12 Bollywood films that perfectly capture the essence of this generation
Last updated on - Jan 15, 2018, 22:27 ISTShare fbsharetwsharepinshare
01/1312 Bollywood films that perfectly capture the essence of this generation
Bollywood movies have the power to change, influence and leave a permanent mark on our mind. When we say a film has defined a generation, we are not looking at classics, but the films that have connected to us. The roles played by stars, a particular song or for that matter a particular scene, a location like say Goa. Something about them resonated with each of us, and these films definitely remain our favourite go-to movies. Cinema is the reflection of society and vice-versa. However, a society has its own deep rooted beliefs and perceptions which trickle down through the ages and become a reference point for generations to come. In such a scenario, is it possible for a piece of art to come and impact your perceptions in a way? So let s take a look at these incredible movies you should watch because these perfectly define our generation.
02/13‘Dil Chahta Hai’
‘Dil Chahta Hai’ is a cult movie; it changed the whole thinking process for everyone. Each dailogue, every charecter of this is real and relatable. When you watch this movie you will not just watch but feel each moment. All the three charecters Aakash, Sameer to Sid, every character lives within us. Even we want to go on a trip to Goa with our friends and rejoice each moment. There are times when you want the clock to stop. There are times when you don’t want to leave a place. There are times when everything just feels right with the kind of group we are with. Such is the gravity of friendship in youth. You don’t want to grow old. But unfortunately, time waits for no one and one has to move on in life and live one's own story. ‘Dil Chahta Hai’ is a coming-of-age story which remains an essential part of everyone’s life, simply because it holds true no matter how many times we watch it. The film instantly connects to each one of us in way. Also the one film that singlehandedly made Goa our favourite destination.
03/13‘3 Idiots’
The film makes us laugh at our own shortcomings and at the Indian education system which is still plagued with the prejudices of money and grades. Education should not be about percentages, cut-offs and degrees and it MUST be available to one and all. This coming-of-age comedy-drama inspired by Chetan Bhagat's novel ‘Five Point Someone’ wonderfully depicts the friendship of three students and successfully takes us back to our college days. Every student studying to pursue engineering or trying to get into an IIT or any other college of repute, knows the struggle all too well. Parental expectations, peer pressure, the film flawlessly depicted what we all go through. One of the most favourite activities in India is bashing the education system and its practices. ‘3 Idiots’ ask you to bring a change within yourselves before seeking a change in the system. We study to learn and not to understand and this is what needs to change. This is what ‘3 Idiots’ is all about.
04/13‘Queen’
This movie is like a beautiful poem which suddenly makes you feel good about life. . It makes its viewers believe that there are people out there you can trust and look up to for friendship and guidance. And, most importantly, if there is no one, you still have yourself. So just go out, and live every single day of your life to the fullest. It is Kangana Ranaut who takes it away with her role of an under-confident Punjabi girl, Rani. Setting out an example of a brave-heartbroken girl, she embarks on her honeymoon to Paris and Amsterdam all by herself after her fiancé calls off their wedding. She depicted the whole plot so beautifully. A brave film that did not resort to any stereotypes and gave us the biggest lesson in how to live our lives on our own terms and finding our happiness within. What would happen if you hit rock bottom in life? When you’re down, the only way to go is up, says ‘Queen’.
05/13‘Pink’
Shoojit Sircar, who directed ‘Vicky Donor’, ‘Madras Café’, ‘Piku’ makes another valuable addition to his repetoire. It is hard, therefore, not to be moved by the trauma and humiliation of Minal, Falak and Andrea who have to justify their life choices, their clothing choices and their tiniest moves before the world because one of them defended herself against an influential man who tried to rape her. ‘Pink’ is a powerful film. Three Delhi girls - Minal (Taapsee), Falak (Kirti) and Andrea (Andrea) - are on the run after one of them escapes a molestation attempt by a pig-headed, powerful guy, Rajveer (Angad). Minal attacks Rajveer with a bottle injuring him grievously. This is just the beginning of their nightmare! Pink is a powerful statement on the existing feudal mindset of a majority of India, where men and women are judged by a different yardstick. And if the man happens to be from a powerful family, then the fight for justice is even more skewed. The performances are pitch-perfect with Bachchan leading the way.
06/13‘Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara’
Maybe it’s time to explore the unexplored and let the road decide our destination. Hrithik Roshan is an certified scuba diver, so cool is that. We want to go on a trip like Hrithik Roshan, Farhan Akhtar and Abhay Deol did in the film once in our lifetime. Sky diving, deep sea diving, La Tomatina festival, flamenco and the epic Bull Run. Again a film that taught us to live in the moment and to loosen up a little. No age is actually too much to go backpacking and explore the world. But what have we actually seen until now? Did we ever quit our jobs, switch off our phones, leave all tensions behind and just travel? No. We keep planning while life passes us by? This ‘my bwoy’ is a serious problem! All the school time memories are so much fun. The dialogues actually relate with us. We live just once but die every day at the hands of our mundane lives. Who wouldn't want to go on a trip to Spain and replicate the entire sequence with their best friends?
07/13‘Rockstar’
‘Rockstar’ is that rare popular film that captures the precise moment when music draws a man into the realm of the divine. That moment set to a haunting Sufi song by A.R. Rahman. When a family misunderstanding ends up with Jordan thrown out of his family’s home, he seeks refuge at Delhi’s Hazrat Nizamuddin Dargah, sleeping on its floors with other city outcasts and eating the simple, free food from its kitchen. The film shows the life sequence of a normal college student, Janardhan aka Jordon (a role played by Ranbir Kapoor), who desperately seeks inspiration for the musician inside him. Heartbreak does help him achieve his goal but it also leads him to self-destructionGradually, the charity he experiences there and the power of its Sufi music change Jordan, and — guitar in hand — he learns to hone his craft by playing for whatever audience will have him, be it a shrine full of Muslim worshippers or a Hindu gathering, random listeners on the street or even the prostitutes in a local brothel. These scenes are the absolute high point of the film, sparked with Rahman’s inspired music and convincing guitar and vocal performances by Kapoor (with the dubbed vocals of singer Mohit Chauhan).
08/13‘Tamasha’
It may not have received critical acclaim or box office numbers, and yet it remains relevant to its audience. That is perhaps why ‘Tamasha’ makes it to this list. Ranbir Kapoor's character and his dilemma speak to you and has a universal appeal. Almost all of us have been brought up with such robotic mannerisms that we tend to forget our real selves - much like the protagonist Ved. This could have been a much larger connect for the audience, but does the director succeed in etching his characters to the point you feel their pain and angst? Let’s explore. When Tara tracks Ved and meets him in Delhi, she finds a different man - a product manager who has been saving his job solely through his ‘well-mannered’ behaviour and the tendency to be a yes-man of his boss. With a broken heart, she decides to leave Ved alone and move on, but you cannot move on from love, from your own heart. Tamasha traces the journey of Ved leaving behind his put-on, robotic character and coming back to Tara. Deepika and Ranbir convey their angst and passion so convincingly that you're hooked. Except for the curiosity about them, the rest of the drama is 'oh,never-mind'. 'Matargashti' and 'Heer toh badi sad hai', two of Rahman's songs, are magical even as standalone numbers.
09/13‘Wake Up Sid’
Rich, spoiled, careless and clueless about his career, Ranbir Kapoor's character, Sid Mehra, will probably remind you of every college student who was or is still confused in terms of figuring out life and responsibilities. Adulting is tough and Sid's character resonated with us on many levels. Where are we standing in life? Where are we headed? Is this what we always wanted to do in life? Are we satisfied with the life we have chosen for ourselves? Are we even awake? Or are we being washed up by a strong current called life? These questions come back to haunt us later by which time some important decisions of our lives cannot be undone. ‘Wake Up Sid’ urges us to correct our decisions, realise our underfed talents and live life according to our own liking. The film teaches us a lot, it is a perfect college film. Because only during college days we get to enjoy the fullest and explore the world. As once we start working and getting into the routine life we tend to forget to take time out for our self and to hang out with our group of friends. There are small things which are actually big and no one understands that. This movie will touch your heart and you will feel connected.
10/13‘Go Goa Gone’
The film tells us that not all Goa trips will be great. The film revolves around the Goa trip for three dope-heads turns into a roller-coaster ride a night after they attend a rave party at a secluded island. They run for their lives only to realise later that drugs do fuck you up. This Indian zombie film entertained us. The film teaches us how drugs are not a good habit to keep ever and how it messes up your whole life. It becomes the question of life and death. The boys in the film who are bored of their normal day-to-day life, plan to take a trip to Goa, as one of them goes for a work trip, the other two boys plan to go with him. Saif Ali Khan’s role was very good in the film. A good film to watch which gives us a lesson for life.
