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My Recommendations:: Best Movies of 2016

My Recommendations:: Best Movies of 2016!


The year 2016 has come to an end and we are entering the new calendar year, 2017 marking that our dear rock in the universe, Earth completed its one revolution around our beloved Star Sun like its been doing for billions of years. Well, as humans we are bound to celebrate such an occasion looking forward to a new year with renewed enthusiasm leaving the bygone year worries to the history for records. The cinema in 2016 saw some great moments and very dull moments as well. Recounting the best moments to step into the new year on a positive note, I am giving you the list of my best cinematic experiences in theatre for the year of 2016!

I watch films from 6 languages mainly, English, Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada and Malayalam. Of all these Kannada is the industry I am amazed and impressed with the fast progress and different cinema it is encouraging and throughly disappointed with the lack of audacity to encourage freshness on the part of Telugu Filmmakers! Digging deep into the list I restricted them to 10! Choosing from all languages I've watched this year.

 (Before reading further, keep this in mind that I am giving out my personal list and this does not need to be absolute and it just reflects my opinion and taste in movies.)

Denis Villeneuve's  Arrival:




I love any movie that challenges the norms and presents a point that it believes in, with a strong impact. Arrival is one such movie that threw me off my reservations in a movie theatre and captured my imagination regarding an alien entry on earth. As a human being we are bound to be surprised and fear the extra terrestrial existence and them invading our mother, our safe heaven our home. Although Hindu mythology does hint at some invasions of Aliens and their technology throwing different curveballs at our understanding of modern astronomy, sci-fi genre in films has been vastly exploring the idea of invasion in a more blockbuster entertainment way with epic battles and blasts all around. But this movie directed by Enemy, Sicario director Denis Villeneuve gives a total new dimension to their Arrival and for the sheer brilliance of visuals and content the idea explores on screen this movie is one of the best I saw this year and I would recommend you to watch it on screen for sure!


Damien Chazelle's La La Land:



I am not a fan of musicals even though I grew on a staple diet of song and dance movies. I slowly got devoid of having a song and dance expression in movies with the lazy usage aimed at exploring the skin show of glam dolls in southern movies. Well, Whiplash when it came out I was amazed by the story telling and with this one Damien managed to even amaze me with his shot composition and unique song ideas. This movie needs to be re-watched just for the elegance and grace of Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone. I recommend this movie for a theatrical experience and also the pure quality that a musical should be and can be. Those long sequences that appear to be single takes, bravo Team!

Nitesh Tiwari's Dangal:



My love for this movie has already been articulated in a separate article in my blog here. I would like to explain what made me place it my list. This may not be the best sports movie ever to be made. It could be filled with cliches all over and at times drags a bit too much. But the sincerity of the actors and the love for the sport shown by the entire team won me over. Tell me how many professionals can nail a movie in 8 months of training like the young actors did in this movie? I recommend you to watch this movie at least once in your lifetime. 

Vineeth Srinivasan's Jacobinte Swargarajyam:


Malayalam cinema once was known for its adult b-grade movies even though the main land movies were going strong with diverse content. The resurgence of youth in Malayalam cinema changed its path from being unidimensional content producing industry to the best film making industry in Southern India, if not in India at present. The diverse content, with utmost sincerity that this industry offers is highly admirable. Coming to my selection from the industry, even though I enjoyed several other movies from Malayalam, none of them have forced me to make them part of my list like Jacobinte Swargarajyam did. The movie explores a family's plight in a foreign land when their pillar of support was harshly cheated and forced to take refugee in another foreign land leaving them with problems to fight. Nivin Pauly, Vineeth Srinivasan and Renji Panicker are the pillars of this family drama and even though there are moments that drag on, the pure gold standard cinematic brilliance captures you through out the second hour of the movie.

Also watch Action Hero Biju and Oppam that released this year along with this movie, you will be amazed at the sincerity shown in filmmaking and fun they provide.

Hemanth Rao's Godhi Banna Sadharana Mykattu


Kannada Cinema these days is throwing a great challenge to other language makes with the insurgence of young talents. Ulidaruvu Kandante's Rakshith Shetty and reliable Ananth Nag holds this movie so well that you fall in love with these characters of Venkob Rao and his son, Shiva. The movie transforms the father-son relation in the most heart touching way possible and Hemanth Rao directed the movie superbly. Charan Raj's music is something that you cannot miss. Just watch the movie to understand why this is such a cinematic achievement with an Alzheimer's patient as a main character.

Also watch U-turn, directed by Lucia director from Kannada this year. The movie could have easily been in the list but the last act just took a U-turn for me.

Shakun Batra's Kapoor & Sons:


This is one choice of movie that even surprised me. The movie with a popular track like Kar gayi Chull, I expected it to be flaunting some skin of its flawlessly beautiful lead actress and was seriously worried about Rishi Kapoor as a grand father. The movie written and directed by Shakun Batra expertly showcased the tension in the family and underlying explained how a simple trivial wish of a grandfather to capture a photograph with his family can be an exercise on relationships and growth. Final 30 minutes of the movie are true writer's gold mine.

Vijay Kumar's Uriyadi:





This movie made by an aspirant took a lot of time to find distributors for a theatrical release. Even though it is highly visible on screen, you can look beyond such minor disturbances as the content captures you. The movie was made with a shoe string budget and the lead actor being the writer and director of the movie, one tends to feel given some good technicians and budget, he can do wonders on screen. This movie is one that needs an encouragement from all corners of the society. Action sequences will really amaze you.

Vamsi Paidipally's Oopiri:


Telugu Cinema this year saw few movies that tried different things but each and everything was in same tried and tested formula. This one film that was a remake of a French drama, Intouchables, delivered  at least a flaw less hour of pure blissful entertainment. The freshness in the subject goes missing in the second hour but the movie having a box office hero like Akkineni Nagarjuna in a wheel chair, is one retribution from the high end commercial meaningless cinema that Telugu cinema keeps producing year after year. Karthi and Nag's bonding on screen is the best cinematic experience that you see in years.

Also, I recommend PelliChoopulu, from Telugu cinema this year.

Shoojit Sircar and Aniruddha Roy Chowdary's PINK:


Pink is one movie this year that moved me to tears. I entered into the theatre thinking that will be another film from new age Bollywood trying to ape a Korean drama in the name of originality, placing it on Amitabh Bachchan's shoulders for an aid. But to my surprise Tapsee Pannu who was reduced for skin show and glam doll roles by Telugu Cinema delivered her best as a performer in this movie. In fact my connect with her character, carried me into the movie and made me invest so much even though the outcome was quite predictable. And I definitely agree with the message of the movie, Yes, "NO means NO!" If we cannot respect women then we do not respect ourselves too. Much needed film with social responsibility this year!

Also, watch Aligarh that released this year with a honest performance from Manoj Bajpai and some times cold and some times hot direction by Hansal Mehta.

Vettrimaran's Visaranai:


This movie won National Accolades even before it got a theatrical release. Being made in 2015 and released in 2016, it is tough to ignore such a gem of a movie. This movie demands you to sit and notice the plight of jail bound human beings even if they are criminals. It asks major reforms in our law outlook and treatment of fellow human beings who might have committed a mistake in the spite of anger and those who were wrongly accused. You need some strong heart to digest the reality but son't give it a miss.

This is my round up for the year 2016 and I hope to see you soon. Wish you a much happier Cinema Year, 2017!

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