Given the number of romantic films releasing this year-Aashiqui 2,Raanjhana, Ram Leela and several more to come it's no secret that we're a sucker for romantic films.Bollywood basically breathes "romance"-every decade offering a cult favourite that send women into hysterical giggles or sobs;case in point-DDLJ,Mughal-E-Azaam,Lamhe,Silsila,etc.The new millenium had it's share of romantic films,ranging from no-brainer rom-coms to heavy historical dramas and while half of them were cheesy,corny,cringe-worthy,there have been others which are utterly charming,refreshingly honest and unabashedly romantic.So without further ado let me present to you an eclectic bunch of romantic films which other than making you fall in love also has serious cinematic credibility.
JAB WE MET(2007):-
As simplistic as a film can be involving the age-old "girl meets boy"concept,yet the razer sharp dialogues, sublimely romantic songs and Imtiaz Ali's masterful direction makes JWM a fuzzy and warm film that you wrap around on a winter evening.Avoiding clich, the screenplay rustles up a bunch of pleasant surprises in the form of some unforgettable scenes that stay in your head long after you've left the cinema.What finally makes the film work are the sparkling performances by it's two leads. Shahid Kapoor as Aditya, leaves an indelible impression with a performance that is understated and mature.And no other actress could've played Geet the way Kareena Kapoor played her in the actress's career defining turn as a boisterous chatterbox. Uninhibited,zesty and spontaneous,she brings alive the character with the candour that actors rarely invest in their art form and is quite simply the soul the film. No wonder then that six years on,people are still quoting and rewatching it again and again.Definitely the most iconic love story of the decade.
VEER-ZAARA(2003):-
The star-crossed romance of Romeo-Juliet has fascinated the audience for eons.Directed by the King Of Romance himself,Yash Chopra's cross-border romance entrails the unfortunate love story of an Indian Air Force pilot Veer and a Pakistani woman hailing from a rich political family of Lahore, Zaara who are separated for 22 years. Saamiya-a Pakistani lawyer, finds Veer in prison, and upon listening to his story, tries to get him freed.A majestic tale of two people, whose love for one another crosses into the realm of inspirational devotion,the film is an emotionally charged intense love story with unpredictable plot twists along with mature performances by SRK,Preity and Rani.Veer and Zaara'two names detached by the wraths of religion'two forms estranged by miles of expansive distance'one soul joined by sacrificial love'one existence'.
SOCHA NA THA(2005):-
Imtiaz Ali's directorial debut shrugged off Bollywood convention and created-surprise, surprise-characters who spoke and behaved so much like us that we were charmed. Viren is forced meet Aditi for an arranged marriage but even though he refuses the match, they secretly become friends. As things get complicated and both get engaged to different people they realize they've fallen in love with each other.Abhay Deol impresses in a confident debut while Ayesha Takia is charming.A sweet yet simple film with ordinary characters in ordinary situations,it's one of the few romantic films which are realistic and relatable.Given this and the melodious,well-choregraphed songs and witty dialogues,the fact that this excellent film failed at the box office is an abysmal shame.
BAND BAAJA BARAAT(2010):-
A wedding film produced by YRF is a creepy four hour long soap opera prospect.It was a surprise then,when Maneesh Sharma ditched all the clichs of a rom-com and made a refreshing and rather well-made film.Unlike the giddy lot of Bollywood heroines Shruti is a no-nonsense,ambitious girl who decides to become the best wedding planner in India.She meets the uncouth and lazy Bitoo,and despite their contrasting personalities they set up "Shaadi Mubarak"promising to not mix pleasure with business.However the inevitable happens and they fall for each other creating a rift.Ranveer Singh's spectacularly unhinged and confident debut as the street-smart Bitoo and Anushka Sharma's believable spontaneity along with the impressive cinematography,witty dialogues,first rate screenplay and the realistic set up makes BBB a master of it's genre.
KAL HO NA HO(2003):-
A Karan Johar story directed by Nikhil Advani, Kal Ho Naa Ho is perfectly packaged entertainment. For all its geographical inaccuracy and handkerchief-endorsing climax, KHNH packs in enough perk, punch and pizzazz to be dismissed as run-of-the-mill fluff.While it does contain a snazzy club number,a grand wedding,and beautiful NRI's with perfectly polished hair and clothes,it also evolves formula and comes across as being heartfelt as it narrates the story of uptight Naina who falls for her neighbour, Aman-a terminally ill patient trying to play matchmaker for Naina and her friend Rohit.Be it the snazzy camerawork capturing New York City's throbbing rush, Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy's lilting score, SRK-Saif Ali Khan's bulls eye camaraderie, Preity Zinta's bespectacled vulnerability or the crisply-written scenes wherein the humour is consistently witty & urban.
BARFI(2012):-
Sure I've seen the videos on Youtube from which Barfi was "inspired" which are far too obvious to just be a coincidence.But since cynicism is the last thing Brrrfeee has to offer,let's say that you've barely skimmed the surface of this soulful, sublime, cinematic experience.A love story entailing the journey between a deaf and mute man and his relationship with two girls-Shruti & the adorable Jhilmil-an autistic.With the top-notch cinematography capturing the picturesque locales of 1970s Darjeeling & most importantly Anurag Basu's taut non-linear screenplay and heartfelt treatment of a sensitive issue like disability,aided by Ranbir Kapoor's terrific impulses,Priyanka's unexpected awesomeness and Ileana D'Cruz's mature debut makes Barfi a warm, beautiful quilt you don't want to let go of.But be warned,this isn't cinema that excites or terrifies rather it leaves you with a powerful emotion-"Happiness".
SAATHIYA(2002):-
The usual fairy tale Bollywood film ends with the lovers getting married followed by a title card that reads "happily ever after." Saathiya sings a different tune rooted with more realism. The beauty lies in the fact that it embellishes this theme with the same escapist flair and deeply touching vibrancy that characterize the tradition of Indian cinema.Vivek Oberoi and Rani Mukherjee star as young lovers who brave familial odds and get married, only to discover life ain't a fairytale which feels immensely relatable.While A.R.Rahman's gorgeous musical score suits the well-structured narrative of the film.Vivek Oberoi shines brightly as the confused and frustrated Aditya while Rani Mukherjee's ravishing screen presence and sensitive portrayal of the sensible but impulsive Suhani marked a turning point in her career.
JODHAA AKBAR(2008):-
Set against the turbulent period of the 16th century when the Mughal Emperor-Akbar is consolidating his empire through unorthodox alliances including marriage to a spirited Rajput princess-Jodhaa,it starts off as a long-drawn history lesson but at the end of it your money is well spent as Ashutoush Gowariker's opulent historical romance bewitches you with it's scale and grandeur.The grand musical score of the film,splendidly staged action scenes and grand battles with opulence oozing out of it's every pore,puts Jodhaa-Akbar in the grand old category of epic films from days of yore.Hrithik brings to life Akbar as his charismatic and muscular presence fills the screen with gravitas while whipping up excellent chemistry with Aishwarya Rai who's never looked this stunning before.The moral of the story-tolerance for all religions and love conquering all-is a message that modern India can resonate with.
JAANE TU'.YA JAANE NA(2008):-
A cocktail of the heart of a John Hughes teen film and the narrative structure of Forget Paris, this film had the most conventional rom-com story of all:that of best friends eventually discovering they're in love.Yet Abbas Tyrewala's candid and relatable direction of friendships, fibs and falling for the obvious draws a distinctive line between films trying to be innocent and those which are saccharine and overdone,giving us a film that is charmingly nave.It's aided by a fantastic ensemble,consisting of a charming Imran Khan,the angsty Prateik Babbar,the spirited Genelia D'Souza,the spectacular Ratna Pathak Shah and three awesome cameos.This along with A.R.Rahman's snazzy soundtrack will be sure to put a smile across your face no matter how ludicrous the climax is.As far as "feel-good" films go,it really doesn't get any better than this.
PAHELI(2005):-
Bollywood particularly has never been high on fantasy and combining it with romance would've a particularly disastrous prospect. Instead coming up with a breathtaking concoction of Amar Chitra Katha and an eternal love story Paheli tells the story of a wife who is left by her husband and visited by a ghost, disguised as her husband, who is in love with her and takes her husband's place. Amol Palekar created a delectable fairytale,bringing alive the fabulous sandscapes of Rajasthan with fluid harmony,brilliant colour contrasting,picture-perfect cinematography to create a magical palette of vivid colours. Rani looks luminescent as the camera perfectly captures the subtle nuances of her golden eyes ,while Shah Rukh Khan's performance as both a ghost and husband are one of those rare instances when SRK-the superstar becomes SRK-the actor.
PARINEETA(2005):-
Other than introducing the world to the chimera that is Vidya Balan,Pradeep Sarkar's grounded adaptation of Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay's 1914 Bengali novella,was a treat for eyes. Unlike the 21st century adaptation of Devdas,the opulence of Parineeta lay in it's well-fleshed out characters and deft plot.Lolita the poor girl next door falls in love with the rich but childish Shekhar in a classic story of love, economic boundaries and social divides.The attention to detail is marvellous with Bengali life and social issues at the turn of the century being reproduced to a stunning effect-from the toy train in Darjeeling to the vintage car driven by Shekhar,soulful melodies that echo of Rabindranath Tagore,perfectly staged Moulin Rouge with a cameo by Rekha.A luminous Vidya Balan infects the film with it's heart and soul to show that a star has arrived while Sanjay Dutt and Saif Ali Khan are equally capable in their roles.
VICKY DONOR(2012):-
There's a little something for everyone in Vicky Donor, a romantic comedy that bucks convention and embraces it at the same time. Shoojit Sircar takes a rather brilliant idea, that of the hero as a prolific sperm-machine, and uses it with warm familiarity, making a perhaps-taboo subject instantly and eagerly accepted by a massive chunk of the nation.The film plays through standard Bollywood ideas -- like the cross-cultural wedding cliches, for example -- with inspired ease,and a routinely good cast including the powerful,charismatic screen presence of the two debutantes-Ayushman and Yami,and awesomeness of two veterans,makes it a hilarious film worthy of repeat viewing.
HUM TUM(2004):-
An inspired though charming film,Hum Tum borrows heavily from the classic rom-com When Harry Met Sally.And although it doesn't quite have the edge of it's superior original,Kunal Kohli's fresh direction injects bursts of wit that give you contended feel at the end.The film follows the encounters of Karan and Rhea over a period of 9 years until they, after several years and various meetings, become friends and finally fall in love at the end of the movie.The various stages of their relationship are accurately portrayed through the ingenious medium of animation.Saif Ali Khan's charming performance as a flamboyant playboy who matures over the years and Rani Mukherjee's effervescent, buoyant turn as Rhea is what makes this film a seemingly unspectacular yet harmlessly enjoyable date flick for both gals and guys.
CHEENI KUM(2007):-
Buddhadev is a 64-year old ego-centric chef and owner of London's top Indian restaurant, Spice 6 whose only confidante is his 9-year old neighbor "Sexy",and who has a singular passion in life-cooking.However when the beautiful Nina Varma walks into his life,he is smitten by her and decides to ask her father's permission for her hand in marriage,when he realizes that he's actually older than the girl's father. R.Balki's unconventional debut brings together an equally unconventional jodi of a top-notch Amitabh Bachchan and a subdued Tabu. Filled with great characters,breezy dialogue and brilliant moments let's say Cheeni Kum is a mouthwatering dish with a dash of sweetness,right amount of spice,a proper dose of lime and a pinch of salt.
DEVDAS(2002):-
After his wealthy family prohibits him from marrying the woman he is in love with, Devdas's life spirals out of control as he takes up alcohol and a life of vice to numb the pain.Sarat Chandra's renowned novella of the star-crossed lovers-Dev and Paro and the love triangle consisting of the elusive prostitute with a golden heart-Chandramukhi at the turn of the century has been brought alive by filmmakers from the beginning of Indian Cinema.While I'm not particularly a fan of this glitzy but rather shallow and OTT adaptation of the famed Bengali novel preferring the authenticity of the 1955 version,it remains an audience favourite and let's face it a cherry-topped sundae treat for a romantic film freak what with it's grandness and opulence,fabulous dance numbers,old-school theatrics,charismatic performances and tearjerking climax.
EK MAIN AUR EK TU(2012):-
It's easy to call Shakun Batra's directorial debut derivative, and indeed the film does owe quite a debt to Hollywood romantic comedies and the work of Cameron Crowe, but it does show off enough charm to earn its own applause. Imran Khan is better than ever, Kareena Kapoor is effortlessly vivacious, while Ratna Pathak Shah and Ram Kapoor appear to be having quite a blast.It's snappy, fun and mercifully brief.Reflecting on interrelated themes like, opposites attract, coming-of-age-aided-by-a-free spirited-girl, modern-day relationships and urban humour the narrative structure is borrowed from (500)Days Of Summer and yet comes up with a surprisingly unconventional end.
WAKE UP SID(2009):-
Spoiled, careless rich-kid Sid Mehra ,a college student is taught the meaning of life by Aisha an aspiring writer from Calcutta.In this process they both grow as individuals and a poignant romance blossoms between the two despite their contrasting age difference and tent-poles apart personality.Incorporating elements of coming-of-age along with the tenderness of first love,Wake Up Sid has fresh direction and surprisingly is as ordinary as a film can get.There's a scene in which Sid butters two breads and clumsily makes a birthday cake for Ayesha.Done by any other actor this scene would be ludicrous,but in the hands of Ranbir Kapoor and Konkona Sen Sharma it becomes utterly honest and endearing.
RAINCOAT(2004):-
Resonating the timeless quality of romance and sacrifice, Rituparno Ghosh's Raincoat pays a lyrical and languid ode to the profundity of O Henry's The Gift of Magi.Almost as if a song in the making, Ghosh creates a luminous moment whilst underlining the lamentations and deliberation of an estranged couple through the raw edges of Ajay Devgan and quiet radiance of Ash.
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''.
Well I know this isn't related to Bollywood but while making this list I couldn't resist putting down some of these great,innovative gems from across the world in this millenium.
ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND(2004):-
Suffice to say any other film on this list would fade pale in comparison to this original,brilliant ,thought-provoking off-wall gem.Heartbroken that his girlfriend Clementine underwent a procedure to erase him from her memory, Joel decides to do the same. However, as he watches his memories of her fade away, he realizes that he still loves her.As he struggles to preserve a memory of her,the film takes us to the existential horror of being trapped inside one's own addled mind, and in allegorising the self-preserving amnesia of a broken but hopeful heart. With exceptional performances from a subdued Jim Carrey,an unhinged Kate Winslet and a fantastic ensemble,this film is a bizzare but heartfelt take on relationships and heartache.I suggest that if you haven't seen this film already, order it immediately and enjoy a perfect little film about love's little imperfections.
THE NOTEBOOK(2004):-
Chances are that if you're a guy your girlfriend has already forced you to watch this movie.If you're a girl then get ready to take out your hankies for a wet,weepy night. A permanent fixture on 'most romantic' lists this Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams starrer is a story of a poor and passionate Noah who falls in love with rich Aliie .They're then forced to change course due to a war and long separation in the turbulent times of the 1940s.Sappy and sentimental it is,but some heartbreakingly beautiful scenes,frequent tearjerking moments and scorching chemistry of the lead pair makes "The Notebook" a rare triumph-an adaptation better than it's source material.
(500)DAYS OF SUMMER(2009):-
We're told that this is a story of boy meets girl,but we're also warned that this is not a love story. If you're of more mature vintage, it will make you remember how it felt to be naive, energised by first love and mortified when that certain someone turned out not to love you nearly as much.A clever, sweet, offbeat romantic comedy about a woman who doesn't believe true love exists, and the young man who falls for her,the film employs a nonlinear narrative structure, with the story based upon its male protagonist and his memory-driven look at a failed relationship.
LOVE ACTUALLY(2002):-
Let's face it.We all love cheesy little romantic films with happily ever after at the end and we also love our stars.What better way then to celebrate Christmas than to prop up the grand daddy of all ensemble comedies that tells ten stories of people whose lives cross each other's paths in the most unexpected and hilarious ways.With sparkling performances from British acting royalty,Love Actually is one of the most unabashedly romantic and entertaining films in recent times.
WALL-E(2008):-
When you see Wall-E and EVE dancing in the space,it's as beautiful if not more as Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers waltz.Wall-E's persevering love for EVE, a cold and hostile advanced robot who later warms up to him and brings him back to life in the end is one of the most heartwarming stories to ever manifest on screen.Strange how Pixar could invoke so much human emotions even when the characters are well'CGI generated robots.
BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN(2005):-
A beautiful, epic Western, Brokeback Mountain's star-crossed love story that depicts the complex romantic relationship between two homosexual cowboy's in the 1960s,is imbued with heartbreaking universality thanks to moving performances by Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal.
BEFORE SUNSET(2004):-
Nine years after Jesse and Celine first met; now, they encounter one another on the French leg of Jesse's book tour. A sequel to Before Sunrise(1995),filled with engaging dialogue, it is a witty, poignant romance, with natural chemistry between Hawke and Delpy.
MY SASSY GIRL(2001):-
This South Korean romantic comedy with a message and characters that are humane and most importantly real.The clumsy, laid back Gyeon-woo and "The Girl", a whimsical tomcat, make for one interesting couple.And everything that they encounter throughout the film magically comes together in the end, and it's truly heartwarming. You'll laugh, you'll cry, no matter who you are.
AMELIE(2001):-
This classic French romantic comedy tells the story of a shy waitress, played by Audrey Tautou, who decides to change the lives of those around her for the better, while struggling with her own isolation.Its whimsical, free-ranging nature is often enchanting;the first hour, in particular, is brimming with amiable, sardonic laughs while the director's visual flair and the charming heroine adds value.
Anupamaa
Health and Fitness
1