2016 of Bollywood had a lot to deal with social messages and extreme character transformations of the actors. There were some overrated blockbusters and some underrated wonders. There were some major disappointments and surprises too. Here are the top 10 best films of 2016 which not only made money but sense too.
10. Ki and Ka
Probably, for the first time, a movie spoke about gender equality in a true sense. R Balki who had always worked with Amitabh, casted Arjun Kapoor and Kareena Kapoor. The pair is unusual and the age gap is also applied to the roles they played. The movie has humour, message and emotions in the right amounts. Arjun Kapoor was excellent as the homemaker while the wifey and M-I-L go for work. The supporting characters were wonderful too. This is probably Balki’s only movie without any death of an important character.
9. Kahaani-2
This is one peculiar movie where you wonder what the story all about is, yet engaged every minute in the film. That was one insane yet gripping story telling by Sujoy Ghosh who came up with the sequel after a long time. The movie dealt with sexual abuse like never before. Balan was at her best unabashedly portraying two shades-one of an introvert and the MOTHER. The only female star actor who can go to any extent if the role demands.
8. Saala Khadoos
This one was one of the best boxing movies ever made in Bollywood. Madhavan’s look and acting as the coach was more than perfect. The debutant Ritika Singh was a firecracker locking horns with Madhavan and eventually falling in love with him. Sudha Kongara, the director narrated the story crisply with a very natural setting. The climax scene where she jumps on to Madhavan was a golden moment.
7. Dear Zindagi
No one plays a mentor better than Mr. Khan. This time he played a little more than cameo in Alia Bhatt starrer Dear Zindagi. Directed by English Vinglish fame Gauri Shinde, the movie gives a bunch of life lesions which are so crucial in every one’s lives. Alia Bhatt gives a flawless performance and her scenes with Shah Rukh are the best. It’s very difficult for someone to be not preachy yet teach so much. Dear Zindagi does that.
6.Neerja
It took 8 years for Sonam Kapoor to prove herself as an actress. She played Neerja Banot a 23-year old air hostess who saved the passengers in the plane sacrificing her own life. The movie has been shot in a brilliant way and some shots were supposedly 45 minutes long. The terrorist were terrifying to say the least. A lot of credit goes to the director for picking a great personality for a biopic and justifying it completely. The song about the mother was heart-wrenching and Shabana was so apt.
5. Pink
This was a film that stood out because it did not deal with rape but the mentality of the person who rapes. The movie discusses in detail about the stereotypical thinking and the judgmental attitude in the society. Big B plays a senile lawyer and he was remarkable. The leading women were fantastic too. Aniruddha Roy Choudary deserves a big applause, especially for the court scenes.
4. Dangal
Well, the last super hit of the year, which is winning accolades, captured box office and what not. Dangal is a biopic of Phogat family from Haryana where the father trained the daughters from their very early age to emerge as wrestling champions. Well, whether he was right or wrong is another topic for debate, but the grit and determination that was portrayed in the film was unmatchable. Some key scenes were thought of really well, and to such an extent that the viewers stand up during a scene where national anthem is played.
3. Kapoor and Sons
It is so difficult in Indian films to deal with family drama and yet not being melodramatic, as we have been used to it extensively. Kapoor and Sons breaks that and emerges as one of the best family dramas ever in Bollywood. With some terrific cast, Shakun Batra tells us a slice of life story of a dysfunctional family. The movie has some brilliant moments which make it very real, especially when a character shouts at another.
2. Ae Dil Hai Mushkil
Except Student of the Year, Karan Johar always tried to stay contemporary and succeeded. Ae DIl Hai Mushkil is his work that digs deeper and more real into the subtle difference between friendship and love. The difference which the lead fails to understand. He is childish, he is desperate for her love and he is hopeless. Ranbir proved once again that he is probably THE BEST in the Kapoor Khandaan and a pro in playing the majnu. On the other hand Anushka delivers her career best. The movie had music and moments that would tease and make one reminisce of their lost love.
1.Airlift
Akshay Kumar’s airlift is one of the finest films this decade, for its portrayal of humanity and a patriotic feeling that it conveys in an extremely subtle and natural way. The protagonist of the movie is a selfish person. However, when a crisis hits, a transformation begins within himself and how he eventually airlifts the Indians from a danger zone is a work of master. The flag scene is one of the most unforgettable moments.
Apart from these films, some films that almost made into this list were: Dhanak, Udtaa Punjab, Nil Battey Sannate and Sanam Teri Kasam.
While the most disappointing films of the year were Wazir and Mirzya.
