Dec 11, 2005 12:04 PM
5263 Views
(Updated May 03, 2012 11:32 AM)
Before the start, I thought of giving background so that you get to appreciate what I am going to write here. Brought up in South, but schooled in North and having visited almost all parts of India (except Northeast) and being an avid follower of films (both contemporary and old (from 60s) ) -- I have seen all kinds of films. Haven't seen much Marathi, Gujju or Punjabi films though. A little off-topic first. Do you know this fact? Even though you see a movie, it's what you hear that has more impact on you i.e. your ears have more impact on you than eyes, when you see the move in a theater hall. Any pick is always personal. There are many statements here which may NOT be to somebody's taste. Just take along your stride as one more view. I am going to restrict myself to films from 1975. Also, since am sticking to 10 movies, am leaving out Bengali, Odisha & Bhojpuri movies.
1. Sadma a.k.a. Moondram Pirai a.k.a Vasantha Kokila. (1983) Kamal Hassan, Sri Devi, Balu Mahendra, Illayaraja at their best. This film left a lasting impression in me, when I was a school going student. The film is so poignant and so moving in the climax, that if you dont cry, you are not human :(- Kamal and Sri Devi at their acting best. Balu Mahendra made a simple story with craft, elegance and touching. Watch Ooty almost playing a character in the movie (Best cinematography award). IR music blends together the film. Songs like Ae Zindagi Gale Laga le, Surmai Akhiyon me will linger in your mind for a long time. I dont want to even give an inkling of story here, as that would lessen your enthusiasm to watch it.
If you have not seen this film, you are missing something. Really.
2. Dil Chahta Hai (2001) Easily the best Hindi movie I have seen in the last 10 years. Yes, even better than Lagaan. I always believe making movies which captures the emotions and relationships between characters in a film, is a difficult thing to do. As that means getting into the skin of the character(s) and presenting it in screen in such a way, that audience get to feel & react the same way the makers wanted/intended it to. And this film did. And How.
- Shiva (1989, Telugu, Ram Gopal Varma) Trend setting is the right word, to aptly say about this movie. This is first Ram Gopal Varma movie & I don't think there was ever been a better first movie for a director. RGV had no cinema pedigree when he entered industry, when he directed this movie about College Students, Politics & Mafia. To think of it, none of the other elements really stood out in the movie (Nagarjuna was ok, Raghuvaran was better, Kota was his usual self, Ilayaraja background score was good though), it is RGV who took the movie to Great heights. Riveting stuff.
4. Mahanadhi (1994) Mahanadhi is a Tamil movie (dubbed to Telugu as well). This was a Kamal Hassan movie all thru and had a typical story of a village/country family man being usurped by unscrupulous city cheaters. Very moving. Very disturbing. There are so many small tidbits within the movie that you get to like and feel about. The scene involving Kamal's son when he is in the prison are some examples. The way he tries to feel a policeman's long gun like a typical inquisitive 8-9 year old would (when brought to police station); & when his sister attains puberty, etc. Not the main and/or scene stealers in the film, but small things which the director and screenplay writer didn't overlook.
And my controversy statement in the end: I liked this movie better than Nayagan (just my comparison, but Nayagan was good too).
Devasuram (Malayalam, Mohan Lal, IV.Sasi, 1993)Mohan Lal is a highly acclaimed actor, who has won Best Male Actor National Award more than 3 times. This movie is about - how a typical small town haughty man's (weatlhy, not-much-education, high ego, dont-care-anybody) attitude getting changed when he gets to know that everything what he has got now, is due to another man's generosity. That changes his life 180-degrees. Now, he starts to live for a purpose. Malayalam movies is all about high nativity, great portrayals, cinematic sensitivity, directorial flourishes, cohesive story. Actually, there are many Malayalam movies to chose from, but this one is my pick.
Michael Madana Kama Rajan (1990) Well, I couldn't help it. One more Kamal Hassan movie? Albeit a different genre. A comedy. Kamal plays 4 different brothers, who get lost in infanthood days - but inevitably play in each other's lives as they attain adulthood. The real winner in this move - is the screenplay by Kamal. The film is laugh riot all thru. Well thought out & enacted. Bheem boy, Bheem boy - where are you?
Sholay (1975) Need I say more? My best pick in the Action-Thriller category. Amjad Khan lives the character. Sanjeev Kumar (not Amitabh) underplays his character (till the end). Good location shooting. Amitabh's and Dharam's characters are brought out very well. Their camaraderie is evident and one can feel it on the screen. Salim-Javed script is tight.
Mullum Malarum remade as Pyari Behna (1978). The story of a rugged country man with his sister in his heart. I think the film director, Mahendran, is the most under-appreciated director. He made some very good movies like Nenjathai Killathe, Udhiri Pookal. Mahendran-IR made a very good combination. I am sorry when a good movie gets remade to suit to a particular's audience taste, a lot of what makes a movie tick, gets lost in the (re)making. Pyaari Behna was ok - but the original is one of the best.
Rajini at his acting best, without any star or his usual antics.
BTW, do you know Rajini is now the best paid actor in Asia next to Jackie Chan ?
- Mouna Raagam (1986) My pick of Mani Ratnam's movies. And I have seen them all. One can watch the movie only for Ilayaraja's background score. Not the songs. The background score for non-song scenes. There are so many scenes, where his music plays almost a second character to the ones on screen. Of course the songs are great too. I read one of this movie reviews of a somebody in this very same site, a somebody who doesn't know Tamil, but still rates this movie as Mani's best.
I rate Ilayaraja as the best musician India has produced in the last 4 decades. He is well versed in both Indian & Western classical. He gives equal importance to songs as well background score in movies. His songs have a lot of ''linger''-ing value (i.e. there is a lot of ''heart'' in his songs). Amitabh chose Ilayaraja for music composing, when ABCL organized the Miss World paegeant show in Bangalore in 1996. The closest to him, north of Vindhyas, is RDBurman (just my view).
10. Pushpak, the silent movie (1988) One more of Kamal? Really, the man has done so much, so different and so good. This movie makes you engaged , right from the first scene - with no dialogues at all. Come to think of it, some movies are so appallable, I wished they had no dialogues at all :(-. The movie told a romantic story of a unemployed youth impersonating a rich guy. Well, I am putting it in simple words. You GOT to watch the movie to believe it. If you get a chance to get hold of a DVD/VHS -- dont ever miss it. Its a wholesome family comedy and craftily made.
Well, that's my 10. Like it or leave it. Do leave a comment though.
