By: Saniya Tabani on January 9th, 2011
With the start of 2011 and a slew of eagerly anticipated movies hitting the marquee soon, we took you back to the worst the Bollywood fraternity had to offer in 2010. Now that you've seen the bad and the ugly, it's only fair we bring you the good. Saniya Tabani returns with the Top 10 Best Bollywood Movies of 2010 below, once again in no particular order. Read on to see if your favorites made the list!
Ishqiya
An unexpected hit, this movie started off with low expectations but picked up due to word of mouth reviews and being showcased at various film festivals. With a strong screenplay and amazingly written characters, the three leads played by Naseeruddin Shah, Vidya Balan and Arshad Warsi jump off the screen and into our hearts. Filled with heart and just enough suspense to grip us tightly and hold us down in our seats, the film captivates our attention while leaving us with a smile on our faces.
My Name Is Khan
The eagerly anticipated return of Kajol and Shahrukh together had all of us at hello. Though the idea of a Karan Johar production had some of us (me particularly) lusting for another film filled with glitz, glamour, and romance, MNIK did not disappoint. The movie presented an amazing and poignant depiction of the universal suffering everyone endured during and after the events of September 11th. The story and emotions were so gripping that we were forced to look past our favorite couple and focus on the characters and their stories and pain. Shown through the eyes of an Autistic individual, the film teaches us that humanity is not all black and white, but filled with shades of grey ' and that while there are people who will let you down, in times of need, there are also those who will lift you up.
Raajneeti
A political thriller based on the epic, "Mahabharata", "Raajneeti" is filled with powerhouse performances and an immensely strong screenplay. Most of all, though, the film presents an opportunity for every actor to portray his best and strongest character after a while. Ranbir Kapoor does a wonderful job of portraying the prodigal son returning to the life of dirty politics he had tried to put behind him. Arjun Rampal and Katrina Kaif both show that their acting range can far surpass their looks, and Ajay Devgan and Nana Patekar provide us with characters that we love to hate. The film had one of the biggest openings of the year, and rightfully so. Many scenes completely suck you in; and if a film can you leave you breathless at one point, the director has done his job right.
Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai
Showing the origins of India's infamous Underworld network and it's foray into international terrorism, "Once Upon A Time In Mumbai" handles a topic that has been dealt with many times before, in a unique and very interesting way. With just the right mix of reality, drama, romance, and a memorable soundtrack, the film depicts what formed the seedlings of crime in the country and how one man's uncontrollable lust for power transformed everything overnight.
Peepli Live
Now officially India's entry for the 83rd Academy Awards' Best Foreign Film category, "Peepli Live" awakens us to the amount of poverty in India and the plight of the poor farmers, unable to find any other solution to provide for their families and turning to drastic measures such as suicide. Though it is a satirical comedy, the underlying message and story is very serious and devastating. Written and directed beautifully, "Peepli Live" tackles an issue with just the right amount of humor and sensitivity, and calls attention to an issue that has been ignored for far too long.
Golmaal 3
Frankly speaking, the "Golmaal" franchise is not exactly known for thought provoking or riveting cinema. But what does put it on this list is the fact that despite this being the third installment in the series, it continues to entertain and please its viewers. An unstoppable juggernaut promising another installment in the future, garnered by the apt release date of Diwali, "Golmaal 3? has become one of the highest grossing films this year. The endearing characters, ridiculous situations, and slapstick comedy also help. Add Kareena Kapoor, currently one of the most coveted actresses in the industry , and you've got a hit.
Dabangg
An outright entertainer, "Dabangg" has heart, drama, action, comedy, romance, Salman Khan at his recent best and, of course, that silly and very much badnaam Munni. The film managed to pull in the masses for weeks on end, making it the highest grossing Hindi film of 2010 and the second highest grossing Hindi film of all time behind "3 Idiots" (2009). "Dabangg" comes packed with kitsch and masala, and a soundtrack you want to go home and listen to on repeat. Newcomer Sonakshi Sinha also gives a promising performance. In the end, though, the ridiculousness and over the top-ness of it all is what makes it so enjoyable.
Guzaarish
Despite being one of the most anticipated films of the year ' with Aishwarya Rai and Hrithik Roshan's star power, cinematography gold, and what looked like a richly painted canvas as with many of Sanjay Leela Bhansali's films ' Guzaarish was a dud at the box office. The story, however, was anything but. Broaching the topic of euthanasia and mercy killing, something very rarely approached in Hindi cinema, "Guzaarish" 'went there'. Hrithik's most moving performance to date, he manages to play the tragic hero with such ease and grace. A devastatingly beautiful movie, for both the eyes and soul, Guzaarish is a hard-hitting and unapologetically adaptation of the 2004 Academy Award Winner for Best Foreign Picture "Mar Adentro" (Spain).
Atithi Tum Kab Jaoege?
Based on a short story by Sharad Joshi, ATKJ is a light and funny look at a common problem we all face ' unexpected and unwanted guests. The charm of the movie lies in the exceptional performances by Paresh Rawal, Konkona Sen Sharma, and Ajay Devgan and how, by the end of the movie, much like the characters themselves we, too, fall in love with the atithi (translation: guest).
Band Baaja Baaraat
There's always something so refreshing about new talent perfectly accompanied with a fast-paced and interesting script ' and that is exactly what the makers and cast of "Band Baaja Baaraat" give us. Completing her three-film contract with Yash Raj Films, Anushka Sharma finally seems to come into her own with this outing, and the new male lead Ranveer Singh, while trying to copy Ranbir Kapoor and Shahid Kapoor at times, also seems like a promising new talent. Though the movie makes use of the same old coming-of-age and falling in and out of love clichs, it does so with panache and fun. The amazing soundtrack is just an added bonus to a romantic comedy that's a far cut above the rest of its kind.
Link: http://divanee.com/2011/01/09/top-10-best-bollywood-movies-of-2010/
(The list is not in order)
What were your favorite films of 2010?
Anupamaa
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