Bollywoods best boredom breakers – EasternEye

THE BIGGEST HINDI MOVIE FOR EACH OF THE LAST 50 YEARS TO REVISE WHILE INSULATING AT HOME

by ASJAD NAZIR

Being stuck inside because of self-isolation means it’s finally time to catch up on the movies. For Bollywood fans, this is an opportunity to revisit the classics and meet masterpieces they could have missed.

With that in mind and to help you get through the Covid-19 self-isolation period, Eye of the East compile a very unique list of 50 Bollywood films from the past 50 years, with the best of each year.

1971 Anand: Regularly listed among the essential films, the drama affirming life revolves around a dying person who teaches everyone to love life and those around you.

1972 Pakeezah: One of the greatest Hindi films ever made is a visually stunning courtesan drama, which featured beautiful songs and a defining performance by Meena Kumari.

1973 Zanjeer: The massively influential crime drama changed the face of Bollywood commercial cinema and turned Amitabh Bachchan into an overnight superstar.

1974 Roti Kapada Aur Makaan: The most profitable film of this year is an influential social drama with a cast of stars, which tackled themes still relevant.

1975 Sholay: Western curry remains one of the greatest Bollywood films ever made and has broken all box office records. The cast of stars, the story, the memorable moments and the music came together as a whole in the unforgettable classic that everyone has heard of.

1976 Kabhi Kabhie: This two-generation drama was a romantic ray of light in an era dominated by action. Everything from history to poetry and music remains timeless.

1977 Amar Akbar Anthony: The story of three brothers growing up in three different faiths is a cult classic and was the most profitable film of the year. He has many memorable moments, still revered today.

1978 Muqaddar Ka Sikandar: The most profitable film of this year is a very clever adaptation of the popular classic Devdas. Amitabh Bachchan was at the height of his celebrity and delivers a raw emotion on the screen.

1979 Gol Maal: There were a lot of movies with mega-stars released in 1979, but this error comedy was the biggest box office success of this year and still has a lot of laughs.

1980 Karz: Although Qurbani had the highest numbers that year, Karz would become the cult classic of 1980. The drama of reincarnation, with unforgettable music, has become overwhelmingly influential and is a gem of Bollywood.

nineteen eighty one Naseeb: There were bigger hits that year like Kranti and more acclaimed movies like Silsila, but Naseeb has grown over time and has an incredible cult following.

1982 Prem Rog: The powerful drama was way ahead of its time and many would say it still is today. The powerful themes are balanced by the wonderful music and exceptional performances of the film’s main pair, Rishi Kapoor and Padmini Kolhapure.

1983 Woh Saat Din: Mega-blockbuster Himmatwala was by far the most profitable film of 1983, but Woh Saat Din was much better. The multilayered drama of a woman torn between her true love and her new husband, would influence films like Hum Dil By Chuke Sanam.

1984 Raaj Tilak: It wasn’t a great year for Bollywood in 1984, but there was this fun epic with swords and sandals with the huge star.

1985 Ram Teri Ganga Maili: The story of a woman abandoned in search of the father of her baby was another film by visionary director Raj Kapoor which was ahead of its time. It would be one of the biggest recipes of the 80s.

1986 Nagina: Sridevi directed Bollywood in the 1980s and was at the height of her powers with a powerful representation of a snake woman who changes shape in the film.

1987 Mr india: We may remember the unforgettable villain Mogambo, but this classic has so many more layers and was the first massively successful superhero film in Hindi cinema.

1988 Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak: Tezaab was a bigger success that year, but this film was a game-changer for Bollywood and brought romance back in a big way. It was also the start of an incredible journey for star star Aamir Khan.

1989 Maine Pyar Kiya: The superstar role of Salman Khan remains one of the best films ever made in Bollywood and would influence most of the romantic films that were made after him, as well as many television series.

1990 Dil: The most profitable film of this year saw a young couple, Aamir Khan and Madhuri Dixit, defend love against their parents at war.

1991 Lamhe: Wonderful musical Saajan was the most profitable film of this year but Lamhe had what remains the most unique love triangle in Bollywood history. Sridevi is simply magnificent in his dual role.

1992 Beta: This year’s most profitable film featured Anil Kapoor and Madhuri Dixit in the lead roles. The story of a daughter-in-law struggling with her nasty stepmother has been influential, notably by inspiring so many soap operas.

1993 Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke: The award-winning film inspired by the 1958 Hollywood classic Barge romance combined with an interesting family drama. It presents a great chemistry between Aamir Khan and Juhi Chawla.

1994 Hum Aapke Hain Koun: The fabulously fun-to-beat film broke all box office records when it was released and became the biggest gross in Bollywood history. It has offered many memorable moments and has influenced just about every Indian wedding since then.

1995 Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge: This record film helped Hindi cinema go global and made Shah Rukh Khan the king of Bollywood. It also presented romance in a new way and linked to a new generation torn between cultures like no other film.

1996 Raja Hindustani: The musical inspired by the 1965 film Jab Jab Phool Khile became one of the biggest rascals of all time and presented the longest kiss in Bollywood history. He also had an amazing soundtrack that is still popular today.

1997 Dil to Pagal Hai: The musical with Shah Rukh Khan and Madhuri Dixit is pure romance from start to finish, accompanied by a soundtrack that broke records when it was released.

1998 Kuch Kuch Hota Hai: The unforgettable romance has consolidated the position of Shah Rukh Khan and Kajols as one of the greatest romantic couples in the history of cinema.

1999 Hum Dil By Chuke Sanam: A star trick by Aishwarya Rai Bachchan saw her play a woman torn between a kind-hearted husband (Ajay Devgn) and the love she left behind (Salman Khan). 2000 Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai: A film that took everyone by surprise presented moviegoers without a doubt, the first most complete talented man in Bollywood history to Hrithik Roshan and perhaps, the greatest debut in cinema all time.

2001 Laagan: The award-winning film was
a superb historic match, as well as an exciting cricket match combined into one. It has won numerous awards and remains the last Bollywood film to be nominated for an Oscar.

2002 Devdas: The most lavish adaptation of Devdas’ classic novel saw Shah Rukh Khan play the broken-hearted alcoholic caught between the kind-hearted courtesan (Madhuri Dixit) and his true love (Aishwarya Rai Bachchan).

2003 Koi Mil Gaya: Kal Ho Naa Ho recorded larger numbers but Koi Mil Gaya was one of the most original Bollywood films ever made and the first to feature an alien. Hrithik Roshan delivered a historic performance.

2004 Veer zaara: The cross-border romance with Shah Rukh Khan, Preity Zinta and Rani Mukerji touched the hearts of audiences worldwide. A breathtakingly beautiful soundtrack added to the magic of film.

2005 Black: The modern-day masterpiece built around incredibly amazing performances by Rani Mukerji and Amitabh Bachchan was a great game changer for Bollywood.

2006 Lage Raho Munna Bhai: The amazing follow-up to the brilliant 2003 release Munna Bhai MBBS was a perfect blend of drama and meaningful comedy.

2007 Taare Zameen By: One of the greatest Indian films ever made with a young protagonist won several awards, had an intergenerational appeal and connected adults to their inner child.

2008 Jodhaa Akbar: Visually spectacular historical romance based on real events has seen Hrithik Roshan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan deliver majestic performances as Mughal Emperor and Princess Rajput.

2009 3 idiots: Bollywood has made countless student-directed films, but by far the best. In addition to being engaging and very entertaining, the film had an important underlying message.

2010 Raajneeti: There were greater commercial successes in 2010, but none were as captivating or inventive. The multi-star directed by Ranbir Kapoor was a modern political thriller with characters inspired by the old Mahabharata.

2011 Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara: The life-affirming film about friendship and love life won numerous awards, but also conveyed an inspiring message that made a strong connection with everyone who watched it.

2012 Kahaani: The captivating thriller looked more like an international film than a Bollywood commercial release and had a simply stunning performance by Vidya Balan.

2013 The lunch box: While not strictly a Bollywood outing, the historic film is one of the best ever made in India. The unique romance became an international sensation and presented love in a unique way.

2014 PK: One of the most inventive commercial films ever made in India combined the story of a stranger (Aamir Khan) from outer space with questions about religious dogma and superstitions.

2015 Bajrangi Bhaijaan: The successful cross-border drama saw Salman Khan play the leading role in the story of a kind-hearted Indian man helping a child return to his parents in Pakistan.

2016 Dangal: The female-dominated wrestling drama broke all box office records and became the most profitable Hindi film in history.

2017 Secret Superstar: Another rare Bollywood treasure starring a young lead protagonist is the charming story of a Muslim girl wanting to be a singer, with a supporting mother married to an abusive father.

2018 Andhadhun: Although the lavish Padmaavat show is a visual delight, the inventive film about a blind pianist appealed to a wider sample, including non-Bollywood fans. He has all the inventiveness of an international film.

2019 Article 15: The masterful story combines a captivating inquiry into missing girls, with a broader debate about how lower caste citizens are treated in India.

Thappad 2020: It is still very early in 2020 and it will be a little before Thappad is available on TV or streaming sites, but it’s the best-rated Bollywood film of 2020, so gets the selection for this year (for now).