Mirch Masala (1985) - (Movies To See Before You Die - Drama)

One of the finest artistic movies made on the suppressed lives of Indian villagers living in the British Raj, “Mirch Masala” is a pure cinematic masterpiece from the director Ketan Mehta. It proudly represented Indian Cinema all over the globe in those golden years of art movies in the eighties. Still remembered for its well written, engrossing theme and perfect execution, the movie surely deserves a place in every “Must Watch Movies List” compiled by any serious lover of world cinema.

It realistically showcases the life of poor villagers in that pre- independence era, when they were forced to live on the mercy of their tax collector called ‘Subedaar’. At that point of time, the Subedaars acted as a God for the villagers and nobody dared to oppose them in any way fearing severe punishments in return. “Mirch Masala” also revolves around such a cunning Subedaar (enacted by Naseeruddin Shah), who treats villagers as his slaves and feels no sympathy for them even in the times of poor harvest and drought. His cruel reign comes to an end when once he crosses all the limits of human dignity and demands a village lady (Smita Patil) for his own personal pleasure. That triggers an unexpected revolt in the village, surprisingly coming from its women community. Opposing the disgraceful demand of the Subedaar, the women get together in a “Mirch Factory” and refuse to open the doors getting their only help from an old caretaker who has a gun to safeguard them all.

And when the doors are opened forcibly, we are made to witness a well conceived climax, shot in a stylish way which rightly justifies the title of the movie, “Mirch Masala”. The director brilliantly uses the backdrop of a Mirch Factory into the story plot, which unarguably gives it a fresh and unique feel of its own.

With a huge ensemble of talented actors (mentioned in the end), it is a precious cinematic gem with many worth watching sequences canned superbly. It skillfully portrays the miserable life led by the women of that era, when they were merely treated as a means of entertainment and were not permitted to study or move out of their small kitchens. Among the best scenes of the movie include the one where the villagers see a gramophone record for the first time, the traditional dance by the village women in their colourful dresses (edited in fast cuts) and the well directed climax sequence with its famous surprise twist.

In short it’s a must watch for all lovers of serious cinema and especially for those who still adore the eighties Art Movies Wave in Hindi Cinema.

Directed by Ketan Mehta
Starring : Smita Patil, Nasseruddin Shah, Om Puri, Raj Babbar, Dina Pathak, Deepti Naval, Mohan Gokhale, Paresh Rawal, Suresh Oberoi, Ratna Pathak, Supriya Pathak, Benjamin Gilani & more.

(Check out the complete list in details at www.bobbytalkscinema.com)

Before Sunset (2004) - (Movies To See Before You Die - Love Theme)

(Should be ideally watched after you have seen its first part - Before Sunrise, reviewed in the subsequent post)

A sequel to “Before Sunrise”, the movie starts after 9 years from the day those two lovers met on the train and spent a few hours together. Now, once again, destiny brings them in front of each other with their new outlooks and changed attitudes. The man is now married and known as a famous writer, who has written a book based on those few hours of experiences he had with the stranger girl nine years back. And the girl, still single, now works for an environment protection organization, which gives her an opportunity to work in different parts of the world with different people. The mindsets have changed and the preferences have been altered, but still the same spark of love is very much alive in their hearts which brightens up as they unexpectedly meet after so many years.

With only a few hours left to spend together, they stroll through the streets of Paris, talking about the good old time they had once enjoyed and the nine long years they had lived differently. Sharing their intimate experiences of life, they try to find out the reasons why they didn’t meet after six months as promised and whether they still have the same feelings for each other or not. The spirited talks between the two are more like a well written thesis on the subject of Love and Relationships which is surely capable of changing the way one values the feeling of Love in his life. Their discussion makes you remember all those lovable old friends, whom you have not met from so many years but are still there in your loving memories.

However, here I would also like to mention that “Before Sunrise” or “After Sunrise” are not recommended for the viewers who are just looking for a good time with the same old dosage of love, sex and drama. The movies are strictly for the mature lovers of cinema who are willing to study them as two important and spiritual books written on the subject of love. Incidentally “Before Sunset” was also deservingly nominated in the Oscars for its commendable screenplay and writing.

In few words, these two movies give you the real meaning of those “Unexplained Loving Relationships” which one experiences while moving on the path of life. Besides that, they also introduce you to some new emotional expressions of the soul, which cannot be found in any of the normal dictionaries of the world. Hence if you want to move ahead of a “Man-Woman Relationship” and really want to discover a new meaning of the most commonly used word “Love”, then you must see these two movies together in one go. And I am sure every viewer will find a different meaning of his own after watching them.

Directed By Richard Linklater
Starring : Ethan Hawke & Julie Delpy

(Check out the complete list in details at www.bobbytalkscinema.com)

Before Sunrise (1995) - (Movies To See Before You Die - Love Theme)

Just think about a movie which has only two people on the screen, who meet up as strangers in a train, talk elaborately about themselves and eventually go on to become mature lovers within a span of a few hours. But even after developing a definite liking for each other they willfully decide to part at the end of the day and promise to meet again after a period of 6 months if they still feel the same way. That’s a sweet synopsis of a lovingly delightful movie called “Before Sunrise”.

A mature take on infatuation and love, the movie is miles ahead of any normal love story between two strangers. With just two characters talking about their longings, dreams, hopes and life styles, it takes you onto an entirely different journey beyond any of your creative imaginations. In other words the movie is quite a spiritual and cathartic experience as it explores many hidden layers of our human psyche superbly. It teaches how a man and a woman can learn so much from each other simply moving above the normal experiences of love, sex, lust and passion. It opens the human heart as never before and gives you an enlightening experience to cherish for a long time.

Simply put, it’s an inventive work of art by the director Richard Linklater, in which he successfully manages to make you feel for the characters with the help of their deep & thoughtful verbal discussions on various aspects of life. It’s one of those rare poetic movies which effortlessly makes a place in your heart and stays there for long. Absolutely beautiful, honest, subtle and refreshing, it deserves to be seen at the earliest by everyone who has a loving heart filled with emotional feelings for his or her partner.

After the movie ends with its two key characters moving away from each other, it leaves many unanswered questions in the mind of the viewer with a strong urge to watch more. Hence with such a positive impact being made all over, the makers were bound to make a sequel to this timeless classic where the two lovers unexpectedly meet each other after 9 long years of life in some new circumstances. And that gave rise to “Before Sunset” made in 2004. If possible watch the two movies back to back in order to have an unforgettable, loving and enlightening experience.

Directed By Richard Linklater
Starring : Ethan Hawke & Julie Delpy
(Check out the complete list in details at www.bobbytalkscinema.com)

The Thin Red Line (1998) - (Movies To See Before You Die – War Movies)

“The Thin Red Line” is one of those great but under-rated movies which didn’t receive the actual praise they really deserved at the time of its release. Facing huge competition from Steven Spielberg’s “Saving Private Ryan”, which had already made its mark in the war genre in the year 1998, “The Thin Red Line” got a rough treatment both at the box office as well as at the Academy Awards that year. Nominated in 7 prestigious categories, the movie won none of them, whereas on the other hand Spielberg won 5 Oscars for his highly appreciated work on a similar theme.

No doubt, “Saving Private Ryan” was a brilliant flick, based on a novel plot, well conceived & directed by Steven himself. But at the same time, I also strongly believe that the two reputed names of Spielberg and Tom Hanks were in fact more responsible for those big wins at the OSCARs in 1999. And it was really strange and unexpected of “The Thin Red Line” not winning in even one of the categories of its nomination. It was surely not that kind of weak competitor from any angle. May be the precious message in Terrance Malick’s insightful masterpiece, got lost in the huge ensemble of stars in the movie. The star-cast took away the lime light and the viewers felt like misguided in the end since none of the big names had a full length role on the screen. But if you can move over these minor glitches, then here is a great movie on the subject of war, which has a unique viewpoint of its own, especially for the thinking viewer.

Actually, “The Thin Red Line” is not a movie showcasing the heroic elements involved in a war. On the contrary it’s a movie completely against the concept of War. Beautifully capturing both the winning and scary minutes of the warfront in some brilliantly shot scenes, it forcefully makes you think about the war, its reasons and its ugly consequences. Starting calmly with some quite scenes, the movie goes on to impress you majorly because of its three worth mentioning aces, the Direction, Cinematography and the Background Score.

Apart from the two most visible aces on the screen (Direction & Cinematography), just pay your attention towards the Background music composed intelligently, which is not aggressive as usually seen in the war movies. It’s one of the most impressive soundtracks in a motion picture I have ever heard till date. And the movie indeed deserved an OSCAR for this out of the world musical score if not for any other category in the nominations.

Equally supported by many thoughtful dialogues which leave you with no explanatory answers, “The Thin Red Line” is a must watch for every thinking person concerned about the world and it’s much needed peace. Just sample this invaluable quote (as I can recall) which still comes to my mind whenever there is a talk on war and its brave soldiers:

“In War, it doesn’t matter what training you have got or how well prepared you are for the fight, cause it’s only about being at the wrong place in the wrong time to get hit by a wandering bullet.”

The movie superbly reads the mindset of different soldiers on the front in a great philosophical style and that too without going into any uninteresting preachy format. It also achieves a difficult task of incorporating poetic expressions in a war movie, brilliantly canned by the camera. In few words it’s a film which truly deserves to be there among the most beautiful movies made on the theme of war and its soldiers. So, if you want to have a realistic experience of a battle front and also wish to study the inner psyche of the soldiers fearlessly fighting for their countries, then “The Thin Red Line” is the flick your should go for at once. Highly recommended for all serious lovers of the medium.

Directed By Terrence Malick
Starring : Sean Penn, Adrien Brody, Benjamin Green, John Cusack, Nick Nolte, John Travolta, George Clooney & more.
(Check out the complete list in details at www.bobbytalkscinema.com)

Saving Private Ryan (1998) - (Movies To See Before You Die – War Movies)

Steven Spielberg’s “Saving Private Ryan” is a widely appreciated war movie, rated among the 10 greatest films made under this particular genre. But it’s not entirely based on the theme of war between two countries. In fact it has a more emotional and human plot to deal with talking about a family of four brothers who are all brave soldiers posted at different places in the war. Unfortunately three of them die on the warfront leaving the fourth brother, Private Ryan, still fighting unaware of the cruel truth at an unknown location.

After learning that Ryan is the only bread earner left in the family, the government decides to find him and send him back to his lonely mother on humanitarian grounds. But the problem is that they don’t exactly know whether he is still alive or at what place he actually is behind the enemy lines. Hence a rescue mission is planned to find Ryan and bring him back. The search is led by a Captain (Tom Hanks) with a squad of few men who are not at all happy with the idea of risking their own lives for one person alone. And that’s what gives rise to the name “Saving Private Ryan”.

Along with its unique plot, the other appealing merit of the movie is its opening beach attack sequence brilliantly shot in a highly realistic style. The first hand war experience simply stuns the viewer with its shocking and bold execution where bodies are falling on ground every second like nothing. And those few brutal minutes in the movie are sure going to blow you mind away like never before. In the acting department, along with his impressive supporting cast, Tom Hanks once again gives a splendid performance as the Captain who was a teacher before joining the Army. The movie won 5 Oscars for the Best Director, Cinematography, Editing, Effects & Sound in the year 1999.

However, I was not able to appreciate the movie a lot on its emotional content as it lacked the famous human touch associated with the name of Spielberg. But still I liked it’s out of the routine story plot executed in an excellent way by the director, which unarguably makes it a not to be missed experience. If you are a diehard fan of the war genre, then you must have already seen the movie in the first place. But if you haven’t seen it yet, then just go for it as your next choice of a war epic.

Directed By Steven Spielberg
Starring : Tom Hanks, Vin Diesel, Matt Damon & more
(Chek out the complete list of movies at www.bobbytalkscinema.com)

Waqt (1965) - (Movies To See Before You Die - Drama)

A film describing the importance and power of TIME in our lives is known as a spectacular trend setter in the Hindi film industry. A film which laid down the basic foundation of all the “Lost & Found” movies was one of the first big & impressive take on the famous Bollywood format. In fact all the major blockbusters (based on the formula) which ruled the box office in the 70s & 80s took their major clues from this classic directed brilliantly by the legendary director Yash Chopra.

Starting with a well written sequence depicting the supremacy of Time, the movie shows us the tragedy faced by a rich man and his family, which in few seconds sends them into the lap of poverty and mercilessly separates them from each other for years. Living their individual lives far away, the characters once again are brought together by the uncontrollable power of Time after a few decades. They get to meet each other unknowingly and with the changing times, find themselves entangled into a new web of relationships beyond imagination. The story which starts as a family drama unexpectedly ends in a courtroom sequence where the whole family unites again accepting the undeniable power of TIME. With a talented ensemble of actors (Sunil Dutt, Raj Kumar, Shashi Kapoor, Sadhna, Sharmila Tagore, Jeevan, Madan Puri, Moti Lal & more)
, the classic is a great piece of art, lead by the one & only Balraj Sahni. His splendid portrayal of a proud man refusing to accept the power of time makes you think about the each & every second of our life, which we go on living without knowing anything about the next one. In simple words, the movie deserves to be in the library of every School of Acting and Cinema mainly because of Balraj Sahni alone.

Interestingly, the movie has given a lot to the Hindi Film Industry in terms of content, style and music. First of all it gave the most overused formula of “Lost & Found” to the other film-makers such as Manmohan Desai, who later came out with some brilliant versions of the same in his own unique and entertaining style. It also established Raj Kumar with his incomparable persona and impeccable technique of saying “Jaani” forever. His few dialogues from the movie are still rated among the most famous and imitated dialogues on stage and films till date. Apart from the above, it gave us one of the richest “Film Soundtrack” of Bollywood which has songs precious as gems, including one of the most famous Qawwali of all time, which is still played in every marriage and family get together even in this twenty first century. In fact the qawwali “Aye Meri Zohrazabin” remains the one & only song associated with the Old Age Romance by every lover of Hindi Films living anywhere in the world.

Lastly the movie gave us the most romantic director of Bollywood, Yash Chopra, who later came up with several Unforgettable Romantic Gems with never before kind of content on Indian Silver Screen. It was one of his first movies which must have given him the much required confidence and command over the art which later resulted in many equally precious masterpieces for the movie lovers. Hence “Waqt” is an important movie from all angles, not to be missed by any person of any age who loves Bollywood and its magic.

Directed By Yash Chopra
Starring : Balraj Sahni, Sunil Dutt, Raj Kumar, Shashi Kapoor, Sadhna, Sharmila Tagore, Jeevan, Madan Puri, Moti Lal & more.

(Chek out the complete list of movies at www.bobbytalkscinema.com)

The Last Days (1998) (Documentary) - (Movies To See Before You Die - Historical)

Words like ‘The Holocaust’, ‘Concentration Camps’ and ‘The Gas Chambers’ were more heard and less understood before I watched this immensely disturbing documentary aptly titled “The Last Days”. I strongly believe that more than fifty percent of the people living in our part of the world, especially India, may not be familiar with the above words and the mass human killings they are synonym with. And most of the rest also, more or less just have a vague and rough idea of the terrifying and dreadful act practiced by the Nazis against the Jews and many others.

So, the feature was a big eye opener for me, as I got to see the brutal and unthinkable kind of torture faced by thousands of innocent people in those terrible times. Executively produced by Steven Spielberg, the OSCAR winner documentary is rightly rated as the best feature made on the Holocaust of 1945. It gives you a comprehensive picture of the actual happenings in those camps with the help of some rare real life footage and pictures. And the feature even becomes more intriguing and touching as it includes the genuine interviews of 5 remarkable personalities, who had the first hand experience of the tortures, but were also blessed to survive the holocaust.

In simple words, the expressive narration of their personal experiences is just equal to a high density earthquake for a thinking mind. Watching them speak about those difficult times, you will feel like someone is stabbing you hard with a knife into your heart. In other words, the documentary is capable of shaking you deep inside and for many it might be even more frightening and scary than a well made horror movie. The thought of those experiments conducted on children and adults, the life taking pressure in the gas chambers and the lifeless bodies piled on each other forming a mountain will surely take away the sleep of many thoughtful minds.

So unless you are ready with an open mind and can handle the most brutal truth exposed in a highly expressive way, I would not suggest to go for this explosive work, directed by James Moll. In other words, the documentary is not for the weak hearted, but it’s for the people who can feel from their hearts and want to know the bitter truths of our History which we don’t ever want to be repeated again.

A highly recommended documentary for every individual’s self enlightenment. In simple words it is one of those important works in the world of cinema which will make you realize the priceless value of every fresh breath we are blessed with.

Directed By James Moll

(Chek out the complete list of movies at www.bobbytalkscinema.com)

Lawrence of Arabia (1962) - (Movies To See Before You Die - Adventure)

This is David Lean’s world famous epic, widely considered as one of the Top 10 Movies made in the history of cinema. As a requisite, the movie has to be there in every Must See Movies List compiled by anyone on the globe. And in absence of the incomparable masterpiece, the list would be taken as incomplete. Based on the life or T. E. Lawrence and his emotional war experiences in Arabia, the flick is a fine example of cinematic excellence unbelievably achieved in the year of 1962. In other words, it’s nearly impossible to even think of making a movie with such a vast canvas and grandeur in the current times. It’s both practically and financially unimaginable to do that. And that proves how important and influential the movie is for every film-maker in the world of cinema.

“Lawrence of Arabia” excels in every department of its making and for that it deservedly won 7 Academy Awards in 1963 including the Best Picture, Direction, Cinematography and Musical Score Awards. It is unarguably, once in a lifetime kind of work done by the legendary director David Lean in which he successfully painted the screen with never seen before sort of images, magnificent locations and stunning sequences. Along with its splendid cinematography and execution, the director makes you watch the screen with your eyes wide open. The never before kind of shots unfolding on the screen, force you to think about how on earth they thought of doing it and that too with such amazing elegance and conviction, beyond comparison.

But frankly speaking, in my opinion the movie would mean more to the people who understand the medium and its making. It is superb piece of art for the ones involved in the similar arts and for the students of cinema. But for others, who just watch a movie for entertainment and passing time, it may not appeal to that extent due to many reasons. First of all the length of the movie which goes over three hours, may discourage their spirit of watching it patiently. And secondly the current generation who lives in the age of jet speed and instant coffee, might find the classic too slow in its proceedings. Putting it differently, it requires your complete attention, interest and a lot of time to grasp this monumental kind of work in the field of cinema. It doesn’t deserve to be seen just like another Friday movie in the weekend.

The milestone is a text book to be studied by the young film-makers from different angles. It actually requires repeated viewing by the students in order to study the finer aspects of its each department individually. Especially the cinematography, which in reality is almost impossible to recreate in the present scenario. With Computer graphics available at the next door, now, who cares to shoot an actual sunrise, standing in the dark with the whole team ready? And who can think of a long shot in the desert wherein a person is coming on his camel from a long distance into the camera at his actual speed. Undeniably, a definitive work in the field of cinematography aptly acknowledged as the best ever in the history of cinema.

I really wish I could see the well crafted work on the wide big screen. Watching it on the small screen in the cinemascope format is just not the right way of enjoying it. But with no choice left, I had to watch it more than once to have a satisfying experience for myself. The movie starts impressing you from the first frame itself and you at once realize that you are going to watch something real big. Just see how Sir David Lean makes use of every tiny part of the screen carefully. The vastness of the wide desert, the emptiness of the screen and the huge war sequences are a real treat for the eyes. In fact, each time you see it again, you are bound to see a different aspect of the screen image and that’s the beauty of his flawless direction.

But here I have to accept that the movie definitely impressed me more with its direction, cinematography and unbelievable execution and less with its story plot inspired from real life. But nevertheless, it remains one of the finest movies in the world of cinema which has to be seen by every lover of the art as a mandatory clause.

Interestingly the hugely famous movie has also got its big connection with our own Bollywood. The famous actor, comedian & director I. S. Johar is there in the movie playing a significant cameo of Gasim, who gets saved by Lawrence himself. And it was indeed a proud feeling to see an Indian actor featuring in one of the Top 10 movies made in the history of cinema.

That’s another reason you must see “Lawrence of Arabia” at the earliest and moroever they are not going to make anything like this ever again in the future.

Directed By David Lean

Starring : Peter O’Toole, Alec Guinness, Anthony Quinn, Omar Sharif, I. S. Johar & more.

(Chek out the complete list of movies at www.bobbytalkscinema.com)

I Am Sam (2001) - (Movies To See Before You Die - Drama)

Just think of a storyline where a mentally retarded man becomes a father of a girl child and on the very first day of them returning from the hospital, his wife leaves him standing in the middle of the road holding the few days old little baby in his hands. She leaves him because that’s not the life she wished to live with a retarded husband and his baby. But the man takes it from there and brings up the child in every possible manner he could. He feeds the little baby taking time clues from the TV programmes at the Cartoon channel and raises the girl in a near normal way with his own new self found courage.

Years pass and the little child transforms into an eight year old girl coming at par with the mental age of her own father. Knowing that her father can only think as a child, the girl finds it tough to learn more than her father can. She doesn’t want to grow beyond the age where she leaves her father behind. But life has to move on and she starts accepting the truth she has to live with. However, the destiny has its own plans for them, when the Child Care Council takes the girl away declaring that the father is not capable of looking after her anymore. The matter goes into the court and now SAM (the father) has to fight a case to win his own daughter back, whom he had raised all alone without any help.

That’s the plot of a gem called “I Am Sam”, brilliantly directed by Jessie Nelson and with a mind blowing performance by Sean Penn as the retarded father fighting for the custody of his daughter. In fact the movie has more than one star to write about with Sean Penn leading them all. Sean’s performance is undoubtedly one of the best acts I have seen till date portraying a retarded character with so much love, emotions and pain. He just moves into the body of his character with such an incredible ease which should be considered like a lesson by every young student pursuing acting and cinema as his career.

Along with Sean, the second star of the movie is Dacota Fanning, playing Sean’s young daughter. She is simply superb in her role showing tremendous understanding of the scenes and dialogues she is given in the movie. At such a small age it was indeed a great piece of work presented by the now young lady. The emotional masterpiece has another star act put forward by the group of Sam’s friends who are also retarded characters with a very limited ability to think. Their few scenes with Sam and in the Court Room are very well written, well acted and highly enjoyable. The credit of their notable performances goes to the director and the writers who gave them a soothing presence in the movie as the friendly helping hands of Sam.

And finally the fourth star of the classic is its outstanding camerawork which realistically captures the tender moments of the movie as required by its theme. The intelligent handheld camera movements, the intense close ups, the fast cuts and the zoom in, zoom outs simply take you into the scene as if you are a part of the real happenings. The superb shot taking style makes you feel the same as the characters on the screen. Especially the well shot sequences in the Court Room where each testimonial contributes its own unique angle to the case. Apart from these, Michelle Pfeiffer as the lawyer and Dianne Wiest as Annie are also just perfect in their sensitive performances, equally contributing in making the movie a touching worth watching emotional experience, not to be missed.

And you are sure going to remember the innocent SAM in the movie, for a long long time.

Directed By Jessie Nelson
Starring : Sean Penn, Dacota Fanning, Michelle Pfeiffer, Dianne Wiest & more.

(Check out the complete list in details at www.bobbytalkscinema.com)

Hiroshima (1998) (Docudrama) - (Movies To See Before You Die - Historical)

It happened more than 60 years back, even before the birth of majority of people reading this article. But till date, this ugly black patch on the World’s history still remains the most haunting disasters witnessed by the people on this earth. Created and planned by the man himself, the tragic, mean and inhuman attack was the most questionable decision taken by the authorities to destroy their rivals at that time.

BBC remembers the horrifying incident with a remarkable docu-drama feature which covers the proceedings of that particular day along with the first hand experiences of the people involved in it. Brilliantly conceived & directed by Paul Wilmshurst, the feature enlightens you with the actual story behind the atomic bomb and the reasons responsible for the decision of dropping it at Hiroshima. Along with that it also shows the dreadful impact of the bomb on the innocent civilians who never expected this kind of brutal, massive and heartless attack on their city. The shocking and horrendous site of the enormous explosion actually even shook the people responsible for it, leaving them with a strange feeling, filled with mixed reactions.

The feature is an intelligent mix of actual interviews of the people who witnessed it and a very passionate reconstruction of the awful incident in details with a good use of computer graphics. In addition to this, the movie also showcases the available real archive footage of the proceedings, which in turn makes it a must watch docu-drama for every single human being enjoying the blessing of life. In fact, I would like to recommend every University in the world to show this movie to their young students which will surely help them to have a better understanding of the History and will encourage them to build a better world to live in for the coming generation.

I wish somebody from the schools and universities reads this article and shows the movie to his or her students as a step to make a difference in their lives.

Directed By Paul Wilmshurst

(Check out the complete list in details at www.bobbytalkscinema.com)

Andaz Apna Apna (1994) - (Movies To See Before You Die - Comedy)

One of the most famous and appreciated comedies the current generation, “Andaz Apna Apna” is directed by Raj Kumar Santoshi, who is more known for his hard hitting emotional dramas and thrillers. It was his first comedy movie featuring the two big Khans, Aamir & Salman, who were also coming together in a project for the first time. With the new age kind of humor, intelligently directed by Santoshi, the movie scores high on the entertainment quotient and has many well conceived comedy sequences to enjoy.

Along with the boys, both Karishma Kapoor & Raveena Tandon also contributed equally in making the movie a Classic Bollywood comedy of the hip generation. Moreover, the hilarious acts of Paresh Rawal in a double role and Shakti Kapoor as Crime Master Gogo hugely helped the movie in acquiring a cult status in the world of comedies, on the lines of the immensely famous “Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron” & “Padosan”. Especially the last thirty minutes of the film wherein all the lead characters are having a blast in the Don’s den are a real treat to watch in this highly enjoyable classic.

Ironically, the movie was completely rejected by the audience at the time of its release in 1994. However, I still remember the great time we all had while watching it in the big cinema hall of those times but somehow it couldn’t establish the right connection with the viewers universally. May be the one liner witty humor in the movie was way before its right time. And that might be the reason why “Andaz Apna Apna” later received its much deserved appreciation from the younger generation and is now currently included among the Top 10 comedies ever made in the Hindi Film Industry.

So, the next time, you want to have a good fun time together with your family then this is what you should go for at once. A highly recommended flick for all Bollywood comedy lovers.

Directed By Raj Kumar Santoshi
Starring : Aamir Khan, Salman Khan, Karishma Kapoor, Raveena Tandon, Paresh Rawal, Shakti Kapoor, Deven Verma & more.

Ghar (1978) - (Movies To See Before You Die - Drama)

Very few movies are based on stories capable of shaking the viewer with a shock treatment and making him think. Very rarely comes a realistic story on the screen which sends shivers down your spine and makes you feel sorry for the characters facing the unexpected tragedy. “Ghar” is one of those rare well directed movies from Bollywood, having an unfortunate story to tell which happens to be both realistic and disturbing at the same time.

Revolving around the life of a newlywed couple, the story depicts the tragic trauma faced by both the husband and wife when they become victim of some bad elements of the area while returning from a late night film show. The harsh and unkind tragedy with the couple, completely changes their outlook towards their own existence and they have to fight real hard to overcome the unfortunate even of that dark night. Interestingly, “Ghar” has a unique story plot which was quiet bold and a first in Hindi Cinema at the time of its release in the late seventies. And that was the reason it also won the Filmfare Award for the Best Story in 1978.

The novel plot of the movie got its much required support from the talented diva, Rekha, who plays the traumatised wife of the helpless husband enacted by Vinod Mehra. Unarguably included in one of her top five performances, the movie has Rekha in a completely different avtaar (role), as never seen before or after “Ghar”. She brilliantly portrays the fear, pain and grief felt by her character in the script in the most believable way which touches the viewer deep inside. Vinod Mehra also compliments the lifetime performance of his co-star in an impressive manner which in turn makes this movie a worth watching emotional experience, not to be missed.

Director Manik Chatterjee emerges as a master film-maker in this touching portrayal of human emotions. He captures the inner fight of his characters on the screen in a splendid way. But sadly he could give us only two movies in his lifetime as a director. Though his second movie cannot be termed as a classic comparitively, but it still has her favourite actress, Rekha featuring in & as the “Bhaurani” released in1989. Along with his master music director “R. D. Burman” & legendary lyricist “Gulzar”, Manik also showed a tremendous sense of music & lyrics in his “Ghar”. With musical gems such as “Aaj Kal Paon Mere”, “Tere Bina Jiya Jaaye Na”, “Phir Wohi Shaam Hai” & “Aap Ki Ankhon Mein Kuchh”, the movie will be always remembered as one of the best sensitive and socially relevant films made in Bollywood. So, if you havent seen it yet, then just go for its DVD at once.

Directed By Manik Chatterjee
Starring : Rekha, Vinod Mehra, Dinesh Thakur, Prema Narayan & more.
Music by R. D. Burman

(Check out the complete list in details at www.bobbytalkscinema.com)

Changeling (2008) - (Movies To See Before You Die - Suspense / Drama)

As the few opening words describing this unbelievable piece of art, I would only like to say that.....

“They Still Make These Kind of Movies in 2008”.

The emotional experience named “Changeling” made me a bigger fan of Clint Eastwood, the veteran actor director who earlier hugely impressed me with his “The Bridges of Madison County”. Also featuring Angelina Jolie in the main lead, the movie completely shatters the immensely famous image of the beautiful actress and introduces you to a new, talented and emotional side of her lovable identity. Eastwood inventively, extracts a highly impressive and life time performance from Angelina, along with worth praising acts from the entire supporting cast and comes up with yet another gem in his exceptional career.

An outstanding adaptation of a shocking true incident, the movie remains unbelievable even when you are told that it is all based on the TRUE happenings. The story revolves around a single mother living with his sweet nine year old kid in Los Angeles in the year 1928. Their simple & happy life moves on to different path altogether when one fine day the little kid simply vanishes into thin air and can be found no-where around. The crying mother keeps searching for her dear child and in the end reaches the police station to file a complaint. And from there on the movie takes a sharp turn and drives you into a completely unexpected arena with some devastating truths being told on the screen which actually happened in the life of that victim lady and her child. I will not like to reveal anything more about the plot as that will certainly take away the spirit of watching this emotional and engrossing tale, well told by the master craftsman Clint Eastwood.

But I will surely like to end my brief review, with a quote that “Changeling is undoubtedly one of those rare movies which have the power to make you forget all the essential and urgent assignments of your daily life and would compel you to see it in one go, sitting on your favorite couch in the room.”

A terrific suspense drama, which deserves to be seen at the earliest.

Directed By Clint Eastwood
Starring : Angelina Jolie, John Malkovich and more

(Check out the complete list in details at www.bobbytalkscinema.com)

Damini (1993) - (Movies To See Before You Die - Drama / Court Room)

Rajkumar Santoshi directed “Damini” (Lightning) is indisputably one of the finest movies from Indian cinema representing the suppressed voice of a woman and the power of truth. Remembered for its bold subject the film exposes the ugly and decayed face of Indian traditional values which have now lost their real sacred meaning in the current times. Revolving around the gang rape of a poor and helpless maid, it depicts the wide class system still prevailing in the Indian society even today. It impressively showcases how the poor continue to be exploited by the richer section in the cities and how it’s still difficult to raise a voice against this exploitation in absence of a clean and pure judiciary system.

Meenakshi Sheshardri gives a power packed performance in & as "Damini" playing the newlywed entrant in the house who declares war against the inhuman act done by the young members of her own in-laws family. And there is no one to support her in the new home, not even her own loving husband who loves her a lot. A drunkard & loser lawyer, living a deserted lonely life comes to her rescue and fights the court case on her behalf. Brilliantly directed by Santoshi, the intense emotional drama has four award worthy acts, simply not to be missed.

Meenakshi as the lady fighting for her human and traditional ethics, Rishi Kapoor as her husband caught in a moral dilemma, Sunny Deol as the tough lawyer fighting the case for her and Amrish Puri as the cunning, dishonest lawyer fighting the law suit against Sunny in the court. But surprsingly along with the director only Sunny Deol won the Filmfare awards that year. Sunny even got a National Award for his punchy performance but sadly the most deserving of all, Meenakshi Sheshardri, didn't receive any major awards for her realistic and thoughtful portrayal of a woman fighting for the dignity of her maid.

To sum it up, if you love intense emotional dramas leading to some highly engrossing court room sequences then "Damini" is one of the best Bollywood movies made in this particular genre. It is touching, emotional and also immensely entertaining because of the fiery interaction court room scenes between Sunny Deol & Amrish Puri. In fact Sunny's famous dialogue from the movie "Dhai Kilo Ka Haath" has now achieved a cult status among the famous Bollywood dialogues of all times. A highly recommended masterpiece, especially for the younger generation.

Directed By Rajkumar Santoshi
Starring : Meenakshi Sheshadri, Rishi Kapoor, Sunny Deol, Amrish Puri, Kulbhushan Kharbanda and more.
Music by Nadeem Shravan

(Check out the complete list in details at www.bobbytalkscinema.com)

Fiddler On The Roof (1971) - (Movies To See Before You Die - Drama / Musical)

For friends, who are not interested in English Musicals, I would like to vouch for this remarkable work released in 1971, with a sincere request of giving this movie a chance. I strongly believe that “Fiddler on the Roof” will undoubtedly change your whole outlook towards foreign musicals, within its first hour itself. And for friends who are already familiar with this particular genre, it will certainly be a worthwhile experience to watch this great epic with all your family members together. Frankly speaking, I wasn’t expecting much from the movie as it started. But the moment I witnessed its opening introductory sequence about the “Value of Traditions” and “Family”, I simply stood awestruck with its mesmerizing impact. The magnetic pull of its innovative musical notes accompanied by the captivating act of Topol (the lead actor), was simply one of the best starts I had ever seen.

It’s the story of a loving father living with his wife and five lovely daughters in a village called Anatevka situated in Russia. The period is of early twentieth century when “The Family Traditions” still played the most important roles in the life of people living in that village. The main plot revolves around the conflict elders have to face when their own children refuse to agree to their ages old traditional values and start revolting. The dilemma experienced by the loving father is depicted brilliantly in this Oscar Winner movie, also rated as one of the best musicals made till date.

In fact the main reason, why you should watch this period movie is the actor Topol, who plays the carefree and full of life father of his five beautiful girls. The way he infuses life into his lively character is quite remarkable and entertaining. His immensely enjoyable dances, his one sided monologues with “The GOD” and his well written dialogues with repeated phrases of “On the other hand” truly deserve many repeated viewings by anyone who loves the medium of cinema from heart.

Though the movie proceeds at a slow speed in the middle, but it still successfully leaves a highly positive impact on the viewer in the end. The creative genius of the director Normal Jewison along with his master mind cinematographer is clearly visible all through the movie, especially in the precious life teaching scenes of Topol, where he is all alone talking to his animals, himself and his GOD.

In few words, with a life time performance to study, “Fiddler on the Roof” is a pure musical gem, deserving to be seen at the earliest, for its highly entertaining and enlightening moments for all.

Directed By Normal Jewison
Starring : Topol, Norma Crane and more.

(Chek out the complete list at www.bobbytalkscinema.com)

Haqeeqat (1964) (Movies To See Before You Die - War)

Unlike the West, Indian Cinema hasn’t got many movies made on the subject of War. The filmmakers lead by financial motives, somehow did not find the genre commercially viable or capable of resulting in profitable figures. But out of the handful movies attempted by some serious directors in this genre, we still have a worth watching Gem to recall with an apt title “Haqeeqat” (The Reality). Thoughtfully directed by the legendary Chetan Anand and melodiously equipped by the musical maestro Madan Mohan, the black & white Classic still remains “The Best Project” on the subject of War and its consequences in Hindi Cinema till date.

Based on the Indo-China war, it’s a realistic take on the War Front where thousands of people are shot like lifeless targets. Where along with soldiers from both the sides, the undisclosed victims of a war are the innocent civilians living on the borders in their small villages. Directed from the prospective of a nation which has never attacked any neighboring country, the movie is unarguably full of text book material on film-making. Shot on the original and beautiful location of Laddakh and superbly acted by every single person in the star-cast, “Haqeeqat” is a strong & worthy representative of Indian Cinema all over the world. With immortal songs like “Main Yeh Soch Kar”, “Hoke Majboor Mujhe” and “Kar Chale Hum Fida Jan-o-Tan Sathiyo” it becomes a mandatory watch for every Hindi Cinema lover around the globe and you simply cannot afford to miss it.

Directed By Chetan Anand
Starring : Balraj Sahni, Dharmendra, Vijay Anand, Sanjay Khan, Priya Rajwansh, Sudhir, Mac Mohan, Bhupinder & more
Music : Madan Mohan
Lyrics : Kaifi Azmi

Click Here to Read another article on "Haqeeqat" and its immortal lyrical songs :
Haqeeqat (1964) : About the persons, very important in our lives, who we don't know about.

Pakeezah - A magnum opus (with its amazing unknown facts)

“Pakeezah”, a magnum opus of poetic expressions on celluloid remains as pure as its apt title, even in these progressive years of the twenty first century. It still has the power to teleport you into those innocent years of the bygone era, wherein music, poetry, dance and love were cherished as the most valuable possessions of a living human being. Featuring the legendary tragedy queen, Meena Kumari, the movie is considered to be an important milestone in the history of Hindi Cinema. It enjoys a huge cult status due to it’s out of the world direction, poetic dialogues, realistic performances and pure immortal music.

Incidentally, as it was destined to be, the movie which got launched initially in 1958, took almost 14 long years to shine in the darkness of the theaters. And in this long span of time, it witnessed several break ups, separations, changes and additions, which are still unknown to many film lovers all over the world.

CLICK HERE to read about some of those amazing facts and trivia related to the making and completion of this musical classic called “Pakeezah”.

Jaws (1975) (Movies To See Before You Die - Adventure)

If a movie can scare a good majority of its viewers, creating a highly tense atmosphere within few minutes of its start, then it certainly deserves a respectable place among the Top 10 thrillers made in the history of Cinema. Coming from one of the most highly rated directors of the world, Steven Spielberg, “Jaws” is included among his best works till date and remembered for the euphoria it created at the time of its release in 1975. The impact of the movie was so huge that people were reportedly feeling scared of entering the sea water after watching this entertaining fast paced thriller.

Based on the merciless killings made by a dangerous shark moving freely in the water, the movie creates an incredible ambience of fear. It grabs you from the collar and makes you feel the trauma faced by the people living on the famous beach city. It shows the genius of the director Spielberg, when he simply generates a tremendous amount of tension in the viewers mind without even showing the shark on the screen. He simply bowls you over with the brutality of her attacks and the half eaten bodies lying lifeless on the sand.

In recent times you may have seen great terrifying thrillers like “Saw”, “Final Destination” and more. But in the seventies “Jaws” was the first of its kind leaving an unforgettable impact on the viewers. The haunting background score representing the presence of the shark, still sends shivers down to the spine. The movie became a huge success and an all time top grosser at the box office. Its famous poster showing the big deadly jaw of a shark, can still be seen in movie stores and DVD libraries all over the world. Though the makers tried to cash on the craze with its subsequent sequels, Jaws2 and more, but it was only the first one which could make the real dent in the market.
In short, “Jaws” is like sitting through a dangerous bumpy ride and enjoying the thrill along with fear. The tension hidden in the unexpected killer shark attacks, is a must have experience indeed. So, just go for it now and have your turn in this roller coaster ride from Steven Spielberg.

Directed By Steven Spielberg
Starring : Roy Scheider, Lorraine Gary & more

The Black Stallion (1979) (Movies To See Before You Die - Drama/Adventure)

How often we can use the phrase “Poetry on Celluloid” for a movie. How often we get to see a movie like a painting on the screen with various colors of love, affection, care and fun. The ratio is too low to discuss and we are seldom offered a project which can induce new spirits of life into every child, young and old in the family. “The Black Stallion” is such a movie, telling us the tale of a rare friendship between a child and his horse. It’s a song, which teaches us the value of life force, flowing in every living being on this earth, other than the human race.

It is seen, that the moment you talk about a children movie, many of the viewers lose their interest, expecting it to be on the same old patterns seen many times before. But..... do not consider “The Black Stallion” as a children movie alone. It’s a unique experience of its own kind and not just another Kid movie talking about the loving relationship between a child and an animal. In fact it is a technical masterpiece excelling in every department of film-making, which should be seen as a must, by all involved in studying or praising a movie experience.

The main merit of the movie is that it does not try to exploit you emotionally. The director is not interested in telling us the tale with some painful sequences or scenes where we are supposed to cry. In fact the movie even does not have too many emotional scenes. But what it has.....is the feel of a fresh soothing breeze, flowing smoothly through your body with a feathery touch. The story may sound familiar but it surely has a novel majestic treatment to offer which you may not have seen before on the silver screen.

Apart from its expressive star-cast and impressive direction, the other two important aces in the movie are its spectacular Cinematography and brilliant Background Score. The scenes when the boy and his horse are playing all alone on a deserted island are brilliantly canned and visualized. It’s like you are looking at the visuals of a beautiful dream. (May be Tom Hanks & Robert Zemeckis got the idea of “Cast Away” from here only.) Especially the scene where the boy is face to face with a deadly snake increases the level of your heartbeats. The picturisation stays in your mind and you want to experience it again.

The climax sequence has a stunning race course event where The Black Stallion is running with the young Jockey boy at his back. The chase simply drags you in with its outstanding sound effects and brilliant musical notes. The heavy breathing of the horse, the sound of his feet touching the ground with an unbelievable speed and the blood coming out of his wounded leg, brings you on to the edge of your seat. And as he crosses the finish mark you feel like standing, jumping and cheering for the “The Black Stallion” and his small master. A true masterpiece with breathtaking cinematography, amusing musical score and a worth praising directorial effort. A must watch for all in the family together.

Directed By Carroll Ballard
Starring : Kelly Reno, Mickey Rooney & more

Shaheed (1965) (Movies To See Before You Die - Historical)

Hindi Cinema has produced only few quality movies based on Indian Independence Movement which can be considered as Text Book Material for the younger generations. And if we start thinking about them from the start then “Shaheed” stands tall among the top 3 movies on the subject. Without touching any sensitive issue of religion, the movie talks about the inspiring life of Shaheed-E-Azam Bhagat Singh with an authentic depiction of the tough fight he gave to the then ruling British Authorities. Such was the strength of his spirited revolt that the British Empire was forced to give him and his fellow supporters the death penalty. And it is still believed by a stronger section of people that the cruel hanging of Bhagat Singh, Rajguru & Sukhdev laid a strong foundation for our Independence, we later got in 1947.

Although many current film-makers have also come up with their own versions of this historical chapter (Rajkumar Santoshi, Ajay Devgan, Sonu Sood & the Deols), but S. Ram Sharma’s “Shaheed” still remains the most realistic and moving movie made on the Legendary Bhagat Singh’s life.

A valid explanation for the movie, still being the best is that it was made by the people who were more close to that era. May be there were also people who had lived those years themselves and could recall the time with their first hand experience. You can feel the exact passion and emotions in the superb acts portrayed by every single actor in the movie. Moreover “Shaheed” also had the most patriotic person of the Indian Film Industry playing the lead role, Manoj Kumar, who later also became famous as “Mr. Bharat” due to his memorable movies made on India and its social values. Apart from the lead, the most impressive character in the movie is played by the then famous bad man, Pran. He entertains as well as makes you think, with his well written philosophical dialogues. You will simply fall in love with the way he speaks in his own Punjabi style. And on the day he makes his last wish, you can feel the pain felt by him making his final hand shake with Bhagat Singh.

The concluding 30 minutes of the movie are the highlights of this highly appreciated historical classic when Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev move towards their end with smiles on their faces. And when they strongly hug each other for the last time, you are bound to have tears in your eyes respecting their brave sacrifice for the country. Along with its immortal songs such as “Mera Rang De Basanti Chola”, “Aye Watan Aye Watan“, "Pagdhi Sambhal Jataa” & “Sarfaroshi Ki Tamanna”, the movie becomes an unforgettable experience for everyone feeling the love for their nation and its people.

Another USP of “Shaheed” is that it is miles ahead of any caste and religion differences. It completely focuses on the revolutionary efforts of Bhagat Singh, his friends and their valuable contribution in our freedom struggle. If you want to teach your children, about how we earned our independence in 1947 then this is one of those most important movies to be shown to the younger generation with great pride and honour. Don’t take it as a just another weekend movie since it has the power to define the foundation of many future lives and careers. A must watch for all.

Directed By S. Ram Sharma
Starring : Manoj Kumar, Pran, Prem Chopra, Kamini Kaushal, Nirupa Roy, Anand Kumar, Madan Puri & more.
Music by Prem Dhawan