Friday, September 10, 2010

Dus Saal Baad

There are no more movies in the pipeline that I particularly look forward to watching. I consider it the end of my significant decade (2000-2010) of Indian cinema. Time and again these pit stops have helped me recharge myself along this journey.


Lagaan (2001) because both Aamir Khan in 1999 and Bhuvan in 1893 had balls.

Monsoon Wedding (2001) because sometimes micro emotions handled and mounted on a tight scale with chutzpah could pack in more punch than broadstrokes on bigger canvas.

Maqbool (2003) because very few tug at your heart, massage your mind and sock you in your solar plexus.

Company (2002) because any cooler would cause frostbite.

Kannathil Muthamittal (2002) because it was a modern treatise in organic chemistry, fluid mechanics, kinetics and dynamics.

Ab Tak Chhappan (2004) because... je ne sais quoi

Kal Ho Naa Ho (2003) because it was heavy cinema with just the right light moments. Jab We Met (2007) because it was light cinema with just the right heavy moments.

Athadu (2005) because it showed what water-tight screenplays could potentially do.

Pithamagan (2003) because for everything it stood for, for packing in two superstars and have them do what they do in this longshot from 5.12 through 5.15

Omkara (2006) because it was the near cinematic equivalent of being in a ring opposite Muhammed Ali and Mike Tyson.

Swades (2004) because I'd have loved to live Mohan Bhargava's life and I cannot pluck out hand pumps from the earth.

Lage Raho Munnabhai (2006) because it was a Gandhian way of showing finger to the super cynical world yet come unscathed. You know which finger.

Dil Chahta Hai (2001) Nothing. I rest my case.

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