By – Md. Mudassir Alam
"Some big hits, some big flops, some average hits, year 2006 remained more or less sucessful for Bollywood. Among hundreds of movies choosing 10 Best Movies is not an easy jobs. After taking into account various aspects I have chosen 10 best movies of 2006."
So, the year 2006 is coming to a close and people across the world are making plans to celebrate the New Year’s Eve. Some are planning to visit hill stations, some to any lake-side resort, some to picturesque beaches, some to far-flung areas and so on, unlike others Bollywood is also looking for a better future next year. All through the 2006, Bollywood has witnessed several ups and downs, most of the films fell apart at the box office, while some succeed at ticket windows.
Just like previous years this year too more than hundreds of movies were released but only few could face the stiff competition at the box office. From the economic point of view, the year 2006 remained another disastrous year with a series of flops. Some of the movies that did average business include Aap ki Khatir, Anthony Kaun Hai, Babul, Bas Ek Pal, Corporate, 36 China Town, Gangster, Jaan-e-mann, Kabul Express, Naksha, Pyar Ke Side Effects, Rocky, Shaadi Se Pehle, Woh Lamhe etc.
During this year, Bollywood has seen unusually different types of movies that include the sequels like Dhoom 2, Krrish, Lage Raho Munna Bhai, Phir Hera Pheri. Apart from these blockbusters of yesteryears Don and Umrao-Jaan were remade but they could not create the same magic. Like last year, comedy films were once again appreciated by the cine-goers. Among the comedy movies, Golmaal, Malamal Weekly, Phir Hera Pheri, Apna Sapna Money Money, Lage Raho Munna Bhai and Bhagam Bhag, did good business.
Choosing top ten amongst the hundreds of movies is a not a cup of tea, but on a broad spectrum considering the points like the ticket collections, popularity, good script etc., we could short-list at least ten movies, which satisfy almost all the criteria. Most prominent ten movies of 2006 are Dhoom 2, Krrish, Rang De Basanti, Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna, Fanaa, Lage Raho Munna Bhai, Don, Vivah, Phir Hera Pheri and Omkara.
From the very beginning it was assumed that 2006 is just one more flop year for Bollywood, until Rakyesh Omprakash Mehra’s Rang De Basanti hit the silver screen. Rang De Basanti even surprised the director by becoming a source of inspiration for today’s youth who take to the streets to protest against the issues like Jessica Laal murder case and OBC reservation. Boasts of an excellent script, screenplay, Rang De Basanti was selected as India’s official entry for the Academy Awards. Now we have to wait, whether it could bring the award or not, lets wait and hope for the best.
Next Kunal Kohli’s Fanaa, changed the scenario, the film encountered several controversies, the screening of Fanaa was banned in Gujarat and one of the protester even self-immolated himself, but after all the film become one of the biggest hits of the year.
The success story of box-office moved further with Rakesh Roshan’s Krrish, getting overwhelming response in the opening week. Hrithik Roshan became the first super-hero of India, though the concept was alien to Hindi film industry, but people praised their own desi super-hero.
Rajkumar Hirani’s Lage Raho Munna Bhai, the sequel of Munnabhai M.B.B.S faired much better than the first part. The unique concept of Gandhigiri was interpreted in the film in a different way and it also became a source of inspiration for many people.
Another sequel was Phir Hera Pheri, which unlike Hera Pheri became a big hit. This time Phir Hera Pheri was directed by noted writer Neeraj Vohra, instead of Priyadarshan, but he nicely directed the film and proved his direction skills.
What do you expect from a Shakespeare's classic Othello? Of course a fine piece of literature, without any abuse, but Vishal Bhardwaj transformed the whole novel in its own style, in Omkara. Based on the lifestyle of Uttar Pradesh’s villages and full of verbal abuses, Omkara became a hit and the number “Bidi Jalayele” also topped the music chart for several weeks.
Further Karan Johar’s multi-starer Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna was based on common topics, like you loved it or you hated it, but you could not totally ignore it. Despite its mega star cast like Shahrukh Khan, Amitabh Bachchan, Abhishek Bachchan, Rani Mukerji and Preity Zinta, Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna didn’t do well in India, but it got a phenomenal response overseas.
After Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna, Farhan Akhtar’s Don was the next gift for the fans of Shahrukh Khan. King Khan tried his best to mimic the millennium star Amitabh Bachahan and first week collection of the movie was awesome, but further critics as well as majority of gave a lucre response to the movie. After all, Shahrukh still has large number of fans, who were enough to make the movie a successful one.
Known for the complete family entertainer, Rajshree Production came with their new movie Vivah, for entertaining the whole family together in cinema theatres. Directed by Sooraj. R. Barjatya, the movie had not any big star, but it became one of the surprise hits of the year.
Last but not the least, Sanjay Gadhvi’s Dhoom 2, turned the whole table and occpied the slot of the biggest hit of the year. Dhoom, which was made by Sanjay Gadhvi as an experiment was appreciated by youngsters and cine pundits, but Dhoom 2 became even the bigger hit than the original. Till now, the movie has grossed above Rs. 165 crore and it is still pulling the crowds towards the cinema theatres.
Moreover, the journey of Hindi films of 2006 is quite long, as some movies fell flat at box office and could not do satisfactory business amidst good script and screenplay. Forgetting the lows and highs of the year 2006, we could only hope that the tradition of good movies will roll over the coming year too and Bollywood would reach the new heights.
No comments:
Post a Comment