Posted:
This will be filled with controversial statements. There I have said it. So Beware.
I think Bollywood has finally woken up to the fact that they are losing grounds to hollywood, tollywood, greenwood, redwood, blackwood. Basically every wood and some on this earth. The competition is fierce this year and with every star contributing, this will be year to remember.
These are my top 10 from the list-
1> Tiger Zinda Hai (TZH) -
I am bhai fan. Just not mindless one. I think he is out of shape. So there I have said it. My greatest fear for this expected no. 1. Apart from that and bhai fatigue, everything about this movie is good. YRF- Motorbikes- action- Christmas. What is not like about Bhai's popcorn movies. They are massy and good. And I have to say Katty is looking gorgeous. If the new director can pull this off properly there is nothing to stop it to from becoming ATBB. And yes while I am on Katty, this is my advice to her. You are such a fabulous looking and hardworking person. Would it kill you to take some acting lesson. If after decades in industry Akshay could do it, why can't you. There is nothing more glorious than proving detractor wrong. Make their jaws drop girl.
2> Crack - Crack has winning combination of Neeraj Pandey and Akshay. After decades and decades of hard work, Akki has finally joined the top tier. He is at sweet spot where there is expectation but not over. His movies are doing well. His wife is writing well. His children look well behaved and cute. And if he keeps it in his pants and not spoil his family image, he will stay at top for long time. Don't alienate your female fans Akki. So the movie is releasing on independence day and I was all excited till I heard Shahrukh is having a release on Aug 11th. What is with Shahrukh and his party pooper behavior. I can understand about Raes. But The Ring. It is long awaited movie. Don't do this to your fan. Clash reduces BO estimate of good movie and enhances chance of bad one. So what kind of movie are you giving us, Shahrukh?
3> Tubelight - Tubelight has all the right ingredient to woo... Chinese audience. I am kidding. About Chinese audience. Of course they are going to love it. The actress is pretty. And Chinese male and female actors are fantastic in action. The story line is poignant. Kabir - Salman- ID is good combination. Everything I have heard so far about Tubelight makes me like it. But I have just watched Shivaay fail due to over-reliance on the hero. And while Salman carries the movie, he is generally supported by a female who has Indian appeal. Having someone so different and young will have some ripple effects. I just hope they are not strong enough to damage the movie.
4> Padmavati- I am happy to see that girl power is getting a chance to shine. I know her fans think DP makes career. The truth is industry is far from happy with her. Much has it to do with her sudden bolt towards Hollywood after successful Bollywood year. And other has to do with her excessive PR inference which tries to hoard all the credits. I will be blunt. SLB is taking a huge risk with chance of colossal failure. The story is done to death. Ranveer-DP -SLB fatigue has set in. It is only so many time you can expect audience to watch people dance and fight with abandon. Every move of SLB has become predictable which is good and bad. Good because audience know what to expect. Bad because audience know why to avoid. The money invested is too huge. There is only so much SLB can do to freshen up this story. But historical at such a large scale is rarely done in Bollywood. And SLB is original Bollywood goth. DP without PR is super sweet. Ranveer is entertaining. And then there is Shahid. I have run out of words to support this movie. So moving on.
5> Bahubaali 2 - The sequel loses what it is gains in core fans, the freshness. People who have watched and loved Bahubali will watch it. People who watched Bahubali and hated it will avoid it. There has been distance of more than year. People lose interest with last month's release. There have been few bad copies (one starring Sridevi and Vijay) to dilute the effect. Still the original was huge hit. Every one wants to know why certain Katyappa killed Bahubali. People want to watch Anushka kick some collective a** . On down side, Bahubali 2 is not a hindi movie. With weak year like 2016 and good hangover, Bahuballi 2 would have topped the list. With Bollywood 2017 which seems stronger, I am bit doubtful. Still release is in early part of year, so lets see what happens.
6> Judwa 2- I hate revamps. I hated Don, I hate Agnipath. Judwa 2 should have been easy no for me. But this movie is core masala movie. It has been while since we saw something so insanely Bollywood. Salman has given his blessing and he is making cameo with Karishma. Oh 90's bliss. Will it make to top 5 remains to be seen. But it will definitely have place in top 10. Varun (2 of them), Tapsee and Jacky are going to have blast with this one. Beside there is nothing to ruin in this movie. The pattern is set. All they have to do is follow the yellow brick road. So go Dorothy. I mean Varun. Beside release date for this one is awesome.
7> The Ring (or whatever it will be called. Or is it final title. Any one knows??)- Shahrukh has boxed himself in with clash. Raes might win the clash but there is rumors it is clashing with cricket. It is known fact cricket always wins. I love Shahrukh. I love Mahira. And I want Shahrukh to be back at top. But he has some serious dragons to vanquish with Raes. The Ring on other hand has easy path. All it has to do is win people from Crack. Anu - Sharukh chemistry is easy on eyes. So while I don't expect it to be as good as DDLJ or KHNH, it will definitely be more mass appealing than Ali's last few ones. But it will not be JWM kind of winner. While Shahrukh is infinitely better than Shahid, Anu is no Kareena. JWM had loveliest chemistry. Kareena was revelation. Anu's breezy girl act is done to death. Still I will love to watch her try Gujrati. Like her ex she has ears for dialect.
8> Jaggo Jasoos - A wild card entry and I can see some people scoffing. Hear me out. This genre is rarely done. Ranbir has got a sudden major hit on his hand and more than few new fans. If trends are accurate media is planning to go easy on him. The first movie release starring him is this one. (No idea regarding release date for Dutt so far.) The movie is touted to be extremely family friendly. Parents worried about taking their kids to movies will be attracted to this one. And we are rather populous nation with lot of underage kids. While multiple delays may have damaged few of its gears, it is still helmed by meticulous Anurag Basu. On down side it has lost Barfi shine. It will need good promo and trailer. On up side there is Shahrukh cameo. I have a feeling his cameo are fast becoming good luck charm. Soon Shahrukh will be able to build a career around it.
9> Rangoon - A heartfelt success wish. For Vishal, Kangana, Shahid and Saif. I want this movie to win. And it is because I feel Vishal deserves all the success. Talented Kangana will get another movie. Saif has Kareena. Shahid has Padmavati. But Vishal is so under-rated. When he is good, he is sublime. Lets hope Rangoon is that good. If Kangu does not alienate half the bollywood with her high handness and frighten half the audience by her combativeness, she will be true Queen of Bollywood.
10> Golmaal 4 / Robot 4- It can go either way simply because you never know audience. One is quintessential Bollywood crap but still helmed by successful director. Another has Akki as Villain but is still a regional. It will depend on how much love Akki has secured. Or how much tolerance people have towards Bollywood comedy.
Few Runner ups-
BkD - Badrinath has good chance on top 10. With Alia in top form and her chemistry with Varun appreciated, anything is possible.
Badshoo- Should have been shoo-in but I am still queasy about Ajay.
Kaabil - Without clash it might have been a winner. Blind protagonist make audience vulnerable and root for them. It could emerge out as best in clash.
Naam Shabana - Would love to see Tapsee in action. Still there is Judwa. I am conflicted.
Phullauri - Wanted to add this one up on top 10 till I released that it will be difficult with its intensely regional vibes. Movies mostly have to have that pan India appeal to be a huge hit. Or you need to be Anand Rai- Kangana combo. Though I am not sure with current mood audiences are in, even TWM will have that much chance.
Simran - A long possibility. I am not sure how much appeal NRI based story will have to Indian mass. It might be a win at multiplex though.
Mubaraakan - Sounds terrific on paper but I am not sure about execution. Still it is exciting.
Ittefaaq - Love the concept. Love Sid and Sona in it. Don't love how Bollywood loves to butcher original. And original had freaking Rajesh Khanna at his best and deceptively sweet but deliciously sly Nanda. The original is one of my all time favorite movie. So I will wait and watch how this new one shapes up.
Begam Jaan, - Would love to watch this one. But on TV. Simply because I will not have enough cash to watch all of them dammit. Still could be special movies that will be force me and others to theater.
Noor- Intensely urban which means it has reduced its audience by half. Still could be interesting rom com.
Need more than 1 glass of vodka to place them on top 10 -
Ok Jaanu- Love ARK - Sharaddha. But can they beat the original awesome Nitya- Dulquer chemistry
Half Girl Friend - I think I love Arjun's Mubaraakan more.
TEPK - I have issues with word Toilet. The word is my personal nemesis. It could be wonderful movie and strike gold.
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
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