90's Movies & Magic - My Fav Films Of My Fav Era

#90s : I am a 90s kid and i am proud of it. I grew up watching, experiencing all the beautiful things that happened in that amazing era. One of them is Bollywood. I loved almost all films made during that time even though some of them had plenty of hiccups. I still love to watch many of those irresistible gems & some flawed yet perfect pastime pleasures. The reason being, they were made with heart, had moving dramatic sagas, wonderful timeless melodies & sheer genuine performances. So without further delay, here are some of my favorite films in 1990s. I 'm sure I have missed out some really good ones.

Special Mentions :- (Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Shool, Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikander, Mohra, Maachis, Karan Arjun, Dil Se, Soldier, Pyaar To Hona Hi Tha, Sarfarosh, Damini, Dil To Pagal Hai, Agnisakshi, Krantiveer, Ghulam E Mustafa, Yeshwant, Badshah, Coolie No.1)

These couldn't make it to my top 15. But I am fond of each of these hits. 

Note - My list features those films which I have seen fully. Thus some great cinemas are left out.

Okay now ;

My Top 15 Films in 1990s :

15) #MainKhiladiTuAnari - This one had all the 90s ingredients, be it action, drama, comedy, catchy melodies, etc. Super amusing overall and Akshay-Saif combo was spot on.

14) #RajuBanGayaGentleman - A simple story about an ambitious man filmed nicely by Aziz Mirza. Definitely, one of Shah Rukh Khan's underrated yet fine works. 

13) #PhirTeriKahaniYaadAayee - A melancholic love saga, helmed with heart. Despite flaws, this one was a winner for me, mainly due to its soulful soundtrack by Anu Malik.

12) #Darr - This Yash Chopra romance wasn't like any of his other typical love stories. As the title says, it's a horrific thriller that was about an obsessive lover boy who could go any far to achieve his love. Shah Rukh Khan's hauntingly unique performance is remembered to date.

11) #Saathi - Mahesh Bhatt perfectly created a moving tale of two pals courtesy assured emotions & engaging storytelling. Nadeem-Shravan's music was like icing on the cake.

10) #Pardes - A Subhash Ghai gem. Story, songs, dialogues, emotions and above all, SRK, Amrish Puri, Mahima Choudhary leading an impressive cast.

9) #Vaastav - Arguably Sanjay Dutt's best performance came in this rousing crime drama. He lived Raghu Bhai and we loved Raghu Bhai in this classic.

8) #HaseenaMaanJayegi - A David Dhawan blockbuster starring Govinda with Sanjay Dutt. My favorite pastime film of 90s is this one. I can watch it all day long sans getting bored. Govinda's antics was superlative here. Others amused as well.

7) #KabhiHaanKabhiNaa - A heartfelt coming of age drama. This was a perfect take on a loser's journey. A non typical film that's brought to life by Shah Rukh Khan's winning act. It won't be wrong to say that KHKN is still the actor's most endearing film.

6) #HumApkeHainKoun - Well, like any other viewer, I love Barjatya's sagas being a 90s geek. And HAHK is the supremo of all his creations. A big fat wedding, families, fun, songs, dance, a crackling Salman and an eternal Madhuri. Just awesome!

5) #Gupt -  One of the best thrillers that came in 90s was this Rajiv Rai's hit. Interesting & unpredictable storytelling kept us hooked till the end. Kajol stunned, Bobby was cool but Om Puri stole the show.

4) #DDLJ - This has to be in everyone's list. And I am no different. It's the most special Bollywood film to have ever been witnessed. Raj-Simran and their iconic tale along with the music remain afresh & unforgettable even after all these years. Shah Rukh Khan rose to superstardom post the mega success of this evergreen classic.

3) #AndazApnaApna - My most enjoyable movie in comic genre is this masterpiece. It's just damn too funny. The constant twists, crazy chaos and brilliant set of actors in full form. Aamir-Salman as Amar-Prem became immortal. A word of praise for Shakti Kapoor & Paresh Rawal too.

2) #Baazigar - And it's time for this cult revenge thriller now. Abbas-Mustan broke the typical stereotype and shocked the audiences by pioneering this noir drama. A hero doing all the unacceptable things in a Bollywood film yet he got people's love & empathy. Baazigar proved to be a turning point for Shah Rukh Khan.

1) #Satya - A bonafide masterpiece in truest form is this RGV's authentic hard hitting crime drama that became a landmark for all other movies of this genre. From excellent storytelling to extraordinary ensemble performances, Satya was pitch perfect in every aspect. We all were pleasantly thrilled & delighted by the brilliance of Manoj Bajpayee. 

All I can say in the end, 90s will invariably be loved & cherished.

Thank you!

Co-curricular Activities, As Substantial As Education!

Today, a man is measured as a reputed being in the society if he's well educated in the first place. This is the verity no one can deny, no one should either. But life is not just about education only. It's not the only podium, where a human can soar. Education, no doubt, is a must for all and should be embraced in a great manner. Its plusses are way too many. An educated man can find ways to earn him and his family a livelihood, even in worst scenarios. But the same can also happen if someone is good at any particular non academic facet, be it music, art, sports or drama. A studious pupil can be the country's future but so can be anyone with extra craft & self belief. Studies are important, but so are the co-curricular  activities. Intellectual aspects of personality are just accomplished by classroom, while aesthetic development, character building, spiritual growth, physical expansion, moral values, unique creativity, etc are backed by co-curricular activities. Candidness & clarity in language and personality is supported by these activities. It helps to develop coordination, adjustment, speech fluency, extempore expressions, etc among students both at the school as well as college levels. Moreover, it can help those in building their careers who don't flourish in academics.

The world is changing in a fruitful manner. Different opportunities are arriving in quick span of time for every notable field. People are showcasing their immense talents in various respective co-curricular activities like never before. And more importantly, they are being fully lauded & provided with better scopes in the present era which unfortunately wasn't the case a decade or two back. Today a man with brush, colour palettes & paintings is earning loads in terms of both money & admiration. The same can be said about a singing aspirant having a golden voice, a boy with a bat in his hand, a lad with magical moves, a brave mind with all business tricks, etc. In all these spheres, one doesn't have to be properly educated (although it's highly relevant) but many due to lack of financial stability or utter unavoidable matters, fail to get a degree in studies. Our society didn't treat them with respect in past, however slowly & thankfully, these industrious souls, now a days, are not only fetching the success they truly deserve but at the same time, they are abundantly gaining utmost value & importance.
Ultimately, it's one's prowess coupled with passion, devotion, industry, conviction, perseverance & forbearance that leads him to greater heights. Here, I don't, at any cost, demean the relevance of academics. As I have pointed out above, education should be acquired by all. It's a compulsory aspect one should possess. But simultaneously, time has come where we need to promote & glorify those gems who have tasted or on the verge of tasting emphatic success in other professions than a doctor, teacher, scientist or engineer. Parents especially need to understand this and embolden their child/children in the path they are good at, to achieve what they want. At the end of the day, what matters is talent and solely talent(doesn't matter where it comes from). A person with deftness and not scholastic grades or degrees, deserves esteem.

My Take On RANGOON - "Quite Flawed Yet Too Fascinating"

Rangoon which is Vishal Bhardwaj's most ambitious project till date is a solid, heroic attempt by India's most skillful filmmaker but by his standards, it's not amongst his finest works. He could have made it with more finesse. But lots of things deserve appreciation here. The visuals are remarkable, dialogues well written and performances are superlative. Kangana Ranaut and Shahid Kapoor are simply first rate. Kangana is the heart of this creation. She powers Julia with her sheer beauty and class. Shahid, to his credit, brings enormous panache to his part. He looks fabulous and emotes with perfection. 2nd half particularly displays the brilliance of the actor. Kangana & Shahid, each gives one of their best acts. Saif Ali Khan, one the other hand, does very well in parts. His role actually isn't as meaty as the other protagonists' still he also shines especially post interval through his charm & conviction. Vishal Bhardwaj's music is riveting. Songs as Julia, Tippa, Alvida and Bloody Hell are fabulous. His direction has command too but unfortunately the screenplay lacks soul(the patriotic portion needed soul) and depth(romance hasn't had enough depth) even though it's mostly a fine execution. Another drawback is that it turns out superficial occasionally, particularly towards the end. Cinematography is top notch, action scenes are well delivered and VFX is fine.

Thus Rangoon is impressive and beautifully shot but not upto Vishal Bhardwaj's calibre. His vision is laudable but his script should have been finer.
It's terrific in parts with quite a few goosebump moments while clunky in bits. It's very much watchable but not without it's notable flaws. Its problematic yet powerful. It's an appreciable experience but not satisfactory enough.

My Rating- 3.5/5

Rangoon worths a watch for it's noble intention, perfect acting and VB's fair grandeur. It may not be his best but even his good craft deserves a viewing. See it friends!

Why Indians Must Watch RANGOON!!!

Vishal Bhardwaj, the ace filmmaker of the country, who is well known for converting good screenplays into better films through his real and brilliant storytelling is all set for the release of his next, titled, Rangoon which happens to be his dream ambitious project.
It's always a treat to watch this maestro's cinematic vision on big screen and the anticipation regarding Rangoon is too high for obvious reasons. Firstly, it's a Vishal Bhardwaj film. Secondly, it has such a fine starcast like Shahid Kapoor, Kangna Ranaut & Saif Ali Khan in pivotal roles. Thirdly and most importantly, it has a commendable backdrop which reflects patriotic essence. This seems riveting, something which will surely woo our viewers to appreciate. Not only we will get to see a quality period saga set during World War II, but at the same time, the unflinching feel of patriotism is likely to be the biggest merit of this upcoming classic.
As Shahid plays a soldier in the film, his character promises to offer some breathtaking moments that will enhance the country's pride. It will glorify how our real heroes become selfless for the wellbeing of the nation. Also in one of his earlier interviews, the actor did say that his character in Rangoon is a big ardent nationalist.
Moreover, from the latest sources related to Rangoon, strong rumours have been flying that it's makers have decided to donate the first day boxoffice earnings to the families of our martyr soldiers during URI attack last year. Although this news has not been officially proclaimed yet, we all should give a fair chance to Rangoon anyway.
Good films are hardly made these days and Rangoon looks to be one of those rare gems which deserves to be embraced by the audience for the betterment of our cinemas in terms of caliber and longevity. Thus, it should be a must watch by one and all.
Rangoon releases on 24th Feb. Hopefully, it will be as special as it should be.

My Take On RAEES :- "A Solid Entertainer With A Deft Emotional Touch"

Rahul Dholakia who has made a sensible heartfelt saga called 'Parzania' in past, truly knows the essence of realistic world, especially of Gujarat. This time he takes us back to the 70-80's era, a period when bootlegging was at its peak in the country, especially in the land of Gujarat. Having a backdrop like this, he constructs a riveting tale featuring a captivating protagonist who from a noone becomes a biggie in this field courtesy his daring heart & ingenious mind.

Raees is very much a massy venture. It's made like those classic action dramas we witnessed in that dominating Bachchan era in 70-80's films. But Dholakia knows his job well. Even though the premise isn't novel, the artistic touch he gives to this film is commendable. Main reason why Raees looks compelling is because of the consistent engaging moments it's filled with, powered by terrific one liners that never miss the mark. Infact the writers have penned some crackling dialogues. And these dialogues turn out so well thanks to the performances of the leading man played with brilliance by Shah Rukh Khan and his nemesis in the movie, Nawazuddin Siddiqui who yet again shines sans any falter. SRK plays Raees with utmost conviction. His heavy voice, furious eyes, intense face, super delivery of lines and moving emotional finish in the finale act, SRK gives his all to this captivating role. It's a riveting show that has both starry showcase plus excellent artistic prowess. Meanwhile, Nawazuddin Siddiqui adds up to SRK's beauty. His humorous way, his nuanced portyal of the uncorrupted cop is outstanding. He's yet again in fabulous form and impresses all through out. The scenes featuring SRK and Nawazuddin produce some exceptional moments and are bound to give gooseflesh to the watchers. Both the actors are at top of their game. But the same can't be said about fine performers like Mohammad Zeeshan Ayub and Atul Kulkarni. They are earnest in their parts that are less effective. Narendra Jha has a better role to perform though and he's good as usual. Debutant Mahira Khan has a confident appeal but she also is not backed by a meaty role. Still she is alright and has a lovely little chemistry with SRK. A word for the child actor playing young Raees. He's fantastic even in a brief part. Now to talk about music of the film, I must say it's pretty decent only. Zaalima and Sanson Ke are beautiful, Dhingana is catchy and hummable, Laila is okay but there's no wow factor in it. Ram Sampath, however, has compensated in the background score department. It's stellar and goes well with the film.

Thus, Rahul Dholakia via his credibility has developed a solid, stirring 70's type set piece in Raees and makes it engaging enough for the audience to have a good happening time in theatres. It has masala with mostly fine art work despite occasional problems in screenplay. It may not be as gritty as I thought it would be but how often do we see a commercial potboiler carrying an earthy treatment, featuring 2 spectacular performances? Raees is exactly that.

My Rating- 4/5

This is what I call, a nice blend of art & commerce. And yeah, Vintage SRK is back baby! Don't miss it.

10 BEST Hindi Films Of 2016

2016 has been quite a pleasant year for Bollywood courtesy some really fine & well made movies. I went through some of the finest cinematic experiences this year.
So here I pick the top 10 gems of the year.

1) PINK - Directed by Aniruddha Roy Choudhury

This solid realistic court room drama was both high on substance as well as execution. Excellent screenplay and writing backed by stellar performances helped it become the most appreciated cinema made in recent times.

2) KAPOOR AND SONS - Directed by Shakun Batra

Dysfunctional family sagas in Bollywood are hardly made to perfection. But this delightful film was an exception. Beautifully crafted and presented to the audience, this one is a winner in every way. Acting by all was impressive but particular worthy of mention is Fawad Khan who stole the show with a pitch perfect nuanced act.

3) DANGAL - Directed by Nitesh Tiwari

Dangal is an almost perfect biopic on an unsung Indian champion and his heroic daughters. Aamir's top class vision and show made this authentic emotional cinematic journey an engaging experience.

4) UDTA PUNJAB - Directed by Abhishek Chaubey

Udta Punjab is easily the boldest & bravest movie I saw this year. A striking take on a relevant issue like drugs abuse, this robust film amazed us to the core. Brilliant ensemble cast, fabulous music & sharp direction all helped the cause.

5) AIRLIFT - Directed by Raja Krishna Menon

This was an another real story of our forgotten heroes told mavelously on celluloid. It has patriotic emotions that gave me goosebumps. Rousing treatment to the script and Akshay Kumar's riveting act are the film's biggest highpoints.

6) NEERJA - Directed by Ram Madhavani

Once again a biopic is in my list, this time it's of a braveheart whose courageous tale was shown with utmost sincerity and credibility in this heartbreaking gem. Gripping storytelling with assured direction plus Sonam Kapoor's first rate acting were all commendable.

7) DEAR ZINDAGI - Directed by Gauri Shinde

This sweet little rejoicing feel good flick gave me smile for the most part. Finely helmed by Shinde, this attempt about 'loving your life' made us realize how important is the value of life despite hurdles & complexities.

8) FAN - Directed by Manish Sharma

This film based on a moviestar's ardent fanatic and how his love turned into psychic obsession worked for me because of the heartfelt first half and an extraordinary performance by Shah Rukh Khan in it. Inspite of the film's constant lacunas post interval, FAN was an appealing watch.

9) RAMAN RAGHAV 2.0 - Directed by Anurag Kashyap

Like any Kashyap movie, this was too dark, edgy & unpredictable. Nawazuddin Siddiqui's incredible work plus the compelling storytelling overpowered many flaws of this unique crime drama.

10) ALIGARH (Directed by Hansal Mehta) & PHOBIA (Directed by Pavan Kirpalani)

At number 10, I have both these bold yet exciting small wonders as tied. Aligarh was wonderfully created on a disturbing subject in which the central role was brought to life by faultless performance from Manoj Bajpayee.
       Phobia, on the other hand, was a cleverly constructed psychological thriller where the leading lady, Radhika Apte was in supreme form.

Thus, these are the ones that according to me, result in the most impressive movies to come out this year.

Best Of Bollywood 2016 Awards By Me

We saw various genres of quality movies this year. Among them, the ones that deserve to win awards in the following categories are as follows :-

1) Best FILM - PINK

2) Best DIRECTOR - Abhishek Chaubey (Udta Punjab) & Shakun Batra (Kapoor And Sons)

3) Best ACTOR - Shah Rukh Khan (FAN)

4) Best ACTRESS - Alia Bhatt (Udta Punjab/Dear Zindagi)

5) Standout Performer MALE - Aamir Khan (Dangal)

6) Standout Performer FEMALE - Radhika Apte (Phobia)

7) Surprise Performer Of The Year - Fawad Khan (Kapoor And Sons)

8) Most Entertaining ACTOR - Shahid Kapoor (Udta Punjab)

9) Most Entertaining ACTRESS - Fatima & Sanya (Dangal)

10) Best SUPPORTING ACTOR - Shah Rukh Khan (Dear Zindagi)

11) Best SUPPORTING ACTRESS - Kareena Kapoor (Udta Punjab)

12) Best Entertaining FILM - Dangal

13) Best Thriller FILM - Raman Raghav 2.0

14) Best Romantic FILM - Ae Dil Hai Mushkil

15) Best Action FILM - Dangal

16) Most Coolest FILM - Kapoor And Sons

17) Best Offbeat FILM - Aligarh

18) Best JODI - Ranbir & Anushka (Ae Dil Hai Mushkil)

19) Best SONG - Jabra Fan Ho Gaya (Fan)

20) Best SINGER MALE - Amit Mishra (Bulleya - ADHM)

21) Best SINGER FEMALE - Palak Muchhal (Kaun Tujhe - MS Dhoni The Untold Story)

22) Best LYRICS - Baabu Haabi (Da Da Dasse - Udta Punjab)

23) Best MUSIC - Pritam (Ae Dil Hai Mushkil)

24) Best Actor in Negative Role - Jim Sarbh (Neerja)

25) Best Actor in Comic Role - Aparshakti Khurrana (Dangal)

26) Best Debutante Male - Diljit Dosanjh (Udta Punjab)

27) Best Debutante Female - Ritika Singh (Saala Khadoos)

28) Best Debut Director - Aniruddha Roy Choudhury (Pink)

29) Best STORY - Kapoor And Sons

30) Best SCREENPLAY - Udta Punjab

31) Best DIALOGUES - FAN

32) Best ENSEMBLE - Udta Punjab

33) Best Child Actor - Zaira Wasim (Dangal)

34) Best Cinematography - Shivaay

35) Best Choreography - Kaala Chasma (Baar Baar Dekho)

36) Best Special Effects - FAN

37) Best Costume Design - Ae Dil Hai Mushkil

38) Best Background Score - Dangal

39) Scene of the Year - When Gaurav & Aryan Meet For The First Time In Jail (FAN)

40) Pathbreaking Cinema Of The Year - Neerja

So this is my personal choice on movies that should win the abovementioned awards.

Thank you!