10 Most Critically Acclaimed Indian Films (2000 - 2010)

Indian Cinema is one of the oldest and biggest in the world with over 1500 films released annually. Indian films are made in so many different Indian languages that It's very difficult to describe Indian Cinema as a film industry. Indian films are quite unique compared to any other film industry in the world. In recent times the Indian film industry is gradually waking up to the relevance and importance of well crafted stories, screenplay and able to produce some well directed, real story based, inspiring and world class films. Let's look at the ten most critically acclaimed and popular Indian films. 

1. 3 Idiots (2009)

 ***By Far The Best Bollywood Movie Of The Decade***

"Rancho: Pursue excellence, and success will follow, pants down."

"Farhan Qureshi: [after finding out Rancho topped their exam] That day we learned, when your friend flunks, you feel bad, when he tops, you feel worse. "

This movie is no different from other Bollywood movies except it has very strong storyline and message for all ages. "3 Idiots" is an exceptional movie with full of substances that you'd wish in a movie. "3 Idiots" story about  the three roommates. The Story revolves around them, their college life, Happiness and sadness, Loses etc.. One of the Idiot is actually a Genius, And he was not able to adjust with formal and usual education system rather he prefer to learn from around the world.

"3 Idiots" deals with a few things here and there. Whether it is the poor school system that discriminates and pressures you involving your grades. Whether it's you father forcing you to become an engineer and not allowing you to pursue your dreams. Or even a bright student who fears he may not be able to live up to the high expectations. Finally, 3 Idiots says one simple thing - Chase your dreams, demolish your fears and try your best - Success is a given.

2. Taare Zameen Par (Like Stars On Earth) (2007)

***A Perfect And Brilliant Movie For All Ages***

  

"Every Child Is Special"

"Taare Zameen Par" is a very delightful and special movie for kids and parents and   is about a 8 year old dyslexic child Ishann who finds it difficult to read or write correctly or for that matter perform any such activities normal to children of his age and inevitably has to bear the brunt of his parents, teachers and other people he interacts with but his world is filled with magical creatures and  thoughts that gives him company. His parents unable to realize his disorder and sends him to a boarding school where the child retreats into a self imposed exile and has to contend with the added trauma of separation from his family. In comes Amir khan the temporary art teacher who encourages them to extend their boundaries of thought and imaginations and shows special interest in finding out the difficulty of Ishaan. With time patience and care he helps Ishaan find himself.

3. Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India (2001)

***Untouchable, Classic And Perfect Movie***

"Bhuvan: Let me remind you all of one thing: this is not a game we are playing for fun and entertainment - this is a fight we must win. "

"Goli: Will our dream ever come true? No, Bhuvan. It hurts too much to dream like that.
Bhuvan: Have faith, Goli. He who has truth and courage in his heart shall win in the end."

The story started in a small village of Champaner , where Bhuvan (Aamir Khan) and Gauri (Gracie Singh) are in a community of poor and innocent farmers who are happily plowing, sowing, praying for the rains and reaping their harvest. Inspite of such unwanted circumstances, they are still full of hope. But then, a British captain, Captain Andrew (Paul Blackthorne), challenges the farmers to a cricket match. He is a capricious character that wants to burden the villagers with a land tax (Lagaan). He waived that there'll be no Lagaan for the next three years and that he'll be the one to pay it from his own pocket. Worst, if they lose, they will pay triple Lagaan for that year. He knows that the villagers are ignorant of the game and its rules. So he's pretty confident that he'll win the game.

Everyone puts on great a performance; Aamir Khan has absolutely a god-given talent, he so realistic and versatile. Gracy is new and unique she will do fine, no one would have suited as lead actress except her, a great job. All the eleven members of the team also deserved to be applauded it was cause of them that lagaan worked, same goes for the other opposite team. Rachel Shelley and Paul Blackthorne have done great acting; since they can't speak Hindi it would have been very difficult. They bring a certain amount of realism to the story and how British people use to be like back in the late 1800's.

If you only see one "Bollywood" film, make it this one!

4. Black (2005)

***Flawless And One Of The Finest Performances Ever***

"An unending darkness... A world of shadows... A ray of light that found its way... A teacher's dream... A student's miracle... A valiant journey... From ignorance to knowledge... From darkness to light... An extraordinary story of an ordinary life."

"Debraj Sahai: That after spending thirty years in this school, I'm just an unseen unheard entity. When I saw the school for the last time, my students were waving to me in the wrong direction. "

Black is the invigorating story of a girl who cannot communicate through her God-given senses however she is able to touch her God – the person she saw, heard and walked with into the brightness of her life. It is a film based on a deaf, dumb and blind girl, Michelle McNally, who has had no expectations from the living hell she had been going through for years until she had been touched by a stranger. The stranger is Mr Debraj Dahai who teaches young Michelle how to behave, communicate and get on with her life almost on her own.

Rani was excellent, I have never seen any better acting performance. Amitabh was also good, but cant say it was his best acting performance. All the characters played there part in the movie quite nicely. First half of the movie is pretty normal. It had good performances of Amitabh and Ayesha (who played the child role of Michelle Mcnally).

Emotions, sensations and feelings – That's all what Black is about! Yet again, another must-watch.

5. Chak De India (2007)

***One Of The Best And Engaging Sports Movie***

"Kabir Khan: This is the story of a team and they're playing for their one and only dream. To win the world cup so you better back up. Cause they're coming on now and they're coming on how. Get out of the way cause they're screaming "Chak De"!"

"Kabir Khan: Neither I hear the name of states nor do I see them.I only hear just one name:I-N-D-I-A "

Kabir Khan is a newly appointed coach of the Indian women's hockey team who are preparing themselves for the upcoming World Cup championship. The hurdles for the coach are not just to bring the team together and train and teach what they exactly need to, but also to answer to the criticism from his fans about his missed stroke when he played in Men's hockey finals. Not to mention his fight against himself about that lost game.

Shahrukh Khan did the role of a brilliant coach whose respect is battered by the misconception and the media. He is exceptional as an inspiring and tough coach. The girls who played the women's hockey team are exceptionally good. The girls who did the roles of Preeti, Balbir and Komal dominate the scene. The cinematography is very good. It gives you some time feelings of watching a documentary-venture. Editing is notable. 

The movie reveals a inspiration, complexion behind success, the story behind to win, the spirit in your heart and tells you how to be a real winner! 

6. Iqbal (2005)

***Charming, Moving And Stellar Performances***

"All Successful People Have Got One Thing In Common, They've Burning Desire"

Iqbal is a deaf mute boy from a small town but with huge dreams - he wants to play in the Indian cricket team. It's a heartwarming tale of the real struggle to beat all odds and achieve one's dream. There is no larger than life scenario, no desire does well, just to try to be what one has dreamed of being.

Emotions run very high in the movie, naturally one is moved the way Shreyas Talpade as Iqbal is totally determined to realize his dream of playing for the team, and the scenes where he forces the deposed Naseeruddin Shah to come out of his drunken state and make him as his coach are too good for words. Girish Karnad and Naseeruddin are underrated stalwarts in our movies. Naseeruddin especially acts magnificently with his subtle facial expressions.

The film is brilliantly situated in locales that are so real you can smell the dirt. The background score is very effective as are the minimal songs in the films. Kudos to Mr. Kukunoor for taking the hackneyed topic of cricket and weaving a brilliant tale around it. This is an excellent film, touching, entertaining and uplifting.

7. Rang De Basanti (2006)

***Great Screenplay, Great Story And An Excellent Film***

"Mr. McHeneley: I always believed there were two kinds of men in this world, men who go to their deaths screaming, and men who go to their deaths in silence. Then I met a third kind. "

"What is it about these boys that makes them have no fear? I think sometimes a person can be pushed so far that they reach a point beyond fear; a place where you find a strange peace, where you free yourself to do the right thing; because sometimes, that's the hardest thing to do."

Sue (Alice Patten) is inspired by the legendary characters of Bhagat Singh, Azad et al from her grandfather's diaries during his days in the British Raj. She lands in Delhi to make a film on them and finds those characters in Sonia's (Soha) friends DJ (Aamir), Karan (Siddharth), Aslam (Kunal Kapoor) & Sukhi (Sharman Joshi). The friends belong to Gen Next who care not about values like Patriotism & Sacrifice. The accidental death of their friend Flt Lt Ajay Rathod (Madhavan) in a MIG Crash and the wrongful blame on the pilot makes them take up cudgels against the corrupt establishment.

Aamir khan lives his role here. Everything is perfect in his performance and one really doesn't expect anything less than that from this fab actor. The rest of the cast supports very well. A R Rahman lives to his reputation in Rang De Basanti. Binod Pradhan's cinematography is lyrical, and Adman Prasoon Joshi evokes the youth lingo with his dialogues. Sameer Chanda's art direction and Allan Amin's action sequences are its other strong points. 

Rang De Basanti is not perfect, but I don't think there is a perfect film out there. However, it does force you to think and at the same times gives you a great time.

8. Swades (2004)

***A Beautiful And Soulful Experience All The Way***

"Swades: Home Calling You And Your Dreams"

Swades - we the people says it all. It is probably one of the most sincere and un cynical movies of recent times, and same holds true with Shah rukh, who delivers an endearing and perhaps his most subdued, underplayed yet a bravura performance. It starts with the NASA engineer, who gets the longing to go back to India to meet his Nanny, and feels guilty that he had never got a chance to repay the love and warmth he received from her when he was a child.

Shah rukh is likable, even with his usual and lovable antics, he is more serious, and clearly dominates the proceedings.Rahman's music is a big plus, with "Yunhi Chala" and "Yeh Jo Des hai" being the pick. Rahman has a panache for delivering great music for topical movies.

A movie with substance.

9. Udaan (2010)

***Realistic, Moving And Excellent Characterization***

"Udaan takes flight and reaches an unimaginable height which is purely attributable to its honest and well-paced plot."

Udaan is a coming-of-age tale of Rohan Singh, brilliantly portrayed by Rajat Barmecha, a 17-year-old motherless teenager who is expelled from boarding school and has to live with his tyrant of a father Bhairav Singh, played by Ronit Roy. He learns of his 6-year-old step-brother only after his new life with his authoritarian, oppressive and abusive father is thrust upon him in the industrial town of Jamshedpur. Forced by his father to work in a steel plant and then study engineering and often subject to capital punishment, Rohan's only silver lining is his jovial and cheerful uncle Jimmy, aptly played by the rotund Ram Kapoor.

A must watch movie.it will touch your heart.combines a beautiful phase of life.superb acting,real scenes of Jashmedpur and full of emotions. Rajat played a superb role and no doubt Ronit Roy.if you hate him in the movie its means he has done his part very well. Ayan's part is also appreciable he has done well.

10. Aamir (2008)

***Gripping, Well-Portrayed And  Must Watch***

"Who says that man scripts his own destiny by himself?"

"Deliver unspeakable terror or lose everyone you love"

Aamir tells the story of Dr. Aamir Ali (Rajeev) who is coming home to Mumbai from London, due to a Parliamentary bill passed in the UK, prohibiting immigrant doctors from practicing medicine. Outside the airport he is suddenly drawn into a web of terrorism, where a mystery man, who interacts with him on the phone, is keeping his family hostage to make sure Aamir does what he says.

Director Raj Kumar Gupta makes a stunning debut by making a Bollywood cinema that breaks all conventions and traditions. Rajeev Khandelwal makes an impressive debut, thereby getting his emotions all right. The technical side is very solid throughout the movie. The camera work is top notch. Be it the long crane shots covering Mumbai city or handheld camera work in narrow slum lanes, cinematographer Alphonse Roy deserves a pat on his back. Amit Trivedi's background score is very different from conventional Bollywood cinema. 

Despite these minor flaws, Aamir is still Bollywood's new age thriller cinema at its best.

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