Feels like Life. Review on Ten Best Hindi Movies

For many a time Bollywood has been criticized for churning out movies like a mill, where it was hard to distinguish one from another. 9 out of 10 movies were based on love stories, robberies, bichde hue brothers and maan. A full one hour of the movies were and still are dedicated to heroes and heroines dancing round the trees in Switzerland and Australia and sometimes found clung to a bed weeping for their beloved. We all loved them and hated them, cried and laughed with them. But once in a while a movie came along which did not have jumping heroes, obnoxious villains or drop dead gorgeous heroines to woo the audience out of their wits. But people still loved them because they could relate to them. These movies were not a getaway from realities of life, but were a window into our own lives. Here is a listing of few such movies which have impacted deep on my psyche in some way or the other and movies which I absolutely adore for their honesty and depth.

Ek Ruka Hua Faisla – This movie is an adaptation of a novel (whose name I don’t remember) and is about a jury who has been assigned the task to decide about the fate of a boy accused of murdering his father. The movie wonderfully portrays the prejudices of people from different walks of life, different religion and different mindsets. The lead character M.S. Raina is the only person who thinks rationally and is convinced that the boy is innocent. All others are not interested in the case and want to quickly declare the boy guilty and move on with their daily activities. This movie contained virtually all the famous artists from National School of Drama like - Pankaj Kapoor, M.S. Raina, Anu Kapoor etc who all are cast remarkably in the characters they play. It’s a must watch for anyone who loves art movies.

Ek Doctor Ki Maut – A movie based on a true story of a doctor (the area of research has been changed) who hits upon a formula for creating a vaccine to cure leprosy after years of hard work but is caught up in bureaucracy and red tapism of the government and other doctors in the profession and is not able to claim his findings on international level. I have watched this movie about a dozen times and have never got bored of it. Pankaj Kapoor mesmerizes you with his sterling performance along with Shabana Azmi, Irfan Khan, Vijyendra Ghatge and Deepa Sahi. The movie is so powerfully presented that after watching this picture one can feel the frustration of the lead character in his heart.

Raincoat – This one is the most recent in the list and I had to include this one because of the simple yet powerful visualization and a strong narration. Aishwarya Rai probably looks the best without her makeup and Ajay Devgan is at his usual best. The classical background score is truly divine. Shobha Mudgal’s “Mathura Nagarpati” sets the mood beautifully in rain drenched Calcutta.

Godhuli - An absolute gem from Shyam Benegal, this movie features the problems of milkmen in Gujarat. Smita Patil gives a sparkling performance.

Satya – Underworld came live on the silver screen with this Ramgopal Verma's masterpiece. The movie showcased the fragility of the law and the underworld and how the tie between politicians and criminals plagues this country. Manoj Bajpai delivers his performance of the lifetime as Bhikoo Mhatre. Urmila looks very credible too. Since this movie RGV has tried his hand in several gangster movies but could not redo this magic again.

Masoom - (Edit - removed Chandni Bar for this inclusion) - A trauma of an illegitimate child and a cheated wife portrayed in this classic. Shabana and Naseer make a dream performance along with the sweet Master Jugal Hansraj. The movie was touching and the songs ''Tujhse Naraz Nahin Zindagi'' and ''Do Naina Ek Kahani'' were out of this world.

Saath Saath – Farookh Sheikh and Deepti Naval gave us some really memorable films. This one is another gem from early eighties.

An idealist college student realizes soon that money is everything. His wife however, is still willing to live by those ideals for which she fell in love with him. “Tumko Dekha to Ye Khayal Aaya” is one of the most hummable songs you will ever hear.

Fire - Deepa Mehta and controversy go hand it hand. It was her most controversial film and was actually brilliant. Nandita Das is a love starved wife married to an unfaithful husband in Javed Jaffri. She and Shabana, married to Kulbhooshan Kharbanda are pretty much in the same boat till they decide to vent out their desires with each other. The movie has a wonderfully recreated ambience of a middle class home in suburbs and the cast is simply superb. It impacted me greatly and for the first time made me realize things which are never talked about in families generally.

Namkeen - Someone recently wrote a review on this one. Directed by Gulzar, it happens to be my all time favourite. Sanjeev Kumar plays a truck driver who is tenant in a dilapidated rural house belonging to Waheeda Rehman and her 3 daughters..Sharmila, Shabana and Kiran. He developes an unexplainable affection towards the family but has to leave due to his job after a while and returns after a few years to find the family in ruins. Sanjeev and Sharmila dazzle you with their brilliant performance depicting a very complex range of emotions their on screen relationship induces. A must watch. The music is simply out of this world (RD and Gulzar).

Dil Chahta Hai – This choice might raise some eyebrows but I have included this one purely because this movie was very convincing. Apart from the dream sequences and songs the movie had a very real feel to it due to its storyline, characters and treatment. Everyone who saw the movie felt that these could be real people and the incidents could have happened to them. There was no dubbing done for this movie and the voices were recorded in real time. A very well told modern tale of friendship. It delineated new avenues for Saif’s career not to mention Akshay and Aamir who were simply brilliant.

I am sure I am missing some of the good ones out since I don’t remember them all. Would love to get some additions to this list from you guys.