With back to back failures of ‘Tubelight’, ‘Jagga Jasoos’ and ‘Munna Michael’, Bollywood is, as you would have thought, back to square one. Movies with no plot, but do not lose out on footballs in cinema halls because of extravagant marketing, presence of stars, successful music, have been the trend of Bollywood for decades. With the advent of multiplexes and “box office” culture, making a quick buck in first three days of its release has been the mantra for most moviemakers. One may imagine that if one wants to watch a Movie with rich content, one needs to look out for parallel cinema, low budget flicks or non-commercial and mainstream cinema, but that has not always been the case. There have been commercial movies made, with richness in their content and performances, but did not manage to rattle the box office circuits. Here are some extremely underrated commercial Bollywood films which did not do expected business despite great performances by lead actors and the directors backing the films.
Andaz Apna Apna:
Andaz Apna Apna is an ideal “comedy of errors” film which was light years ahead in terms of audience during its time, but now remembered as a classic. Filled with abundant slapstick comedy and silly jokes, the ridiculously funny combination of Aamir and Salman Khan will leave you in splits and make you put out of your mind all worries by having a ball.
Rocket Singh:
A confidence injection for all entrepreneurs and capitalists struggling against all odds eager to make a name for themselves by making an honourable buck, ‘Rocket Singh’ is Ranbir Kapoor’s finest act till date after Barfi. “Risk toh Spiderman ko bhi lena padhta hai, main toh phir bhi salesman hoon” is the one-liner which is still popular with salespeople.
Dil Se:
A Mani Ratnam signature film, ‘Dil Se’ is a romantic thriller starring Shah Rukh Khan and Manisha Koirala. Although the plot is stereotypical, the treatment and presentation with an unimaginable climax makes it a memorable film.
Oye Lucky Lucky Oye:
Oye Lucky Lucky Oye is motivated by the incredibly true story of Lucky Singh, an enormously fascinating and intrepid con-man who hangs outs with the affluent, famed and leading of Delhi society and subsequently continues to rob them unsighted. He gives an account of his tales, leaving the entire public bewildered.
Viruddh:
Directed by Mahesh Manjrekar, Viruddh is based on a true story shedding light on a couple, Amitabh Bachchan and Sharmila Tagore, fighting against the law to prove that their son, John Abraham, was erroneously denigrated and killed. The movie presents the society and its behaviour when you are in deep emotional grievance.
Mission Kashmir:
Kashmir, “Paradise on Earth”, is shown in its accurate insignia. The film makes a plea to refurbish freedom from strife and restore harmony, and nothing like other movies that were made on the similar subject of terrorism, this flick turns spotlight on what an infancy of misery and affliction can do to a boy in the valley and how it revises his point of view on realism.
Lakshya:
It’s a voyage of an exceedingly incompetent disorganized guy getting a hang on and grip on his life by joining the army after his girlfriend leaves him stranded due to his incompetency. It shows how a person if enthused correctly will get in touch with new height, whatever the situation and circumstances.
Swades:
Swades was one of SRK’s most enriching films which went overlooked. Rare scenario when Shah Rukh Khan, the star, turned an actor delivered an extremely sensitive performance by getting under the skin of the character allotted to him by director Ashutosh Gowariker. The film is based on the true story of an NRI working at NASA, who gives up his impressive job and moves back to his hometown in India in order to construct a better life for its inhabitants. The movie, though was not successful at the ticket counter, was highly appreciated by reviewers.
Fiza:
A sister played by Karisma Kapoor, after 6 years, lays down to discover her brother, Hrithik Roshan, who went astray during the riots in Mumbai. When she ultimately finds him, she is traumatized to recognize that he is now a part of a terrorist group. What happens next may seem habitual, but the pinnacle of the film is its shocking climax.
Life In A Metro:
Directed by Anurag Basu, ‘Life in a Metro’ is a movie revolving around the lives of people in the metropolitan city of Mumbai. It pitches light on what different set of persons do in order to adjust their lives with the circumstances involving their career and love life.
Luck By Chance:
A drama film written by Zoya Akhtar, Luck By Chance gives an account of how celebrity fame and stardom can get into your head and turn you into an out-and-out self-centred person. An extra on the set helps her struggling boyfriend land a role that gives him the break he needed. And then he pays her back by leaving her for someone more popular. The film is produced by Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani under the banner of Excel Entertainment.
Socha Na Tha:
Dharmendra’s son, Abhay Deol made his debut with ‘Socha Na Tha’, a movie which botched wretchedly when it released, but now makes immense sense with a surge in dating websites. It glows light on how sometimes your parents are not that bad an option when it comes to choosing the right partner for you, especially when you’re not particularly good with women. The candid “Love vs. Arrange” battle is contested and recounted radiantly in this movie. Imtiaz Ali stamped his authority as a director with this film.
No Smoking
Loosely based on the short story “Quitters, Inc” by Stephen King, Anurag Kashyap, determined to flummox all with this neo-noir psychological thriller about a guy who decides to relinquish smoking, but is jammed in the emotional web drawn out by the man who has assured him a cure. Co-produced by Kumar Mangat and Vishal Bharadwaj, No Smoking starred John Abraham, Ayesha Takia, Paresh Rawal and Ranvir Shourey as ensemble cast.
Shanghai:
Shanghai is a 2012 political thriller co-written, co-produced and directed by Dibakar Banerjee that gives a picture of how four people in a lively Indian city get tied up in dreadful game of felony and politics.
Based on a French novel “Z” by Vassilis Vassilikos, Shanghai is a must, must watch for all the powerful acting performances presented by the film’s star cast, Abhay Deol, Emraan Hashmi, Kalki Koelchin, Prosenjit Chatterjee
