For some of you out there, this post is going to seem really out of character for me. After all the cribbing and snuffing of Karan Johar and his lot, people may have started to think that I do not care for our movie industry. That I spurn Yash Chopra for James Cameron. But today I want to put these speculations to rest. Whatever our problems, however scarce actual scriptwriters are and however much the other ones spend on old Hollywood DVDs, I still embrace this industry as an integral part of my growing up and I publicly acknowledge that I am grateful for it.
Right from the old scratchy black and white marvels, such as CID and Bhoot Bangla, through the piled up hairstyles of Sharmila Tagore, through the faux western piece of genius Sholay, through the young heroes debuting in QSQT, MPK and Baazigar to their eventual stardom and to some nuanced performances in new age movies. All through this, I have enjoyed the ride.
Our family was one that enjoyed their movie watching experience. The world of movies was therefore open to me at a very young age. Such was the prodigious nature of the love, that all forms of cinema were equally revered. I saw Hrishikesh Mukherji gems like 'Satyakaam' and 'Chupke Chupke' with equal interest as Manmohan Desai films like 'Amar Akbar Anthony'.
There are many things in Indian cinema that require you to suspend your belief. For e.g. Sanjay Dutt driving in a car on Marine Drive singing a song and as he is just about to reach Nariman Point, the scene suddenly changes to the serene mountains of Switzerland. Switzerland!!.. Somebody show me that shortcut!
But there has to be something said about the magic of the movies. There is stuff for every one's tastes. Middle aged heroes pretend to be 20 years old and go to college, but that it seems is exactly what 16 year old girls want to see. For the older folk, there are stars like Om Prakash and Utpal Dutt. For adults there are some very serious and surprisingly insightful moves like 'Arth' and 'Ardha Satya'. For the housewives trying to escape into worlds that don't involve cutting vegetables and shouting at bais, there are the super luxurious Chopra productions and now the Johar movies. Like I said there's something for everyone.
I realize that for me, the more important thing is the stories. I realize that my all embracing and somewhat eccentric tastes do have a very common core. The story. I am a sucker for two types of stories. The complete formula stories (Sports movies, Love stories, Mysteries) and the complete opposite, which says hell to formula, we'll have some innovation please.
It seems weird to think that I can enjoy both equally. But there is a weird sense of rhythm and comfort in the formulaic tearjerker or inspirational film and a sense of excitement and newness to the other type of movie.
I will leave you with a list of the ten best Hindi movies I have seen (in no particular order). It'll be great if you guys can comment and lemme know about yours. This post is about nostalgia. It'll be great to sit and reminisce, even if it is in the comments column :)
Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar
Sholay
Andaz Apna Apna
Satyakaam
Golmaal
Namak Haram
Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa
Lagaan
Abhimaan
Muskurahat
