Just when you think there aren’t going to be many good Hindi films this year, there’s a flurry of quite a few quality movies. The year turned with Bunty aur Babli. Yes, “B-a-B” did end with a whimper, but hey, it was pretty decent in the first half. Then there was Parineeta, D, Paheli, Sarkar all of which show promise. To get a list of decent Hindi films, i.e.; those you can watch without cringing (a lot), see my list for 2005. There is also the “serious” genre being catered to with stuff like Hazaaron khwaishen aisi, Black, Page 3 etc. So, really take your pick.

I mean, people, there was a time, when Jeetendra dancing in his trademark white shoes, was all we could look forward to. Talk about progress ! Of course, now we have his son Tushar, and daughter Ekta producing abominable films (like Kya kool hai hum), and those atrocious, sindoor-filled TV serials. Really, I preferred the white shoes.

As far as upcoming films are concerned, “Viruddh”, looks good. It is about an older couple’s (Sharmila and Amitabh) fighting for justice in a corruption-embedded-system , after their son’s death. Rumored to be like Saaransh (which was fabulous), Viruddh gears up expectations with a powerful starcast, and a decent enough director -Mahesh Manjrekar. Of course Mahesh Manjrekar is no Mahesh Bhatt, but look how Bhatt has fallen.

I’ve heard a lot about “Matrubhoomi”, rave reviews, entry into various film festivals etc.; I believe its released in India, but haven’t been able to see it yet. “Mangal Pandey: The Rising”, starring Aamir Khan, is also anticipated. Saif and Preeti’s “Salaam Namaste”, if nothing else, should be entertaining. And “Apaharan” shows promise, although can’t really tell. There is of course, the next Ram Gopal Verma offering “James”, which judging by previous work (D, Sarkar, Company) should do well. And then there is “Yahaan”, which looks flaky storywise and is directed by debutante director Shoojit Sarkar (who is an unknown factor), but am inclined to think positive, on account of the fact that it stars Jimmy Shergill (big fan since Haasil happened).

Filmwise, looks like a good second half of the year.