
Accordingly, Buzzine Bollywood takes a look at the 5 best films of 2011 (and one honorable mention).
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No One Killed Jessica – Rani Mukherjee, Vidya Balan: Bollywood started off with a bang in 2011, thanks to the UTV production of No One Killed Jessica. The taut thriller essentially legitimized Vidya Balan as a top leading lady and, at least for a few months, made Rani Mukherjee relevant again. It also made relevant the real-life story of a murdered model and the campaign to bring her murderer to justice. Also benefitting from the film’s surprise “hit” status was film director Raj Kumar Gupta, who shows significant promise as a leading director. Rarely has a mystery-thriller film caught on with Bollywood fans, but No One Killed Jessica had it all: compelling story, solid direction, quality acting, and two actresses with storied careers headlining the production.
Read our review of the film here.
Soundtrack – Rajeev Khandewal, Soha Ali Khan: Perhaps the feel-good Bollywood film of 2011, Neerva Ghosh’s Soundtrack balances unfortunate reality with gripping storytelling. What makes Soundtrack so compelling is the fact it chronicles the life and times of a man who entertains the masses through music, despite himself being deaf. Ghosh managed to pay proper homage to the real-life story of DJ Raunak Kaul, who transformed from a flashy disc jockey in stupor to a humbled music composer. Even more, lead actor Rajeev Khandewal delivered what may be one of the most compelling acting performances of 2011. And fittingly, the movie featured a finely tuned soundtrack that made the film as fun to listen to as it was gripping to watch on the big screen.
Oh, and we have reviewed this film too; read the review here.
Stanley Ka Dabba – Divya Dutta, Divya Jagdale, Raj Zutshi: Imagine primary school students going haywire on a weekend. Filmmaker Amole Gupte did not have to imagine – he saw for himself during a weekend seminar in suburban Mumbai. What transpired was a cinematic rendition of kids being kids in the most unusual of circumstances, all in the context of a heartwarming story. Just like he did in Taare Zameen Par, Gupte made children the stars of his film. In the process, he reminded us that sometimes being an adult is not all that it is cracked up to be. Also making this film stand-out is a fresh cast of talented actors and lovable children, all of whom serve as a reminder that a great film does not always need a superstar attached to it to be recognized as quality cinema.
Read what Gupte had to say of the film here.
Delhi Belly – Imran Khan, Vir Das, Kunaal Roy Kapur, Poorna Jagannathan: Aamir Khan definitely had the masses clutching their respective bellies in droves in what is certainly considered the funniest Bollywood film of 2011. Delhi Belly was special because of its riotous comedy, but also because it served as the poster child of how to make a successful independent Hindi film catering to both Indian and Western audiences. Though the genre still needs a little more development, Khan proved he may be on to something in at least closing the gap on catering toward audiences in both Hollywood and Bollywood. Expect to see more films produced in the same vein as Delhi Belly in 2012 and 2013.
While you wait for that next great crossover hit, read our review of Delhi Belly.
The Dirty Picture – Vidya Balan, Naseeruddin Shah, Emraan Hashmi: As a film on its own, there is nothing spectacular about The Dirty Picture. Most of the hype and excitement surrounding the film’s release centered on Balan, who exposed quite a bit of skin – well, at least more skin than most Indian film fans have ever seen on screen. What worked for this film were two things: Balan proved she indeed belongs in Bollywood’s upper strata -- a position she earned just ten months earlier -- and the film brought back to life one of the greatest figures in Indian entertainment history – the Southern Siren known as Silk Smitha. The fact that The Dirty Picture properly paid homage to Silk Smitha is in and of itself worthy to elevate the film to a Top 5 discussion.
Curious as to what we thought of the film? Read our review.
Honorable Mention
I Am Kalam – Gulshan Grover, Harsh Mayar: Another feel-good movie involving children, I Am Kalam was the rave at film festivals around the world, bagging Best Film and Best Actor awards left and right. The film was also produced by a service-oriented organization in The Smile Foundation, which helped drive home the film’s noble messages. A more in-depth story on the film can be found here.
Other Films of Note:
- Chillar Party: Yet another film themed around a school and children.
- Bol and Mod: Two of the best films to come out of Pakistan in years!
- Dhobi Ghat: Though the film met with mixed reviews, the film introduced us to Prateik!
