10 Best Hindi Films of the Noughties
PrintThe noughties saw a spurt of films, hitherto unfancied and at times unacknowledged, that dabbed the viewers and the Hindi Film industry (HFI). This decade in Indian films has perhaps been the strongest in terms of ideas, style, narration, and development of new talent. Although it is nothing like La Nouvelle Vague, it surely will find an epochal footing in the history of Indian cinema. One could argue about the 1950s as better, but the 50s couldn’t sustain the promise. Similarly, it remains to be seen how the future will unfold for HFI.
At the start of this millennium, Indians saw their pockets bulging and this transpired to the films. New ideas and directors were seen with unskeptical eyes. Multiplexes carved a genre of its own until it got enmeshed with what we have today. Writers got nurtured, but they still are not as recognised as they ought to be. If we separate the grain from the chaff, we got a bad crop on the whole. The number is small, but, is contagious and fecund. It will, hopefully, in time to come infect the whole herd. The strengths of this era have been courage and innovation. And it will serve the industry well if it strives to bring new ideas bravely.
At this hour, it would be pertinent, to look back at the best films of the decade. I list (although lists are not devoid of its inherent politics) here 10 Hindi films that came out between 1st January 2000 to 31st December 2009. I am an authority of my choice, liable to oversight that may dissatisfy some and irk others. But, that is why we are here- to debate and to discuss. Here it is then:
10. Pinjar (2003)- The story is about pain and loss. The themes and images evoked transgress the time it was set in. Based on Amrita Pritam’s Punjabi novel of the same name is masterfully done by Chandra Prakash Dwivedi. Manoj Bajpai’s endearing performance takes this film to another level.
Pinjar (Chandra Prakash Dwivedi, 2003)
9. Rang De Basanti (2006) – Rakeysh Mehra’s interpretation of the Bhagat Singh brand of nationalism and the call to arms. The denouement however is tragic and unachieving and questions the relevance of violence in every revolution. The impact of the film on the youth was overwhelming.
Rang De Basanti (Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, 2006)
8. Khosla Ka Ghosla (2006) – Dibakar Bannerjee’s story of middle-class dreams and aspirations, weaved wittily was a prognostication of great future. Oye Lucky, Lucky Oye proved it. This film raises issues subtly and touches the audience without making them realise it.
Khosla Ka Ghosla (Dibakar Bannerjee, 2006)
7. Lagaan (2001)- Ashutosh Gowariker’s vision was a basic amalgamation of Indianness- Cricket, Films and madness. It was this magic potion, combined with Aamir Khan’s sincerity that made the film an event.
Lagaan (Ashutosh Gowariker, 2001)
6. Dil Chahta Hai (2001) – DCH is about the transition in the lives of urban youngsters and individualism. In a way it is also a comment on the apolitical life of today’s youth. The film’s glory lies in its agelessness and multiple-viewing.
Dil Chahta Hai (Farhan Akhtar, 2001)
5. Company (2002) – Ram Gopal Varma reached crescendo with this high-octane, mesmerizingly performed film. He has never again touched the high. One of the most riveting films in the gangster genre.
Company (Ram Gopal Varma, 2002)
4. Lage Raho Munnabhai (2006) – If films became harbingers of social change; this film would be the one that began it. Gandhi-ism in the new age couldn’t have been defined in a better way. Not only does it make Gandhian-thought pertinent in these times, but also necessitates it.
Lage Raho Munna Bhai (RaJ Kumar Hirani, 2006)
3. Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi (2003) – From the title of the film to its ending, everything is worth pondering. Never has a film been as impacting and soliciting as this. It questions your worth, your ambitions and your ideas. If films could change your life, this would be it.
Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi (Sudhir Mishra, 2003)
2. Black Friday (2007) – This epic, investigative film is a reminder of the futility of violence.
Black Friday (Anurag Kashyap, 2007)
1. Maqbool (2004) – Vishal Bharadwaj’s imagery in this film is a perfect interpretation of Shakespearean drama. Wholly Indianised in terms of poetry, themes, images, class, religion and violence, this film took Hindi cinema to an untouched level. The performance of the cast especially Pankaj Kapoor’s Brando-esque turn is a high-point.
Maqbool (Vishal Bharadwaj, 2004)
Some other unavoidable films from this decade:
Ab Tak Chappan (2004), Dev D (2009), Haasil (2003), Manorama Six Feet Under (2007), Omkara (2006), Oye Lucky!Lucky Oye! (2008), Swades (2004), The Blue Umbrella (2007), Zubeidaa (2001).
Films excluded purely because they were not in Hindi, but were good enough to make the list- Parzania (2007), Let’s Talk (2002).
Tags: 2000-2009, ab tak chappan, Anurag Kashyap, Best Hindi Films, Black Friday, Chandra Prakash Dwivedi, Company, Dev D, Dibakar Bannerjee, Dil Chahta Hai, Farhan Akhtar, Haasil, Hazaaron Khwahishein Aisi, Khosla Ka Ghosla, Lagaan(2001), Lage Raho Munnabhai, Let's Talk, Manorama Six Feet Under, maqbool, Omkara, Oye Lucky Lucky Oye, Parzania, Pinjar, Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, Rang De Basanti, Swades, the blue umbrella, vishal bharadwaj, Zubeidaa
Anurag Kashyap
Abhay Deol
Dibakar Banerjee
Hansal Mehta
Khalid Mohamed
Kundan Shah
Rahul Dholakia
Anish Kuruvilla
Jaideep Varma
Manish Gupta
Navdeep Singh
Bhavani Iyer
D. Santosh
Onir
Ashvin Kumar
Ramu Ramanathan
Sudhir Mishra
Pankaj Advani
Revathy
Saurabh Shukla
Sachin Kundalkar
Shilpa Shukla
Sujoy Ghosh
Suparn Verma
Santosh Sivan
Shashank Ghosh
Shivajee
Pavan Kaul
Partho Sen-Gupta
Prroshant Naryannan
Sam Langoria
Satish Kasetty
Nice list. But such a crime to leave out Gulaal out of this list.
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great list except for DCH..
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As I have not watched Pinjar and Hazaaro… I would just replace these two with Omkara and Johnny Gaddar.
Other notable mentions – Socha Na Tha, Mithya, Rock On, A Wednesday, Aamir,Kaminey and Luck By Chance
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what about Taare Zameen Par???????
it should have been in the unavoidables atleast
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Though my list would look a lil different, your list in a way covers perhaps the 10 odd best directors the decade has given us – Vishal Bhardway, Dibakar Banerjee, Anurag Kashyap, Raju Hirani, RGV, Farhan Akhtar, Ashutosh Gowariker, Sudhir Mishra (he’s been on the scene longer tho) and Rakeysh Mehra – Chandraprakash Dwivedi is an interesting choice too…Notable omissions from the list: Sriram Raghavan, Shimit Amin, Prakash Jha. Interestingly, the films you mentioned that came close are also mostly by this very set of directors!!
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Though it is your list these are few movies I would like to add
Sehar
Raincoat
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I’ll back you on Sehar. It will be on many cine-fanatic’s top 10 list of the decade. It’s on mine. A few on my list would include Ek Hasina Thi and Dhoop
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remembered a few more though this time it is just my personal liking and other might not even like it…. but give it a try they are different
Anwar
1971
Being Cyrus
makdee
Moksha : This movie I saw years ago. Unable to find a copy since then. I dont know how many of you have seen it but it is hell lot different with a climax to die for…. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0301240/
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Oh! Another Moksha fan here. I got the dvd after searching a lot at many places in different cities. Wasn’t as good as I’d expected but still worth a watch. It could have been much better the the concept of the movie based on consummate altruism was good.
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In that case may I ask you if you are willing to share the movie… I am unable to find a copy.
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I third Sehar in top 10.
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nice list.only i would personally keep rang de basanti much higher on the list!
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Personally I wont include Company, KKG and DCH but that is just me.
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And, I liked Delhi-6 better than RDB but again that is just me.
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I would also include Chandni Bar in the list
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Lists are as I said political in their own right.You can call it a propaganda machinery. They leave out more than they accomodate.As Roger Ebert says -”All lists of the ‘greatest movies’ have no deep significance.It is useless to debate them. Even more useless to quarrel with their ordering of title”
What I believe is that for a list to be useful,it should contain films that one is unfamiliar with and inspires to give a film another look.
Another question that arises every time I see a ‘film list’ is- When I am making a list,doesn’t that reflect what I want everybody to see and like?
But as it happens – it is a personal list and their can always be oversights.So here too Sehar was an oversight. If I had to add the 11th film it would be Sehar.
Thank you for your comments.Hope it leads you back to catch these films again.
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MY LIST OF THE BEST FILMS OF THE DECADE
LAGAAN
DIL CHAHTA HAI
CHANDNI BAR
COMPANY
HAASIL
SWADES
LAKSHYA
MAQBOOL
AB TAK CHHAPPAN
HAZAARON KHWAISHEN AISI
SARKAR
OMKARA
BLACK FRIDAY
KAMINEY
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My List of top 10 films of this decade:
1) Lagaan
Dev D
2) The Legend of Bhagat Singh
3) Ek Hasina Thi
4) Black Friday
5) Dil Chahta hai
6) Hazaaron Khwaishen aesi
7) Maqbool
9) Rang de Basanti
10)Munna bhai MBBS
Some other favrts are:
Company, Haasil, Seher, Jhonny Gaddar, Gulal, Taare zameen par, Socha na tha, Yahaan, Ab Tak Chappan, Gangajal, Dharm, & Khosla ka ghosla.
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Sarkar and Stoneman murders
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wednesday must be in the list
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i dint watched stoneman murders i completely agree with u for the rest dushyant ….
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You can’t contain excellent cinema of the decade in just 10. Some additions to the list are:
* Mumbai Meri Jaan.
* Firaaq.
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I want to recommend “Matrubhoomi: A Nation Without Women”. if u dont mind..
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the list is definitely self sufficient… i would accept that all such films need more encouragement but what the point it that filmmakers today just play a safe game.. there focus is on people who hardly uses their mind and heart while they do anything in there life and as watching a film as to be a non stress full act, some don’t enjoy movies like pinjar and hazarrooo ..and for such reasons they are losers at box office even when its a masterpiece like omkara..
and to this today an ad on is surely required which 3 idiots ..
A MOVIE THAT CAN TRANSFORM THE YOUTH OF TODAY who are just in a race and would never want to stop before the end of their lives comes hence its time movie like this wake the generation today for a better life tomorrow for them and others
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ya smita i am totally agree with you..becz films are just like a medium and it depends on person to person that which medium they like the most..for example-
there are very few viewers who like pinjar and a lot of viewers will like dhoom,krish etc..actually my point is that the persons demands for fun,enjoyment so they watch dhoom but a movie like pinjar,raincoat,sehar has a another viewers who like a cult cinema..so it is not the point that wheteher pinjars flops or dhoom bang ons but actually the point is what type of viewer are watching the movie…
for same reason girls dont like rgv movies whereas they like karan johar movies…
where as the crack guy like me likes both dhoom and pinjar…enjoys..
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awwwwww…there were other Anurag Kashyap and Visal movies too??? How come you forgot to mention them ???? Che che !
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anurag sir movies should be in the list..
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As I said, this is a list of 10 and it leaves out more than it accomodates.As much as I would like to include Anurag Kashyap & Vishal Bharadwaj films in the list, I would also like to include others as I am not listing somebody’s filmography. It can be added here that all of Kashyap’s & Bharadwaj’s films are of top notch quality and may find a place in top 10, but I believe in a list one director should be represented by one film,especially when the list is so short.Everyone is entitled to their own opinion.If you wish you can list out your top 10 here.
Cheers!
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I like your list, most of these movies are my favorites too. I found it baffling when a reader says he would have left out Company because IMHO, that is one of the finest films ever made in Hindi, RGV could never get that same dispassionate yet intense filmmaking again.
When I look at the list closely, I’d like to replace LRM with Munnabhai MBBS, I know LRM was a bigger hit but somehow I always found MBBS to be a more complete cinema – J.Asthana, for example is an unparallel character. I find MBBS the best of Raju Hirani’s films so far.
Thank you for keeping Maqbool and not Omkara. Omkara again is a bigger hit but the major reason is that it is simpler. Things are loud, clear, on your face; unlike Maqbool where they are layered and subtle. Also I don’t think Macbeth could be adapted better.
I’ll drop Lagaan from the list. I liked this film when I watched it in theatre, but later whenever I saw it, looked too contrived. We could probably keep “Taare Zameen Par” in this list instead of Lagaan. However, my choice is a small film called “Socha Na Tha”.
And I really want to squeeze “Oye Lucky, Lucky Oye” in this list, even if it’ll be the second DB film in the list but none of the other names on this list are droppable. So it better be a best 11 rather than best 10.
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Koi “The legend of Bhagat Singh” ke bare me kyun nahi baat karta???
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My list, not in any particular order
Monsoon Wedding
Being Cyrus
Manorama
Maqbool
Hazaaron Kwaishein Aisi
Ab Tak Chappan
Dor
Black Friday
Matrubhoomi
Ek Hasina Thi
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Well, actually the list should be of top 5 directors of the decade.
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wow!! wow!! wow!! As I scroll through each movie in your list, I thought its a wow list.. Wonderful list of movies.. You are my type of guy – A quality cinema lover..
Couple of glaring misses but no worries – Matrubhoomi and Chandni Bar was masterpieces for me… Good to see Lage Roho, not 3 Idiots.. I thought Lage Raho was best of three of Raju Hirani movies..
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I think Chak De and Jab we met should also make it in the list.
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I started to follow hindi movies in this decade (2004 onwards to be precise) and this list would be close to what I would have come up with. Thanks Nikhil
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thanks to recollect me all these wonderful movies.
but i would like to add on some like
Dasvidaniya
Bheja Fry
Kaante
Black
Devdas
& finally would add on to
Nayak
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