5 Bollywood flicks to watch out for in 2013

Ah well, what an interesting topic to write on! Though subjective to the hilt, we think this year Bollywood saw some good flicks hitting the silver screen. Not so very long ago, someone aptly pointed out in some video, somewhere in the world that if you have minimum or no talent, you’d still have a chance in Bollywood. Although for the longest time we thought similarly, but some recent developments in Indian cinema in this year have nudged us to think otherwise. Here are some great movies releasing this year which may set the benchmark for Indian cinema in terms of treatment or story. Take a look.

1. Ek Thi Dayyan:
He is a celebrated illusionist. She is a beautiful woman. They have a life that’s asked for by many. But somewhere his life is falling apart. Hallucinations from his sister’s death torment him while snippets of paranormal experiences from his past haunts him. A chain of events lead us to a climax which we hardly thought of! A good watch and we rate it ⅗.

2. Inkaar:
The name leads to the theme which is the highlight of Sudhir Mishra’s film. For the first time the issue of sexual harassment at workplaces is highlighted in this movie and we love how different POV rule the entire movie, giving it a twist, which would have otherwise been a “master and his muse” cliche.

3. Kai Po Che:
A story based in Ahmedabad and one that showcases the dreams and aspirations of 3 young men who share a common interest- Cricket. But bourgeois dream falls flat in front of monetary challenges and they take steps that they otherwise wouldn’t. Along with these apprehensions come in several political unrest in Gujarat, trampling millions of lives and their dreams- a tragic incident that not only marks the end of the movie but also makes every Indian shiver.

4. Ghanchakkar:
A comedy thriller- Ghanchakkar (Crazy) tells the story of a suave, master safe-cracker who wants to retire from a career in crime. But before that, he should commit one last heist: a bank robbery that will ensure that he never has to worry about money again. And although everything goes according to plan he is given the task of hiding the money. When 3 months later his associates (he teams up with 2 people to carry it out) come to collect the money, he refuses to recognize them! To find out what happens next- you need to see this!

5. Bhaag Milkha Bhaag:
An upcoming biographical film based on former Indian athlete Milkha Singh, which talks about the struggles and perseverance an athlete has to go through. Rumor has it that he sold the story to the producer for 1 rupee and has asked to donate his share of remuneration for needy athletes. The name of the film comes from the last words spoken by his father which translates to “Run Milkha Run”.

Indian Cinema, Bollywood & the NRI

Indian movies have come a long, long way. Today, Bollywood is producing not only the numbers, but also the quality of cinema that is on par with the rest of the world. Until the 90’s, Indian films were aplenty, but they didn’t necessarily look and feel international. While now, they look simply superb. Having said that, what about the content? What about the stories?

As an NRI, I can tell you that both my wife Kiran and I love watching hindi cinema. At a very basic level, we feel it keeps us connected with life and things back home in India. We eagerly await the release of every Bollywood movie and make sure we watch it within the first week of release. Of course, it helps that we’re in London, since Bollywood is quite big here! And thanks to people like Karan Johar and his brand of global-Indian cinema, Bollywood has really opened up a lucrative center in foreign markets too.

However, in the early 2000s, Kiran and I began to feel that Bollywood, perhaps in a bid to please NRIs like us, was becoming a bit disconnected from India, and a tad too wannabe and westernized. The problem was, it seemed too contrived. Too made up. It was like watching an American high school drama – except the characters spoke in ‘hing-lish’. But I am pleased to say that while this still continues, the past decade has seen a metamorphosis in Bollywood. Its almost as if with India’s growing stature in the world, its art & culture, indeed its very people (which includes film-makers), have suddenly found a purpose, a confidence, a voice and a belief in their own native stories and characters.

Now, Kiran & I enjoy Bollywood like never before. And my point being, that by seeing films like ‘Paan Singh Tomar’, ‘Delhi Belly’, ‘Dhobi Ghaat’ – we, even as NRIs, rather especially as NRIs, are even more proud of being Indian, and enjoy these beautifully made but intrinsically Indian stories, more that the contrived aping-west movies that were coming out of Bollywood. It is, now, once again, the Golden period of Bollywood. And we are all simply loving it!