JTJH photo: Yash Raj Films
Cineswami takes a look at the Indian commercial as well as indie films of 2012 that did well abroad
As 2012 draws to a close, it is inevitable that top 10 lists will
abound and Cineswami is no exception to list-mania. However, rather than
the usual top 10 Bollywood films, here’s a list of movies that made a mark amongst discerning audiences across the globe.
10. Aaranya Kaandam
Thiagarajan Kumararaja’s stunning Tamil noir Aaranya Kaandam
wowed London audiences and showed them that India has her own answer to
Quentin Tarantino. The dense, layered gangster epic featured Jackie
Shroff in his first ever Tamil film role as a mafia don with a failing
libido. Even the organisers of the London Indian Film Festival were
surprised when the movie scooped the audience award, beating Gangs of Wasseypur.
9. Dekh Indian Circus
Mangesh Hadawale’s delightful little film about the travails of an
indigent family wanting to visit the circus is also a parable for larger
socio-economic events in India. It features a winning performance from
the immensely talented Tannishtha Chatterjee and the now ubiquitous Nawazuddin Siddiqui, the breakthrough arthouse performer who also featured in Talaash in a pivotal role alongside Aamir Khan. It won the audience award at Pusan and the Golden Reel at Tiburon.
8. Ek Tha Tiger
Kabir Khan’s answer to romancing RAW and ISI agents effortlessly thumbed its nose at the dud Agent Vinod.
Of course, it had the benefit of Salman Khan starring. It made
headlines in Europe as being the first major Bollywood film to shoot in
Ireland.
7. Ship Of Theseus
Anand Gandhi’s philosophical treatise on the very nature of life may
be heavy going at times for the lay Bollywoodlife reader corn-fed on a
diet of Dabanng 2, but the film is definitely rewarding.
Clearly audiences abroad thought so and it won a special mention at the
London Film Festival and awards at the Tokyo and Dubai fests besides
screening at Toronto and being chosen for next year’s Rotterdam fest.
6. Shahid
Hansal Mehta’s comeback film is a masterly testament on human rights
and features a standout performance from Rajkumar Yadav who played Aamir
Khan’s sidekick in Talaash and will be seen soon in Kai Po Che. Festival play includes Dubai and Toronto and hopes are high for an India release.
5. Peddlers
Anurag Kashyap’s former assistant Vasan Bala’s debut is a look at a
Mumbai that couldn’t be more different from the clichéd imagination of
Bollywood. Instead of a teeming metropolis, he captures a city of spaces
and distances, both emotional and physical. Played and wowed Cannes, London and Toronto.
4. Thuppakki
AR Murugadoss’ welcome return to form after the disappointing 7 Aum Arivu proved
a lion at the overseas box office, especially in the UK where it
cracked the top ten in its week of release. Aided by Santosh Sivan’s ace
lensing, Vijay proved that he is indeed the Ilaya Thalapathi as the
only films that have done better than his in the territory feature a
certain Rajinikanth.
3. Gattu
Rajan Khosa’s sophomore feature Gattu has
a winning performance by Mohammed Samad as a pint-sized kite flier at
its core. Though its India performance could have been better, audiences
overseas lapped up the simple and well-told tale. Festivals included
London, Berlin, Edinburgh, Zurich and Dubai.
2 and 1. Tie between Jab Tak Hai Jaan and Gangs of Wasseypur
This is a most unusual tie between films that couldn’t be more
different from one another. Anurag Kashyap’s sprawling and violent
gangland tale Gangs of Wasseypur not only won international
plaudits and distribution and considerable festival play, but also a
place on the jury of the Sundance Film Festival. The film is tied with
Yash Chopra’s swansong Jab Tak Hai Jaan. While Wasseypur
has the overseas acclaim, the Shahrukh Khan starrer proves that he is a
huge revenue earner abroad, earning millions of dollars across the
world in addition to remaining a huge draw in India. Iconoclastic
choices? Sure. But that’s Cineswami for you, just to keep you
wrong-footed.
Happy New Year.
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