My Favorite Hindi films of 2021

Its time to look back at the year – to the movies, tv series which kept us entertained and gave us the necessary dosage of sanity.

It has been a disastrous year for Bollywood. Both in terms of business as well as in terms of quality. While regional cinema surged – especially Malayalam, Bollywood was left picking the pieces… but even in many duds that the industry doled out… there were some which deserved praise.

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So here is a list of my favorite Hindi Movies of the year 2021.

5) Shershaah

This Biopic based on the Short but large life of Captain Vikram Batra was the surprise hit of the year. Shershaah starts off slow. 

The movie gives us a back story of the captain. His family, friends and love interest. 

This takes up most part of the 1st half, however once this is out of the way, Then the movie picks up pace and really comes into his own in the second half when we enter the warzone. 

It is also in the second half that Sid Malhotra also comes into his own and gives his career best performance.

Coupled with hummable songs. The movie ticks most of the boxes .

Shershaah is not a great film, but it has its moments which made me invested and hence it makes the list.

4) Mimi

A remake of a National Award winning Marathi film “Mala Aai Huachey” ..Mimi worked for me as it hits the right notes both emotionally and comedically.

A story of a small town Rajasthani girl, with dreams of becoming a Bollywood heroine. 

She decides to become a surrogate mother an American couple in hopes of making a quick buck. 

Well things don’t turn out as expected.

Like Shershaah, this movie too has its problems. Its simplistic and deals with a serious subject like surrogacy in a rather light fashion. 

But what I liked about it was the performances. Kirti Sanon marks her arrival to the main leagues. She is superb. 

My review of Mimi

Also loved watching Pankaj Tripathi having an insane amount of fun.

3) 83 –

Kabir Khan’s much awaited film based on the incredible story of Kapil dev and his devils, the Indian Cricket team of 1983 which won the World Cup.

An emotionally charged sports drama which will surely make you cheer; clap and cry came out end of the year.

It makes my list at no.2 primarily for the sheer community viewing experience that it provided. 

Ranveer Singh delivers yet another winner and saves Bollywood this year.

 

My detailed review of 83

2) Sardar Udham

The 3^rd biopic in the list.

A story of an Indian revolutionary, who assassinated Michael Dwyer in London, to avenge the Jallianwala Bagh massacre

Soojith sircar’s Sardar Udham steers clear of the chest beating jingoistic style, that movies about freedom fighters tend to be in Bollywood. 

It delivers the story but along with it a strong message.

Kaushal provides a perfectly sophisticated performance, which compliments the intricate writing. 

When he’s arrested by the cops after shooting Dwyer, the content in his heart of having done what he wanted for 20 years shows. He doesn’t shout or scream – instead he just says “its over… its done”

One of my favorite touches in the film is the alias that Sardar Udham Singh gives during the trail Ram Mohammad Singh Azad  - that is all you need to know about what the film is trying to say.

 

Finally my favorite of them all

1) Sandeep aur Pinky Farrar 

In the shitshow that was Hindi movies this year. Came a gem from Dibankar Banerjee. An unexpected classic.

A Story about the most unlikeliest duo to be struck together in a sticky situation running for their lives. A chase thriller, but not a typical one – far from it.

A film filled with brilliant moments of subtext, insinuation and nuance. A film with superlative performances and A film that attempts to rise above its genre.

Sandeep aur Pinky farrar was clearly by a long long way the best Hindi Movie of the year for me.

Why – Many reasons –

The writing – they say writing is an art of saying something, without really saying it. Varun Grover who wrote the movie is a master at that. 

While never losing the grip or pace on the narrative Varun’s writing is able to infuse – gender discrimination, patriarchy, elitism and the class divide in scenes without stating the obvious. 

The Direction – Sandeep aur Pinky faraar has perhaps the best opening in a Hindi film that I have seen in a long while. Dibankar in this 1 take scene establishes 

a) Location – we instantly know this is set in Delhi no character says it, nor does a card come in… you just know. 

b) Tone – we instantly know that movie is not going to be typical, the language they spoke the manner, the casual sexism all of it matter. 

c) Subtle foreshadowing – Almost everything the men talk about here is referenced later right from judging a girl by her looks, to taking advantage of a situation to even the pink shirt.

Masterclass … That this movie came out in the peak of the 2^nd wave is a tragedy. It deserved to be a blockbuster.

My detailed review of Sandeep aur Pinky Faraar

So there you have it. My Favorite Hindi films of the year. Do let me what your favorite films of the year were?  I always love a conversation around films.