THE GREATEST HINDI FILM FOR EACH OF THE PAST 50 YEARS TO REVISIT WHILE SELF-ISOLATING AT HOME
by ASJAD NAZIR
BEING stuck indoors due to self-isolation means there is finally time to catch up on movies. For Bollywood fans, it is an opportunity to revisit classics and connect with masterpieces they might have missed.
With that in mind and to help you get through the Covid-19 self-isolation period, Eastern Eye put together a very unique list of 50 Bollywood films from the past 50 years, with the best for each year.
1971 – Anand: Regularly listed among the mustwatch films, the life affirming drama revolves around a dying man who teaches everyone to love life and those around you.
1972 – Pakeezah: One of the greatest Hindi films ever made is a visually beautiful courtesan drama, which featured beautiful songs and a career-defining performance from Meena Kumari.
1973 – Zanjeer: The massively influential police drama changed the face of commercial Bollywood cinema and turned Amitabh Bachchan into an overnight superstar.
1974 – Roti Kapada Aur Makaan: The highest grossing film of that year is an influential social drama with an all-star cast, which tackled themes that are still very relevant today.
1975 – Sholay: The curry western remains one of the greatest Bollywood films ever made and smashed every box office record. The stunning star cast, story, memorable moments and music came together as a whole in the unforgettable classic everyone has heard of.
1976 – Kabhi Kabhie: This drama set across two generations was a romantic ray of light in an era dominated by action. Everything from the story to the poetry and music remains timeless.
1977 – Amar Akbar Anthony: The story of three brothers growing up in three different faiths is a cult classic and was the highest grossing film that year. It has many memorable moments, still revered today.
1978 – Muqaddar Ka Sikandar: The highest grossing film of that year is a very clever adaptation of much loved classic Devdas. Amitabh Bachchan was at the height of his stardom and delivers raw emotion on screen.
1979 – Gol Maal: There were a lot of movies with mega-stars released in 1979, but this comedy of errors was the biggest box office success of that year and still has plenty of laughs.
1980 – Karz: Although Qurbani clocked up the highest numbers that year, Karz would become the cult classic of 1980. The reincarnation drama, with the unforgettable music, became massively influential and is a Bollywood gem.
1981 – Naseeb: There were bigger hits that year like Kranti and more acclaimed films like Silsila, but Naseeb has grown in stature over time and has an incredible cult following.
1982 – Prem Rog: The powerful drama was way ahead of its time and many would argue that it still is even today. The powerful themes are balanced out by the marvellous music and stand-out performances by the lead pair of the movie, Rishi Kapoor and Padmini Kolhapure.
1983 – Woh Saat Din: Mega-blockbuster Himmatwala was the highest grossing movie of 1983 by far, but Woh Saat Din was much better. The multi-layered drama of a woman torn between her true love and new husband, would influence films like Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam.
1984 – Raaj Tilak: It wasn’t a great year for Bollywood in 1984, but there was this fun swords and sandals epic with the huge star cast.
1985 – Ram Teri Ganga Maili: The story of an abandoned woman searching for her baby’s father was another movie from visionary director Raj Kapoor that was ahead of its time. It would be one of the highest grossers of 1980s.
1986 – Nagina: Sridevi ruled Bollywood in the 1980s and she was at the peak of her powers with an impactful portrayal of a shape-shifting snake woman in the movie.
1987 – Mr India: It may be remembered for unforgettable villain Mogambo, but this classic has so many more layers to it and was the first massively successful superhero film of Hindi cinema.
1988 – Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak: Tezaab was a bigger hit that year, but this film was a game-changer for Bollywood and reintroduced romance in a big way. It was also the beginning of an amazing journey for lead star Aamir Khan.
1989 – Maine Pyar Kiya: The superstar making role for Salman Khan remains one of the best films ever made in Bollywood and would influence most romantic films that were made after it, along with many TV serials.
1990 – Dil: The highest grossing film of that year saw a young couple, Aamir Khan and Madhuri Dixit, stand up for love against their warring parents.
1991 – Lamhe: Marvellous musical Saajan was the highest grossing film of that year, but Lamhe had what remains the most unique love triangle in Bollywood history. Sridevi is simply stunning in her double role.
1992 – Beta: The highest grossing film of that year featured Anil Kapoor and Madhuri Dixit in the lead roles. The story of a daughter-in-law battling her evil mother-in-law has been influential, including inspiring so many soap operas.
1993 – Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke: The award-winning film inspired by 1958 Hollywood classic Houseboat combined romance with an interesting family drama. It features great chemistry between Aamir Khan and Juhi Chawla.
1994 – Hum Aapke Hain Koun: The fabulously feel good film smashed every box office record when it released and became the highest grosser in Bollywood history. It offered up many memorable moments and influenced pretty much every Indian wedding since then.
1995 – Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge: The record-breaking film helped Hindi cinema go global and turned Shah Rukh Khan into the king of Bollywood. It also presented romance in a new way and connected with a new generation torn between cultures like no other film.
1996 – Raja Hindustani: The musical inspired by 1965 film Jab Jab Phool Khile became one of the highest grossers of all time and featured the longest kiss in Bollywood history. It also had a stunning soundtrack still popular today.
1997 – Dil To Pagal Hai: The musical starring Shah Rukh Khan and Madhuri Dixit is pure romance from start to end, accompanied by a soundtrack that broke records at the time of its release.
1998 – Kuch Kuch Hota Hai: The unforgettable romance consolidated Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol’s position as one of the greatest romantic lead pairs in cinema history.
1999 – Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam: A star-making turn from Aishwarya Rai Bachchan saw her play a woman torn between a kind-hearted husband (Ajay Devgn) and the love she left behind (Salman Khan). 2000 – Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai: A movie that took everyone by surprise introduced film fans to arguably, the most all-round talented leading man in Bollywood history in Hrithik Roshan and perhaps, the greatest cinema debut of all time.
2001 – Laagan: The multi-award winning film was
a stunning historical, as well as a thrilling cricket match rolled into one. It won many awards and remains the last Bollywood film to be nominated for an Oscar.
2002 – Devdas: The most lavish adaptation of the classic Devdas novel saw Shah Rukh Khan play the heartbroken alcoholic caught between the kindhearted courtesan (Madhuri Dixit) and his true love (Aishwarya Rai Bachchan).
2003 – Koi Mil Gaya: Kal Ho Naa Ho clocked up bigger numbers, but Koi Mil Gaya was one of the most original Bollywood films ever made and the first to introduce an alien. Hrithik Roshan delivered a landmark performance.
2004 – Veer Zaara: The cross-border romance starring Shah Rukh Khan, Preity Zinta and Rani Mukerji tugged at the heartstrings of audiences globally. A breathtakingly beautiful soundtrack added to the magic of the fim.
2005 – Black: The modern day masterpiece built around staggeringly stunning performance by Rani Mukerji and Amitabh Bachchan was a big gamechanger for Bollywood.
2006 – Lage Raho Munna Bhai: The stunning follow up to the equally brilliant 2003 release Munna Bhai MBBS was a perfect mix of drama and meaningful comedy.
2007 – Taare Zameen Par: One of the greatest Indian films ever made with a young protagonist won multiple awards, had cross generational appeal and connected adults to their inner child.
2008 – Jodhaa Akbar: The visually spectacular historical romance based on actual events saw Hrithik Roshan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan deliver regal performances as the Mughal emperor and the Rajput princess.
2009 – 3 Idiots: Bollywood has made countless student led movies, but this is the finest by far. Apart from being engaging and massively entertaining, the film had an important underlying message.
2010 – Raajneeti: There were bigger commercial successes in 2010, but none were as gripping or inventive. The multi-starrer led by Ranbir Kapoor was a modern day political thriller with characters inspired by the ancient Mahabharata.
2011 – Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara: The life affirming film about friendship and loving life won multiple accolades, but also put across an inspiring message that made a strong connect with all those who watched it
2012 – Kahaani: The gripping thriller was more like an international movie than a commercial Bollywood release and had a simply stunning performance by Vidya Balan.
2013 – The Lunchbox: Although not strictly a Bollywood release, the landmark movie is one of the finest ever made in India. The unique romance became a sensation internationally and presented love in a unique way.
2014 – PK: One of the most inventive commercial films ever made in India combined the story of an alien (Aamir Khan) from outer space with questions on religious dogma and superstitions.
2015 – Bajrangi Bhaijaan: The blockbuster crossborder drama saw Salman Khan play the lead role in the story of a kind-hearted Indian man helping a child return back to her parents in Pakistan.
2016 – Dangal: The wrestling drama loaded with girl power smashed every box office record and became the highest grossing Hindi film in history.
2017 – Secret Superstar: Another rare Bollywood treasures featuring a young lead protagonist is the delightful story of a young Muslim girl wanting to become a singer, with a supportive mother married to an abusive father.
2018 – Andhadhun: Although lavish spectacle Padmaavat is a visual delight, the inventive film about a blind piano player appeals to a wider cross-section, including non-Bollywood fans. It has all the inventiveness of an international film.
2019 – Article 15: The masterful story combines a gripping investigation into missing girls, with a wider debate about how badly lower caste citizens are treated in India.
2020 – Thappad: It is still very early in 2020 and will be sometime before Thappad is available on TV or streaming sites, but it is the best reviewed Bollywood film of 2020, so gets the selection for this year (for now).
Mistry with potatoes from her garden
Mistry stands beside her allotment sign
