The best reviewed films of 2005

2005 has been a year of surprises, be it in politics or entertainment. And Bollywood, as usual, sprang one surprise after another.

Alongside big banner blockbusters like Boney Kapoor's No Entry, which set cash boxes ringing, there was a parallel stream of small-budget films that received wide critical acclaim as well as box office success. Sudhir Mishra's Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi, Madhur Bhandarkar's Page 3, Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Black and Nagesh Kukunoor's Iqbal come to mind.

While Hazaaron… cannot be considered a box office success, the last three not only earned favourable reviews, but also made a considerable amount of money. Not bad, considering none, with the exception of Black, had star value. Hazaaron…, set against the backdrop of India's Naxalite Movement of the 1970s, follows the dreams of three young people, outlining their passion, hope and disappointment.

Why did it appeal to the masses? According to reviewers and the audience, "The film not only had a moving theme, it dealt with it brilliantly. Superb direction and commendable performances lent special colour to the simple tale." The film tells a tale of youth who can go to any extent to counter a force that interferes with their ideology. It is a passionate tale of love, angst, hopelessness and desperation. Laden with emotion and sensitivity, the film struck the right chord with audience so much so that some went to the extent of calling it one of the best films of 2005.

As for Page 3, it takes a dig at residents of the world of glitz and glamour. With the help of his protagonist, a journalist (Konkona Sensharma), director Madhur Bhandarkar sets out to unmask these apparently glamorous souls.

Like Mishra, Bhandarkar too desists from including stars in the cast, but that did not stop people from praising his effort. Apart from a taut script and well-knit direction, riveting performances by Konkona and Atul Kulkarni were added attractions.

In an interview with rediff.com on Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Black, Amitabh Bachchan said, "Life is a struggle for all of us. The basic question the film addresses is: Are we willing to make that effort to overcome the hardships? That's what Rani's character does, with some help from me. Black isn't a story of defeat and depression; it's a story of triumph over tribulations." The film, as is evident from the interview, was conceived to be different. The dialogues being mostly in English, it spoke of a bond between a deaf and blind girl Michelle and her drunk, yet resolute teacher, Debraj. To viewers, Black came as a big jolt.

In Bachchan's words, "It needed a Sanjay Leela Bhansali to turn our heads in a different direction. Mind you, Black isn't meant for an elite 'art-house' film. Most certainly, it isn't an art-house film. And those calling it that are doing so without seeing the film." To go by the actor's words, Black was very well-accepted by the audience. What was its USP? Bachchan felt it wasn't "one of those depressing films that don't take responsibilities towards the box office seriously. It's an uplifting elevating triumphant drama. It's like being in one of those fast-paced action films where you can't move out of your seat. Black grips you from the start, and it haunts you for days." According to critics, riveting performances, a unique plot and brilliant cinematography were instrumental in making the film a darling of viewers as well as members of the film fraternity. No wonder, then, that actor Shah Rukh Khan, while addressing the audience at an award ceremony, said, "Power stands for Amitabh Bachchan in Black." A large part of the audience shared King Khan's view.

As has been said earlier, Bollywood is often seen to follow a trend. After Bhansali set the tone, filmmaker Nagesh Kukunoor took the cue to paint an amazing success story of a deaf and dumb boy in Iqbal.

Like Michelle in Black, Iqbal too is ushered into the world of success and fame with the help of his coach, played by Naseerudin Shah. During the initial days of training, as seen in the film, Shah tells Iqbal, "When the heart begins to think like the head... that's when real success is achieved." The reason for the film's success lay in this marriage of heart and head. To quote from a review, consciously or otherwise, "Kukunoor has torn leaves out of Ashutosh Gowariker's Lagaan and Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Black to create a quaint and compelling nugget on the triumph of the human spirit."

In an informal chat with rediff.com, actress Konkona Sen Sharma once said, "Challenging roles do a world of good to both actors and viewers. While the former can hone their skills acting out such roles, viewers get tremendous satisfaction by watching these films as they see their unrealised dreams fructifying with the films' protagonists. After all, films are mirrors of life and a viewer always intends to see a complete, beautiful image of their own."

thx, i have to agree with most but was not that impressed by No Entry