Is it the biggest Bollywood year this decade?

A frontbencher’s view
The big movies have released, and more are in waiting to hit theatres in the coming months - 2016 is all about big releases. Sit back and enjoy every Friday till this year ends

When the year 2016 started I thought it is going to be biggest action year of Bollywood and I had four releases in mind 'Sultan', 'Rustom', 'Madaari' and 'Akira'. The fact is Bollywood has surprised me this year.

Although, 'Sultan' was not at the level of 'Bajrangi Bhaijan' but Salman Khan's effort could be seen on screen, which had reflected in Box Office numbers. 'Madaari' in my book was a great attempt that explains the criminal and scary carelessness of those who govern us and Irrfan Khan's performance was excellent; he gave this one role a lot of life.

'Rustom' directed by Tinu Suresh Desai has rocked the box office. So, While the holier than thou purist brigade was busy trolling Akshay’s uniform and soap opera style ; this one struck a chord with the audience so much that, BO register is still ringing for Rustom Pavri and his three shoots. The audience does not listen to the purists.

‘Akira’ hit the screens and whether we are her fans or not, Sonakshi’s screen presence and acting capabilities are well established. Her fans on the ground will go and watch and let’s not under-estimate the fact that this one is helmed by the BO big numbers driver called AR Murugadoss.

The fourth movie, which surprised us with a sleeper hit is ‘Happy Bhag Jayegi’. It has such sharp humour in it that I was laughing alone while driving back home from the theater. Jimmy Shergil and Piyush Mishra have elevated this movie to a different level. I will be surprised if this movie does not become hugely popular in home viewing this year and a few more years to come.

Then I suddenly stumbled on the list of the next four month releases. Ajay Devgn’s ‘Shivaay’ is the first one – the trailer has created a huge buzz and if you have not yet seen the heavy duty monologue by Devgn then please watch it. Then, ‘Pink’ comes with the trailer and in news, and is as dark as it can get. Bachchan has been given such a different look for this movie that I just want to watch it.

Then there is another one called ‘Dangal’. Barring that third class glitch called ‘Dhoom 3’ and the dragging ‘PK’, Aamir chooses his subjects carefully; this movie looks very promising yet again. It is also a brave subject though thanks to Sakshi Malik winning bronze, girls into wrestling will no longer be surprising for audiences. And if you have not been aware - 2016 also, towards its fag end is coming up with three biggest sequels.

The first one is ‘Kahaani 2’. ‘Kahaani’ original was an epic of a thriller. Sujoy Ghosh brought a brilliant story and the second stroke of genius that he played was choosing Vidya Balan in the role of the woman called Bidya Bagchi as the woman who is hunting for her disappeared husband. ‘Kahaani’ had a story, which left the smartest one amongst us guessing. Trust me Agatha Christie would be proud of writing ‘Kahaani’.

Need I say more why we should not be anticipating ‘Kahaani 2’ ?
The other one that we should wait for is ‘Rock On!! 2’ . One of Bollywood’s most matured attempt at buddy movies. ‘Rock on’ has grown to be a cult classic today. Many of us will wait for the sequel now.

The third one is ‘Force 2’. Force gave us, in its first part, one of our biggest screen villains called Vishnu. Played by Vidyut Jamwal , Vishnu believed in his own evil so much that he could probably rank up there with some of our coldest, menacing villains. Force was an immensely watchable movie for what Vishnu brought on the screen.

Bollywood has given us a huge year in the form of 2016, both in terms of relish what has already come and what we should wait for. Sit back and enjoy every Friday till this year ends. I doubt when next will Bollywood become so soft, evil, comic and message-giving in one single year again. So, is it the biggest Bollywood year of this decade? I leave that decision to you, I am sure by 31st of December most of you might say yes !
- Rahul Deo Bharadwaj http://thesocietyasiseeit.blogspot.in