The Best Films of 2018.

Just one year ago, the entire industry was in shambles. The box office was abysmal, the movies were even worse and the stories were boring and dry. But now, there’s a more effervescent approach to things. Irrespective of the quality of cinema, Bollywood took some massive risks this year - be it the all-woman film, Veere di Wedding, that was risque and vulgar, or 2.0, Thugs of Hindostan and Zero, all having budgets exceeding the gargantuan 200 crore number. The makers of 2.0 took it a step further, with a budget estimated at 550 crores.

But, this year is special because great content amalgamated with great numbers. Here are my six favourite titles that I urge you to watch, if you haven’t already.

6. Stree/Badhaai Ho

by Amar Kaushik/by Amit Sharma

Stree and Badhaai Ho were on two different ends of the spectrum, yet so similar. One was a horror comedy, literally, and the other was also a horror comedy, the horror being societal isolation due to a parental mishap, resulting in a fifty-five year old mother’s pregnancy. Stree was a subversive comedy that championed feminism, equality and women’s rights, while Badhaai Ho was bolstered by strong performances from its leads - Neena Gupta, Gajraj Rao, Surekha Sikri and Ayushman Khurrana. Both were huge hits, finally leading to a bridge between the commercialisation and liberalisation of Hindi cinema.

You can watch Stree on JioCinema and Badhaai Ho on Hotstar.

5. Manmarziyaan

by Anurag Kashyap

Anurag Kashyap’s film was messy and overwrought, just like its main characters - Rumi, Vicky and Robbie. But it had a fervour and eccentricity to it. It portrayed a real sort of love, that was messy, irrational and silly - but was helplessly optimistic about its central feeling. Manmarziyaan is derived from Mann and Marzi, meaning, ‘Whatever one wants’. It hinged on Taapsee Pannu, Vicky Kaushal, Abhishek Bachchan and Amit Trivedi’s knockout album, all aiding a director whose worst enemy in the past has been his need to overstuff his narratives. The result was light and gentle, while being raw and emotional.

You can watch Manmarziyaan on AirtelTV or ErosNOW.

4. Tumbbad

by Rahi Anil Bharve, Adesh Prasad

Rahi Anil Bharve and Adesh Prasad’s film starring Sohum Shah was a horror film that was also a whimsical parable told in the form of a bedside story about how greed can engulf a person whole. The result was a stunning film, that was genuinely scary, while deftly combining opulence with storytelling. Tumbbad was visually splendid and Bharve’s small film that represented India at the Venice Film Festival was the best of the horror genre this year, in a year where Bollywood’s horror titles (Stree, Pari) has boomed. Tumbbad marked a welcome change from massy, gaudy horror flicks - introducing a nuanced approach. I loved it.

You can watch Tumbbad on Amazon Prime Video.

3. Andhadhun

by Sriram Raghavan

Sriram Raghavan’s twisty noir was deliciously packed with Easter eggs. Its main protagonist’s name was Simi (the tour de force that is Tabu), a reference to the original femme fatale - Kamini, played by Simi Garewal in Subash Ghai’s Karz. It also starred Anil Dhawan as a version of his own yester-year persona. And at its centre was Ayushman Khurrana, with intentions of his own. Raghavan revealed everything yet so little up until the final shot. The second half of Andhadhun was messier than the first, and it never really recovered from the post-interval slump. But, Tabu, Ayushman Khurrana, Radhika Apte and Raghavan himself, who wrote the deliciously dark story powered ahead, with a panache and confidence - that lent itself beautifully to the genre Andhadhun was set against.

You can watch Andhadhun on Netflix.

2. October

by Shoojit Sircar

October was stunning, through and through. It marked a change from Shoojit Sircar and Juhi Chaturvedi’s lighter oeuvre. October was morose and grim, yet through its lead protagonist, played by a knockout Varun Dhawan, a sense of hope permeated the script. Not enough people saw the film in theatres, and it wasn’t for everybody. It was a slow burner, that had a symphony of melancholy ringing through. But I loved October, for Banita Sandhu’s lovely debut, Varun’s art, Gitanjali Rao’s heartbreaking portrayal and Juhi’s script.

You can watch October on Amazon Prime Video.

1. Raazi

by Meghna Gulzar

Meghna Gulzar’s film, based on Calling Sehmat, wasn’t the perfect film. At places, its screenplay strayed and the tonality was inconsistent. But, over 7 months later, neither the film nor its fully realised characters can leave my mind. Raazi worked and became more than the sum of its parts because its components were top-notch - be it the script by Bhavani Iyer, the scintillating tracks by Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy, the lyrics by Gulzar saab, Meghna’s direction and the winning portrayal of Raazi’s protagonist, Sehmat, by Alia Bhatt. Alia was absolutely hypnotic, aided by Vicky Kaushal and Soni Razdan in limited but effective roles. I loved Raazi.

You can watch Raazi on Amazon Prime Video.

I’d also like to make a mention of a few more films - Mulk, Love Sonia and Sanju for their storytelling and lead performances. Also, Lust Stories - the brilliant anthology, that I couldn’t add to this list because it was a Netflix film. I absolutely loved that film, don’t think of missing it.

What were your favourites of the year? Tell me what you think I missed out.