Saturday, 21 April 2012
2011- a mixed bag for Indian cinema
By
Ajanta Paul
Published Friday, December 23, 2011
Hrithik Roshan opens 2012 with the much awaited ‘Agneepath’ (AFP)
The jam-packed international cricket calendar kept movie goers away from cinema halls in the first half of the year 2011. But like a true champion, Bollywood made a comeback in the second half.
Salman Khan hit the jackpot with his record-breaking 'Bodyguard' and 'Ready', followed by Aamir Khan’s home production 'Delhi Belly'.
Small budget movies like 'Tanu Weds Manu', ‘Dou Dunni Char’,'Ragini MMS', 'Murder 2' again proved to be fruitful for the producers. But leading the band wagon was Vidya Balan's unconventional, 'The Dirty Picture'.
It was an action packed year with 'Ready', 'Bodyguard','Force' and 'Singham'. However Hindi cinema’s superhero Shah Rukh Khan with his $20 million science-fiction didn’t quite live up to the expectations.
Bollywood coming-of-age film directed by Zoya Akhtar's 'Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara' was "a beautifully scripted journey of catharsis" as film critic Pratim D. Gupta puts it. She hits the nail on its head with a perfect combination of irresistible Hrithik Roshan, carefree and fun-filled Farhan Akhtar and the easy going Abhay Deol.
Young turk Ranbir Kapoor garnered many accolades through his soulfully musical 'Rockstar' but the movie received harsh reviews from several critics.
With more than 100 releases, for the first time in Indian cinematic history three films crossed the Rs 100 crore mark.
The opening innings is led by Hrithik Roshan. Dharma Production’s much-awaited ‘Agneepath’ will be Hrithik Roshan’s baptism by fire. A remake of Amitabh Bachchan starrer that took the audience by storm in 1990s will hope for an encore at the box-office. Meanwhile the father-son duo of Rakesh Roshan and Hrithik will come together again with ‘Krish 2’.
The Khans have become the figure head of Hindi cinema in India and Salman Khan will roar in with 'Ek Tha Tiger'. Meanwhile Aamir Khan will play a baddie in 'Dhoom 3'- the third part of the successful 'Dhoom' franchise from the Yash Raj Films bouquet. Aamir's 'Talaash' along with leading lady Kareena Kapoor and Rani Mukherji, has raised expectations from a powerful script by Reema Kagti.
Bollywood’s own Kungfu Panda - Akshay Kumar will enter the frame with his action flick 'Rowdy Rathore', 'Khiladi 786' and Sci-fi flick 'Joker'.
While the big boys will give you your action does Imran Khan and Kareena Kapoor will bring some romantic relief with 'Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu'. Junior Khan will finally get to showcase his work with his favourite actress in this Karan Johar production.
Next year's draw looks pretty strong with Abbas Mustan's multi-starrer thriller 'Players', Anurag Basu's 'Barfee' with Ranbir Kapoor, Priyanka Chopra and 'Kahaani' with the bold and beautiful Vidya Balan.
Kareena Kapoor vows to give her best performance in Madhur Bhandarkar's 'Heroine', starring opposite Arjun Rampal, while Abhay Deol with his 'boy-next-door' image prepares for another hit with 'Shanghai'.
Other line-up includes, ‘Student Of The Year’, ‘Bol Bachchan’, ‘Agent Vinod’ and ‘Son Of ‘Sardar',
The sequels too are coming back with a vengeance- 'Once Upon A Time In Mumbai 2' , 'Race 2', 'Raaz 3', 'Dabangg 2', 'Dostana 2', 'Housefull 2' and 'Jannat 2'.
So for all the movie lovers there's plenty to look forward to in 2012.
