2015 Recap: Films That We Loved, Hated and Everything In Between

A rapid fire run through of Bollywood’s hightest and lowest points in the year gone by.

In 2015, Bollywood has proved yet again that frankly we can’t do without films and film stars. Movies have dominated our hearts, our minds, our national holidays, major festivals; the stars are now as much a part of our gossip rituals as the 9pm news bulletin. They have crawled out of every nook and corner of our TV and radio sets to promote their films. Making movies might be their “rosie roti” but for us, consuming it has been an indispensable part of our diet chart.

It’s that time of the year when we can forsake our sham ki chai in favour of making listicles. Well that’s what I plan to do. The year has been memorable both in terms of the lovely cinema that we have been lucky to confront but also the wounds that are still fresh from some tragic encounters (read Dilwale). Now I have come up with a couple of categories on the basis of the films that have been released and their impact on us.

Let’s start with the ones we want to say a big ‘Thank You’ to.

A Big Thank You!

Thank you Court for restoring our faith in cinema and showing us the Indian judicial system like we never did before.

Thank you Margarita With A Straw for bravely exploring the sexuality of a cerebral palsy patient and for not letting star power trump sensible cinema.

Thank you dear Yashraj Films for making tons of money so that you could indulge us with a gem called Titli.

Thank you Masaan for telling the story of ordinary people with marvellous brilliance but most of all thank you Bajrangi Bhaijaan for a Salman Khan who now rules the masses and critics alike! Who would have thought this was even possible.

Well Played, We Must Say

Now coming to the well played category. The ones who kept our trips to the theatre near us steady and pleasant and who gifted us many important moments to cherish.

Tanu weds Manu Returns must lead the list for showing us with élan how some stories only get better with time and also how Kangana Ranaut is still the reigning ‘queen’ of Bollywood.

Piku for making us look at Irrfan Khan like we never thought we could and for the unforgettable kohled eyes of Deepika Padukone.

For a hatke love story and an unlikely heroine, Dum Laga ke Haisha shall always remain special. NH 10 for our desi “Furiosa” Anushka Sharma.

Baahubali for the magnificence, Bajirao Mastani for the majestic universe. Drishyam for a story well copied. For showing us the Akshay Kumar we want to see more of in Baby and the Varun Dhawan we want to applaud wholeheartedly in Badlapur.

For keeping it sane with Talvar and for the many memories of Tamasha.

The Ones Who Died Trying

Now coming to the ones who died trying. These films weren’t perfect but they sincerely tried. Some things clicked, others didn’t but at least we can co-exist peacefully.

In Detective Byomkesh Bakshy Dibakar Banerjee might have failed to bring about the desired tension in the climax but Neeraj Kabi and Sushant Singh Rajput flexed enough acting muscles to ensure we don’t go home complaining.

It wasn’t all smooth sailing for Zoya Akhtar’s Dil Dhadakne Do but what would we not give to see Anil Kapoor shine as the family patriarch.

Manjhi – The Mountain Man might have strayed in its storytelling to become weary and long drawn but nothing can take away from Nawazuddin Siddiqui’s stunning performance.

Main Aur Charles wasn’t exactly flawless but Randeep Hooda rarely got it wrong as the notorious killer Charles Sobhraj.

Angry Indian Goddesses’ meek and predictable end notwithstanding the infectious female camaraderie won many a heart.

Let’s Forgive and Forget

But not all films are kind to us. On a scale ranging from “Trashy” to “just about tolerable” we can still find a reason to not hold grudges and move on. The ones we choose to forgive and forget – Tevar, Dolly ki Doli , Gabbar is Back, ABCD 2 can all be stacked together and buried under piles of unused reel. Really! Even those who have been part of these films would like us to do the same.

For the sake of Queen we are going to absolve Vikas Behl one last time and forget all about the fiasco called Shaandaar.

Sunny Deol and Kangana Ranaut made a mistake and as their loyal fans for their own sake we shall pretend I LOVE NY never happened.

Kabir Khan’s jadoo in Bajrangi Bhaijaan means we are duty bound to not mention Phantom.

Hero can be dismissed as another act of charity by Salman Khan and Pyaar Ka Punchnaama 2 photocopied its own prequel so let’s remember the first one only.

Sooraj Barjatya has given us Hum Aapke Hain Koun. Rajshree’s taught us all that we need to know about big fat Indian weddings so let’s remember to not whisper Prem Ratan Dhan Payo in the new year for the sake of world peace!

Janta Maaf Nahi Karegi

But now the gloves must come off. The anger needs an outlet and ‘dhamkis’ must be sounded. Janta maaf nahi karegi category! Dear Ram Rahim Singh Ji Insaan, have mercy. MSG 2 is third degree torture. We can’t forgive Hawaizaada for the Dinanath Batra school of filmmaking that it aspired to belong to. Alone, Mr X, Calendar Girls and Singh is Blingg deserve gussa , curses, consternation and for the unsuspecting victims a refund for the ticket. ROY and Bombay Velvet treated us and our beloved Ranbir Kapoor shabbily. So no maafi! Tempting us with a Vidya Balan and giving us Hamari Adhuri Kahani deserves a trial in the consumer court. Turning Aishwarya Rai’s Jazbaa from a comeback vehicle to a screaming vehicle means no maafi again. But a volcano of anger is in store for Rohit Shetty and the bhadta (mincemeat) he made of the Kajol-SRK chemistry in Dilwale. We want to forget all about it, but painfully we can’t!

Thus stands unfolded the panorama of Bollywood movies of 2015. Lots of new releases to look forward to in 2016. But we shall end by silently praying for things we never wish to see again. MSG, the hairy carpet on his body and the torture vehicles he wants to pass off as ‘films’ must be banned. Also no more of Nihalani’s chamchaa videos and his sanskaari scissors shredding our patience to pieces.

(Graphics designed by Megha Mathur for The Quint)