Bollywood’s Half Yearly Report Card: The Hits and Misses So Far

Half the year has sped by and it’s a good time to look back and take stock of what Bollywood has been dishing out over the past few months.

The hits and misses have been in equal measure. There have been periods of absolute exasperation thanks to the continuing misogyny and melodrama but also many moments of exhilaration as we marvel at the little gems that provide rare insight into human spirit and emotions. For every Neerja and Airlift, there is still a Veerappan and Azhar, for every Aligarh and Waiting, we have to wade through puddles of Mastizaade and Great Grand Masti but guess this Bollywood buffet is still a sumptuous affair.

Here’s a quick look at the moments that lit up our cinematic experience in the last 6 months!

1. The “actor” in Sonam Kapoor trumps the fashionista and the world is a better place for it. Sonam Kapoor is perfect as Neerja. She melts into her role as a bright eyed, lively 23-year-old ordinary girl who, when faced with an extraordinary situation, becomes a shining example of the indomitable human spirit and kindness. The growth we see in her character, the way she negotiates her vulnerability, fights her inner fears and insecurities, Sonam endears herself to us. Director Ram Madhvani steers clear of quintessential Bollywood melodrama and that turns out to be Neerja’s biggest strength.

2.Bollywood can be sensitive and mature and Aligarh is proof! It seems surreal. We are used to watching an unrelenting Kya Kool Hain Hum 3 one week followed by a Mastizaade in the next, that too without any anesthetic. For tormented souls like us to have Neerja succeeded by Aligarh is nothing short of ecstasy! Aligarh is an assiduously made piece of brilliance. Prof Siras’s story isn’t just a fight for gay rights but a triumph of conviction and spirit and for that it is a must watch.

3.Bollywood had a “darr ke aage jeet hai”moment with Phobia. Phobia is truly frightening and that’s a huge win. An Indian psychological thriller directed by Pawan Kriplani, it will definitely send a chill down your spine, quite unlike the unwittingly comic “horror” films we are used to watching. Phobia’s strength lies in the fact that it uses the horror genre intelligently rather than falling for the stale motifs and clichéd sound effects to peddle its fear factor!

4. A film worth fighting for, Udta Punjab soars high! The curiosity that surrounded its release is proof that the Censor Board has done commendable PR work! But moving away from the entire hullabaloo, director Abhishek Chaubey must be praised for making a hard hitting and engaging film on the subject of drug addiction. A brave film that grapples with Punjab’s drug menace with refreshing honesty and a determined eagerness to explore the dark realms of addiction. Shahid Kapoor has upped his game significantly and Kareena Kapoor redeems herself brilliantly. And the best thing to happen – Daljit Dosanjh padharo mhare Bollywood des. We can’t wait to see more of him!

5.Keeping it real with Kapoor & Sons. The humongous mansions with helipads, telepathic emotions and gargantuan appetite for family melodrama were rightfully ditched to give us a delectably real and delightfully flawed family drama. And to have eye candy Fawad Khan in it hurt no one!

Aakhir q? Here is Bollywood’s laundry list of failures:

1. Bollywood still doesn’t know what to do with Aishwarya Rai ke Vocal cords. Be it Jazbaa or Sarbjit, horrendous makeup aside, the shrieking has to stop. The films have been pitched in unbearably shrill territory and we hope someone/thing comes to the rescue.

2.Himesh Reshammiya ka acting keeda. For how long? And why? Teraa Surroor 3 has been announced. Ab hamara kya kusoor?

3.Tushar Kapoor and the Pahlaj Nihalani shraap for making horrendous sex comedies. Still reeling under the Great Grand Masti torture, we can’t help but wonder for how long will Bollywood continue to misfire? Can we please never have a repeat of Mastizaade and Kya Kool Hain Hum 3?

4. When will we see the end of bad PR projects in the name of biopics? Azhar, Veerappan, Sarbjit – it is just painful to see the times Bollywood has messed up perfectly good opportunities.

And last but far from the least:

The Khan Quotient
Of the Khan triumvirate, Salman and SRK have made their presence felt in the first half of 2016. And the verdict – “all must bow down to the khan-daan!” The silver lining is that both the Khans have attempted to move away from their comfort zones and tried to challenge themselves. Never mind the film, but in Fan, negotiating the superstar Aryan Khanna and the crazy fan with a Cheshire cat grin Gaurav was always going to be tricky. SRK manages to do justice to both.

In Sultan, Salman is at his most real and bruised. The film is a super hit and the cash registers, having clocked in 300 crore already, are yet to stop ringing (no wonder the “sorry” is hard to come by). By the end of this year, with Amir’s Dangal out, we will finally know who has won the battle of the Khans.