Best of Bollywood 2014.
written by Souranath Banerjee.
It’s time to ride the flashback roller coaster in search of some meaningful cinema in Bollywood that released in the year 2014.
The phase ‘meaningful cinema’ itself is debatable since everyone interprets cinema in their own way. For me a film that successfully walks the thin line between quality content and entertainment always wins the race.
So, let the race begin.
1. Queen
Most entertaining film of the year and an award-winning performance by Kangana Ranaut.
Girl power punched with fun and friendship.
Awesome music by Amit Trivedi, Vikas Vahl’s superb direction – a great story of a girl who learns to live her life Queen style!
film trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KGC6vl3lzf0
2. Highway
Brilliant performance by Alia Bhatt – so natural and spontaneous that she has even managed to eclipse a much senior actor like Randeep Hooda.
The film takes you in a tour of the whole North India; the combination of Imtiaz Ali’s direction and A.R.Rahman’s soulful music – a treat for film lovers.
Film trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o66nNnGZ5Rg
3. Haider
Vishal Bhardwaj’s Haider is a film that doesn’t shy off from it’s attempt to show the real Kashmir (set around 1995), the daily agony of the locales and their struggle to survive the police, the military and the numerous violent groups inflicting terror.
A combination of Hamlet and Kashmir that is definitely worth your time.
Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xakmvJ0WPa4
4. Ankhon Dekhi
This film deserves a lot more appreciation, a beautiful story of a man with a strange conviction – he wants to believe only what he sees with his own eyes!
Rajat Kapoor skillfully directs this family drama and Sanjay Mishra gives the best performance of his life.
A rare gem – entertaining and thoughtful cinema.
film trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H3yKUHI2mE4
5. City Lights
After the National Award winning film Shahid, (director) Hansal Mehta and (actor) Rajkummar Rao comes together with yet another promising film.
A remake of the British film Metro Manila, uncomfortably real and raw, the film forces us to look at poverty and despair from disturbing proximity.
Film trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9fyO8OFK9yw
6. Ugly
Anurag Kashyap‘s Ugly is a thriller that revolves around the kidnapping of a little girl and the rigorous search that follows. A nasty tale of mayhem, greed and corruption that doesn’t spare anybody – no one comes out clean and innocent.
Probably the most dark film recently made in Bollywood.
Film trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9fyO8OFK9yw
7. PK
The much awaited film PK is the latest Aamir Khan flick directed by none other than Rajkumar Hirani; a blockbuster that seems to have broken all the records in box-office collection.
(Click for the controversial film related article)
A light-hearted comedy with an important social message! A film surely worth a watch.
Film trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9fyO8OFK9yw
8. Miss Lovely
The underground sleazy film industry of the 1980’s is never been explored before in such gritty details.
Ashim Ahluwalia (the director) has captured the dark underbelly of the C grade industry with brilliant realism.
Anil George, Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Niharika Singh have all given superb performances.
film trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RzoAOoHdACk
9. Filmistaan
A fresh take on the popularity of Bollywood and also the India-Pakistan tension.
(Click to see the film review)
Filmistaan deals with pretty sensitive issues but always with a divine comic touch.
Great acting performances overall; especially the dynamic and hilarious Sharib Hashmi.
Film trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-0LWnz8Ut0
10. Children of War
History often gets blurred with time but such courageous films revive them and voices the truth.
(Click to see the film review)
The film successfully recreates the horrific crimes orchestrated by Pakistan over the Bangladeshi (Bengali) people in the pre-independence era of Bangladesh in 1971. Great effort by director Mrityunjay Devvrat.
Film trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TzIa0wYfUwU
and (The ‘+1′ film is not necessarily the best but certainly the most crazy one. A must watch)
+1. Mary Kom
Mary Kom, the biographical film on a farmer’s daughter from Manipur, who become a boxer and creates history by being the only woman boxer to have won a medal in each one of the six world championships.
(Click to see the film review)
Directed by debutant Omung Kumar and produced by Snajay Leela Banshali – one of Priyanka Chopra‘s best performance till date.
Film trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TzIa0wYfUwU
And some honorary mentions are Finding Fanny, Mardaani, Kya Dilli Kya Lahore, 2 States, Bhoothnath Returns, Dedh Ishqiya, Holiday, Hawaa Hawaai, Lakshmi and of course Sulemani Keeda.
