NEW DELHI. MID-90s. PVR, Saket, India’s first multiplex, launched amid much speculation: Will the Indian audiences accept a small screen? Will they shell out 100 odd bucks to watch a flick?
2006, almost a decade later, the Indian box-office put to rest all speculation. For, today almost 90 per cent of a film’s business is generated through these very multiplexes. What’s more, with multiple shows — 30 shows a day in some cases — the entire investment on the movie is back in the first week itself.
2006 saw very many films sail to the winning post; just on the strength of the first week’s collections. Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna is the best example.
Here is a pick of the best 10 movies of the most happening year for Bollywood - 2006.
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Dor [Director: Nagesh Kukunoor]
What a film! The movie’s best part was that it showcased women-power, without getting screechy or preachy. The bond between the two girls and the camaraderie they shared was brilliantly captured. The best part was both the characters were alternately, the protagonists as well, the antagonists. Nagesh we want more…
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Lage Raho Munnbhai [Director: Raj Kumar Hirani]
Lage Raho Munnabhai is among rare flicks that surpassed the original. The best part, the essence of Gandhism was beautifully weaved into the script. Brilliant performances added to the film’s appeal.
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Krrish [Director: Rakesh Roshan]
With Krrish, the father-son duo completed their hat-trick at the box-office. Kaho Naa Pyar Hai, Koi Mil Gaya and now Krrish. The Roshans are smiling all the way to the bank. Though not as perfect as Koi Mil Gaya, Krrish held on because of Hrithik’s infallible act as India’s first superhero.
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Pyaar Ke Side Effects [Director: Saket Chaudhry]
What happens when a Mumbai ka munda meets Dilli dee kudee. Dhamaal, and of course, box-office kamaal. The film is Pritish Nandy Communications first hit.
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Rang De Basanti [Director: Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra]
Boy, was it numerology — note Rakesh Mehra’s change in name — or plain creativity. The film was the talk of the town. Though, this critic found it to be ordinary, the style and the editing pattern were no doubt the high points of this flick.
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Dhoom 2 [Director: Sanjay Gadhvi]
Hrithik Roshan. Again! This is one guy who is simply unstoppable. Only he could have played ‘A’ryan the ‘a’ce-thief with such precision and perfection. Not very many dialogues, just his facial expressions and his body language are enough to establish his character. He is brilliance personified in Dhoom 2 song sequence! The only spoiler in Dhoom 2 was the second half and that means carrying bad memories home, unless you are die-hard Hrithik fan.
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Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna [Director: Karan Johar]
What a subject. Infidelity. What a timing. A leading daily carried out a report: Quick to wed, quicker to split; but alas, the execution took away the shine from the film. Instead of empathizing with the protagonists, Shahrukh and Rani, the audience hates them. Can the characters get any weaker? So what was the high point? A colorful Sexy Sam, the relief in an otherwise somber affair. Watch him in Rock ’n’ roll Soniye… and you will agree.
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Mixed Doubles [Director: Rajat Kapoor]
Wife swapping. The high-class and the middle-class. A new concept for Hindi cinema that had the wry humor to make you grin and then smile.
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Khosla Ka Ghosla [Director: Dibakar Banerjee]
You don’t have to be a dilli ka banda to enjoy this flick on land-grabbing dhandha. A film that is so typical to life in Delhi. The simple narrative and the travails of Khosla enthralled the audiences not only in Delhi, but all over the country.
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Omkaara [Director: Vishal Bhardwaj]
Vishal Bharadwaj’s take on Othello received mixed response. Critics lapped it up, while the audience found it to be a bit too gross (crude language). Whatever the naysayers might say, there are no doubts that Saif Ali Khan was evil personified as Langda Tyagi. His best act so far.
If 2006 saw the high, then there were also films that were highly pretentious and failed to live up to the great expectations. Among such movies were:
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Umraao Yawn [Umraao Jaan]
This was one yawn yarn that went on and on. Though, everything in the movie was equally bad, but the biggest letdown was the music. Abosolute dud. Probably the next remake should take a bit of melody from the original. Dil cheez kya hai aap meri jaan lijiye...
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Con [Don]
Yet another remake and yet another fall. Be it direction, acting, scripting, music, choreography – everything looked pale when compared to original. Shahrukh is no Amitabh Bachchan and Kareena is no Helen. The jazzed up look of the film was its only high-point. No doubt the film’s business was as pale when compared to the original.
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Jaan-e-dit [Jaan-e-mann]
Editors shouldn’t edit their directorial ventures. Hope Shirish Kunder learnt it with Jaan-e-mann. What could have been a supposedly entertaining film, got marred by its excessive length.
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Bah Buh [Babul]
A 60s style drama that ironically went out with the protagonist in the film – Amitabh Bachchan.
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