Academy Awards

These 10 Powerful Movies Will Make You Believe That Bollywood Was Never Behind Hollywood

Sep 262017

Bollywood films have entertained us for over 100 years now. It all began from ‘Raja Harishchandra’ (India’s first ever film) which dates back to 1913. The journey since then has been full of ups and downs. Bollywood gave us stories to cherish forever and there have been a few films which transcended boundaries and became popular in western countries too. Let us throw light on films which received immense love and popularity over a period of time.

Mother India (1957)

The success of the film can be figured out through its nomination in Academy Awards (1958), ‘Mother India’ remains India’s pride till date. Starring Nargis, Sunil Dutt, Raaj Kumar and Rajendra Kumar, the film portrays the story of a poverty-stricken woman who raises her sons all by herself and becomes an example for others. The film portrays the image of an ideal Indian woman in those times. Though ‘Mother India’ lost the Oscar by just one vote, it is however believed to be a film larger than life.

Pyaasa (1957)

Directed and played by Guru Dutt, the film is said to be his best works ever. The plot of the movie revolves around the life of a struggling poet, trying to make his works published in post-independence India. He later meets Gulabo, a prostitute with a heart of gold who helps to get his poems published. The film is a true representation of an artist’s thirst for fame, and how he loses his battle with the hypocritical society that rejected his pioneering work. After many years of Guru Dutt’s death, the film received the cult title and turned out to be a fine example of film-making and acting.

Here Are The 10 Greatest Bollywood Movies Of All Time © Guru Dutt Movies Pvt. Ltd

Mughal-E-Azam (1960)

This film is known to be a timeless classic, Indian cinema has ever produced. Completed in a time period of almost nine years, the film presented Anarkali and Salim’s story in the truest of ways ever, leaving the audience wonderstruck. The characters played by Madhubala, Dilip Kumar and Prithviraj Kapoor became eternal and so did the film’s song ‘Jab Pyaar Kiya To Darna Kya’.

Guide (1965)

Directed by Vijay Anand, the 1965 romantic drama starring Dev Anand and Waheeda Rehman is amongst the best Bollywood classics ever made. Dev Anand’s appearance as a tourist guide and later as a holy man became one of the most iconic roles ever played by an actor. The concept of the film was taken from R.K. Narayan’s English book titled ‘The Guide’. The film was selected as India’s official entry for the Best Foreign Language Film category at the 38th Academy Awards, however it didn’t get nominated.

Sholay (1975)

Believed to be one of the greatest blockbusters of all times, ‘Sholay’ changed the scenario of film-making in Bollywood forever. The film’s characters Jay and Veeru became iconic, so did the film’s dialogues. Moreover, the character of ‘Gabbar Singh’ still creates terror in our hearts, the film is now a cult classic and always the first choice of movie buffs. Directed by Ramesh Sippy, ‘Sholay’ resided in the hearts of Indians forever.

Here Are The 10 Greatest Bollywood Movies Of All Time © Sippy Films

Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995)

No doubt ‘DDLJ’ is the longest-running film ever in any Indian theater, the film is a perfect example of how romance never gets old in Bollywood. The magic between Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol proved to be a selling point of the film. It is believed that Raj and Simran’s story is the love story of the generation. Under the direction of Aditya Chopra, the film’s legacy has only blossomed in all these years. The film is also included in the Steven Jay Schneider’s book, ‘1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die’.

Here Are The 10 Greatest Bollywood Movies Of All Time © Yash Raj Films

Lagaan (2001)

This epic sports-drama was written and directed by Ashutosh Gowariker is believed to be one film that gave Indian cinema a global recognition. Starring Aamir Khan in the lead role, the film is set in the Victorian period of India’s colonial British Raj. The plot depicts how native villagers fight against the British rule and get themselves free from taxes, by playing and winning a cricket match with Englishmen. The film also became the third Indian film to be nominated for Academy Awards in the Best Foreign Language Film category.

Rang De Basanti (2006)

The youth-centric drama directed by Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra received positive reviews both from critics and audience. The story revolves around the lives of five young men, who agree to play Indian freedom fighters in a documentary by a British film-maker. It features an ensemble cast comprising Aamir Khan, Siddharth Narayan, Soha Ali Khan, Kunal Kapoor, R. Madhavan, Sharman Joshi, Atul Kulkarni and British actress Alice Patten in the lead roles. The film was India’s official entry to the Oscars and the Golden Globes in the Best Foreign Language Film category and was nominated for Best Foreign Language Film at the 2006 BAFTA Awards. The film had a noticeable influence on the Indian society and events that followed in the later years.

Here Are The 10 Greatest Bollywood Movies Of All Time © UTV Motion Pictures

3 Idiots (2009)

“Don’t run behind success, run behind excellence” – A formula produced by the Rajkumar Hirani film ‘3 Idiots’, became the film’s selling point. Starring Aamir Khan, Sharman Joshi and R. Madhavan, the film throws light on how becoming an engineer or a doctor and choosing traditional career options is the only parameter of success in Indian households. ‘3 Idiots’ inspired many of us to reconsider our career choices, more than any other film could.

Dangal (2016)

The story of Phogat sisters not only became popular in India but also in other countries. Starring Aamir Khan in a lead role, ‘Dangal’ is a brilliant story of an ordinary Indian man, Mahaveer Singh Phogat, who trains his daughters Geeta Phogat and Babita Phogat to become world-renowned wrestlers. The story focuses on how breaking stereotypes is a vital factor in an individual’s growth. ‘Dangal’ is the highest grossing Indian film ever and the fifth highest grossing non-English film.

Here Are The 10 Greatest Bollywood Movies Of All Time © Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

Race To Oscars: Christopher Nolan, Steven Spielberg, Ridley Scott Are Ready To Compete For Academy Awards 2018

Celebrities

Sep 112017

The Oscar season is round the corner, and this year, it is going to be a tough competition between some of the most popular names in the industry, both in acting and directing categories. 2017 saw some phenomenal performances in technical and major categories. The year also saw the return of the 70mm screening after Quentin Tarantino’s ‘The Hateful Eight’, Christopher Nolan’s ‘Dunkirk’ is seen to be the most significant film of the year. The previous year’s ‘La La Land-Moonlight’ mix-up clearly indicated that there may be scope for even last minute developments at the Oscars. When it comes to direction category, five popular names of all time will be competing with each other. The race to Oscars has already begun.

This year three major projects inspired by true events may change the course of Academy Awards forever, Oscars 2018 is going to be the most anticipated year after 2016, especially after Leonardo DiCaprio’s much awaited win. Let’s throw light one by one on who all are the strongest contenders in the direction category for Oscars 2018.

The year’s beginning saw a performance oriented psychological thriller titled ‘Split’ directed by M. Night Shyamalan. Getting twenty-three different personalities out happened to be the most challenging task both for McAvoy and Night. The film is believed to be a key player in the race to Oscars, due to its out of the box story and a theme which remained untouched for long when it comes to mainstream cinema.

It's Christopher Nolan Vs Steven Spielberg In The Race To Oscars 2018 © YouTube/FANDOM

Christopher Nolan’s ‘Dunkirk’ already saw a record-breaking opening and almost $412.6 million grossed till now. The harrowing narrative of survival and resistance set at the backdrop of World War ll has received positive reviews through and is termed as ‘A Time Bending Masterpiece’. Who would have believed that Nolan, who holds an expertise in taking us through the most unbelievable tales or fantasy and fiction, would nail the most crucial of the genres with a dash. ‘Dunkirk’ is a film that appears once in a while and changes the cinematic experience forever. Nolan, like every other time added a new meaning to what a film could be.

It's Christopher Nolan Vs Steven Spielberg In The Race To Oscars 2018 © Warner Bros.

Yet, there are three other veteran directors, whose works have transcended boundaries. Steven Spielberg, Clint Eastwood and Ridley Scott are currently working on their ongoing projects. December is going to be merrier than ever for movie buffs.

Steven Spielberg’s ‘The Post’ was recently renamed to ‘The Papers’. Inspired by true events, the film tells the story of Katharine Graham (Meryl Streep) and Washington Post editor Ben Bradlee’s (Tom Hanks) scandalous decision to publish a series of leaked articles entitled “The Pentagon Papers” in 1971. The papers were crucial due to the fact that they contained classified information related to the Defense Department’s plans for the Vietnam War. The film is crucial from two aspects – Firstly, it throws light on an important event in the history press freedom and secondly, for the first time ever, Tom Hanks and Meryl Streep are working together in a film despite of the fact that both are now veterans. The film is aimed for a December 22 limited release.

It's Christopher Nolan Vs Steven Spielberg In The Race To Oscars 2018 © YouTube/Wochit Entertainment

On the other hand Ridley Scott and Clint Eastwood are aiming for Oscars through their upcoming films ‘All the Money in the World’ and ‘The 15:17 to Paris’ (inspired by true events). Both films are coming from the hands of seasoned veterans and the appearance of all five directors together in Oscars is going to be a tough task for the jury as well.

Here Are Some Of The Best Hollywood Films Of 2017 That Forced Us To Go To The Cinemas

Celebrities

Sep 112017

If we talk about movies, 2017 has been all about thrillers and horror. The year’s beginning saw the very dynamic and performance-oriented film titled ‘Split’ by one of the well-known directors of all time – M. Night Shyamalan. The first half of the year was also about one of the most female-centric and revolutionary films (from the aspect of a female superhero), which smashed many box office records, ‘Wonder Woman.’ While, the creep factor hit next level with intense portrayal of cannibalism, French drama ‘Raw’ can easily be titled as the most ‘psychotic’ film of the year.

Here Are The Best Hollywood Films Of 2017 So Far © Focus World

Now, let us discuss one by one all those films of 2017 which have been successful in terms of viewership and critics ratings.

We start with M. Night Shyamalan’s ‘Split.’ The film grossed a $276.9 million at the box office and received welcoming reviews from critics. “Split is all plot, an ingenious (and also ridiculous) conceit spun into an elegant ribbon of suspense. The less said about that plot, therefore, the better,” wrote the New York Times about the film. Shyamalan has made his point clear with a good number of twists and an immersive performance by James McAvoy. This is for sure a performance that’s Oscar worthy.

Here Are The Best Hollywood Films Of 2017 So Far © Univesal Pictures

The most awaited film of Hugh Jackman’s career grossed a whopping $616.2 million. ‘Logan’ left many teary-eyed and nostalgic at the same time. The film is the third ‘Wolverine’ solo film and marked the most well-scripted and anticipated end of Wolverine’s character.

2017 also gave us that one film, which is already seen as a strong contender for Academy Awards 2018, ‘Dunkirk’ that left us in a sublime awe. The film marked the biggest 70mm release in the last 25 years, and a major part of it has been shot through IMAX cameras. With the current 8.4 IMDb rating, the movie succeeded in resonating with the global audience.

Jordan Peele’s ‘Get Out’ was one of the most gripping films of the year. The film also had a social message apart from its nerve-wrenching horror based plot. Giving another definition to horror genre was ‘Annabelle: Creation’, the fourth installment in ‘The Conjuring’ series. The film proved to be a commercial success and grossed $255.4 million approx.

Chris McKay tried his hands at creating an entertaining film, superhero comedy ‘The Lego Batman Movie’ which brilliantly told the story of the DC comics character. But, there was another superhero inspired film, ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2’ which was the perfect space adventure ride, a fresh and fun-filled fantasy which crossed the $200 million mark on the big screen and won our hearts.

The year’s end will mark three major projects by veteran directors – Steven Spielberg, Ridley Scott and Clint Eastwood. As all three of them gear up for expected 2017 releases of their films, seems like the competition is already tough with the added cinematic masterpiece by Nolan. The first collaboration between Tom Hanks and Meryl Streep is also going to be an anticipated one. It will be interesting to see as which all films and actors make it to the Academy Awards 2018.

From 'Saving Private Ryan' To 'Sully', Tom Hanks Has Proved To Be The Ultimate Hollywood Star

Celebrities

Aug 222017

With a great movie comes box-office collections and fame. With a great performance comes satisfaction and content. Versatility defines a performer, and gratitude defines a man. A distinguished actor is always congenial, and so is Tom Hanks. Hanks is perceived to be an amiable actor by his fans. With each movie, he keeps evolving in his performances and keeps alive a true artist’s spirit still at the age of 61.

As an actor, one is required to assess one’s ability by playing challenging roles on the screen. Known for his various characters in various genres, Hanks never failed to surprise the audience by accomplishing an array of tasks. Unpredictably, his projects have become better and appreciable with the passage of time. His crafty selection and tryst with work entitle his 40 splendid years in Hollywood. It his brilliance as an actor that bagged him with two consecutive Academy Awards for ‘Philadelphia’ (1993) and ‘Forrest Gump’ (1994) in the Best Actor category and his dedication as a producer which rewarded him with several Emmy Awards. Remarkably, his impact on us has always been positive.

The commencement of his career dates back to 1978, when interning at the Great Lakes Theatre Festival in Ohio prompted him to drop out of college and follow his passion instead. During the same time, he earned its reward when Time Magazine named Hanks one of the “Top 10 College Dropouts”.

He never disconnected himself with his work since then. In the following year, though, he worked for low budget projects but later landed one of the lead roles in a TV Series titled ‘Bosom Buddies’. Splash (1984) was his first feature film which surprisingly hit the box office, following which, there was another romantic comedy known as ‘Bachelor Party’ (1984), giving Hanks a career hike.

Later, Hanks began to extend his comic roles to more dramatic ones. It was with ‘Nothing in Common’ and ‘Josh’, he dipped his toes in the dramatic waters for the first time. He was looked upon as a major Hollywood talent when he earned his first nominations for the Academy Awards for the Best Actor as the lead in fantasy comedy ‘Big’ (1988).

After a few box-office underperformers – ‘The Burbs’, ‘Joe Versus the Volcano’ and ‘The Bonfire of the Vanities’ he had a major comeback with ‘Turner & Hooch’ (1989). His roles in ‘Sleepless in Seattle’, ‘You’ve Got Mail’ and ‘A League of their Own’ ensured that Hanks was there to stay. In the 2000’s he proved that he could still keep the audience captivated by his characters in ‘Cast Away’ and ‘The Ladykillers’, which are known to be the two most outlandish roles he ever played. Critics have always applauded his portrayal of character as Jim Lovell in ‘Apollo 13′, his voice over as Woody in ‘Toy Story’ as well as his Oscar-nominated performance as Captain Miller in ‘Saving Private Ryan’.

Tom Hanks has delivered one extraordinary set of performances after the other, unmatched and untouched. His upcoming film ‘The Papers’ and his first time association with Meryl Streep (as co-actor) is already being seen as a major Oscar contender for this year, especially when the film is under the direction of Steven Spielberg.

The legacy of Tom Hanks stands as a path-breaking, fearless and supremely talented career. You can vbe sure that his star has never fallen!