IT WAS AN year of extravagant infrastructure, stylised and sophisticated protagonists, breathtaking stunts and much more. Bollywood, the most popular route to escapism chosen by Indian audiences, witnessed a sea change in its inventions this year.

 

The year’s first blockbuster Fanaa was a welcome respite for long-suffering Hindi movie fans groaning from beneath the tripe that Bollywood mercilessly shovels at them routinely. Watching Kajol after a hiatus still assures that she remains the best in the business. And the restless energy in Aamir was aptly used by Kunal Kohli directing him to give a stellar performance.

 

One of the most awe-inspiring and touching films to have come out of India in recent times, Rang De Basanti, leaves an indelible mark on your psyche, and your soul. Stellar performances and an incredulous storyline beautifully interspersing present day happenings with scenes of pre-independence struggle, intercut with fluidity sets you thinking. Stop cribbing, start acting.

 

They came, they saw and they conquered- very true for the awesome duo Sanjay Dutt and Arshad Warsi who first won hearts with Munnabhai MBBS and then this year with its sequel Lage Raho MunnaBhai. A riveting soulfulreading ofGandhiji’s simple methods in our daily lives thrown in the escapades of two lovable goons, Lage Raho is the first full-length Indian movie to be shown in the United Nations and has won praise from all and sundry.

 

This year Tony Ching Siu Tung gave Indian audience some of the most gripping special effects quite unbelievably done in an Indian set-up in Krrish. The zippy rubber dude Hritik bends like Beckham and runs like Forest Gump in 3-hour action-packed drama. At the box-office, the film has rewritten box-office history and emerged one of the biggest hits ever.

 

Then came Umrao Jaan, a retelling of a historical Indian tale covered in a 1981 Bollywood classic. The audiences succumbed to the lethal charm of the Ash-Abhisekh duo in Umrao Jaan. With the rumour mills churning out the stories of their engagement and marriage day in and day out, Umrao Jaan went on to pull hundreds to witness the chemistry of the celeb couple.   

 

A hi-octane edge of the seat thriller and sequel to Dhoom, much in line with its name, Dhoom 2 uproariously twisted the sloppy image of our candyfloss cinema and takes it to dizzy heights. The gritty action sequences and furious chases mixed with laughter in little pouches spread intermittently ensured an adrenalin rush in the audience. Hritik Roshan emerged an even greater star and overshadowed the Junior B completely. A masterstroke by director Sanjay Gadhvi, has definitely raised the bar.