Of Loving Films - 2012 :)

I have been thinking to write something about films for some time. I believe 2012 has been one of the best years for Hindi Cinema. I don't remember watching so many good films in one year. Films that went into uncharted territories which we would have never thought would work in the first place, films that made us think, films that shocked us, but above all films that touched our heart. The Hindi film industry is going through a fascinating phase and I cannot get enough of it. It is simply too hard for me to pick favorites but will give it a shot.

Films that I loved them for everything:

Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu, Kahaani, Barfi, English Vinglish, Jab Tak Hai Jaan, Talaash, Aiyyaa, Vicky Donor, Oh My God, Agneepath, Shanghai, Gangs of Wasseypur.

Films that made me laugh the most:

Aiyyaa - I don't know whether I have laughed that much during any other film this year. A lot of people didn't get Aiyyaa but I think it is a fabulously wacky film. The characters are a treat to watch - the Lady Gaga-inspired Mynah, a father who smokes four cigarettes at once, a blind wheelchair-ridden grandmother, the Alice in Wonderland Meenakshi, Aiyyaa was simply brilliant and ventured into new spaces. It was very unusual to see that a hero, Prithviraj, played a role that required his body to be treated as an object of desire. As Beth says in her blog that it is perhaps one of the best Hindi films this year, I completely agree. Aiyyaa deserves one whole post and will try to write soon.

Vicky Donor - another film that made me laugh out loud. Who can forget the scene where Biji and Dolly Aunty have a drink every night! Or their wedding sequence which would leave anyone in splits!

Performances of the Year:

Sridevi in English Vinglish - hands down.

Priyanka Chopra and Ranbir Kapoor in Barfi.

Deepika Padukone in Cocktail - most surprising that is why love it even more.

Parineeti Chopra in Ishaqzaade.

Vidya Balan in Kahaani.

Dolly Ahluwalia and Anu Kapoor in Vicky Donor.

Nawazuddin Siddiqui in Kahaani and Talaash and Gangs of Wasseypur - star of the year.

Parambrata Chatterjee in Kahaani - what a performance - terrific,

Rani Mukerji in Aiyyaa - the return of the queen.

Aamir Khan in Talaash.

Kareena Kapoor in Talaash (and Heroine).

Anushka Sharma in Jab Tak Hai Jaan.

Imran Khan in Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu - perhaps more love for the character.

Emraan Hashmi in Shanghai.

Manoj Vajpayee and Richa Chadda in Gangs of Wasseypur.

Paresh Rawal - Oh My God.

Song(s) of the Year:

Pareshaan - Ishaqzaade - first on my playlist.

Heer - Jab Tak Hai Jaan - beautiful lyrics.

Aashiyaan - Barfi.

Jugni - Cocktail.

Pani Da Rang - Vicky Donor.

Muskaanein Jhooti Hai - Talaash.

Best Music:

I think Cocktail and Ishaqzaade.

Hauntingly Sad and Beautiful Film:

Talaash - Reema Kagti and Zoya Akhtar - lovely story - as critics called it an excellent study of grief! Wrote something on it.. will post it soon.

A film that furiously divided everyone:
Cocktail

Favorite Mature in Love Character of the Year:

Rianna - Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu

Akira - Jab Tak Hai Jaan

Laurent - English Vinglish

Favorite Mature in Life Character of the Year: 

Shruti's Mom - Barfi

Biji - Vicky Donor

Radha - English Vinglish

Charming Character of the Year:

Barfi - Barfi - the scene where he turns back time at the clock :)
Meenakshi - Aiyyaa

Favorite Character of the Year:

Rahul - Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu - love him absolutely, more so because of the similar instances with my own life..a brilliant film that got lost in the din of the biggies.

Shashi - English Vinglish - Shashi has been severely criticized for being a bad parent - she doesn't scold back her kids and silently takes insults of her husband - I agree.. but maybe she suffered from a lack of confidence in her abilities..the happiness she got when her teacher called her entrepreneur showed that she needed to be told she was a great lady.. and how in the end, she thanked Laurent for making her fall in love with herself again. Eventually, she comes out as a more confident person walking with her head held high. That is why I loved her.

It is no surprise that both of my favorite characters of the year suffered from a lack of confidence in their ability, we love those characters in whom we see a reflection of ourselves and maybe that is why I loved both of them so dearly and defend them in spite of their flaws because I too am like them in some ways.

Films that I hear some good things about but have yet to see:

London Paris New York, Agent Vinod (I hear good things about it, people just love to criticize any new attempt), and Luv Shuv Tey Chicken Khurana.

I hope 2013 is going to give us some more films that make us think, make us introspect, and make us learn something new.

So what are your favorite films, characters, songs of 2012? Would love to know. there is no right or wrong answer and we don't judge anyone here :)

Dialogue of the Day:
"समुन्दर की हवा कितनी अलग है लगता है इसमें लोगों के अरमानो की महक मिली हुई है."
  —Yasmin, Dhobi Ghaat