The best I have watched – Part I

I wanted to make a year end post of how this year has been and how I am looking forward to the new year as a changed person, but then who am I kidding? I’d be the same procrastinating slob. Movies have been a constant companion this year, I may have seen a lot of movies but there were some that stayed with me long after I shut down my laptop. So here is my pick of some of my favorite movies from 2015, in no particular order.

Badlapur: After a lackluster Agent Vinod, Sriram Raghavan returns to form in this revenge thriller. Raghu’s (Varun Dhawan) quest for revenge over his wife and child’s murderers turns him into a sadistic, manipulating sociopath. Rarely does a movie fill you with contempt for a bereaved man and makes you take sides with heartless killers. Aided by a stellar performance from Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Badlapur is a character study of how far one can go for vengeance.

Dum Laga Ke Haisha: DLKH is an unconventional love story between an untamable, school drop-out and his educated, portly wife. Sandhya (Bhumi Pednekar) is a strong female character–a rarity in Hindi cinema–who is independent enough to walk out of her marriage and fend for herself. Making a movie on arranged marriage in the 90’s in a conservative society like Haridwar is akin to walking a tightrope, but Sharat Katariya handles it with the maturity of a seasoned director.

Ennakkul Oruvan: A remake of the Kannada film Lucia, EO is an engaging psychological thriller with a Nolan-like twist. Siddharth plays the dual role of an actor (Vicky) and a theater operator (Vignesh), one shown in colour and the other in black-and-white. As their stories converge, the colours juxtapose to pull the rug off your feet during the final moments. Watch it because it is one of the smartest psychological thrillers to come out of Kollywood.

Hunterrr: Hunterrr is different from other juvenile Bollywood films that pass for “adult comedies”, it’s the story of Mandar Ponkshe (Gulshan Deviah), a man in his mid-30’s who wants to leave his philandering ways behind and settle down in life. With his cousin Dilip narrating his flashback, we are introduced to Mandar during his adolescence, his first girlfriend Parul and his steamy affair with the married woman in his neighborhood. Deviah as Mandar is a joy to watch, as he effortlessly switches back and forth from a gullible middle-aged man to a lascivious youth. Radhika Apte gives a grounded performance as Tripti, a modern-day woman who has had her fair share of escapades and is a perfect foil to Mandar.

Masaan: Masaan is as much a story on the city of Banaras as it is about love and grief. It takes us through the two separate stories of Devi (Richa Chadda) and Deepak (Vicky Kaushal), both are victims of a conservative and traditional society. Bound together by values and family, both seek desperately for a way out. The ever-dependable Sanjay Mishra as the helpless father of Devi turns in a touching performance. Masaan is a understated drama that never makes the predicament of its lead characters melodramatic to win our sympathy.

Talvar: The controversial murder of Aarushi Talwar is fictionalized in this gripping thriller put together by Meghna Gulzar and Vishal Bharadwaj. What makes it more real is how they show the law take its course–from the nonchalant way the police mess up the investigation to the final act where both the CDI teams make their cases. Multiple narratives and the tinkering of minute details make it a cleverly crafted police procedural. And there is also Irrfan Khan who owns every scene he is in.

Kirumi: This has been a good year for Tamil cinema with a lot of young, impressive directors on the rise; Anucharan is one among them. Kirumi is a taut thriller that stars Kathir as a cocky young informant for the police. Kathir falls victim to the politics between two police officers, what adds more to his woes is his beef with the local don. Kirumi is a grim reminder that ordinary men have a lot more to lose in the fight against evil. Sometimes, one has no other way but to let evil coexist and turn a blind eye.

Kuttram Kadithal: Adding to the list is Bramma, whose Kuttram Kadithal is a powerful drama of an unexpected event that changes the lives of everyone involved in it. It tells the story of a newly married Merlin, a schoolteacher at the local school who ends up punishing a mischievous boy. What follows is a PR disaster for the school with everyone baying for Merlin’s blood. A cast of unknowns keep you at the edge of your seats for two hours.

Honorable Mentions:

Detective Byomkesh Bakshy!: Dibakar Banerjee’s stylized take on Byomkesh Bakshi seems to be inspired by Guy Ritchie’s take on Sherlock Holmes. The movie may have been underwhelming, but watch it because Banerjee is an exciting film maker, and for the great set design and cinematography.

Indru Netru Naalai: Another debut director, another engrossing plot. Rarely has time travel been experimented in Indian cinema, but Ravi Kumar seems to have all his bases covered in this fantastic sci-fi comedy. Elango (Vishnu) and Arumugam (Karunakaran) stumble upon a time traveling device with hilarious results.

Piku: Deepika Padukone outshines a quirky and constipated Amitabh Bachchan and the understated Irrfan Khan. A road movie about a daughter who puts up with her father’s second childhood gives you many heartwarming moments.

Titli: Dark and disturbing Titli is a depressing story of newlyweds Titli and Neelu who are looking to break the shackles of their dysfunctional and violent family. The usually funny Ranvir Shorey gives his best performance till date as Titli’s menacing older brother.

Click here to go to Part II of this list.