It would be impossible to select top ten movies from such a huge database. So I have instead selected 20 movies and divided them into two categories – Top Ten Classics and Top Ten Entertainers.
1.Bandit Queen: Perhaps the most hard-hitting Indian movie ever made. In spite of it being based on a dry topic of caste-based exploitation of women in rural India, Director Shekar Kapoor manages to make it gripping without making any compromises. A lesson in movie making for art-house directors on how to make a realistic movie, without loosing the attention of the audience.
2.Salaam Bombay: Oscar nomimated Meera Nair’s Salaam Bombay is without doubt the movie that captures this megapolis in its most raw form. It is one of the great ironies, that while Bollywood is headquartered in Bombay, the finest movie on this city should be made by an outsider. This movie is on the life of street children and how they manage to survive in the cruel and harsh life of this big city.
3.Shatanj ke Khiladi: The only Hindi film by the one and only Satyajit Ray starring Sanjeev Kumar and Saeed Jaffrey in the roles of Mirza and Mir, the two Nawabs of Awadh who spend their days playing chess, ignoring the grave situation developing in the country. Based on a short story by Munshi Premchand, it is a tragic-comedy on the state of affairs of the Indian nation during the nineteen century, which allowed the Britishers to consolidate their rule in India. An absolutely must-see movie!
4.Utsav: Directed by Girish Karnad, this movie is a pure delight to watch. Within a comparatively small budget, the director, has managed to recreate the period atmosphere of the Gupta age complete with lavish sets and costumes. Competent performances by all and some incredible music by Laxmikant Pyarelal – songs like Saanjh Dale, Man kyun Behaka, Neelam pe naleh chhaye have been wonderfully choreographed. What made this movie thoroughly enjoyable were the delightful characters – Courtsens, Musicians, Burglars, revolutionaries etc all cleverly inter-woven in this wonderful story of Vasantsena, played by Rekha, seen through the eyes of Vatsyayana the author of “Kamasutra”
5.Lagaan: One of the most perfect and satisfying movies ever made, a complete film on par with “Sholay”. In spite of its length of over three and a half hours, the movie manages to retain the interest of the audience till the “last ball is bowled”
6.Satya: Directed by Ram Gopal Verma, this movie fetched Manoj Bajpai National Award for best supporting actor in this gripping and a realistic look at the underworld of Mumbai. Though the second half of the film dragged and was disappointing, the first half packed enough punch to make it one of the most outstanding movies of Indian Cinema.
7.Sholay: This is one movie which manages to find its way in everyone’s top ten list and which no doubt deserves to. So much has been already written and said about the movie, that it is difficult to say anything more without sounding repetitive. So I will keep my mouthshut.
8.Asoka: Not many people would agree to its inclusion even in the top ten movies of 2001. But I have a soft corner for historical exotica. And Asoka, along with “Utsav” is definitely one of the best period movies of all time. Great Performances, Great Music and some amazing Cinematography.
9.Parinda: A movie that made Nana Patekar a star. Director Vidhu Vinod Chopra’s best work to date, about two brothers, one of them, Jackie Shroff a key right hand man of underworld don Anna, the other Anil Kapoor who wants to avenge the death of his friend played by Anuman Kher. A familiar and clichéd storyline, but crafted masterfully by Mr.Chopra.
10.Saaransh: This movie brought Director Mahesh Bhatt and actor Anupam Kher into limelight. A powerful script, backed by unforgettable performance by Anumam Kher, it is a story of an old couple whose only son dies in the United States, and the bureaucratic hurdles that they have to face in getting possession of their son’s ashes. The scene where Kher vents out his anger on an unsuspecting custom official lingers in your memory for a long lime.
Top ten Entertainers:
1.Andaz Apna Apna: If there is one movie, I can never tire of watching it is AAA. The mother of all spoof movies, it is non-stop riot of laughter. Aamir and Salman are two middle-class small town boys chasing a rich baroness Raveena. While Salman Khan is competent, Aamir steals the show displaying perfect comic sense.
2.Appu Raja: Kamal Hassan plays One and a half role in this superb action comedy about twins separated at birth who avenge the death of their father. Although the plot is hackneyed, the movie rises much above the mundane, due to its sparkling wit and humor.
3.Dil Hai ki Maanta Nahin: Aamir Khan plays a journalist called Raghu Jaitley on look out for a big story, which comes in the form of runaway soon-to-be bride Pooja Bhatt. Inspired by Frank Capra’s classic “It happened one night”, and directed by Mahesh Bhatt, DHMN manages to keep you thouroughly entertained.
4.Rangeela: Aamir’s tapori act in this movie far outshined all other such acts by Govinda, Anil Kapoor and Co. Who can ever forget the scene where he, dressed in canary-colored suit walks into a five-star restaurant, orders usal-kanda-pav and demands that the air-conditioner be turned towards him. Director Ram Gopal Verma felt so envious that Aamir had managed to take the spotlight away from him, that he commented that the waiter performed better than him!
5.Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar: Mansoor Khan’s best movie about two brothers and a cycle race featuring Aamir Khan as a naughty but lovable teenager. Another class act by Aamir, one of the finest actor hindi cinema has produced
6.Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron: One of the most loved comedies of all-time, directed by Kundan Shah starring Nasserudin Shah and Ravi Baswani as two photographers who are hired by Shoba (Bhakti Bharve) to uncover the corrupt deals of property developer and the Municipal commissioner. Best remembered for the hilarious Mahabharata scene towards the end.
7.Angoor: A familiar tale of twin trouble, based on Shakesphere’s “A comedy of Errors”. Sanjeev Kumar and Devan Verma play two pair of twins, one of them married the other bachelor. Directed by Gulzar, with some fine performances by Sanjeev Kumar and Maushami Chaterjee, this movie is a rib-tickling comedy.
8.Golmaal: Hrishikesh Mukherjee’s Golmaal is the perfect Sunday afternoon type of an entertainer. Amol Palekar oils his hair, sports a moustache and wears a short kurta in order to get a job in a company owned by the nutty Utpal Dutt. Later on when he is about to be caught, he creates a new avatar Lucky. The usual complications follow when as Lucky, he falls in love with his daughter.
9.Dil Chaahta Hai: This coming of age movie starring Aamir Khan, Saif Ali Khan and Akshaye Khanna is a one of its kind movie.
10.Chasme Badoor: Sai Paranjpe’s hilarious comedy about three bachelors played by Farooq Sheikh, Ravi Baswani, Rakesh Bedi and a salesgirl “Chamko” Dipti Naval.
