Films of 2008 Part I: My top 10

Some films listed here may not be of Indian origin/ production but are relevant in Indian context. The ordering is in no particular order. You may rearrange them according to your preferences.

A Wednesday: This film vents out the frustration of ‘Common Man’. Pitted against each other the two stalwarts of Indian film Industry, Naseeruddin Shah and Anupam Kher elevated the movie multifold. Jimmy Shergil shined in a brief role. First time director Neeraj Pandey, weaved an interesting tale into an engaging screenplay. The film had its share of flaws but it was able to highlight the message it wanted to deliver.

Jodha Akbar: A magnum opus which could have been a classic was reduced to an above average cinematic experience by the dragging and long screenplay. But the movie had its moments. The sheer chemistry between the lead pair made the love story engaging and endearing. The opulent sets and clothes brought the desired period look. A R Rahman gave us one of the best track of the year and the choreography of ‘Marhaba’ was mind-blowing.

Rock On: A Farhan Akhtar project portrays the ‘Urban Indian Youth’ like no other project. This movie was no exception. A coming of age saga of four friends gelled with the multiplex junta. The reactions were euphoric and the music topped the charts for weeks. Arjun Rampal got a boost in his career while Farhan made a decent debut. The movie had its flaws (even technical—my musician friend pointed out) but in the end it was a good watch.

Dasvidaniya: This surely comes under the ‘best goodbyes ever’. Again the common man comes to the focus. What would a man, busy dealing with his messy daily life, do when he comes to know that he would be alive only for few months? He would straighten his life, make a wish list and will embark a journey to fulfill those wishes. Vinay Pathak essayed the role of this ‘Common Man’ effectively and was given able support by all the supporting casts. And the song ‘O Maa’ was the cherry on the top.

Welcome to Sajjanpur: My parents liked it immensely and so did I. In times where Cinema is increasingly being commercialized, it was a welcome respite which took us back to the villages. A satirical take on many of the social customs still prevalent in India, it gave the chance to the protagonist to play a real ‘Common Man’ with varying shades in character. Though some songs were unnecessary, the movie was lifted by deft performances by the leads and the supporting casts and master narration by the director Shyam Benegal.

Aamir: This year belonged to two themes: ‘Common Man’ and asking questions about the identity of an individual in the social context. Aamir fits well in both the category. When the protagonist enacted by Rajeev Khandelwal declares that ‘I have carved my own destiny’, he slaps all those misguided youth who blames the inefficient system for all their miseries. This movie asks tough questions and brings out the human turmoil in form of a gripping thriller. The background music assists the screenplay whereas the camera captures the Mumbai efficiently. Many of my friends were disappointed with the climax but it is the climax which makes one think about the association between the individual, beliefs and religion.

Mumbai Meri Jaan: ‘To yeh ek dusre ko dhakka maarne ka long chain hai woh tutega na’ Paresh Rawal said ensured that the coming generations will at least think about preserving the beautiful social fabric of this country. In the year when terrorism came out as the subject of drawing room discussions and when no one was sure of his/ her safety, this film brought out the human spirit that which will guide us through the tough times. Agreed that the film is slow but allow it to grow upon you and it will give you a wonderful experience.

Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na: A small budget movie turned into a blockbuster. A dream debut from Imran Khan, the movie became the heartthrob of youth especially in urban areas. While ‘Pappu can’t dance saala’ rocked the nation, ‘Kabhi Kabhi Aditi’ stole quite a few hearts. A regular run-of-the-mill romantic story became a rage because it catered to a market which was neglected for some time now. The screenplay had its faults and characters were clichéd but then again overall the movie was entertaining. However the best moments were the one shared between Ratna Pathak Shah and her reel and real life husband Naseerudin Shah. Abbas Tyrewala won as a first time director.

Khuda Ke Liye: Who could have imagined that such a bold film will come from Pakistan? This film was like a whiff of fresh air which targeted all the fundamentalists and championed the cause of liberals around the world. Though a small film, it provided a fresh perspective of Islam to all those who are misguided by the fundamentalists. The explanation by Naseeruddin Shah was the most critical aspect of the movie. Aided by able acting and melodious music this film went on to win the hearts of each and everyone.

Slumdog Millionaire: Director Danny Boyle’s take on the novel ‘Q&A’ is generating tremendous interest in Western Media. Armed with four Golden Globe nominations it is aiming for the Oscar glory. To some of my friends the movie was overly hyped and I must admit that it definitely is hyped. However that does not take away anything from the movie. We see the rags to riches stories every year and this one is no different in content. However where it succeeds is in capturing the ‘life’ of some underprivileged children in India. You would not stop yourself from enjoying when a group of slum children run from security guards with A R Rahman singing O Saaya in the background. The camera work is excellent and script is good. The music elevates the movie on many occasions.