Firstly, I would like to make everyone clear that these are my choices and my choices need not be universal truths. And secondly, I have selected the performances irrespective of the popularity of actors or the BO success of the movies. Disappointed SRK fans must honestly tell me as to whome he would have replaced in the Top 10 list.
Top Twenty Performances of 2003
1. Om Puri in Dhoop
Om Puri plays the role of a father whose son, dies in the Kargil war. His scenes where he mourns his son’s death, where he cajoles Revathy to accept the petrol pump offer, his tryst with the corruption and red-tapism, his altercations with corrupt officials in various govt. departments, are just fantastic. But his best scene has to be when he is asked for proof that he is indeed the father of the deceased captain. He takes out some photographs and selects a photo where he is carrying his son’s dead body. Not only were the characters in the scene in tears but also the audience.
2. Amitabh Bachchan in Baghbaan
An actor’s acting credentials comes to the fore the best when he rises above the script or the clichéd role. Amitabh displays this talent in Baghbaan. He plays the role of a father who sacrifices everything for their sons but in turn is spurned by them when he is no longer a milking cow for his sons. Whether he is romancing Hema Malini, or making sacrifices for his sons, or getting humiliated by them or rejecting them in the climax, Amitabh gives us the proof (if we ever needed) how versatile he is. His climax scene where he gives an emotional speech brings lump to your throat.
3. Naseeruddin Shah in Teen Deewarein
Naseer plays the role of a petty thief who is jailed for a committing a murder. He is unapologetic and unrepentant about his act and always maintains that the murder was an accident. Whether he is professing his obsession for his freedom, or planning his escape, or is confessing to Juhi about his plans to escape, or his emotional outbursts, or passing witty remarks, or taunting the inmates, or developing friendship with his inmates, he does this all with panache.
4. Shabana Azmi in Tehzeeb
She plays the role of an ambitious and a successful singer who always puts her career ahead of her family much to the chagrin of her daughter, who is not on good terms with her. Shabana Azmi once again proves her brilliance. Whether she is giving importance to her singing career, or attempting reconciliation with her daughter, or conveying her version of the story, or confronting her daughter, Shabana lends her character a tinge of boisterousness, narcissism, and vivaciousness to it.
5. Manoj Bajpai in Pinjar
He is brilliant in the movie and brings various shades to his character impeccably. Whether showing his lust and love for Urmila, or taking revenge by kidnapping Urmila, or showing his anger when his farm is burnt, or repenting his sin of fuelling the communal fire, inciting violence, or redeeming himself by helping out find Himanshu’s sister, he has displayed these emotions perfectly.
6. Juhi Chawla in Teen Deewarein
She plays the role of a documentary filmmaker, who in her quest to make a film on the three convicts develops a strong relationship with them. Pursuant to her interactions with them she starts discovering herself and musters enough courage to stand to the atrocities of her husband. Her scenes with the three convicts where she tries to elicit the truth from them though her smooth talk and her scenes with Naseer where they discuss their lives with each other are very poignant. The scene where she chides her husband strongly is one of her best scenes in the movie.
7. Irfan Khan in Haasil
He plays the role of an ambitious leader wanting to become the president of Student’s union. He brings various dimensions to his role of a villain. He is obsessive (lusting for Hrishita Bhatt), manipulative (using Jimmy Shergil as a pawn in his hands), menacing (bumping off anyone who is obstruction in his ambitions), comical (mouthing some witty one-liners), or being philosophical (he is the student of Arts). After a very long time someone has played a villainous character who looks menacing through his acting and not get-ups.
8. Hrithik Roshan in Koi..Mil Gaya.
Hrithik as an autistic person is first rate. He has taken great pains in portraying the character and the effort shows. Just watch the scene where he confronts his teacher and boasts “Aap ne kaha tha na sir, apne baap se seekh kar aao, main apne papa se seekh kar aaya hoon”. The facial expression with which he says this shows that he knows what acting is all about. Watch out for the scene where the computer teacher insults Hrithik and the quick repartee by him and his confrontation with Rekha after failing in “sixth standard”.
9. Urmila in Bhoot
Sans make-up, Urmila Matondkar as the possessed lady is mind-blowing. It is highly possible to go overboard in the possessed scenes but she manages to carry of such scenes without going overboard or being funny. She has managed to add some nuances to the one-dimensional role. Like when she seduces Ajay, or when she acts like a typical housewife, or when she is embarrassed by her act of walking in sleep, or when she stabs Ajay, or when she is not being able to get over her obsessive state. Her best scene is the one where she, after seeing the bhoot, tries to wake-up Ajay but could not.
10. Saif Ali Khan in Kal Ho Na Ho
Saif as Rohit Patel is first rate and has given a brilliant performance. He has his presence felt in spite of SRK, who has got the maximum footage. Watch out for his expressions in the scene, where he is about to propose Preity when Preity tells Saif that she loves SRK or for his antics in some scenes like “Who Mohammed Ali tha”.
11. Sanjay Dutt in Munna Bhai MBBS
He plays the role of local goon, who becomes a fake doctor to appease his father. His flair for comedy is clearly evident in the whole movie, whether he is healing patients with wisecracks and love, or when he is troubling the dean, or when he is dabbling with medicines or experiments in the medical college, or when he is indulging in antics in the classroom.
12. Preity Zinta in Kal Ho Na Ho
Though her role is ill sketched, she has managed to give a lively performance. She effortlessly portrays the role of a girl who transforms from a boring girl into happy-go-lucky girl to a dejected lover and finally as Saif’s wife. Though she falters in emotional scenes she more than makes up with her radiance and demeanor in the light scenes.
13. Ajay Devgan in Gangajal
He plays the role of an honest cop undergoing different situations during his tenure. Though the role is a clichéd one he portrays it brilliantly. Whether he is fighting the corrupt system, or owning up the responsibility for the mistake of his subordinates, and finally becoming a crusader and eliminating the villains, he does it all with his inimitable style.
14. Shahrukh Khan in Kal Ho Na Ho
His character is no different from the ones we have seen in numerous Chopra/Johar movies. But he does have his moments in the movie. His performance in the title song where he imagines himself in Saif’s place, and in the scene where he reads out dialogues (non-existent) from Saif’s diary are top class. Add to that his comic scenes with Saif, he does entertain you in parts.
Continued in comments section.....
