Anita's Roundup Review Of The Bollywood Movies In 2010
You guys might remember last year when I did a roundup for all the 2009 Bollywood films. Well, I'm about to do it again, this time for the 2010 movies!
And in case you are curious enough to wonder how my thoughts compare after seeing them to what I had expected them to be like, you can read my 2010 Bollywood movie preview as well!
I would just like to forewarn everyone that I did NOT like the movies of last year. Like...I was majorly disappointed almost at every turn. So this isn't exactly the most positive post of all time, if that deters you in any way.
Note: I have not seen Atithi Tum Kab Jaoge (would like to soon), Prince - It's Showtime (will get to it eventually), Paathshaala (we own it), Golmaal 3 (own it, don't want to see it), Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Sey (not interested) or Tees Maar Khan (don't want to touch it with a ten-foot dhandiya stick!), so they will not be discussed.
Dulha Mil Gaya
January 8
Fardeen Khan, Sushmita Sen, Ishita Sharma, Shahrukh Khan
Fardeen Khan is still as boring as ever in the lead hero role. I actually did like Ishita Sharma, though, she was sweet. But, yeah, Fardeen's character was a jerk and so was Sushmita Sen's character to some extent. Shahrukh was adorable in his cameo but very few would feel that is enough to get them through this movie.
Pyaar Impossible
January 8
Uday Chopra, Priyanka Chopra, Dino Morea
A decent story that plays out in an average manner but is dampened by the complete lack of screen presence Uday Chopra possesses. Also, some weird gender politics going on if you compare this movie to the last one Dulha Mil Gaya and how appearance plays its role for men vs. women.
Chance Pe Dance
January 15
Shahid Kapoor, Genelia D'Souza
Some boring scenes with kids and not the strongest plot but if you're a Shahid fan you will enjoy the gratuitous display of his body and dancing talent. Other than that not much to speak of.
Veer
January 22
Salman Khan, Zarine Khan
I feel like Veer was one of those films that started off promising but then the director didn't know when to quit while he was ahead and the movie just kept on dragging and dragging until the end. Think Kisna but with Salman Khan, almost. Amazing sets and costumes, though!
Ishqiya
January 29
Vidya Balan, Naseeruddin Shah, Arshad Warsi
Don't think I loved it quite as much as most do but it was definitely a standout film for the year. Vidya Balan, Arshad Warsi and Naseerudhin Shah make for such an interesting trio on-screen. The style of the film is very gritty like all of Vishal Bharadwaj's work, so if you like his style most definitely check Ishqiya out. Just don't go into it thinking you're about to watch the greatest film ever.
Rann
January 29
Amitabh Bachchan, Ritesh Deshmukh, Paresh Rawal, Mohnish Behl, Gul Panag
It wasn't as bad as people make it out to be. The ensemble cast all pitched in good performances and the issues brought up about the politics of media are very real. Reality isn't all that entertaining to watch, though. If you like Madhur Bhandarkar behind-the-scenes-of-corruption kinds of films you would probably like Rann. I actually wish more people had seen it, Ram Gopal Varma did a decent job.
My Name Is Khan
February 12
Shahrukh Khan, Kajol
This was my favourite movie of 2010, but let's be honest, that was a foregone conclusion. With my favourite actor, favourite actress and favourite director all reuniting, of course this ended up being my favourite film. And the first half was amazing. It was wonderful and sweet and every scene was necessary. The same can't be said for the second half and I think we all agree that once the news reporter student got involved the focus shifted away from the main story they had been building and the film kind of loses its way. My Name Is Khan is far from perfect; it ranks below Kal Ho Naa Ho, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai and Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham on my Dharma charts, but higher than Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna. It was a wonderful attempt that didn't quite hit all the marks, but what it got right it really really got right on.
Karthik Calling Karthik
February 26
Farhan Akhtar, Deepika Padukone
Another case of a good film that should have had at least half an hour cut from its end. Farhan Akhtar does a good job, Deepika Padukone is glam, but the ending may not satisfy all audiences.
Teen Patti
February 26
Amitabh Bachchan, Ben Kingsley, Madhavan, Raima Sen
What a bad movie with a horribly misused cast and the most aggravating role Madhavan has ever had. Skip it and save yourself the hours, it is not worth it in the least. Watch Ben Kingsley in Gandhi instead or something...
Love Sex Aur Dhokha
March 19
Amit Sial, Anshuman Jha, Arya Banerjee, Atul Mongia, Neha Chauhan, Shruti
If you like films with more adult themes then check this one out immediately. It does something that Hindi cinema has never done before and does it so well. Don't want to say much because I'd rather not spoil it but if you react to the first of the three stories the way I did with pure enjoyment then keep on. If not, then just stop before you get any further.
Well Done Abba
March 26
Boman Irani, Minissha Lamba, Sameer Dattani
There are two Boman Iranis in this. That's right, he plays a double role. I mean, it's not an out-and-out comedy but that should hint at what you're in for. I much preferred Shyam Benegal's previous work Welcome to Sajjanpur to this, so if you haven't seen it yet just go watch it instead.
Tum Milo Toh Sahi
April 2
Nana Patekar, Dimple Kapadia, Rehan Khan, Sunil Shetty, Vidya Malvade
Oh god, don't watch this. I wish I hadn't...
Housefull
April 30
Akshay Kumar, Deepika Padukone, Ritesh Deshmukh, Arjun Rampal, Lara Dutta, Jiah Khan, Boman Irani
I hate these kinds of movies with a passion and this was no exception. Every situation the characters got themselves into were annoying and seemingly never-ending. Just get the soundtrack because the songs are great but leave it at that.
Badmaash Company
May 7
Shahid Kapoor, Anushka Sharma, Vir Das, Meiyang Chang
This was actually a fun movie to watch. All of the actors put in good performances and the chemistry of the cast was great. More of a youth-oriented con artist film, so enjoy if that's a genre that piques your interest. Don't expect award-worthy cinema, though.
Kites
May 21
Hrithik Roshan, Barbara Mori
Such a bad movie. I'm sorry but it just did not appeal to me at all. The songs were bad, the performances were mediocre and the plot was thin. I didn't even really think the lead pair of Hrithik and Barbara were endearing, which is a bad quality for a romantic film to have. Hrithik has done much better, might as well leave it alone if you haven't seen it yet.
Raajneeti
June 4
Ajay Devgan, Ranbir Kapoor, Katrina Kaif, Manoj Bajpai, Arjun Rampal
Why does everyone love this movie? It was boring. Plain and simple. They took the Mahabharata, which is a story I have been reading over and over again since childhood, and made it boring! I thought Arjun Rampal acted well and that Ajay Devgan was up to his usual good standard but other than that no one really impressed me and the film went on and on and on. Another case of a severe need to cut down some time.
Raavan
June 18
Abhishek Bachchan, Aishwarya Rai, Vikram
Really good and way too underappreciated. They took the other Hindu epic we all know like the back of our hands and brought a completely new light to it. I spent days analyzing the film after I saw it. The direction is beautiful, the acting was great but the innovative twist to a religious epic is what made it one of my favorites of the year.
I Hate Luv Storys
July 2
Imran Khan, Sonam Kapoor, Sameer Dattani
If you like Imran Khan, Sonam Kapoor or their pairing like I do then you will enjoy it. They do have a really sweet and fun sort of chemistry together. Songs are good so check those out regardless.
Milenge Milenge
July 9
Kareena Kapoor, Shahid Kapoor
It wasn't terrible but it wasn't great. It's a romantic Bollywood film just like you've seen before, but if you want to see Shahid and Kareena together one last time go for it. Be forewarned that the movie is quite dated. Shahid looks like a child he's so young!
Udaan
July 16
Ronit Roy, Rajat Barmecha
Not for the faint of heart or anyone looking for tons of fun in their movies. It's a serious film with mature themes and hard-hitting realities. It's tough watching a young boy struggle in an abusive home. But the characters are so well-crafted and the film definitely leaves its mark.
Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai
July 30
Ajay Devgan, Kangana Ranaut, Emraan Hashmi, Prachi Desai
I love gangster films. Company and the Sarkar series are some of my favourites. But Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai just didn't do anything for me. Maybe it was all the endless pseudo-philosophical dialogue the characters spouted that mostly made no sense. In fact, I would have preferred more action sequences and less talking. Not to say that the cast didn't all put in great performances, but it was the script itself that let the movie down.
Aisha
August 5
Sonam Kapoor, Abhay Deol
It was fun but fairly vapid and shallow. That's really all I can say about it. If you like chick flicks and want to see the Indian take on one, go for it, but don't expect anything more than that.
Peepli Live
August 13
Omkar Das Manikpuri, Raghuveer Yadav
I know that the issue of farmer suicides is an important one but this film didn't really know what it was trying to be. It vacillated so much from a serious drama to a satirical comedy that it never really found itself. And yet another movie that needed at least twenty minutes cut from the end as it started to drag on.
Lafangey Parindey
August 20
Neil Nitin Mukesh, Deepika Padukone
A timepass sort of film with okay acting and story but still passably entertaining. It didn't drag and didn't have any major flaws, but it never started off as anything brilliant either. Just your standard above average Bollywood fare.
We Are Family
September 2
Kajol, Arjun Rampal, Kareena Kapoor
I thought this was one of the better films of the year. It was simple and emotional and realistic when dealing with family issues. All of the actors, especially Kajol, give heartfelt performances. That being said, it's not the happiest movie ever and that can be off-putting. Neither are Kareena or Arjun glam like they usually are.
Dabangg
September 10
Salman Khan, Arbaaz Khan, Sonakshi Sinha, Sonu Sood
I liked Wanted better. There, I said it. Chulbul Pandey was kind of an ass, and not a likable one either. Sonakshi Sinha, who I now like after seeing her at IIFA, had a boring minuscule role that didn't impress or do her justice. I thought Sonu Sood played his part well and of course the music is amazing, but I guess masala films just aren't for me.
Robot
October 1
Rajnikanth, Aishwarya Rai
One of the least crazy Rajnikanth films. I have it on good record that Sivaaji was a madhouse movie. Anyway, it was really really impressive in terms of special effects but if you're not used to the South Indian style of film-making you will find the movie mostly bizarre. I mean, it wasn't terrible, but there are so many scenes that could have been greatly improved.
Anjaana Anjaani
October 1
Ranbir Kapoor, Priyanka Chopra, Zayed Khan
Typical romantic Bollywood fare. See it if you like Ranbir or Priyanka and if not just keep listening to Tujhe Bhula Diya, which was the best thing to come out of the film.
Action Replayy
November 5
Akshay Kumar, Aishwarya Rai, Aditya Roy Kapoor
If you like Akshay or Aishwarya or you like the nostalgia of the 70s you might enjoy this, but as with all of the films in 2010 (jeez, I sound like a broken record) it was strictly okay. In fact, I really enjoy the soundtrack of the film but some of the songs are given the most horrible picturizations, which left me quite disappointed.
Guzaarish
November 19
Hrithik Roshan, Aishwarya Rai
I love Sanjay Leela Bhansali. I love every single film he has ever made. Yes, that includes Saawariya. I love Hrithik Roshan. I love Aishwarya Rai. I hated Guzaarish so much! It felt like torture when I was watching it. It made less and less sense as the movie went on. In the end I was wanting Hrithik to get it over with and die so I wouldn't have to suffer through any more of the film. Yeah...it was that bad. For a film apparently exploring euthanasia, it didn't even attempt to.
Break Ke Baad
November 26
Imran Khan, Deepika Padukone
You know the drill: see it if you like Imran or Deepika, take a pass if you don't. Also, I vaguely remember wanting to slap Deepika's character upside the head...
Band Baaja Baaraat
December 10
Ranveer Singh, Anushka Sharma
Can I just say that this movie was not that great? Ranveer made an awesome debut and Anushka proved she's more than a pretty face, but post-interval was just annoying; all we get is the two protagonists fighting over everything in every single scene. It was exhausting and not in the least bit entertaining. So, yes, the first half was wonderful, but the second half was mostly grating.
In conclusion, watch these films: Ishqiya, Rann, My Name Is Khan, Love Sex Aur Dhokha, Raavan, Udaan, We Are Family. Leave the rest alone.
Lemme know all of your thoughts on these movies if you happened to watch them. And if you didn't catch 'em yet, feel grateful that you didn't waste your time. :P
And in case you are curious enough to wonder how my thoughts compare after seeing them to what I had expected them to be like, you can read my 2010 Bollywood movie preview as well!
I would just like to forewarn everyone that I did NOT like the movies of last year. Like...I was majorly disappointed almost at every turn. So this isn't exactly the most positive post of all time, if that deters you in any way.
Note: I have not seen Atithi Tum Kab Jaoge (would like to soon), Prince - It's Showtime (will get to it eventually), Paathshaala (we own it), Golmaal 3 (own it, don't want to see it), Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Sey (not interested) or Tees Maar Khan (don't want to touch it with a ten-foot dhandiya stick!), so they will not be discussed.
Dulha Mil Gaya
January 8
Fardeen Khan, Sushmita Sen, Ishita Sharma, Shahrukh Khan
Fardeen Khan is still as boring as ever in the lead hero role. I actually did like Ishita Sharma, though, she was sweet. But, yeah, Fardeen's character was a jerk and so was Sushmita Sen's character to some extent. Shahrukh was adorable in his cameo but very few would feel that is enough to get them through this movie.
Pyaar Impossible
January 8
Uday Chopra, Priyanka Chopra, Dino Morea
A decent story that plays out in an average manner but is dampened by the complete lack of screen presence Uday Chopra possesses. Also, some weird gender politics going on if you compare this movie to the last one Dulha Mil Gaya and how appearance plays its role for men vs. women.
Chance Pe Dance
January 15
Shahid Kapoor, Genelia D'Souza
Some boring scenes with kids and not the strongest plot but if you're a Shahid fan you will enjoy the gratuitous display of his body and dancing talent. Other than that not much to speak of.
Veer
January 22
Salman Khan, Zarine Khan
I feel like Veer was one of those films that started off promising but then the director didn't know when to quit while he was ahead and the movie just kept on dragging and dragging until the end. Think Kisna but with Salman Khan, almost. Amazing sets and costumes, though!
Ishqiya
January 29
Vidya Balan, Naseeruddin Shah, Arshad Warsi
Don't think I loved it quite as much as most do but it was definitely a standout film for the year. Vidya Balan, Arshad Warsi and Naseerudhin Shah make for such an interesting trio on-screen. The style of the film is very gritty like all of Vishal Bharadwaj's work, so if you like his style most definitely check Ishqiya out. Just don't go into it thinking you're about to watch the greatest film ever.
Rann
January 29
Amitabh Bachchan, Ritesh Deshmukh, Paresh Rawal, Mohnish Behl, Gul Panag
It wasn't as bad as people make it out to be. The ensemble cast all pitched in good performances and the issues brought up about the politics of media are very real. Reality isn't all that entertaining to watch, though. If you like Madhur Bhandarkar behind-the-scenes-of-corruption kinds of films you would probably like Rann. I actually wish more people had seen it, Ram Gopal Varma did a decent job.
My Name Is Khan
February 12
Shahrukh Khan, Kajol
This was my favourite movie of 2010, but let's be honest, that was a foregone conclusion. With my favourite actor, favourite actress and favourite director all reuniting, of course this ended up being my favourite film. And the first half was amazing. It was wonderful and sweet and every scene was necessary. The same can't be said for the second half and I think we all agree that once the news reporter student got involved the focus shifted away from the main story they had been building and the film kind of loses its way. My Name Is Khan is far from perfect; it ranks below Kal Ho Naa Ho, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai and Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham on my Dharma charts, but higher than Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna. It was a wonderful attempt that didn't quite hit all the marks, but what it got right it really really got right on.
Karthik Calling Karthik
February 26
Farhan Akhtar, Deepika Padukone
Another case of a good film that should have had at least half an hour cut from its end. Farhan Akhtar does a good job, Deepika Padukone is glam, but the ending may not satisfy all audiences.
Teen Patti
February 26
Amitabh Bachchan, Ben Kingsley, Madhavan, Raima Sen
What a bad movie with a horribly misused cast and the most aggravating role Madhavan has ever had. Skip it and save yourself the hours, it is not worth it in the least. Watch Ben Kingsley in Gandhi instead or something...
Love Sex Aur Dhokha
March 19
Amit Sial, Anshuman Jha, Arya Banerjee, Atul Mongia, Neha Chauhan, Shruti
If you like films with more adult themes then check this one out immediately. It does something that Hindi cinema has never done before and does it so well. Don't want to say much because I'd rather not spoil it but if you react to the first of the three stories the way I did with pure enjoyment then keep on. If not, then just stop before you get any further.
Well Done Abba
March 26
Boman Irani, Minissha Lamba, Sameer Dattani
There are two Boman Iranis in this. That's right, he plays a double role. I mean, it's not an out-and-out comedy but that should hint at what you're in for. I much preferred Shyam Benegal's previous work Welcome to Sajjanpur to this, so if you haven't seen it yet just go watch it instead.
Tum Milo Toh Sahi
April 2
Nana Patekar, Dimple Kapadia, Rehan Khan, Sunil Shetty, Vidya Malvade
Oh god, don't watch this. I wish I hadn't...
Housefull
April 30
Akshay Kumar, Deepika Padukone, Ritesh Deshmukh, Arjun Rampal, Lara Dutta, Jiah Khan, Boman Irani
I hate these kinds of movies with a passion and this was no exception. Every situation the characters got themselves into were annoying and seemingly never-ending. Just get the soundtrack because the songs are great but leave it at that.
Badmaash Company
May 7
Shahid Kapoor, Anushka Sharma, Vir Das, Meiyang Chang
This was actually a fun movie to watch. All of the actors put in good performances and the chemistry of the cast was great. More of a youth-oriented con artist film, so enjoy if that's a genre that piques your interest. Don't expect award-worthy cinema, though.
Kites
May 21
Hrithik Roshan, Barbara Mori
Such a bad movie. I'm sorry but it just did not appeal to me at all. The songs were bad, the performances were mediocre and the plot was thin. I didn't even really think the lead pair of Hrithik and Barbara were endearing, which is a bad quality for a romantic film to have. Hrithik has done much better, might as well leave it alone if you haven't seen it yet.
Raajneeti
June 4
Ajay Devgan, Ranbir Kapoor, Katrina Kaif, Manoj Bajpai, Arjun Rampal
Why does everyone love this movie? It was boring. Plain and simple. They took the Mahabharata, which is a story I have been reading over and over again since childhood, and made it boring! I thought Arjun Rampal acted well and that Ajay Devgan was up to his usual good standard but other than that no one really impressed me and the film went on and on and on. Another case of a severe need to cut down some time.
Raavan
June 18
Abhishek Bachchan, Aishwarya Rai, Vikram
Really good and way too underappreciated. They took the other Hindu epic we all know like the back of our hands and brought a completely new light to it. I spent days analyzing the film after I saw it. The direction is beautiful, the acting was great but the innovative twist to a religious epic is what made it one of my favorites of the year.
I Hate Luv Storys
July 2
Imran Khan, Sonam Kapoor, Sameer Dattani
If you like Imran Khan, Sonam Kapoor or their pairing like I do then you will enjoy it. They do have a really sweet and fun sort of chemistry together. Songs are good so check those out regardless.
Milenge Milenge
July 9
Kareena Kapoor, Shahid Kapoor
It wasn't terrible but it wasn't great. It's a romantic Bollywood film just like you've seen before, but if you want to see Shahid and Kareena together one last time go for it. Be forewarned that the movie is quite dated. Shahid looks like a child he's so young!
Udaan
July 16
Ronit Roy, Rajat Barmecha
Not for the faint of heart or anyone looking for tons of fun in their movies. It's a serious film with mature themes and hard-hitting realities. It's tough watching a young boy struggle in an abusive home. But the characters are so well-crafted and the film definitely leaves its mark.
Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai
July 30
Ajay Devgan, Kangana Ranaut, Emraan Hashmi, Prachi Desai
I love gangster films. Company and the Sarkar series are some of my favourites. But Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai just didn't do anything for me. Maybe it was all the endless pseudo-philosophical dialogue the characters spouted that mostly made no sense. In fact, I would have preferred more action sequences and less talking. Not to say that the cast didn't all put in great performances, but it was the script itself that let the movie down.
Aisha
August 5
Sonam Kapoor, Abhay Deol
It was fun but fairly vapid and shallow. That's really all I can say about it. If you like chick flicks and want to see the Indian take on one, go for it, but don't expect anything more than that.
Peepli Live
August 13
Omkar Das Manikpuri, Raghuveer Yadav
I know that the issue of farmer suicides is an important one but this film didn't really know what it was trying to be. It vacillated so much from a serious drama to a satirical comedy that it never really found itself. And yet another movie that needed at least twenty minutes cut from the end as it started to drag on.
Lafangey Parindey
August 20
Neil Nitin Mukesh, Deepika Padukone
A timepass sort of film with okay acting and story but still passably entertaining. It didn't drag and didn't have any major flaws, but it never started off as anything brilliant either. Just your standard above average Bollywood fare.
We Are Family
September 2
Kajol, Arjun Rampal, Kareena Kapoor
I thought this was one of the better films of the year. It was simple and emotional and realistic when dealing with family issues. All of the actors, especially Kajol, give heartfelt performances. That being said, it's not the happiest movie ever and that can be off-putting. Neither are Kareena or Arjun glam like they usually are.
Dabangg
September 10
Salman Khan, Arbaaz Khan, Sonakshi Sinha, Sonu Sood
I liked Wanted better. There, I said it. Chulbul Pandey was kind of an ass, and not a likable one either. Sonakshi Sinha, who I now like after seeing her at IIFA, had a boring minuscule role that didn't impress or do her justice. I thought Sonu Sood played his part well and of course the music is amazing, but I guess masala films just aren't for me.
Robot
October 1
Rajnikanth, Aishwarya Rai
One of the least crazy Rajnikanth films. I have it on good record that Sivaaji was a madhouse movie. Anyway, it was really really impressive in terms of special effects but if you're not used to the South Indian style of film-making you will find the movie mostly bizarre. I mean, it wasn't terrible, but there are so many scenes that could have been greatly improved.
Anjaana Anjaani
October 1
Ranbir Kapoor, Priyanka Chopra, Zayed Khan
Typical romantic Bollywood fare. See it if you like Ranbir or Priyanka and if not just keep listening to Tujhe Bhula Diya, which was the best thing to come out of the film.
Action Replayy
November 5
Akshay Kumar, Aishwarya Rai, Aditya Roy Kapoor
If you like Akshay or Aishwarya or you like the nostalgia of the 70s you might enjoy this, but as with all of the films in 2010 (jeez, I sound like a broken record) it was strictly okay. In fact, I really enjoy the soundtrack of the film but some of the songs are given the most horrible picturizations, which left me quite disappointed.
Guzaarish
November 19
Hrithik Roshan, Aishwarya Rai
I love Sanjay Leela Bhansali. I love every single film he has ever made. Yes, that includes Saawariya. I love Hrithik Roshan. I love Aishwarya Rai. I hated Guzaarish so much! It felt like torture when I was watching it. It made less and less sense as the movie went on. In the end I was wanting Hrithik to get it over with and die so I wouldn't have to suffer through any more of the film. Yeah...it was that bad. For a film apparently exploring euthanasia, it didn't even attempt to.
Break Ke Baad
November 26
Imran Khan, Deepika Padukone
You know the drill: see it if you like Imran or Deepika, take a pass if you don't. Also, I vaguely remember wanting to slap Deepika's character upside the head...
Band Baaja Baaraat
December 10
Ranveer Singh, Anushka Sharma
Can I just say that this movie was not that great? Ranveer made an awesome debut and Anushka proved she's more than a pretty face, but post-interval was just annoying; all we get is the two protagonists fighting over everything in every single scene. It was exhausting and not in the least bit entertaining. So, yes, the first half was wonderful, but the second half was mostly grating.
In conclusion, watch these films: Ishqiya, Rann, My Name Is Khan, Love Sex Aur Dhokha, Raavan, Udaan, We Are Family. Leave the rest alone.
Lemme know all of your thoughts on these movies if you happened to watch them. And if you didn't catch 'em yet, feel grateful that you didn't waste your time. :P