Mughal-e-Azam
Director: K.Asif
Starring: Prithviraj Kapoor, Dilip Kumar, Madhubala
Plot: The eternal love story of Prince Salim and courtesan Anarkali creates a stir in the Mughal Emrpire as King Akbar disapproves of this relationship and has the courtesan entombed alive. The Prince rebels against his father and thereafter the epic saga unfolds the battle between love and respect.
Our Verdict: Immortalized performances by the lead Actors and the soulful music, make this film a must watch for every Indian. No doubt it is often referred to as the ‘Bible of Indian cinema’.
Anand
Director: Hrishikesh Mukherjee
Starring: Rajesh Khanna, Amitabh Bachchan
Plot: A lively and spirited Anand is suffering from a deadly disease but still manages to live life cheerfully and continues to spread smiles all around him.
Our Verdict: Considered as one of the cult movies of Indian Cinema, Anand surely left a huge impact on the audiences. Rajesh Khanna as the protagonist is marvelous and so is the supporting cast of Amitabh Bachchan and Johnny Walker. The dialogues penned by Gulzar leave our eyes moist, every time we watch the movie.
Munna Bhai M.B.B.S
Director: Raj Kumar Hirani
Starring: Sanjay Dutt, Arshad Warsi, Jimmy Shergill, Garcy Singh
Plot: A light hearted goon (Munna) joins medical school to even-out things with the Dean (Dr.Asthana) there. Aided by his side-kick (Circuit), he takes a jolly ride around the campus and ends up wooing the Dean’s daughter (Chinki) along with the students, patients, and other staff members of the hospital cum medical college.
Our Verdict: Sanjay Dutt and Arshad Warsi cemented their place in the hearts of millions of people with their acting. Boman Irani’s performance as the stern Dean deserves a special mention here.
Lagaan
Director: Ashutosh Gowarikar
Starring: Aamir Khan, Gracy Singh
Plot: Based in the pre-independence era, the story revolves around the villagers of Champaner- of how they unite against the British Raj in a game of cricket and achieve freedom from paying taxes.
Our Verdict: The movie was nominated in the “Best Foreign Language Film” category at the Academy Awards, we need not say more. Remarkable direction and some heart-touching performances made the film receive cult status in the history of Indian Cinema.
Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (DDLJ)
Director: Aditya Chopra
Staring: Shah Rukh Khan, Kajol
Plot: A happy-go-lucky Raj falls in love with the bubbly Simran while vacationing in Europe. In order to win over her parents, he travels all the way from London to India, so she can marry him over the boy they have chosen for her.
Our Verdict: SRK and Kajol emerged as the most adored romantic pair for the years to come. Released in the year 1995, the movie still runs at Maratha Mandir in Mumbai, more often than not, which in itself explains the magic created by the team.
Kagaz ke Phool
Director: Guru Dutt
Starring: Waheeda Rahman, Guru Dutt
Plot: Inspired by a selection of events in the life of the director, the movie depicts a failed marriage, a career on the rocks and a never-dying male ego. A tragic end makes it even more somber.
Our Verdict: Although a box-office disaster, the movie went onto become one of the classics of world cinema. Kaifi Azmi’s lyrics are still afresh in our hearts.
Mother India
Director: Mehboob Khan
Starring: Nargis, Sunil Dutt, Rajendra Kumar, RajKumar
Plot: In dearth of money and food, a single mother Radha finds it difficult to survive in the hands of a sly & miser money-lender. Despite such pressures she succeeds in raising her sons, Ramu & Birju, although the latter goes onto become a dacoit. The movie orbits around the struggles of an ideal Indian woman in our conservative and orthodox society.
Our Verdict: India’s first film to be nominated in the “Best foreign Language Film” category at the Oscars, it is undoubtedly one of the most noted films of this century. Path-breaking performances by Nargis and Sunil Dutt make it even more scintillating to watch.
Sholay
Director: Ramesh Sippy
Starring: Sanjeev Kumar, Dharmendra, Amitabh Bachchan, Amjad Khan
Plot: A retired police officer Thakur hires two criminals Jai and Veeru to take revenge from the dreaded dacoit Gabbar Singh, who had brutally massacred his family in the past. The movie follows the chronicles of the two beloved friends, whom only death can do apart.
Our Verdict: Sholay is considerably the pioneer of commercial films in India. The dialogues penned by legendary duo Salim-Javed were so well received that to this date they are a part of our daily lingo, such is there demure. Every single character of this film still holds space in the audience’s memories.
Andaaz Apna Apna
Director: Raj Kumar Santoshi
Starring: Aamir Khan, Salman Khan
Plot: Two good for nothing aspirants fight it out to win the hand of an heiress and eventually end up saving her from the clutches of a dreaded criminal. The whole journey is nothing less than a laugh-riot.
Our Verdict: The comic-timing, the dialogues, the songs are all nothing but terrific. Most importantly, the chemistry between Aamir Khan and Salman Khan is something to definitely go for, Amar-Prem rule all the way.
3 Idiots
Director: Raj Kumar Hirani
Starring: Aamir Khan, Sharman Joshi, R.Madhavan, Boman Irani
Plot: Loosely based on Chetan Bhagat’s ‘Five Point Someone’, the story revolves around the lives of three engineering students, their friendship, career and love-life. How they struggle to pass their semesters and why it is important to follow one’s heart and not the society, the movie answers it all.
Our Verdict: Parents around the world got hold of the fact that, it is necessary to educate their children and not get them trained at reputed colleges. Raj Kumar Hirani once again emerged as the maverick and a prolific film-maker of modern India.
Photo Courtesy : http://redboard.rogers.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/Optimized-Bollywood.jpg
