There have been movies and then there have been extraordinary movies. movies that have changed the way we look at society, at fashions, at love and at life as a whole. Here is a line-up of movies that I think made a difference that can’t be easily equaled. In fact, some of the names below are those which are legends in movie making and will be remember for their excellent work and sheer bravado for years to come.
Rang De Basanti - (Released: 2006)
When I saw RDB I cried and cried … and I am not a person who cries easily while watching movies unless it is about something very close to my heart. RDB touched some part of my psyche and each time I watch those scenes from the movie, I well up. There was something extremely touching about RDB, whether it was the everyday corruption in the society that every Indian gets used to, or it was the heart tugging friendships which eventually culminated in mayhem, or if it was that pent up anger and frustration that one usually feels at everything that is wrong but is unable to express… RDB touched lives. There was this “something” that brought about a radical change in the way we expressed ourselves in the face of corruption and injustice. RDB spawned a national movement that no one, not even the filmmakers could have anticipated. Jessica murder case became the witness to this metamorphosis and eventually paved the way for several such trysts with politics, judiciary and the system. I think it was an important Bollywood moment of modern India, where it was established loud and clear that movies not only create dreams but can also spur revolutionary sentiments in the common man.
Dil Chahta Hai - (Released: 2001)
DCH did what many movies could only hope of accomplishing. It ushered a new genre of movies in terms of styling, storytelling and content. Aamir’s goatee, Saif’s unique comedy and the unusual, understated portrayal of Sid by Akshay Khanna still makes this movie stand apart. While Farhan Akhtar established himself as a brand to look out for, this unusual story became the ultimate youth brand of that time.
Satya - (Released: 1998)
The baap of all gangsta movies, Satya is inspiring several movies to this date… that nobody has been able to equal Bhiku Mhatre’s unique style, is another story. Satya saw RGV at his best and hence was created the Indian answer to all Reservoir Dogs, The Godfathers and every other gangster movie that was ever made in Hollywood. Only that it was more realistic in our desi version..what the heck you could almost smell the sweat on Bhiku Mhatre’s body. Satya set the trend of unpulpified, hard hitting and dark movies.
Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge - (Released: 1995)
If there was ever a sweet love story for all times, DDLJ is it. A dreamy story with its feet firmly on the ground, DDLJ swept the audience off its feat. It ushered in a new era of love stories where the love birds needn’t be rebels, and where the parents were not the enemies. The movie has a timeless charm and the lead pair (Shahrukh-Kajol) probably never looked better together.
Hum Aapke Hain Kaun - (Released: 1994)
Big and happy-beyond-any-reason families came to life after this epic saga. A long movie with a staggering number of songs, HAHK broke all records. Madhuri and Salman were the new icons and a new era was born. Suraj Barjatya may not be the best director, but he does the unconvincing with total conviction. So, when cousins, chacha, mama, taya, tayi and dada-dadi, nana-nani came out to shake a leg to silly songs, in the several other movies that followed HAHK, you knew whom to blame. An enormous turnout of relatives for the silliest of reasons became a common sight in Hindi movies and whether the story required it or not, the hero or the heroine were burdened with truckloads of relatives.
Baazigar - (Released: 1993)
Not a great movie per se, this immensely enjoyable film removed the taboo that surrounded the negative characters. It was the genius of Shahrukh to recognize the potential of a role that was reportedly rejected by the method actor, Amir. Shahrukh’s edgy portrayal of the psycho who thinks revenging his mother is more important than a young girl’s life caught the attention of the young audience which was crying for change in movies’ storytelling. What was set off by Baazigar, is now the norm and nobody raises an eyebrow when a “hero” is actually playing the villain or the negative character.
Sholay - (Released: 1975)
Sholay gets included in any top 10 bollywood list. And why should it not? It is a masterpiece like no other. How many other movies do you remember where you know by heart all the lines of all the side characters. Surma Bhopali, the ‘angrezon ke zamaane ka jailor’, mausi, rahman chacha, sambha, kaliya does anyone know of any other films that created these immortal memories from two bit roles? Well, all that apart, Sholay also spawned an entire era of “daku” films. Most of those films are best left unmentioned but Sholay did create an era like no other. To this day, Sholay continues to make news with remakes and 3D avatars.
Zanjeer - (Released: 1973)
Again a trendsetter, Zanjeer created Amitabh, so to say and it also created the “angry young man”. The bloodshot eyes and the heavy baritone became a trademark of AB and he became an icon of the angry, agitated youth. Amitabh Bacchan and Zanjeer together created an era of action-emotion movies where the hero was the wronged one and he could attain peace only when he cracked some ribs, or found his mother. Cliché and routine was never more endearing and the oft-repeated story of the separated mother-son gained a new dimension with Amitabh Bacchan playing doting son to a permanently sad and sick looking Nirupa Roy.
Alam Ara - (Released: 1931)
The first ever “talking, singing, dancing” movie to hit Indian theatres, Alam Ara proved what sound could do to cinema. From the word go, Alam Ara was a big hit and ran to pack theatres. Those were the times when the actors were the singers too and this movie, which was more of a musical had more songs than dialogues. Directed by Ardeshir Irani and made possible with simple cameras and indigenous techniques, Alam Ara went on to become a big success.
Raja Harishchandra - (Released: 1913)
Many people may not even know what this is. The first ever full length movie in the history of Indian cinema, Raja Harishchandra was produced and directed by Dada Saheb Phalke. 4 reels and 40 minutes long, this movie is an unparalleled landmark. The movie had an all male cast as women could not even dream of doing something so disgraceful as to act in a film. When one sees the hoopla and money surrounding today’s movies, it’s very very hard to imagine how Dada Saheb’s wife used to cook and take care of the 500 odd crew and cast people. Not only that, she helped with all other aspects of the making, production and publicity of the movie – going even as far washing the cast’s clothes and costumes. One can only begin to imagine the dedication and hard work that must have gone into that labor of love. It’s only befitting that it gets its place in this list. And why do I list it under Hindi films, you may ask?
Well, it has Hindi subtitles – and yes I have seen this movie!It is disheartening to know that no original prints of Raja Harishchandra and Alam Ara remain, all thanks to the fire in the National Films Archive, Pune in 2003. That these immortals gems could not be preserved better is in itself an indication of the authorities’ apathy towards our movies’ history.
