While choosing a film for "best films", the dilemma that one often comes across is that whether or not to consider its "Entertainment Quotient" or its "Box Office Performance". But for me, a good film will always entertain you, in some way or other. Make you laugh. Make you cry. It will Thrill you. It will Provoke Thoughts. It will make you retain some part of it, even after you walked out of the dark theater.
And this year too we had such movies. The films that made sure that 2012 wont be just about the ever increasing Club of 100 Crores. Each of these films made an impact on Indian Cinema . Made us realize that Film Making is an Art of Story Telling on Big Screen along with providing Entertainment and not just a Gold Rush. Some of these films weren't made to appease the box-office, but cater to a different audience and are ought to be encouraged.
Here are the Best Movies of 2012, in Chronological Order.
Agneepath
A good attempt from a debut director who never competes with Original Cult Movie.It has all the cliches of revenge dramas of 80s & 90s. An Anti Hero, An Ideal Mother, An Exploited Sister, A Psychic Over the top Villain, An Item Number in Villain's Den. Lots of Gore and Violence. The kind of Cinema we have grown up with. The film has got rid off many scenes and characters from the original but The Iconic dialogue,Vijay Dinanath Chauhan...Poora Naam, stays. It is well delivered in an original style. And It works.
Barfi !
Talaash
A good attempt from a debut director who never competes with Original Cult Movie.It has all the cliches of revenge dramas of 80s & 90s. An Anti Hero, An Ideal Mother, An Exploited Sister, A Psychic Over the top Villain, An Item Number in Villain's Den. Lots of Gore and Violence. The kind of Cinema we have grown up with. The film has got rid off many scenes and characters from the original but The Iconic dialogue,Vijay Dinanath Chauhan...Poora Naam, stays. It is well delivered in an original style. And It works.
Paan Singh Tomar
One of the Best Performance of Irfaan Khan. And one the meticulously filmed movie of the year. Right from the dialect to the location everything seemed so realistic. Anti System stories have always been loved by Indian Audience. And being a Real story it does strike a chord with the audience (those who watched it).
Tigmanshu Dhulia delivers another hard hitting film after his directorial debut "Haasil".
One of the Best Performance of Irfaan Khan. And one the meticulously filmed movie of the year. Right from the dialect to the location everything seemed so realistic. Anti System stories have always been loved by Indian Audience. And being a Real story it does strike a chord with the audience (those who watched it).
Tigmanshu Dhulia delivers another hard hitting film after his directorial debut "Haasil".
Kahaani
One of the very taut thriller in long time from Bollywood. Realistic, Original and never goes over the top. The investigation unfolds in the way our good old Byomkesh Bakshi would have done it. And suspense is successfully maintained till the end. Need more of these.
One of the very taut thriller in long time from Bollywood. Realistic, Original and never goes over the top. The investigation unfolds in the way our good old Byomkesh Bakshi would have done it. And suspense is successfully maintained till the end. Need more of these.
Vicky Donor
Like one of the movie in this list, it dealt with topic so closely guarded in our society. No one talks about it openly and even hesitate to discuss it with friends but the film presents it in such a lighthearted way that you are bound to be impressed by its story telling. Fresh Topic. Fresh Movie. Fresh Actor with Fresh Music. And Paani Da Rang surely must go as most beautiful song of the year.
Like one of the movie in this list, it dealt with topic so closely guarded in our society. No one talks about it openly and even hesitate to discuss it with friends but the film presents it in such a lighthearted way that you are bound to be impressed by its story telling. Fresh Topic. Fresh Movie. Fresh Actor with Fresh Music. And Paani Da Rang surely must go as most beautiful song of the year.
Gangs of Wasseypur
Shahid Khan, Sardar Khan and Ramadhir Singh. And "Hamri Zindagi Ka ek hi Maqsad hai .... Badla". Had lot of expectation with Anurag Kashyap's epic. And it turned out to be a very riveting cinematic experience. Depth of each character mesmerizes you . Second part of the epic may not have the same intensity but this piece of art will surely be remembered .
Shahid Khan, Sardar Khan and Ramadhir Singh. And "Hamri Zindagi Ka ek hi Maqsad hai .... Badla". Had lot of expectation with Anurag Kashyap's epic. And it turned out to be a very riveting cinematic experience. Depth of each character mesmerizes you . Second part of the epic may not have the same intensity but this piece of art will surely be remembered .
Supermen Of Malegaon !!
The documentary is about a local videographer, Sheikh Nasir, from Malegaon, a small town in Maharashtra. Its about his life and his devotion for movies. This documentary follows his hardship to make 'Malegaon Ka Superman', a parody of "Superman". And your heart goes out for him when you see his optimistic attitude despite the hiccups and genuine film making issues. Sheikh Nasir always gives you Positive Vibes, simply because he is in love with Cinema. One of the best documentaries in recent times.
The documentary is about a local videographer, Sheikh Nasir, from Malegaon, a small town in Maharashtra. Its about his life and his devotion for movies. This documentary follows his hardship to make 'Malegaon Ka Superman', a parody of "Superman". And your heart goes out for him when you see his optimistic attitude despite the hiccups and genuine film making issues. Sheikh Nasir always gives you Positive Vibes, simply because he is in love with Cinema. One of the best documentaries in recent times.
Just like last year's Stanley Ka Dabba, this one very heart warming movie. A simple story of a boy , his life and his love of Kite Flying. And how prepares for the challenge of another Kite "Kali" and finally wins the battle against it. The films beautifully present the world of children where there is thin line between truth and lie, reality and fantasy. It was named Best film at New York Indian Film Festival 2012. Not to be missed.
Barfi !
The movie is a treat to your senses with very believable acting performances. Your heart goes for Priyanka’s Jhilmill and at the same time you feel sorry for Ileana, a beautiful girl who can’t get over her first love. But Ranbir is the soul of the Movie and his funny acts just ensure that you have lots of genuine laugh, just like good old days of Charlie Chaplin. The simplicity of the movie could be best described with the "Love Letter" that Barfi Friend's writes for him and it starts with "Zindagi Ek Safar Hai Suhana......"
Oh My God
One of the underrated movie of the year. Underrated , because it was assumed that it would be another Akshay Kumar-Paresh Rawal routine comedy. But strangely it turned out to be some serious thought provocative one. And at the same time it din't loose it's comic moments. The biggest triumph of the movie was the way it talks about such a serious topic with such an ease. Paresh Rawal got all the right dialogues to put a very fine performance and a solid case.
One of the underrated movie of the year. Underrated , because it was assumed that it would be another Akshay Kumar-Paresh Rawal routine comedy. But strangely it turned out to be some serious thought provocative one. And at the same time it din't loose it's comic moments. The biggest triumph of the movie was the way it talks about such a serious topic with such an ease. Paresh Rawal got all the right dialogues to put a very fine performance and a solid case.
English Vinglish
Another directional debut. Another fresh approach and another new idea. And a proven old horse, Sridevi, to take that idea forward, all the way. Such was her performance that you can feel the pain she goes through, every time, because of her lack of English. And you are truly with her when she asks "Why India,why not The India.Why America,"The United States of America"?
Another directional debut. Another fresh approach and another new idea. And a proven old horse, Sridevi, to take that idea forward, all the way. Such was her performance that you can feel the pain she goes through, every time, because of her lack of English. And you are truly with her when she asks "Why India,why not The India.Why America,"The United States of America"?
Talaash
You might have seen some similar movies in Hollywood. May be better ones. But this is our own. That's what makes it special. Filmmakers like Reema Kagti should be encouaraged for taking the Road Less Traveled in Bollywood. The film grows slowly on you as it takes you to after dark lanes of Mumbai. Investigation unfolds in good old fashioned way. Similar to what we have seen earlier this year in Kahaani. But its the complexity of characters that makes a difference here.
Dabangg 2
And as the year ended, amidst Christmas Holidays, Chulbul Pandey arrived again. This time as Kung-Fu Pandey. Dabangg 2 may not take Indian Cinema forward, but will provide with you Paisa Vasool Entertainment with Naughty and Funny acts of Chulbul Pandey & Associates . And despite the criticism for lack of artistic values or lack of anything new, sometime you need this kind of escapism cinema.
