Looking back, 2015 has been a year in which Bollywood and politics got violently mixed up, though the former has always been reluctant about the latter. But in the year gone by, be it protests, appointments, remarks or debates, our cinema and its stars served up tantalising entertainment, both on and off screen. Of cinema, politics, and many others epic 2015 moments, here’s our top ten list.
1. Khans @50
Salman Khan, Aamir Khan and Shah Rukh Khan, the holy trinity of Khans turned 50 and fans from all three camps went into a frenzy to celebrate their respective super star’s birthday. More than 25 years and counting in the show business, their stardom stands undiminished. Age might take a toll on us, but it’s no matter when it comes to the star Khans. 2015 showed us how great one can look at 50!
2. Big, Bigger, Epic Films
Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s big-budget retelling of Peshwa Bajirao I and his consort, Mastani’s romance was larger-than-life in every frame. But the one film that caught the nation’s fancy for its epic scale was S. S. Rajamouli’s Baahubali: The Beginning. The fact that this magnificent film has been created with a fraction of what a Hollywood biggie costs, is proof that a big film need not essentially be born out of a mammoth budget, but the unbridled scope of a dream. From the conception of the war strategy to erecting a giant statue, and the relentless fight sequences, everything was created with an immense attention to detail, sometimes observed, sometimes invented or imagined but always enlarged with a magical halo. This is more dream-stuff than life-stuff. But honestly, what can be better than dreams? 2015 was a year of epic storytelling.
3. Desi Tadka Hits America With a Punch
Desi faces continued to show up at American shores, starting with Priyanka Chopra as an FBI agent in Quantico, going till Anupam Kher’s appearance in the Wachowski duo’s sci-fi series Sense8, and of course, Irrfan Khan’s performance in yet another Hollywood blockbuster, Jurassic World. Oh and yes, Freida Pinto still has many coveted directors on her list. We are glad to inform you that in 2015, desi performers rocked foreign shores.
4. The Sound and the Fury of FTII
The appointment of actor and BJP member Gajendra Chauhan as the chairperson of the governing council of the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) led to a massive strike by the students. Chauhan’s appointment came as a rude shock as the actor’s only credential includes playing the eldest Paandav Yudishthir in B R Chopra’s TV series Mahabharat, whereas the past heads of the institute include illustrious names like Adoor Gopalakrishnan, Shyam Benegal and Girish Karnad. FTII, which boasts of a legendary legacy in cinema, might have faltered in recent times. But the fire hasn’t died down yet. And these student protests are proof that the amber is still glowing. We’ll remember 2015 for this fierce rebellion.
5. The Powerpuff Girls Rocked Bollywood
In 2015, women-centric films not only had ladies delivering coherent performances, but also witnessed them turning into money spinners at the ticket window. Anushka Sharma in NH 10, Deepika Padukone in Piku, Priyanka Chopra in Dil Dhadakne Do, Kangana Ranaut in Tanu Weds Manu Returns and Bhumi Pednekar in Dum Laga Ke Haisha told us that the clout of female actors is only on the rise. These strong and endearing female characters definitely make 2015 worth remembering.
6. To Tolerate Or Not to Tolerate
The word ‘intolerance’ got a new meaning in 2015 when Aamir Khan, one of the country’s biggest film stars, decided to speak on the subject. With Shah Rukh Khan joining in with his opinion, social media went ballistic, news channels were in a tizzy, and trolls had a gala time, protecting India’s image. The intolerance debate ironically showed us how much tolerance we have left in our hearts and heads.
7. The Hollywood Invasion
Independence Day and Jurassic Park were just the beginning. Hollywood increased its tentacles around the Indian box office with big budget releases planned throughout the year, and some of them turned into big successes. The victory of Furious 7, Jurassic World, Avengers: Age Of Ultron and Spectre in 2015, only proves that the Indian youth is developing a strong taste for spectacular Hollywood flicks. Also, nowadays big Hollywood films release in four languages, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu and of course English, which makes the audience base quite huge. Conclusion: Hollywood if packaged well and made more accessible, sells and how. Bollywood is surely feeling the heat.
8. Small Wonders On the Big Screen
When it came to winning awards and making India proud, debutant directors showed the way this year. Chaitanya Tamhane’s Court, Neeraj Ghaywan’s Masaan, Raam Reddy’s Thithi and Avinash Arun’s Killa won awards at coveted international film festivals and were also greeted with critical acclaim on home turf. Some other notable films of the year include Shonali Bose’s Margarita With A Straw, M. Manikandan’s Kaaka Muttai, and Kanu Behl’s Titli. This new generation of filmmakers gave us a feeling that our cinema’s future is in safe hands.
9. Sanskaari Censor
Former film producer Pahlaj Nihalani made news throughout 2015, starting from the moment he took his oath as the chairman of the Central Board for Film Certification. In a bid to retain sanskriti in our cinema, he decided to wipe out cuss words and everything not-so-family-friendly. Needless to say, social media made him the butt of many a joke, and Arnab Goswami court-martialled him on prime time television. Nihalani however learnt the art of remaining unfazed despite all the backlash. In fact he took pride in the video he made for the Prime Minister of India, with dazzling artistic ambition. Nihlani with his chequered history as a film producer gave us a new lesson on sanskaar and sanskriti. Thankfully, Shyam Benegal has now been given the responsibility to shake things around in the censor board, in order to bring about a solid revamp. But without 2015’s drama, this wouldn’t have come about.
10. Bhai Walks Free
Salman Khan delivered the year’s biggest hit Bajrangi Bhaijaan, proclaiming bhaichara between India and Pakistan, while his reunion with Sooraj Barjatya in Prem Ratan Dhan Payo created a publicity blitzkrieg. Most importantly, he was acquitted in the 2002 hit and run case which literally made his fans cry with joy. He continued his stint as the host of Bigg Boss, and threw a huge bash to commemorate his 50th birthday. All in all, 2015 showed us that ‘being bhai’ is a big deal, no matter what.
(The writer is a journalist and a screenwriter who believes in the insanity of words, in print or otherwise. Follow him on Twitter: @RanjibMazumder)
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