It would not be incorrect to say that I made a significant contribution to Indian cinema by watching close to 70% of the movies released this year in theater.
2007 turned out to be year of hype, more hype and controversies. Oscar controversy over Eklavya and Dharam, Manoj Kumar - SRK controversy, Aamir - Amitabh controversy. Aaja Nachle lyrics controversy.
Over hyped OSO, Saawariya, JBJ et al. and what’s with everyone trying to save something or the other: be it Izzat(Chak De), Theatre(Aaja Nachle) or Stadium(Goal).
I figured out that this year is also(after analyzing closely) a sort of year where most of the directors came up with their second movie and hence the rational behind the title of my review. I could not believe it myself when I realized how come so many chose 2007 as the year to come up with their second movie where they all have varied years of their first release. I can think of ten such directors and they all perfectly fall into the "New Generation Directors".
However I am going to write on just 5 who made headiness. There are many who impressed with their debut movie (irrespective of their box-office outcome): Sagar Ballary(Bheja Fry), R. Balki (Cheeni Kum), Navdeep Singh(Manorama - 6 feet under), Reema Kagti(Honeymoon
Travels Pvt. Ltd.) and other but the ones I chose were/are in limelight more
than others.
So, here goes the list. In order of the release.
- Nikhil Advani: Kal Ho Na Ho(2003): Super hit, Salaam-E-Ishq
(2007): Flop
KHNH was Karan’s first as a producer and SRK’s first as an actor sans love
interest. Everyone made money out of it. Everyone was happy. I had written the
review of it back then on my journal as I did not know of MS then. In fact,
KHNH’s was my first ever movie review. Nikhil’s 2nd offering was a complete
disaster right from the beginning till the end. He shifted his base from
Johar’s camp not before bad-mouthing everything about Johar’s style of
film-making and went on to do the shattered print of Johar only with S-e-I.
The X factor: He has a good ear for the music.
Advice: Badly needs to get over K Jo’s school of filmmaking.
Upcoming movie: Made In China(2008)
- Shimit Amin: Ab Tak Chhappan(2004):
Flop(critically
acclaimed), Chak De! India(2007):
Super hit
The only individual who is connected to Hollywood in a factual sense. He has
got plethora of work as an editor in the sound department in Hollywood. His
first movie received wide applause from critics but failed to set the box
office on fire. With Chak De! India, he not only got appreciation from
critics but also went on to set everything on fire including few actors who had
rejected the movie.(Of course, SRK was not the first choice).
The X factor: Has that thing of getting into details immaculately.
Advice: Nothing. He knows his work.
Upcoming movie: Nothing announced yet.
- Anurag Kashyap: Black Friday(2004): Flop, No Smoking
(2007): Flop
Ah! The highly controversial director and unquestionably one of the most
talented writers on the block currently. Highly misunderstood as he blames and
criticizes everything and anything even remotely related to Bollywood.
Technically, he has directed 3 movies(Paanch never saw the light), yet
I will put him in this list. BF was appreciated and won few awards as
well, but NS went over people’s head. I though the movie was well made.
He can go places like Vishal Omkara Bhardawaj only if he takes things
easy and does his work without criticizing others.
The X factor: Terrific writer. His work as dialogue writer includes Guru,
Water, Yuva, Shool etc and Satya, Paanch, NS as story writer.
Advice: Take it easy all I would say.
Upcoming movie: Lajjo(2008)
- Imtiaz Ali:Socha Na Tha(2005): Hit, Jab We
Met(2007): Super hit
My favorite here. He is the director who holds the youth’s pulse in his
hands and knows what they yearn for and gives it with all the right
ingredients. One of my all time favs SNT was a treat to watch and it is
heartening to see how this down to earth guy brings middle class sensibilities
into his work in complete contrast to Johar and Chopra styles. JWM had
the same feel as well. His movies are straightforward and unfussy.
The X factor: Another god writer here and amazing sense of screenplay.
Advice: Keep up the good work.
Upcoming movie: Rockstar(2008)
- Farah Khan: Main Hoon Na(2004): Super hit, Om Shanti Om
(2007): Super hit
Aha! The only female director we have who has guts to make these saleable
movies. Mira Nair, Kalpana Lajmi, Deepa Mehta and their likes have made
their mark in cinema of alternate kind. Farah is the one who entered the
territory dominated by male and came out winner. MHN and OSO were
typical Bollywood movies laced with everything an average cinema goer looks
for.