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Based on aggregate
rankings by PB Staff
Email: bollywood@indolink.com
1999 was not much of a year for quality cinema, and
deservedly few films did well at the box office. (Even fewer films did universally well
around the globe.) It is to no surprise then, that the PB-staff had very different
opinions of good and bad cinema this past year. One man's sustenance was truly another
man's poison according to individual critics' listings. Still, we democratically compiled
a list that gives our readers a list of our overall recommendations for 1999. We have a
feeling that you will be surprised at the results, and chances are that you have not yet
seen at least one of these movies.
| # |
Movie |
Starring |
Music |
Director |
| 10 |
Mann |
Amir Khan, Manisha Koirala, Neeraj Vohra, Mushtaque
Khan & Special Appearances by Sharmila Tagore, Anil Kapoor, Rani Mukherjee, Shama
Gesawat, Deepti Bhatnagar and Dilip Tahil |
Sanjeev-Darshan |
Indra Kumar |
We have
no clue why Indian cinema-goers cannot accept serious and morbid twists in a film. Sure,
we watch films to escape reality but it is great to see those who have endured so much
trauma, live happily ever after. A film that rooted for the physically handicapped, Mann
deserved a far better fate at the box office. |
| 9 |
Anari
No. 1 |
Govinda, Raveena Tandon, Simran, Kader Khan, Aroona
Irani, Satish Shah, Prem Chopra, Himani Shivpuri & Special Appearance by Johny Lever |
Dilip Sen
Sameer Sen |
Kuku Kohli |
"Are
they out of their minds," you must be asking. No. Watch the incredulous comedy of
Govinda and Johny Lever in this flick and you will know why so many of our critics enjoyed
this movie. |
| 8 |
Biwi
No. 1 |
Anil Kapoor, Salman Khan, Karisma Kapoor, Sushmita
Sen, Tabu, Himani Shivpuri, Master Shahrukh, Baby Karishma & Special Appearance by
Saif Ali Khan |
Anu Malik |
David Dhawan |
This puts
a spoke in the theory that all critics hated Biwi No 1. Half the PB staff loved it, and
half hated it. Some took the comedic twist on a serious issue light-heartedly and others
deplored it. Go figure! |
| 7 |
Thakshak |
Ajay Devgan, Tabbu, Amrish Puri & Rahul Bose |
A.R.
Rahman |
Govind Nihalani |
Not an
extremely novel theme, but Nihalani tells it far better than most commercial directors
ever could. Again, a film unjustly neglected by the box office. |
| 6 |
Taal |
Anil Kapoor, Aishwariya Rai, Akshaye Khanna, Amrish
Puri |
A.R. Rahman |
Subhash Ghai |
Visuals
and music that mesmerize the eyes. You could throw pebbles through the wafer-thin and
uninspired plot, but Anil Kapoor and technology helped rescue the day for this flick. |
| 5 |
Mast |
Urmila Matondkar, Aftab Shivdasani, Antara Mali,
Neeraj Vohra, Govind Namdev, Dilip Tahil and Smita Jaykar |
Sandeep Chowta |
Ramgopal Varma |
On ode to
film fans; if only everyones' love for their favourite stars was thus reciprocated. Then
again, would you really want to marry those emotionally distraught people on the other
side of the screen? Wow, I just came up with another movie idea. The fan stalked by the
cinema star. |
| 5 |
Haseena Maan Jaayegi |
Govinda, Sanjay Dutt, Karisma Kapoor, Pooja Batra,
Aruna Irani, Kader Khan, Satish Kaushik, Paresh Rawal, Anupam Kher |
Anu Malik |
David Dhawan |
Laughter
and fun runs amuck in this simple, but effective flick from David Dhawan. Who's the King
of Comedy, huh, who? |
| 4 |
1947: Earth |
Aaamir Khan, Nandita Das, Rahul Khanna |
A.R. Rahman |
Deepa Mehta |
There's
an omnipresent sense of doom and danger in this well-crafted Indo-Canadian venture. Though
Mehta could not really incorporate the songs well into her movie, Earth shows how Indians
can make good cinema in the International domain. |
| 3 |
Kaun |
Urmila Matondkar, Manoj Bajpai |
Sandeep Chowta |
Ramgopal Varma |
Who's
that at your door? Dare to be different as always, Mr. Varma. The man changes genre from
movie to movie, more than our heroines change clothes in a song. And he does it with far
more engaging and memorable results. |
| 2 |
Hum
Dil De Chuke Sanam |
Salman Khan, Ajay Devgan, Aishwarya Rai |
Ismail Darbar |
Sanjay Leela Bhansali |
His first
film, Khamoshi: The Musical, was a flop in India and a
super-hit overseas. His second is above average in India and a super-hit overseas.
Talented Bhansali's tenth film will probably be a mega-hit even on Mars. |
And, the Number 1 Movie of 1999 is:
Starring: Aamir
Khan, Sonali Bendre, Naseeruddin Shah, Mukesh Rishi, Govind Namdeo & Akash Khurana
Director: John Mathew Matthan
Music: Jatin-Lalit
|
Patriotic
fervour hits the marquee again. Facts are facts though, Sarfarosh is zabardast
entertainment and a highly welcomed break from the romantic potboilers. So why no new
announcements yet, Mr. Matthan? |
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