I was on the Raj & Pablo show on BBC Asia Network’s 10 year anniversary yesterday and they asked me to pick my top 5 Bollywood movies of the decade. Do you have any idea how difficult that is?! I ended up with 10 and that still nowhere near covers it! But I figured this would be a good way for us to gear up for the year end.
Here are the first 10 I could think of, and I repeat, these in no way cover all the Bollywood movies I have loved in the last 10 years, but I do love these 10 (ok 12!) without a doubt. 🙂 Take a look at my list and post me yours in the comments below! xoxo
Kal Ho Na Ho (2003), Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna (2006)
Classic Shah Rukh Khan. The kind that makes you weep. I was also terribly impressed that Karan Johar bought the official rights to use the song Pretty Woman in Kal Ho Na Ho and I must confess I liked Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna because, for the first time they kept the angst so very real. Abhishek Bachchan was particularly awesome.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_tArLLmV1IU
Omkara (2006)
This movie I thought was brilliant. And for the first time I really liked Kareena Kapoor! Of course Saif Ali Khan was a brilliant “bad guy” and Ajay Devgan scared the crap out of me. Omkara proved the acting prowess of all three. Heck even Vivek Oberoi did a good job!
Rang De Basanti (2006)
This movie woke definitely up Generation X. For me, the scene where Aamir Khan breaks down crying at the dinner table while he’s eating always slays me.
Taare Zameen Par (2007)
Oh man, what a film. And that song Maa? Cue tears.
Jodha Akbar (2008)
I loved how epic and grand this film was and for the magic of Khwaja Mere Khwaja.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hb1yxNwfu-0
Oye Lucky Lucky Oye (2008), Dev D. (2009)These two movies introduced me to the Abhay Deol we all know and love. I can watch Oye Lucky over and over again and let’s face it, Dev D. gave us Emotional Atyachar.
Kaminey (2009)
For Shahid Kapoor. Yes the boy next door had finally arrived! And girl look at that body, he works out. Say it with me, Dhan-Te-Nan!
3 Idiots (2009)
Can you tell I’m an Aamir Khan fan?! This movie rang true with boarding school students around the world and put Chetan Bhagat on the Bollywood map! Most importantly it taught us the “All Izz Well” philosophy.
Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara (2011)
To me this almost felt like Dil Chahta Hai continued (in a good way!) Plus I’m still totally crushing on Farhan Akhtar as a result. Hello España here I come!
Dabangg (2011)
For the longest time I’d given up on Salman Khan and then he made this hilarious movie while looking super hot in a police uniform. Nicely done SK! Can’t wait for Dabangg 2.
PS. I still have to watch Udaan and Peepli Live and maybe I’ll have to update my list!
Biggest flop of the decade!
The only one I could think of (for me, that is because I don’t usually end up watching all the slapstick masala movies we make) was Housefull 2 – I felt like I was being punked the whole time (especially frightening because everyone in the theatre was rolling on the floor laughing.) I actually started to wonder if maybe it’s me. But then I wrote this blog and my readers assured me no, its Sajid Khan. *phew*