Amitabh Bachchan is perhaps the most loved and identified name in the history of post-independence India, identified by famous Time Magazine as the "Undisputed Godfather of Bollywood" in their 2003 edition, Lincoln cente New York named him the greatest Actor of World, and France conferred him the highest civilian honor and named a vilage afer him! A man who ruled the Indian film industry for more than 40 years and still delivering excellent performances like Paa.
I felt that it will be highly difficult to name his all time best 10 movies. Therefore I would prefer to call for his ten top movies from 1990’s. Not to forget 1990s was worst period for AB where he delivered many flops but some of the same flops are one of the best movies of Hindi cinema:
1) Agneepath:
This movie won him the Naitonal Award. Typecasted the typical Robinhood type of Don, Vijay Deenanath Chauhan, the Bhai with ultimate grandeur. Be it background score, or performance by all co-stars, everything was terrific. Extremely high on glamour note. And what a performance which none can imagine to get repeated again.
2) Khuda Gawah:
Another movie with the director of Agneepath, after its success. What a mindblowing performance of Pathan! A love story with full of sacrificces and daredevll act. Immortalized the pathan which makes you leave the hall with logn rememberance for Badshah Khan and Benazeer Love story. The movie will be always in my heart for its great tragedy storyline, impeccable performances by super manly Amiatbh and lovely Sridevi in this love story but also for the impeccable cinematography, daring making of Khuda Gawwh in War torn Afghanistan to bring genuinity (which also fetched them the highest honors of Afghanistan govt.)
Mukul Anand, the director of 3 of the best movies of AMitabh : Hum, Khuda Gawah and Agneepath, demised very early. Had been him here, would would have seen several other power packed movies of Amiatbh. We miss you Mukul Anand.
3) Aks
Amitabh had won best Actor filmfare award( Though such awards have lost their charm and really have no value) by critics. His transcend from good to bad was something to relish. With french-cut it is the only movie where AMitabh looked extrmely dashing. Mind blowing performance, depiction of struggle with self. The plot of the story had some confusing points where many people took it as a bhoot -pret movie while it was supposed to be a philosophical one. But whatever it was, none can imagine other than this man. Terrific performance by both AB and MB.
4) Khakhee
This is the best cop movie made after Ardha-satya. It had not only great performance but the movie can be marked as a benchmark for fast paced thriller and tight screenplay. Also with moustaches Amitabh looked much better and typical senior police officer. His changing grandeur with every scene, scene of his humiliation..this man will let you know hy he is called the only complete actor of country.
5) Aankhein
What a negative role! Sametime the movie was also an excellent thriller and very fresh story of bank robbery blind men trained by a honest man humiliated to turn into villain. The movie will be always remembered for its tight script excellent performance and mind blowing thrill.
6) Black
This movie fetched Amitabh a nationa award again. The story had been inspired by the true story of Hellen Killer and her teacher, btu with some modification. The movie was listed among the top 10 movies of all time in The Time Magazine. The movie captures Amitabh is array of emotions, form a restless guy to a man struggling for his own identity while he gives identity to his blind student. Watch him for the kiss scene, or last 10 minutes scene or the first scene of success with the blind girl. Unforgettable performance which certainly raised the bar of performance for the film industry.
7) Main Azaad Hoon
Its a flop movie of Amitabh released in 1990’s perhaps and hardly seen by many as it was rated as an art movie without masala and made during the worst phase of Indian cinema in terms of quality. It was the time when hindi film industry churned out worst movies, no space for sensibilities, mindless violence and love stories were the public taste, rape scenes were made must, money of underworld would drive the finance of movie making, those who had contacts with dons would see their film succeeding and getting promoted from Music directors like Nadeem Sharavn to Makees like Lawrence D’Souza and Subhash Ghai.
Amid this all, this fresh soul awakening political movie was released. I think it had got some awards too.
It was the film which was adopted and appreciated hugely by communists of country and was made an integral part of their anti-government campaigns. Its an irnoy that I crave to watch this movie on my TV but despite of the fact that all channels love to play Amitabh Movies many-times repeatedly as they gather highest TRPs for movies, I hardly find any channel showing this political classic.
8) Paa
This movie has something which none other could boast. A 68 years old Legend most famous face of Indian cinema, completely concealed within the face of a 14 year old progeric child Auro. If someone is not disclosed about he actual man behind Auro, none would be able to catch that it was Amitabh. Excellent and on of the most difficult and most accomplished performance by any one in the world of film making. No doubt this made Amitabh sweep all best actor award from all non-governmental award functions( Though I again say awards mean nothing ). It is almost definate that he will be getting again another National Award for this movie.
9) Viruddh
Virruddh was a heart wrenching story of an old man and his family where he lost his only son who had returned back to India to marry. It was a true story of a friend of Mahesh manjrekar. It is unfortunate that movies like this one could not succeed on the Box office just because it touched serious thing and was very depressing to watch. Anyway it was a heart-wrenching revenge tale of an old man excellently done by Amitabh Bachchan.
10) Chini Kum
This movie defied all rules of pairing, a chemistry between a 30 year old and a 67 year man, a bizarre love story which hit the chord with the audience. Interestingly, the same year perhaps there was a another story Nishabd about an infatuation love story between a teenage and an old man which recieved critical acclaim but did not impress box office. Chini Kum impressed both though I liked Nishabd almost equally, I love Chini Kum for it guttsy approach, witty characters and impeccable performance. It is an apt case of intelligently made movie and deserved all applause. With this all movies Amitabh ensured one thing: Age does not matter and started a new trend where 40+ actors found survival guides in Bollywood!