Top 10 Bollywood Films of 2013

This is my favourite time of year, of being a film reviewer - choosing 10 best films of the year. I don't know if these films are the best but they are certainly what appealed to me the most.

Before I list the top 10, I'd like to name the films that didn't make the cut but are worth mentioning. Starting with EK THI DAAYAN. What an incredible first half! In my review I mentioned it is perhaps the best mini horror film India has ever seen. A crushing disappointment that the second half didn't live up to the first. Another film that had a wonderful beginning but a terrible ending was SHUDDH DESI ROMANCE. Repetition and faux-progressive childishness took over something charming and genuine. A romantic comedy that I thought was unfairly maligned was I, ME AUR MAIN. Now this film had an ending which was truly progressive. The characters don't recklessly reject societal norms and aren't as ignorantly confused. John Abraham is an actor with a limited range and probably other actors could have done this film justice. It's not easy playing a selfish character and I admire him for not playing it safe.

There was one more film that the actor took a big risk with and it paid off. MADRAS CAFE was not struck by the curse of the second half, in fact it had a weak first half but a smashing second! If only it wasn't a methodical procedural and had a personal, emotional story to go with it, it would have not just been on the top 10 but perhaps at the top of it.

There were two films about friendship that I enjoyed - KAI PO CHE and FUKREY. Raj Kumar Yadav aced it and stole the movie from Sushant Singh Rajput. He doesn't enjoy the same popularity but I hope he gets there some day. Fukrey is not a great film but it's such a good one. The characters aren't spoon-fed, we get to hang out with them, actually get to know them. Not many films in India do that. It also helps that the film has some hilarious moments and memorable characters. Someone get Chucha a Campa!

TOP 10 FILMS OF 2013:

10. CHENNAI EXPRESS and YEH JAWAANI HAI DEEWANI (tie)

Chennai Express is probably not the kind of film you would see "film critics" appreciating but who cares. This film is so much fun that it makes guilty pleasures feel unguilty. Comedy is something that needs to be laughed at, not analytically appreciated and I laughed all throughout this film. Stereotyping, bad humour, overacting - these are the words thrown around to dismiss this film. I would throw around the same words as the reasons why I enjoyed it including Deepika's accent and SRK's ham-fest. Pauline Kael (one of the greatest film critics) said: "Films are so rarely great art that if we can't appreciate great trash, there is little reason for us to go". If you still can't understand why I put this film here, I have three words for you: Life of Pi?

Another film you don't expect to find on such lists. Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani is probably the most re-watchable film out of every film listed here. It's a happy movie and I love happy movies. Ranbir and Deepika are in star-mode and the supporting characters played by Aditya Roy Kapur and Kalki don't let this film be just a rom-com. Changes that life brings and how our relationships define us, this film makes this genre look good again.

It's more than a coincidence that both of these films are derivatives of Dilwale Dhulaniya Le Jayenge (1995). Out of all the blockbusters this year - I liked these films the best.

9. SPECIAL 26 

Neeraj Pandey's follow up to A Wednesday wasn't a better film but it was certainly more entertaining. Akshay Kumar had three films this year. He must have expected Once Upon A Time in Mumbai Dobaara and Boss to work at the box office but lo and behold, it was Special 26 that turned out to be his saving grace. It may not be the most original film but an Indian heist film set in the 80s based on true events is not something you pass up!

8. GOLIYON KI RAASLEELA RAM-LEELA

Sanjay Leela Bhansali returns to form with Ram-leela. For people who think his films are too sentimental and melodramatic, you get guns and violence. For people who think his films are too visually stunning, well you get more of that. Personally, I loved Saawariya more (sucker for unrequited love stories) but Ram-leela reminded me why we need filmmakers like him to continue making films in our country - because they make movies to experience, not products to sell.

7. LOOTERA

The first time I watched Lootera, I didn't love it. I wanted to, but while the first half reminded me of a Satyajit Ray classic, the second half was more like Fanaa (2006). After a few viewings, I realised how spellbinding the film was. It is a slow burn, the emotions thaw and reveal the heartache. Sonakshi Sinha is a revelation and Amit Trivedi's music is the cherry on top of Vikramaditya Motwane's bravura filmmaking.

6. GO GOA GONE

When I first saw the trailer of Go Goa Gone I laughed out loud at that one joke, you know which one. Somewhere I was skeptical of how funny the film would be. Not only was the film consistently funny, it also didn't copy-paste foreign zombie comedies and decided to go for something unique - an allegory on drugs and addiction. We have seen Goa in Hindi movies several times before but not like this. Krishna DK and Raj Nidimoru should make more movies! Daayans next?

5. RAANJHANAA

Raanjhaana is the most misunderstood film of the year. Saying the film is about stalkers, or that it even glorifies it is like saying you never watch films post intermission. Raanjhanaa is a beautiful poem on forgiveness, coupled with wonderful songs by A.R. Rahman which brings out the true essence of the film. The emotional wallop that is offered during the final moments could be compared with a Shakesperian tragedy. Raanjhanaa, for me, is the most romantic film of the year because it is not an immature love story but a love story of an immature but devoted lover. 

4. D-DAY

Here's another film that is highly underrated. Nikhil Advani channels Quentin Tarantino (without aping his style, praise the lord) in a fantasy thriller about catching an underworld don with some patriotic overtones. (Never thought I'd write that). Well-written, acted, executed and containing the best song sequence of the year (Alvida). 

3. BHAAG MILKHA BHAAG

Farhan Akhtar blew me away with his performance as the Flying Sikh. Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra makes a sports film, a period film and a biopic! To top that, you have songs (which are all wonderful). It takes severe cinematic balls to tackle various genres and make sense out of it. For me, Bhaag Milkha Bhaag is a biopic done just right. No calculated structuring and very long (like life) with the perfect amount of heart and spirit. 

2. SHAHID

The second biopic on this list is a remarkable film with a searing performance by Rajkumar Rao. I absolutely loved this film. It is about a common man who is dedicated to doing his job and fighting for the truth. He fearlessly strives for the good. A powerful and evocative piece of filmmaking by Hansal Mehta. Shahid is the kind of story I want to see on the screen, the kind of story that should be on the screen.

1. THE LUNCHBOX

The most wonderful Indian film of 2013. It is delicately made and beautifully told. Irrfan Khan and Nimrat Kaur redefine the term "cinematic chemistry" as they are don't see each other for most of the film. An unseen performance that is voiced by Bharati Achrekar adds humour along with Nawazuddin Siddiqui who seems like a natural at comedy. The most ingenious part of the film comes right at the end when we don't see something we could have. In a lesser film, we probably would have. This lovely debut by Ritesh Batra offers dabbas full of magic. You only have to feel it to see it.