2013 seems to have started quite well for the hindi film industry. This year has already seen a host of unique films that are not your ‘run-of-the-mill’ Bollywood drama where the actors break into a song every now and then and have complete strangers match their dance steps to perfection.
The year began with a hint of bizarre. Vishal Bharadwaj introduced the world to the pink talking cow, Gulabo, in his film, Matru ki Bijlee ka Mandola. The film, which witnessed some extraordinary work by Pankaj Kapoor, used Shakespearean undertones to reveal the shades of politics in the country.
Speaking of politics, it seemed to be the main theme in the month of January. Whether it was office politics as seen in Inkaar where a woman struggles to hold her ground in a patriarchal work environment or family politics as seen in Race 2, all the films were made quite tastefully although they did not receive the expected results at the box office.
Amidst all the politics came a silent thriller in the form of Table 21, which offered nothing more than mind blowing performances by Rajeev Khandelwal and Paresh Rawal.
February, although the shortest month of the year, saw the longest list of prominent films. Asha Bhonsle’s acting debut in Mai was a great beginning to the month. The film that portrayed ideal family values failed at the box office, however. Kamal Hassan’s Vishwaroopam that released amidst lots of controversy did not deliver as expected but managed to grab the audience’s attention thanks to the brouhaha.
Based on a real life heist, Special 26, became the first proper hit in 2013. The excellent script and awe inspiring performances by Akshay Kumar, Anupam Kher, Manoj Bakpai and Jimmy Shergill won excellent reviews. The high of this success was slightly washed out by Vivek Oberoi’s Jayanta Bhai ki love story and the ”only meant for titillating”, Murder 3.
Then came the biggest hit that yet again proves Chetan Bhagat’s Midas effect. Abhishek Kapoor’s Kai Po Che released with the most unorthodox star cast and unique storyline. The film is surely going to bag many awards this year for some amazing technical display and natural and earthy performances by the three newcomers, Sushant Singh Rajput, Raj Kumar Yadav and Amit Sadh. The film, based on the novel, “The three mistakes of my life” has already become the first Indian Film to be showcased at the World Panorama section of the 63rd Berlin International Film Festival.
Three of the latest hindi movies failed to get much love from the audience. The much hyped Attacks of 26/11, unfortunately, lost out because of inefficient storytelling and incorrect flow of the actual events that occurred. I, Me aur Main seems to be quite the disappointment. Even the only song that made it to the charts from the film is a poor rendition of a popular yesteryear track. Sahib, Biwi aur Gangster returns managed to gain the approval of the niche that it was meant to entertain.
In the coming days, there is the much awaited horror film, Aatma, the musically ‘thanda’ Nautanki Saala and the “evidently-poor” Himmatwala. The films that will be the talk of the town this year are Chennai Express, Ram Leela, Shoot out at Wadala, Yeh Jawaani hai Deewani and of course, Ragini MMS 2. The list is longer but we will have to wait and see what unexpected turns these films will face at the box office.
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