By Anuradha Punyani
The art-house films have always represented the difficulties of ordinary people, placed in settings where ordinary people lived and breathed, and take up social causes. While they do not fare well financially, they are well-received on the festival circuit and help to put India on the map. Today, when the lines between art and commerce are blurring, such films are worth revisiting. A list of some of the top art Modern classics Bollywood films to watch is presented. Enjoy them while you’re in quarantine or lock down!
- Pinjar
Puro, a Hindu Punjabi woman, is taken by Rashid as a result of a generation-old vendetta that continues to this day. Puro tries to survive the agony of seclusion and ostracization while her brother, Trilok, and her fiancé, Ramchand, discreetly search for her without the agreement of their respective families. She manages to flee at one point, only to be abandoned by her family in the name of prestige and honor.
The film deftly illustrates a variety of gender-related topics. The song “Maar Udaari” (Fly high) shows her freedom at home in the beginning of the film, but the tonality of the other songs darkens as the plot progresses.
- Zubeidaa
Fiza was directed by Khalid Mohammed, a well-known film critic, in the year 2000. Fiza is one of my favorite films, and one can especially enjoy Karisma Kapoor’s outstanding performance as the lead heroine. Khalid Mohammed plays the role of a writer in this film. Shyam Benegal, one of India’s all-time great filmmakers, directs this film, while Karisma Kapoor plays the titular character.
This is the third installment in Mohammed’s unofficial Benegal trilogy, all of which are partly fictionalized factual stories of Indian Muslim women who had a significant impact on Mohammed’s life. But here, Mohammed narrates the story of his true mother, Zubeidaa Begum.
- Legend of Bhagat Singh
One of the best films in Indian cinema history is Bhagat Singh’s mythology. The film depicts Bhagat Singh’s life as a heroic liberation fighter.
The film brilliantly illustrates his life, his struggle, and his determination. The film depicts not only the struggle of the freedom warrior but also his ideas and vision of a progressive nation, as well as how he influenced the entire country. Everything about this film is fantastic: the photography, the storyline, the dialogues (which are both powerful and thought-provoking). This film has taken a lot of time and effort to create. Ajay Devgan as Bhagat Singh and Sushant Singh as Sukhdev give outstanding performances.
Overall, they have all done credit to their personalities and have a good fit. The director did his homework, and now we have a film to be proud of about someone who, while not as well-known worldwide as Gandhi, was a tremendous freedom warrior, true patriot, and a great son of Mother India.
- Chameli
It’s about a recently bereaved businessman and a carefree street prostitute who meet on a wet night when she’s stuck with no clients and he’s stuck because his car won’t drive. She is cynical and vulgar, and he is heartbroken and sorrowful. Nonetheless, their connection reveals so many life experiences, secrets, and truths that they discover a lot more about each other than they thought and gradually open up to each other.
The music is lovely, the photography is effective, and the picture is realistic and interesting in general. This is a film that will appeal to anyone who enjoys artistic flicks. It’s an impressive and somewhat energizing piece.
- A Wednesday.
A Wednesday is one of the best – and bravest – films of the year. It can only be described in one word: outstanding! A Wednesday depicts events that occur in Mumbai between the hours of 2 and 6 p.m. on a Wednesday. Events that aren’t documented in any way.
‘A Wednesday’ raises concerns about the injustice done to the average man when innocent people are killed in bomb incidents. The plot is carried by two legends, Anupam Kher and Naseeruddin Shah, who are brilliantly assisted by Jimmy Shergill and Aamir Bashir. Anupam gives the office of city police commissioner gravitas, and he has done so brilliantly.
- Masaan
Sanskrit Pandit (Sanjay Mishra) and his student-daughter, Devi (Richa), have a peaceful living in Banaras. Richa’s desire to learn more about bees and birds leads her to a sleazy lodge where she will meet up with a college acquaintance, Piyush Agarwal (Saurabh Chaudhary). Their escapade, however, is cut short when a fierce cop (Bhagwan Tiwari) raids the location and blackmails them.
Masaan, an Indo-French collaboration that garnered awards at Cannes earlier this month, features Neeraj Ghaywan, an Anurag Kashyap alumnus, who tells a compelling story. The movie moves at a leisurely pace, occasionally tugging at your heartstrings. The haste with which young people in India’s heartland feel compelled to learn about Facebook, forbidden fruit, and liberty has been effectively documented.
- Bandit Queen
This is a fantastic film. “The Bandit Queen” is a strong and repulsive portrayal of Phoolan Devi, a modern-day Indian bandit (“Goddess of Flowers”). The film begins with Phoolan, an 11-year-old girl, being sold as a bride to a middle-aged man. The ensuing marital rape and cruelty push her away, finally leading her to a life of brigandage as an outcast.
In India, “The Bandit Queen” sparked a lot of debate. It was widely regarded as Oscar material, but due to political infighting inside the Indian film industry, it did not make the cut. It’s well worth your time to watch. However, I would only recommend it to persons who have a strong stomach. It’s a genuine story (the real-life Phoolan Devi married outside her caste and went on to become the first Untouchable to serve in the Indian Parliament), but it’s not a happy one.
These are hugely entertaining and Best Modern Classics Bollywood Films, unlike anything we’ve ever seen before, yet absolutely familiar.” We only wish India could develop more films like this, which are both Bollywood and yet so universal.
