We dispute with our parents because they don’t understand us. But, in the end, when we require the most experienced guides, we invariably turn to them. Because they are modern enough to comprehend the full problem, regardless of their viewpoint.
Suddenly, there are films from their time that are far more contemporary than they were supposed to be. Due to their very modern and new plot, which draws the attention of even the audience regardless of age these days. The following is a list:
1. Ankur – 1974
The title means “seedling,” and it has the distinction of being the most parallel film of the 1970s. The film depicted the interrelationships among the villagers and how they end up acting under duress.
Shabana Azmi, Anant Nag, and Priya Tendulkar starred in the film, which was Shyam Benegal’s directorial debut.
2. Trikal – 1985
The film was chosen for the Indian Panorama at Filmotsav 1986, as well as the Indian Film Retrospective at Filmotsav 1986 in Lisbon. Later, in 1986, it was invited to the London Film Festival. Set in 1961 Goa, when the Portuguese colonial rule was nearing its end, the film follows the trials and tragedies of a fictional Goan Christian family known as the “Souza Soares.”
This fast-paced drama of a family and their friends who lived through the transformation of Goa from a Portuguese colony to a state controlled by India is liberally laced with dashes of humour.
3. Ijaazat – 1987
This is one of the most well-known and recent films on the list. The makers’ chosen topic was regarded with disdain. Two lovers who had split up reconnected in a railway station’s waiting area. They started talking about how they could have done things differently in the past to make their marriage a success rather than a failed marriage.
4. Mandi – 1983
The film was a satire on the oppressed and the politics around sex workers, set in a brothel in the middle of the city that some municipal officials seek to demolish. The film, which starred Naseeruddin Shah, Shabana Azmi, and Smita Patil, provided significant insight into the lives of those involved in prostitution.
5. Nishant – 1975
The film was so good and thought-provoking that it was nominated for several prizes. It was also invited to the 1976 Cannes Film Festival, where it won the Palme d’Or. The film was selected for the 1976 London Film Festival, the 1977 Melbourne International Film Festival, and the 1977 Chicago International Film Festival, where it won the Golden Plaque.
The plot centred around women being s*xually exploited in rural areas. It focuses on how simple neglect and fear may lead to the death of innocent people.
6. Arth – 1982
The film was said to be based on the life of Mahesh Bhatt, a well-known Bollywood actor. The film was directed by Mahesh Bhatt himself, which is a wonderful fact. It demonstrated that having an extramarital affair was a thing.
None of the characters, played by Kulbhushan Kharbanda, Smita Patil, and Shabana Azmi, were presented as villains; instead, the focus was on their failings as human beings.
7. Saaransh – 1984
An old Maharashtrian couple is grieving the death of their only son. He discovers a way to save the lives of more youngsters. Which becomes his thing for him to move on from his loss.
It was India’s official entry for the 1985 Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, however, it did not receive a nomination.
8. Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron – 1983
This gem directed by Kundan Shah included amazing performances from everyone, including Naseeruddin Shah, Ravi Baswani, Om Puri, Pankaj Kapur, and Satish Shah, and was one of the most madcap satires ever filmed in Bollywood. The film is a brilliantly entertaining comedy in the vein of Kubrick’s Dr Strangelove. Even the characters performed an outstanding job in assisting the film in achieving its genre and making sense of it.
For his work, Kundan Shah received the Indira Gandhi Award for Best Debut Film of a Director in 1984. In 2006, the film was screened as part of the NFDC Retrospective at the India International Film Festival.
9. Chhoti Si Baat – 1976
We developed a movie about the ‘Date Doctor,’ played by none other than Ashok Kumar, who helps Amol Palekar win over his lady love, well before Will Smith’s Hitch. Basu Chatterjee directed the film, which was unusually open to modern relationships. Arun, a shy young man, falls in love with Prabha but is too terrified to tell her about it. When another man tries to woo Prabha, things take a turn for the worse. The film was a fresh romantic comedy without the customary drama, thanks to Salil Chowdhury’s winning score.
10. Kamla Ki Maut – 1989
When it comes to psychotic films, Bollywood has a bad reputation. However, this film did the genre justice. The scenes were truly terrifying, with a touch of a real spark, because they forced the family to confront their issues. Unlike a few other films, the film, which starred Pankaj Kapur, Roopa Ganguly, and Supriya Pathak in key roles, posed fundamental concerns regarding fidelity and the physical element of romantic relationships.
11. Aandhi – 1975
This film became a cult classic. Because the references were not subtle, they thoroughly portrayed Indira Gandhi’s life, and it was later banned. Suchitra Sen and Sanjeev Kumar, on the other hand, gave outstanding performances. For its day, it was mature and revolutionary.
12. Manthan – 1976
This film is pretty enjoyable and can be described as a revolutionary film in terms of Indian village culture and filmmaking. The delivery of the dialogue and the camera work were both excellent.
Smita Patil and Grish Karnad did an excellent job.
13. Mera Naam Joker – 1970
Raj Kapoor’s Mera Naam Joker was a critical and commercial failure at its initial release, but it is now acknowledged as one of Bollywood’s greatest films.
The film was semi-biographical, and Raj Kapoor had invested a fortune in it. It told the storey of a joker named Raju who falls in love with three different ladies at different periods of his life.
14. Masoom – 1983
A film to watch if you want to experience the actual emotions of a human being that you can’t control. Love, hate, attraction, jealousy, and forgiveness are all emotions that people experience. It’s more akin to a poem depicting the various shades of life.
All of the actors, including Jugal Hansraj, are children. It doesn’t get any better than this. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime film. Songs, lyrics, and music deserve special consideration. You can’t seem to get over it. For its storey, screenplay, background music and songs, acting, and especially kid artists, I like the Masoom.
15. Julie – 1975
Back when the film was released, the idea of marrying a woman who is already a mother to a child sounded like a disaster. However, the entire film revolved around that plot. Julie, played by Lakshmi, becomes pregnant by the brother of her best friend.
They parted ways because that was not something she could talk about. Julie made the decision to keep the child (abortion was also a burning topic back then). Years later, they (Julie and her best friend’s brother, the father of her child) unexpectedly ran into one other. And it was then that he decided he wanted to start a family, with Julie forcing him to marry her.
The film was quite moving, and many people in the audience were moved to tears. It did challenge several social stereotypes and beliefs, but back then, people couldn’t handle such a complex plot.
Post a Comment