If there is one thing that keeps our nation going other than cricket, it is cinema. And we should thank the British for introducing us Indians to both! Ever since its inception in 1920's, Bollywood (as it is popularly called) has been churning out hundreds of movies every year. Not all are memorable though, but there are some that leave a lasting impression on us. It is very difficult for an avid movie buff like me to choose a top 10, so I made my top 25 list! The movies listed below are based not only on the content of it, but also on the overall impact and appeal that it had across generations. That is why I have skipped some of the landmark movies made by the likes of Shyam Benegal and Govind Nilhani, who were the torch bearers of the new wave cinema in 70s and 80s, because the viewership of their movies was limited. The listing is not on the basis of priority, and is purely my own opinion. Some of the movies that missed out narrowly on this list are Bombay, Choti si Baat, Kaagaz ke Phool, Omkara and Ardh Satya.
1. Saheb Biwi aur Ghulam
To quote the review featured in The Times of India - "The well-knit screenplay, achieving an effective balance between the various characters and emotional phases, provides a neat dramatic pattern. It appears to be a specially successful job considering the verbosity and digressiveness of the novel of Mr. Bimal Mitra who, though often brilliant, writes in a highly disorderly way." A nostalgic tale of a bygone era, the film remains with you for its splendid performances, soulful songs and rich dialogues.
2. Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro
A cult classic, which was basically a dark satire on the rampant corruption in Indian politics, bureaucracy, news media and business, Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro's reputation grew over the years. I am sure those who have seen the movie would have rolled on the floor during the climax 'Draupadi cheer-haran' scene. Truly a classic!
3. Pyaasa
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Widely regarded as Guru Dutt's best work, the movie is an entertainer with an absorbing story and cauterising comments on the commodification of people in the quest for success, money, and power. It is a film on the eternal struggle between man's materialistic and spiritual quest. It was recently acknowledged in TIME's 100 best movies ever made.
4. Hazaro Khwayishen Aisi
Sudhir Mishra reflects the intensity and fate of 3 young characters, who start out on the same platform but board different trains and reach a destination of their own making. Set against the backdrop of the emergency period of 70s, the movie boasts of some stellar performances by Kay Kay Menon, newcomer Chitrangada Singh (inspiring awe as the sultry and sexy Geeta) and Shiney Ahuja, who steals the show as Vikram, the political fixer who has a crush on Geeta from college days. His role has a certain greyness that is unsaid and yet subtly hinted through mere expressions. All in all, a superb film made with a lot of heart.
5. Ek Doctor Ki Maut
I am sure many would not have even heard of this movie. It is one of those 'one of a kind' movie, that Bollywood rarely makes. Maybe there are other better movies than it which should have been in the top 25, but this movie desrves a mention for the unique story, which still holds relevance today. Pankaj Kapur as the pained scientist whose research is insulted and suppressed by his own people, gives a realistic picture of what many people still face today.
6. Mother India
7. Pushpak
Pushpak is a materpiece! Released in 1987, it reinvented the silent film genre. Essentially a black comedy, with a mix of slapstick humour, it showed that people can be made to laugh without under the belt gags.
8. Guide
Based on the novel by R.K.Narayan, it is considered as a masterpiece and one of Dev Anand's best. With soulful music by S.D. Burman and excellent performances by the cast, this movie was a blockbuster and till date remains a classic!
9. Dil Chahta Hai
This coming-of-age story about 3 friends changed the way Bollywood made movies. The urban essence of the movie was a fresh change from the routine rich girl poor boy story that we were so used to by the time it was released. It is counted among the path-breaking movies of the last decade.
10. Deewar
It was this movie that established Amitabh Bachhan the title of 'angry young man' and redefined the definition of the modern urban woman in the form of Parveen Babi. Salim-Javed's story was reflective of "the tumultuous politics of the early 70s" in India. Its dialogues like 'mere pass maa hai' is one of the many reasons why it is considered as a cult movie.
11. 3 Idiots
12. Munnabhai MBBS
Rarely does a hindi film come that has so much impact on the audience's minds. This was one of those movies which made the audience laugh and cry along with its characters. It popularized the 'jaadu ki jhappi' concept and revolutionized the comedy genre in Hindi cinema. Its sequel also was equally popular, but I choose this movie over the latter because of one reason - Boman Irani as the headmaster of the medical school!
13. Sholay
Dacoits|Horses|Dances|Comedy|Action|Romance|Drama. Sholay had all of these! No wonder, it's a classic till date. The movie established Amjed Khan as an actor and his character 'Gabbar Singh' remains immortalized in hindi cinematic history.
14. Rang De Basanti
Rakesh Omprakash Mehra put the debacle of Aks behind to make this classic tale of friends, who change from being a bunch of carefree souls to radically charged passion driven individuals to avenge the death of their friend in a plane accident. The film was well received by critics and audiences for its production values and had a noticeable influence on Indian society (the candlelight marches). A. R. Rahman'ssoulful tunes put life in the movie, makng it one of the biggest hits of Bollywood ever.
15. Do Bigha Zameen
The film is known for its socialist theme, and is an important film in the early parallel cinema of India and is rightly considered a trend setter. It was the first Indian film to win the International Prize at the Cannes Film Festival. Like most of movies by Bimal Roy, art and commercial cinema are merged to create a movie that is still looked upon as a benchmark and paved way for future cinema makers in the Indian neo-realist movement and the Indian New Wave, which began in the 1950s.
16. Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge
DDLJ redefined love stories in Bollywood, and that it remained the highest grossing film ever till a few years back proves the impact it had on the industry. The movie made SRK the superstar he is, and also marked the successful union of one of the best on-screen pairs of SRK and Kajol.
17. Naya Daur
I think this movie may have the inspiration behind Aamir Khan's 'Lagaan'. This movie is set in post independence era when industriliazation was slowly creeping in. The climax scene is particularly heart wrenching, where you will actually exult in joy as the underdog comes out as the winner. A must watch film!
18. Swades
This movie was not as popular as his previous directorial venture Lagaan, but three cheers to Ashutosh Gowariker for making it. There are movies which are made to please the audience, and there are movies which are meant to please the crtics. This movie fell in neither category. Probably SRK's best performance till date, the movie was made more in a documentary sort of way which is the reason it failed at the box office. It is one movie that I feel should be shown to every Indian...compulsorily!
19. Mr. India
Shekhar Kapur gave India's first superhero, as well as first supervillain (Mogambo) in this 1987 movie. This was the last movie that the duo Salim-Javed wrote together. The film attained cult status as India's first sci-fi movie with memorable quotes like "mogambo khush hua" becoming a rage overnight! If you still haven't watched it on Doordarshan, just download it and enjoy Ms. Hawa Hawaii's performance ;)
20. Hera Pheri
21. Hum Aapke Hai Kaun
One of the most entertaining family films ever made, the movie mainly explored moral values and relationships through its protagonist's dilemnas and family functions. This is one of those movies that is watchable any number of times, and with anyone!
22. Anand
The Oscar Academy, while adding Anand to their library, admitted that if such a movie would have been made by an American, they probably wouldn’t have nominated any other movie (or actor) for the ‘Best Movie’ & ‘Best Actor in a Lead Role’ Oscars! What more can I say? :)
23. Satya
This may be the best potrayal of the dark underworld that once thrived in the city of Mumbai. The gritty and realistic depiction of the urban violence was applauded by cine-viewers and critics alike. It is regarded as a path breaking gansgter movie and spawned countless imitation by Bollywood, some by Ram Gopal Varma himself. But none matched the sophistication of Satya. With a haunting background score by Sandeep Chowta, this movie with very few well known faces, gave many people the ideal platform who would one day go on to become the kingpins of off-beat Bollywood cinema, some of them being Anurag Kashyap (writer), Manoj Bajpai (as the legendary Bhiku Mhatre), Vishal Bhardwaj (Music), Sandeep Chowta & Saurabh Shukla as an actor.
24. Andaz Apna Apna
I was amazed when I learnt that this movie didn't set the box office ringing. Way back in 1993 when it was released, comedies were hard to come by and this movie was sort of a trendsetter for a lot of other successful films later. It is widely considered as a cult comedy, which gave memorable characters like Crime-master Gogo (apparently mogambo's nephew), the villain Teja and his sidekicks Bhalla and Robert. Some of the scenes of this movie are still imprinted in the audience's mind and it is because of its evergreen appeal that I have included it.
25. Kaun
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This movie is included ahead of many other popular ones, primarily due to two reason - its taut screenplay (Anurag Kashyap) and because it was way ahead of time. The movie thankfully had no songs and kept you on the edge right from the start, with its quirky characters (only 3, again a revelation!) and suspense element keeping you guessing till the end. It is one of the few examples of experimental cinema from a mainstream director like Ram Gopal Varma.
*The synopsis of many of the films listed above are copied from various sources by the author. Some of the references are -:
www.wikipedia.com
www.rediff.com
www.imdb.com
It is my list, I can put anything I like. I published your comment because it is important you understand that your disappointment with this one inclusion doesn't change my mind, because your opinion doesn't mean anything to me, just like mine.
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