Posted:
10 Bollywood movies that should have done well
By SiliconIndia
The last decade was an exceptionally good one for the Bollywood film industry. Movies like 3 idiots, Dabangg, Wanted, Ghajini, Om Shanti Om and Gadar Ek Prem Katha gave a whole new meaning to box office success with their overwhelming theatrical run. Then there were other movies like Lagaan and Dil Chahta Hai that met with great critical and commercial success. In all these glitz and glamour of box office success we have forgotten about certain movies, certain good movies that failed to do well in the box office. Let us look at 10 movies of the past decade that 'deserved' to be successful but failed to hit that mark.
10. Road
This Ram Gopal Varma movie, although a rip off from certain Hollywood flick, was tastefully made with powerhouse performances from the male leads, Vivek Oberoi and Manoj Bajpai, and the directed by Rajat Mukherjee. While Vivek effortlessly slipped into the shoes of what can be described as an angry young man persona who is on the run with his lover (Antara Mali), Manoj Bajpai gives life to antagonist, a psychopathic serial killer, in an impeccable manner. The odd low angle shots, the background score, the color contrast, the aptly placed slow motion shots, all works very well in this tightly paced thriller. Mukherjee managed to keep the audience on the edge of their seat throughout the two hour plus duration of the movie. Despite all this the movie failed to do well in the box office.
This Ram Gopal Varma movie, although a rip off from certain Hollywood flick, was tastefully made with powerhouse performances from the male leads, Vivek Oberoi and Manoj Bajpai, and the directed by Rajat Mukherjee. While Vivek effortlessly slipped into the shoes of what can be described as an angry young man persona who is on the run with his lover (Antara Mali), Manoj Bajpai gives life to antagonist, a psychopathic serial killer, in an impeccable manner. The odd low angle shots, the background score, the color contrast, the aptly placed slow motion shots, all works very well in this tightly paced thriller. Mukherjee managed to keep the audience on the edge of their seat throughout the two hour plus duration of the movie. Despite all this the movie failed to do well in the box office.
9. Eklavya: The Royal Guard
A tale about love, loyalty, deceit, and revenge was the comeback movie of Vidhu Vinod Chopra to direction after a break of seven years. It was masterly crafted and beautifully acted with Amitabh Bachan, Sharmila Tagore, Sanjay Dutt, Saif Ali Khan, Jackie Shroff, Boman Irani, and Vidya Balan delivering arguably their career best performances. The story was intelligently developed with apt twists and turns that keep the audience engaged. It was a huge critical success, even got nominated into the Best Foreign Film category of the Oscars. Still didn't manage to get enough traction to the audience to make its way to success.
A tale about love, loyalty, deceit, and revenge was the comeback movie of Vidhu Vinod Chopra to direction after a break of seven years. It was masterly crafted and beautifully acted with Amitabh Bachan, Sharmila Tagore, Sanjay Dutt, Saif Ali Khan, Jackie Shroff, Boman Irani, and Vidya Balan delivering arguably their career best performances. The story was intelligently developed with apt twists and turns that keep the audience engaged. It was a huge critical success, even got nominated into the Best Foreign Film category of the Oscars. Still didn't manage to get enough traction to the audience to make its way to success.
8. Socha Na Tha
Produced by Dharmendra and directed by Imtiaz Ali, who later attained popularity through Jab We Met, this was the launch vehicle of Abhay Deol. In comparison the movie can be consid ered at par with Jab We Met. Socha Na Tha was well written, directed and acted, and the whole movie smelled fresh with life. The audience then, who were not very supportive to newcomers, let the movie down and it had to settle with a box office collection very lower than what it deserved.
Produced by Dharmendra and directed by Imtiaz Ali, who later attained popularity through Jab We Met, this was the launch vehicle of Abhay Deol. In comparison the movie can be consid ered at par with Jab We Met. Socha Na Tha was well written, directed and acted, and the whole movie smelled fresh with life. The audience then, who were not very supportive to newcomers, let the movie down and it had to settle with a box office collection very lower than what it deserved.
7. Omkara
An adaptation of Shakespearian drama Othello, it was co-written and directed by Vishal Bhardwaj. The adaptation was perfect with smooth transition of characters and situations to the Ind ian context. The casting was done with utmost precision and each actor portrayed their characters with 100 percent sincerity. Ajay Devgan, Kareena Kapoor, Konkona Sen Sharma and Vivek Oberoi got themselves under the skin of their characters like chameleons, but it was Saif Ali Khan who carried the whole film on his shoulder with his fabulous depiction of the antagonist. The film won awards at all of the film awards it was featured including three National Film Awards, several Filmfare and IIFA awards and yet the audience let it down at the box office.
An adaptation of Shakespearian drama Othello, it was co-written and directed by Vishal Bhardwaj. The adaptation was perfect with smooth transition of characters and situations to the Ind ian context. The casting was done with utmost precision and each actor portrayed their characters with 100 percent sincerity. Ajay Devgan, Kareena Kapoor, Konkona Sen Sharma and Vivek Oberoi got themselves under the skin of their characters like chameleons, but it was Saif Ali Khan who carried the whole film on his shoulder with his fabulous depiction of the antagonist. The film won awards at all of the film awards it was featured including three National Film Awards, several Filmfare and IIFA awards and yet the audience let it down at the box office.
6. Mangal Pandey: The Rising
A period drama set in the back drops of the Sepoy Riots or as we call it The First War of Indian Independence. The story and screenplay by Farrukh Dhondy was artistica lly directed by the internationally well known Indian director Ketan Mehta. The story follows the friendship of an Indian Speoy, Mangal Panday (Aamir Khan) and a British Commanding Officer, William Gordon (Toby Stephens), and how the political situation is affecting their lives. The chemistry between the leads is magnificent and the supporting characters all did justice to their roles. Of course the movie had its share of historical inaccuracies and similarity to Hollywood flicks, but it was a good enough movie to demand a greater success at the box office.
A period drama set in the back drops of the Sepoy Riots or as we call it The First War of Indian Independence. The story and screenplay by Farrukh Dhondy was artistica lly directed by the internationally well known Indian director Ketan Mehta. The story follows the friendship of an Indian Speoy, Mangal Panday (Aamir Khan) and a British Commanding Officer, William Gordon (Toby Stephens), and how the political situation is affecting their lives. The chemistry between the leads is magnificent and the supporting characters all did justice to their roles. Of course the movie had its share of historical inaccuracies and similarity to Hollywood flicks, but it was a good enough movie to demand a greater success at the box office.
5. The Legend of Bhagat Singh
Another period drama, this one is set in the British India during the 1900 depicting the story of Bhagat Singh. Rajkumar Santoshi directed Ajay Devgan in his Best Actor National Award winning portrayal of Bhagat Singh. The story of Bhagat Singh was written for the screen by Anjum Rajabali and Santoshi presented it without losing any of high emotional content of it. Despite all the raving reviews of the movie, it met with the same unjust fate that most of the Indian Independence dramas face in the box office, it crashed without trace.
Another period drama, this one is set in the British India during the 1900 depicting the story of Bhagat Singh. Rajkumar Santoshi directed Ajay Devgan in his Best Actor National Award winning portrayal of Bhagat Singh. The story of Bhagat Singh was written for the screen by Anjum Rajabali and Santoshi presented it without losing any of high emotional content of it. Despite all the raving reviews of the movie, it met with the same unjust fate that most of the Indian Independence dramas face in the box office, it crashed without trace.
4. Delhi 6
The third directorial venture of Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, Delhi 6 failed to meet the success of his previous movie 'Rang De Basanti'. The movies had an unconventional storyline filled with irony, philosophy and satire. Abhishek Bachchan's character Roshan, an NRI who comes to India with his grandmother (Waheeda Rehman), stands mostly as an observer as the story unfolds in front of him. Abhishek with his performance proves that the director could not have selected a better actor to essay the role of Roshan and Sonam Kapoor delivers a very mature performance as the female lead. Over all a very good movie that failed to make any ripples in the box office.
The third directorial venture of Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, Delhi 6 failed to meet the success of his previous movie 'Rang De Basanti'. The movies had an unconventional storyline filled with irony, philosophy and satire. Abhishek Bachchan's character Roshan, an NRI who comes to India with his grandmother (Waheeda Rehman), stands mostly as an observer as the story unfolds in front of him. Abhishek with his performance proves that the director could not have selected a better actor to essay the role of Roshan and Sonam Kapoor delivers a very mature performance as the female lead. Over all a very good movie that failed to make any ripples in the box office.
3. Rocket Singh: Salesman of the Year
The director Shimit Amin put the whole movie on the shoulder of the relatively inexperienced Ranbir Kapoor, and he carried it with ease. Ranbir delivered a hi ghly controlled yet powerful performance proving yet again that he takes his business seriously. Supporting actors including Gauhar Khan, Manish Chodhary, Prem Chopra, and D. Santosh did their roles perfectly and the movie stands as a testament towards how a good director can bring the best out of his cast. Despite a great script, flawless direction, amazing performances and highly positive reviews, audience stayed away from the screens letting the movie fail commercially.
The director Shimit Amin put the whole movie on the shoulder of the relatively inexperienced Ranbir Kapoor, and he carried it with ease. Ranbir delivered a hi ghly controlled yet powerful performance proving yet again that he takes his business seriously. Supporting actors including Gauhar Khan, Manish Chodhary, Prem Chopra, and D. Santosh did their roles perfectly and the movie stands as a testament towards how a good director can bring the best out of his cast. Despite a great script, flawless direction, amazing performances and highly positive reviews, audience stayed away from the screens letting the movie fail commercially.
2. Luck By Chance
This is Zoya Akhtar proving to the whole filmy world that she is a director to reckon with. A very well written, well directed and well acted movie that does not question the intelligence of the audience. Farhan Akhtar was at ease with his character Vikram Jaisingh and showed that his performance in Rock On!! was not an accident, and Konkona Sen Sharma as usual carried the multisided role of her character Sona Mishra, in style. The film had an extended cameo of Hrithik Roshan and cameos from many major stars in the industry including Aamir Khan, Sharukh Khan, Rani Mukerji, Kareena Kapoor and the likes. In spite of all this the distributors were not happy with the returns that they got.
This is Zoya Akhtar proving to the whole filmy world that she is a director to reckon with. A very well written, well directed and well acted movie that does not question the intelligence of the audience. Farhan Akhtar was at ease with his character Vikram Jaisingh and showed that his performance in Rock On!! was not an accident, and Konkona Sen Sharma as usual carried the multisided role of her character Sona Mishra, in style. The film had an extended cameo of Hrithik Roshan and cameos from many major stars in the industry including Aamir Khan, Sharukh Khan, Rani Mukerji, Kareena Kapoor and the likes. In spite of all this the distributors were not happy with the returns that they got.
1. Swades
Swades is arguably one of the best Bollywood movies of the last decade, still a week performer in the Box Office. Written, produced and directed by Ashutosh Gowariker, Swades sported an offbeat theme unlike most main stream Hindi movies. Sharukh Khan played the role of an NRI working in NASA coming to India looking for his Nanny. The rest of the story deals with how he gets attached to the country, the people, falls in love and decides to stay back. The direction, acting and the songs were widely praised by the critics still Swades ended up as a Box Office disappointment. But in the years since its release the movie has gathered a large fan base and has become a cult classic.
Swades is arguably one of the best Bollywood movies of the last decade, still a week performer in the Box Office. Written, produced and directed by Ashutosh Gowariker, Swades sported an offbeat theme unlike most main stream Hindi movies. Sharukh Khan played the role of an NRI working in NASA coming to India looking for his Nanny. The rest of the story deals with how he gets attached to the country, the people, falls in love and decides to stay back. The direction, acting and the songs were widely praised by the critics still Swades ended up as a Box Office disappointment. But in the years since its release the movie has gathered a large fan base and has become a cult classic.
Hindi TV Shows
Arjun
Sports
Anupamaa
20