Anmol Ahuja
4. Kaun
‘Kaun’ can best be described as an experimental piece of filmmaking, and a highly effective one at that. The first of two films featured on the list that credits Anurag Kashyap and Ram Gopal Varma (who also directs here) for its creation, ‘Kaun’ has achieved cult status today for its bizarre sense of inducing jump scares by using tried and tested horror tropes and turning them on their heads. As farfetched as it may sound, you have to watch this underrated film to understand this. A psychological thriller, it is also one of two films on the list that employs the fabulous Manoj Bajpayee to up the ante of production. It is short and taut, bereft of songs and at times bizarre, but is an absolute must watch. Psychological thriller buffs are sure to feel satiated!
3. Vaastav: The Reality
Perhaps the first image that comes to mind upon mention of ‘Vaastav’ is that of a gold chain clad Sanjay Dutt’s penetrative gaze, and for right reason given the cult status the film has achieved today. Easily one of the best underworld crime dramas of the decade, the film directed by Mahesh Manjrekar intends to mirror the ‘real’ happenings in the underbelly of the city of dreams, Mumbai. While that is always up for debate, it is not to say that Manjrekar hasn’t delivered a consistently entertaining film, albeit hard hitting and gritty at times with a career best performance by Sanjay Dutt in a role perhaps tailor made for him.
2. Shool
Shool is the brainchild of one of the finest crime film makers in Bollywood, Ram Gopal Varma, back when he was at the top of his game. Anurag Kashyap, one of the other prominent names in the same business currently, provides the words for this crime saga that is so powerfully enacted by Manoj Bajpai , one may even argue that half the impact of the film is owed to his carefully invested performance. Apart from being exceptionally well written, ‘Shool’ benefits from a homeland-ish treatment owing to its setting in the Indian state of Bihar, and all its crime ridden obscurity in a way that the violence and profanity fit and feel a part of the narrative. Even an extremely popular item song (yeah, you know which one) doesn’t seem particularly misplaced. All in all, if you are a fan of the genre, ‘Shool’ is a milestone film not to be missed.
1. Sarfarosh
Those of you who would have seen this fine film would unanimously agree that ‘Sarfarosh’ is a cracker of a movie. Among the finest cop drama-thrillers to be produced by Bollywood, Sarfarosh remains, to-date, a towering achievement in cross border storytelling without dipping into the hammy territory of films with nationalist slogans every ten minutes. Long before Aamir Khan was labelled the ‘Mr. Perfectionist’ of the industry, he featured in an all guns blazing act in this brave directorial debut by John Matthew Matthan. To add to it, there’s an unforgettable piece of poetry rendered effortlessly by the late Jagjit Singh that sticks so closely, despite all other numbers being chartbusters at the time of the film’s release.
Excellent in all the technical departments and brimming with commendable performances, especially from the veteran Naseeruddin Shah, this one is a must own for lovers of Bollywood crime dramas. Action, performances, excellent writing, tension and drama, a hummable score and a feel-good payoff, there’s really little more you can ask for.
Read More: Bollywood Movies 2002
