Mega list of movie recommendations by Sharath Bhat Seraje

- Sharath Bhat Seraje

Here is a list of all the movies that I recommended in various different occasions over the last 6-7 years. By no means is this a definitive list, it is just a collection of all the different lists that I prepared(most of them were prepared on request).

Ten very goog Foreign films watched in 2015:

1. Loft(Belgium)
2. Omar(Palestine)
3. Mother of mine(Finland)
4. Halima's path(Bosnia-Croatia-Slovenia)
5. Divided we fall(Czech)
6. Captain Abu Raed(Jordan)
7. Balzac and the Chinese seamstress(China)
8. Barfuss(Germany)
9. He loves me loves me not(France)
10. The Raid 2: Berandal(Indonesia)

For brief descriptions of these films, go to this entry:
Ten Foregin films


Films that made the film festival worth it:

1. King of Devil's Island
2. Kofta
3. Lemon Tree
4. About Elly
5. Adaminte makan Abu
6. Mao's last dancer
7. Colours of the Mountain
8. Flying pigs:
9. Top Floor left wing
10. A separation

You will find the brief introductions here:
Some more foreign films


Recommended Foreign films in Crime/Thriller/Suspense genre:

1. I saw the devil (Korean)
2. El cuerpo (The Body) - Spanish
3. Old Boy (Korean)
4. Loft (Belgian)
5. The Chaser (Korean)
6. Julia's eyes (Spanish)
7. The secret in their eyes(Argentinian)
8. Nine Queens(Argentinian)
9. Sleep Tight (Spanish)
10. Headhunters
11. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo(Swedish)
12. The Hunt (Danish)
13. Memories of Murder(Korean)
14. The Bird with the Crystal Plumage (Italian)
15. Spoorloos
16. Pieta (Korean)
17. High Tension (2003, French)
18. The Best Offer (2013, Italian)

Some very old/black and white films that you must not miss at all:

1. Psycho
2. The Treasure of the Sierra Madre
3. Casablanca
4. 12 Angry Men 
5. It's a Wonderful Life
6. Citizen Kane
7. The General (1926)
8. The Apartment 
9. The Maltese Falcon 
10. The Third Man 
11. Witness for the Prosecution 
12. Double Indemnity 
13. Out of the Past 
14. High Noon 
15. Ace in the whole
16. Sunset Boulevard
17. Rebecca
18. Safety Last (1923)
19. White Heat
20. The Ox-Bow Incident 
21. Notorious 
22. Throne of Blood
23. Les Diaboliques
24. Rififi 
25. Umberto D
26. The Big Heat (1953)
27. Night of the Hunter
28. Laura 
29. Bicycle Thieves
30. Metropolis (1927)
31. Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956)
32. The Day the Earth Stood Still(1951)
33. The Wages of Fear
34. Seven Samurai
35. To Be or Not to Be (1942)

Movies with great plot twists:
Some of the most deliciously ironic/poetic twists that I have seen are the ones in TV shows -- The Twilight Zone and Alfred Hitchcock Presents. I Would highly recommend these 2 shows.
Some good movies with plot twists that I liked:

1. Memento
2. Primal fear
3. 6th sense
4. Predestination
5. Planet of Apes
6. House of Games
7. Orphan
8. Saw
9. Saw 2
10. The Spanish prisoner
11. The game
12. The Prestige
13. The Visit
14. The crying game (British)
15. Pieta (Korean)
16. Incendies (Canadian)
17. The illusionist
18. The bird with crystal plumage (Italian)
19. Psycho
20. The Village
21. Unbreakable
22. The Others
23. Loft (Belgian) 
24. The secret in their eyes (Argentinean)
25. Atonement (British)
26. Chinatown
27. The Conversation 
28. Scream
29. Gone baby gone
30. Body Heat
31. The Body (Spanish)
32. Butterfly on a wheel
33. Matchstick men
34. Witness for the prosecution
35. Nine queens(Argentinean)
36. the best offer(Italian)
37. Les diaboliques(French)
38. Dark City 
39. Another Earth 
40. Following
41. Identity

Check the introduction here:
https://sharathbhats.blogspot.com/2018/08/movies-with-good-plot-twists.html

Some films that changed my outlook on cinema:
1. Memento and every other film of Nolan
2. Judgement at Nuremberg
3. Miller's Crossing
4. No Man's Land
5. Before the fall.
6. Saving Private Ryan and Artificial Intelligence by Steven Spielberg
7. Ran by Akira Korosawa
8. Bicycle thieves
9. Umberto D
10. Aguirre the wrath of God
11. A landscape in the mist, Weeping meadows, eternity and day.
12. Hero by Zhang Yimou
13. Cinema of Iran - Children of Heaven, Song of the sparrows, The cyclist, Kandahar
14. Cinema of Jeane Pierre Jeunet - Amelie, Delicatessen.
15. Hotel Rwanda

Bonus: Try to watch everything by these legendary directors:

1. Billy Wilder
2. Preston Sturges
3. Charlie Chaplin
4. Buster Keaton
5. Orson Welles
6. John Huston
7. Fritz Lang
8. John Ford
9. Ernst Lubitsch
10. Alfred Hitchcock
11. John Ford
12. William Wyler
13. Don Siegel
14. Stanley Kramer
15. Vincente Minnelli
16. Sergio Leone
17. Franklin J. Schaffner
18. George Roy Hill
19. Martin Scorsese
20. Stanley Kubrick
21. Brian De Palma
22. Sidney Lumet
23. Francis Ford Coppola
24. Clint Eastwood
25. Werner Herzog
26. John McTiernan
27. Steven Spielberg
28. James Cameron
29. Ridley Scott
30. Christopher Nolan
31. Tony Scott
32. Coen Brothers
33. Michael Mann
34. Terry Gilliam
35. Paul Verhoeven
36. Mel Gibson
37. M. Night Shyamalan
38. Wolfgang Petersen
39. David Mamet
40. David Fincher
41. Alejandro G. Iñárritu
42. Joon-ho Bong
43. Quentin Tarantino
44. Jee-woon Kim
45. Jean Pierre Jeunet
46. Johnnie To
47. Majid Majidi
48. Mohsen Makmalbaf

Check the detailed post here:
http://sharathbhats.blogspot.com/2018/07/some-films-that-had-big-impact-on-my.html


Movies set in Exotic Locations:
1. Mutluluk(Bliss) - Turkish
2. Nordwand(North Face) - German
3. Around the world in 80 days(the one made in 1956)
4. The Buffalo Boy (2004, Vietnamese)
5. African Queen
6. Dersu Uzala (1975, Japanese)
7. Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter... And Spring(Korean)
8. Vertical limit
9. Days of Heaven
10. Dreams of dust( French/African)
11. Mountain Patrol (2004, Tibet)
12. Tulpan (Kazakistan)
13. Eight below
14. Medicine Man
15. The way back
16. Lawrence of Arabia
17. The Hunter (Australia)
18. A far off Place
19. Aguirre the wrath of god(German)
Honourable mentions:
20. Blackboards - Iranian.
21. The English Patient (1996)
22. The Flight of the Phoenix (1965)
23. Alive (1993)
24. The Blue Butterfly (2004)
25. Jeremiah Johnson
26. Munyurangabo(Rwanda)
27. Vodka Lemon - Iranian.
28. Kandahar(Iranian)

Yet to watch:

1. Postmen in the Mountains
2. The Thaw (2009)
3. Pathfinder (2007)
4. Sanctum (2011)
5. Black Water (2007)
6. Iron Will (1994)
7. Farewell to the King (1989)
8. Seven Years in Tibet (1997)
9. Jungle Child (2011)

Find the detailed introductions to these movies here:
Movies that you should watch for the locations



Some good Indian films that you might have missed:
1. Kaksparsh
2. Budhia Singh – Born to Run
3. Bey Yaar
4. Baandhon
5. Baise Srabon
6. Antardwand
7. Punjab 1984
8. Lakshmi
Check the details here:
http://sharathbhats.blogspot.com/2018/07/some-good-indian-films.html



Foreign war films:
1. Tae Guk Gi: The Brotherhood of War (2004): Korean.
2. Assembly (2007): Chinese
3. The Front Line (2011) - Korean
4. A Very Long Engagement (2004, French)
5. The Tour (2008): Serbian
6. 9th Company (2005, Russian)
7. Come and See(Russian)
8. The Brest Fortress (2010, Russian)
9. 71 into the fire: Korean
10. Days of Glory (2006)- French
11. Red Cliff(Released as part 1 and part 2): Chinese
12. The Admiral - Roaring Currents (2014): Korean
13. Ran(Japanese)
Some good films about soldiers/the ones set in the war zones that are not action films,ones that do not show combat/battle:
14. Black book
15. No man's land
16. The Burmese Harp (1956)
17. Welcome to Dongmakgol (2005)
18. J.S.A. (2000)
You will find the capsule reviews here:
Foreign War films



Good War movies:

1. The Longest day(1962)
2. A bridge too far(1977)
3. The Dam busters(1955)
4. Saving Private Ryan
5. Twelve O’Clock High (1949)
6. Patton (1970)
7. Enemy at the gates
8. The big red one(1980)
9. Paths of Glory(1957)
10. Full metal jacket
11. Platoon

Honorable mentions:

1. Hell is for heroes(1962)
2. Battle of Britain
3. Cross of Iron 

Find the capsule reviews here:
War Films



Recommended popcorn entertainers and action films for beginners who are not sure as to how to get started:

1. Speed (Concept based action)
2. Alien and Aliens (Suspense + action)
3. Saving Private Ryan (Emotion + Action)
4. Tae guk Gi (Korean, Intense war with sentiment)
5. Rambo 1,2,3 and 4
6. Mission Impossible 1 and 4 (Action)
7. Die Hard 1,2,3 and 4(Action + Heroism)
8. Pursuit of Happyness (Sentiment + Inspiration)
9. Cinema Paradiso(Italian)
10. Amelie(French)
11. Braveheart (Period piece with Emotion + Action)
12. Gladiator (Period drama with Sentiment + Action)
13. The Pianist (Emotional drama with a war background)
14. Cinderella man (Sentiment+ Action)
15. Terminator 1 and 2 - Action
16. Law Abiding Citizen - Crime thriller
17. Mad Max: Fury Road - Visual storytelling + action
18. True Lies(Comedy + Action + heroism)
19. Man on Fire
20. Enemy of the state - Chase thriller
21. Blood Diamond - Sentimental
22. Silence of the lambs – serial killer movie
23. Nolan's Batman trilogy(Batman begins, The Dark Knight and The Dark Knight rises)
24. The Raid redemption and the sequel Raid 2 - Great fights
25. Ong Bak - Action
26. Jackie Chan - Police Story series, Operation Condor, Twin Dragons, Armour of God, Rush Hour series. Action + Visual comedy
27. I saw the Devil(Korean) - Crime thriller
28. Dollars trilogy for a taste of stylised Cowboy films(A fistful of Dollars, For a few dollars more and The good,bad and ugly) 
29. Ocean's Eleven  and Italian Job - Cool heist thrillers
30. A.I: A classic by Steven Spielverg
31. Bourne Series - Watch the first 3. Bourne Identity, Bourne Supremacy and Bourne Ultimatum.
32. Leon the Professional
33. Shooter
34. Enter the dragon

Some films that had a big impact on my view of cinema

For the uninitiated - this is like the game of Kho kho where someone lists his/her list of 10 movies that changed his/her life and asks you to do the same. The problem is that for the first time in life I have realised that 10 is such a small number!! I will have to list at least 100-150 to do justice to all the great films out there. So, I will cheat and add more. Promise less and deliver more!!

So here are ten(?) movies which, in some way or the other, have managed to stay with me. Not so much as change my life, but these films helped me escape it. I was stunned/awed/gobsmacked/moved by the artistry of these. In some way or the other these films changed my idea of what a cinema is and what a cinema is supposed to do.

Not including RGV's Sarkar, Hrishikesh Mukherjee,Anurag kashyap, Upendra, Puttanna kanagal and other Indian greats as we are already well aware of those.

1. Memento and every other film of Nolan(Well, before you call me a Nolantard let me exclude The Dark Knight rises)!!

2. Judgement at Nuremberg - Any time anybody recommends 12 Angry men to me I thank them by recommending this in return!

3. Miller's Crossing - Heights of Coen brothers' madness. The way the characters were etched and the way the dialogues are written is worth studying. Coens could have filled Quotable quote sections of at least ten copies of Reader's Digest with the dialogues they wrote.

4. Watch Lock,Stock and 2 smoking barrels and you will get the heights of Guy Ritchie's madness!! Totally changed my views on using the camera, editing and background music.

4. No Man's Land .

5. Saving Private Ryan and Artificial Intelligence by Steven Spielberg

6. Ran by Akira Korosawa. Others with same emotional intensity -Hotel Rwanda, Bicycle thieves, Umberto D

7. Aguirre the wrath of God - Hypnotic and mesmerising work of ART. As a buy one get one free offer I will recommend movies by the master Theo Angelopulos - A landscape in the mist, Weeping meadows, eternity and day.

8. Hero by Zhang Yimou - Every frame a painting!! That reminds me of Days of Heaven by Terrence Mallick and that in turn reminds me of Spring,Summer,Fall,WInter,Spring by Kim ki Duk !!

9. Cinema of Iran - Children of Heaven, Song of the sparrows, The cyclist, Kandahar

10. Cinema of Jeane Pierre Jeunet - Amelie, Delicatessen.

Try watching everything by these directors:

1. Billy Wilder
2. Preston Sturges
3. Charlie Chaplin
4. Buster Keaton
5. Orson Welles
6. John Huston
7. Fritz Lang
8. John Ford
9. Ernst Lubitsch
10. Alfred Hitchcock
11. John Ford
12. William Wyler
13. Don Siegel
14. Stanley Kramer
15. Vincente Minnelli
16. Sergio Leone
17. Franklin J. Schaffner
18. George Roy Hill
19. Martin Scorsese
20. Stanley Kubrick
21. Brian De Palma
22. Sidney Lumet
23. Francis Ford Coppola
24. Clint Eastwood
25. Werner Herzog
26. John McTiernan
27. Steven Spielberg
28. James Cameron
29. Ridley Scott
30. Christopher Nolan
31. Tony Scott
32. Coen Brothers
33. Michael Mann
34. Terry Gilliam
35. Paul Verhoeven
36. Mel Gibson
37. M. Night Shyamalan
38. Wolfgang Petersen
39. David Mamet
40. David Fincher
41. Alejandro G. Iñárritu
42. Joon-ho Bong
43. Quentin Tarantino
44. Jee-woon Kim
45. Jean Pierre Jeunet
46. Johnnie To
47. Majid Majidi
48. Mohsen Makmalbaf

Good foreign films watched in Bengaluru International film festival 2011

King of Devil's Island - Norwegian. An intense film set in a correctional facility. Structured almost like a prison film, it is entertaining without sacrificing the subtlety. A great watch. 

Kofta - Netherlands. A cute little Chaplinesque comedy.

Lemon Tree - An Israel film about a Palestinian woman who lives in the border and her house is next to that of the defence minister of Israel. An interesting concept treated in a masterly way. Had some quirky humour as an added bonus.

About Elly - This was superb. Great attention to detail, great characters, good suspense. All in all a great film.

Adaminte makan Abu - A Malayalam film about a couple that wants to go for a Haj tour. Simple yet subtle. A very good film.

Mao's last dancer - Australian. Love Story of a Chinese ballet dancer set in a politically charged situation. Nicely done.

Colours of the Mountain: A Colombian film that has kids in the main roles and Guerrilla warriors in the background. An excellent film. A lighthearted film with a grim background. A must watch.

Flying pigs: A very good film on Hooliganism. Football fans would connect more easily with the story line. It was nicely done.

Top Floor left wing: Think of a Sociopolitical satire, think of a film having a hostage crisis and then Laugh out loudly. Now think of a Hostage film which is a Sociopolitical satire and makes you laugh out riotously and you have this film!!

A separation - Another classic drama by the Iranian director Asghar Farghadi. Expertly done with deft touches.A must watch

Recommended War movies

It's movie recommendation time again! We saw talented filmmakers making films like Dunkirk, The darkest hour and Hacksaw Ridge this year. So I assume that the spectre of war continues to lure filmmakers and audience alike. Like Dunkirk, most of the films in the list offer a unique, immersive experience and are very well researched(Many were based on books), most of them, while being good stories, also recreate the events very realistically. There are some well known titles but If you’re looking for those lesser-known, "Why didn't I hear about this earlier?" types, look no further :

The Longest day(1962) - Focuses on the invasion of Normandy(Which was famously depicted in Saving private Ryan later). This black and white epic is the granddaddy of all the big budget war films. You must watch it for the sheer ambition, massive nature of the production and the kind of spectacular visuals you would naturally expect out of a gigantic production like that.

A bridge too far(1977) - Like the Longest day, this needs to be praised for the massive nature of the production. (As a fun exercise, try counting the number of stars in the cast !), It recreates a complicated,logistically challenging and tragic military venture to capture an important bridge. Watch it for the breathtaking, extravagant scale and sweep. There are no CGI effects; most of what's onscreen is real, Like in The longest day, if you see four thousand people in the screen, you can be sure that they actually used 4,000 people to shoot it !

Tae Guk Gi: The Brotherhood of War : Korean. One of the most intense and bloodiest war movies out there. The war scenes are unflinchingly visceral,gruesome,frenetic and harrowing. That said, at the core of it is an emotional story of brothers that will pull your heartstrings.

The Dam busters(1955) - This forgotten classic stands out because it chronicles the efforts of a middle-aged scientist whose work was crucial for an RAF mission to bomb the German dams. A fascinating real life story is made engrossing by the gradual buildup of tension and the likeable lead character.

Saving Private Ryan - This has become the gold standard against which all war films are measured. Chilling, horrific and unforgettable images of the opening sequence are matched by the cinematic virtuosity showcased in the staging of the long battle in the end. Be it the choreography of the battles, or the emotional appeal of the story or the meticulous period details, Spielberg gets it all right.

Ran(1985): Akira Kurosawa's take on King Lear set in the 16th century feudal Japan. It's not a war film but has some battle scenes that are visually arresting, colourful and
electrifying. The film is grand-scaled, bleak, evocative and magnificent. You should also read the stories about the making. For ex: They actually built a castle for the film and burned it down !

Twelve O’Clock High (1949) - This superlative drama was written by people who actually worked in the Air force. It is then no surprise that it is one of the first
Hollywood films to probe realistically the pressure and anxieties of occupying high-command positions. There is surprisingly little fighting and action for a war film. The depiction of emotional vulnerability of soldiers coupled with the theme of leadership under extraordinary circumstances makes it a superior film. The film has been used by the military in workshops.

Red Cliff(Released as part 1 and part 2): This Chinese historical war movie is a grand, sweeping spectacle. The tactics, strategies, counter-moves,formations and
things like that is what makes it special. It is flashy and massive. This was one of the primary inspirations for Bahubali.

Patton (1970) - This one is remembered for the bombastic and mesmerising performance of George C Scott as the flamboyant US general, George Patton (Scott famously refused to accept the Oscars and said that the Oscars were a "meat market" !) Francis Ford Coppola of Godfather fame wrote a brilliant script. The battle set pieces are set in authentic locations(They shot it in 18 countries!) and are expertly envisioned without any computer graphics.

The Front Line (2011): Set during the closing weeks of the Korean War, it follows a platoon of soldiers from the south as they try to take an important hill. It starts off as a mystery themed character piece and slowly turns into an intense, unrelenting survival story of brotherhood in the midst of a chaotic battle.

Enemy at the gates - This one is set around the siege of Stalingrad and it concentrates on intense stand-offs and cat and mouse games between two snipers. that remind us of nail-biters This quasi-factual film is an expertly crafted thrill ride.

Assembly (2007): A Chinese film showing the Chinese civil war. It starts with gritty and riveting battle sequences and goes one step further, shows what happens once the war is over. It changes gears and becomes a moving tale of honour, heroism, and sacrifice.

The big red one(1980) - Sam Fuller who was known as a tough talking,talented filmmaker, was actually there on the shores of Africa and Europe as a soldier. So he does not romanticise war and chooses to immerse viewers in the experiences of four young soldiers as they travel in this unsentimental, episodic tale. His version was 4 hours long and the studio had cut half of it for theatrical release which broke Fuller's heart. We now have a restored version that has 45 minutes of extra footage. This acclaimed version is the one that you should watch.

A Very Long Engagement (2004): Jean Pierre Jeunet is known for his dazzling visual style, whimsical,quirky characters and crazy colour palette. This film is no
exception. Though not a war film, it is the story of one girl's search for her missing fiancee that has the trench warfare of World War I as the backdrop.

9th Company: This provides a glimpse into the tragic Soviet occupation of Afghanistan through the eyes of a handful Russian soldiers. It is a bit like Full metal jacket blended with The Platoon set in the unforgiving landscapes of Afghanistan. A rousing combat film filled with action.

Paths of Glory(1957) - Legendary director Stanley Kubrick manages to create a devastating experience. Cold-blooded inhumanity of War and the kind of things done in the name of patriotism are depicted in such a blunt and scathingly brilliant manner that it was banned in France for 18 years.

Full metal jacket - Kubrick revisited the war genre with this. He wasn't particularly interested in following conventions, nor was he ever known to cater to an audience's expectations and you can see that here and in Paths of Glory. The film is split into two distinct halves. First half is spent in Boot Camp training which is strangely and extraordinarily compelling and humorous at the same time. 2nd half is spent in the battleground. All in all, the created an intriguingly intimate war film like no other.

Platoon - This provocative film by Oliver Stone, who himself was a soldier, captures the dehumanizing power of war effectively. Actors were made to undergo the rigorous training just like soldiers do and were made to lose sleep for authenticity! We get to see the relentless horror and the senseless savagery as the director takes us through the messy tour of duty in the jungles of Vietnam.

The Admiral - Roaring Currents (2014): This one broke all the box office records in Korea, if you watch it you will know why. This is a period film showing Naval battle. The sea battles are rousing and epic. The scale is huge and magnificent. Drink some water if you have to in advance, you will not blink or get up during the third act, the climactic battle goes on for 30-40 minutes, it is incredible and epic.

Honorable mentions:

Hell is for heroes(1962) - A decent low budget film by the famous director Don Siegel (He was Clint Eastwood's guru) about a group of soldiers trying to hold off a superior enemy.

Idi i smotri (Come and See) - The destruction of a Russian village seen through the eyes of a peasant boy. It is bizarre, disturbing, and haunting

Battle of Britain - This big budget film was directed by Guy Hamilton of James Bond series fame. Falls into the good but nothing exceptional category.

71 into the fire is a South Korean film about a bunch of students trying to defend a strategically important territory. Nothing extraordinary but there is drama,rivalry,tension and all that to keep you hooked.

Cross of Iron - Sam Peckinpah, known for making westerns that were brutal, unforgiving, and vicious was an ideal choice to direct a war movie and he delivers. Peckinpah used to drink heavily during the shoot and ended up exceeding the budget and waging a war with the producers(He made this one towards the end of his declining career). Film depicts the struggles and the power politics of a German unit advancing against the Soviet Union in the eastern front. Depiction of small unit warfare is excellent, the battle scenes are Confusing, chaotic, frightening . Technically brilliant and superbly photographed.

The Brest Fortress (2010): About desperate Russians trying to protect their place from the invading troops. A good one time watch.

Indigènes (Days of Glory): About the journey of Africans who join the French army and struggle with discrimination and racial stuff. Manages to show the world war from a completely different perspective.

Suggestions are welcome :)

Some good Indian films

A quick one, some good Indian films that you might have missed:

Kaksparsh - This Marathi film set in the pre independence times successfully transports you to a bygone era of joint families, child marriages and young widows. A Power packed performance by Sachin Khedekar elevates this haunting tale of love and suffering to another level. The authentic looking Konkan setting and an unconventional love story make this a must watch.

Budhia Singh – Born to Run : This is a heartfelt biopic of Odisha’s wonder-boy Budhia. It is a stirring drama powered by a sparkling chemistry between the lead actors (Manjob Bajpai as the firebrand coach and Mayur Patole's effortless performance as the slum kid). The film uses the usual sports film clichés and mixes it with the loss of childhood theme. The story is refreshingly set in Odisha and most importantly this story needs to be heard as it is based on real life.

Bey Yaar - This slick and witty film rekindled life into an almost dead Guajarati film industry. It is a rare film that seamlessly mixes a con movie plot with a Dil Chatha hai style tale of male camaraderie and centers its emotional heart in a touching father son relationship.

Baandhon - I had liked Jahnu Barua's Hindi film Maine Gandhi Ko Nahin Mara and watched this acclaimed Assamese movie, Barua effectively immerses us into the world of an old couple with the minimalist and unhurried style that the award winning films are known for.

Baise Srabon - Crafty,terrifying serial-killers have long been an obsession for Hollywood, this is a desi serial killer story. An experienced movie buff might be able to predict some of the twists and turns, the film works in spite of that. Intertwining the story with poetry and a Bengali literary movement is what makes the story unfold in a unique fashion.

Antardwand - This remarkable film is based on the weird idea of Groom kidnapping which is actually prevalent in some parts of rural Bihar. It is the performances and the authenticity that sell an idea like this(the plot is at once novel and bizarre)

Punjab 1984 - This emotionally charged Punjabi film depicts the turbulent times post 1984 (and the subsequent Khalistan movement). Apart from Gulzar saab's Maachis not many films have dealt with this theme, hence the story of how one family gets caught in such a political struggle was interesting for me. 2nd half was a bit like a routine masala film but Pawan Malhotra and Kirron Kher's splendid performances managed to keep me hooked.

Lakshmi - I am a fan of Nagesh Kukunoor's 3 Deewarein and feel that no other film of his matched the brilliance of that. Let me say that Lakshmi is his 2nd best work. It is a story about human trafficking and prostitution. If you are faint hearted, you will find the harrowing, gut-wrenching, disturbing realism of the film difficult to swallow. More disturbing than film's graphic violence however is the fact that it is based on a true story.