// December 23rd, 2009 // 4 Comments » // Featured
The year end lists are always interesting to read. The IMDB’s best movie list, Time person of the year and Amazon’s top books list are eclectic to read… So I thought why not my list of best things of 2009 and what to look for 2010
First up my most favorite – movies
5 Kollywood Movies to watch in 2010
5. Irumbu Kottai Murattu Singam
He made a fantabulous political satire after almost 30 years in Tamil Cinema – Imsai Arasan 23m Pulikesi and his second venture ” Arai yen 305vil Kadavul” was an “Bruce Almighty” experiment but it was different too. Now Simbudevan is all set to bring cowboy movies back to Tamil Cinema after36 years – the last one was “Ganga” starring Jai Shanker. The cast of IKMS includes Raghava Lawrence, Sandhya, Padma Priya, Lakshmi Rai, Ramesh Kanna, Mouli and produced by Kalpathi S. Aghoram. With an impressive cast and a creative film maker, a movie to look forward to.
4. Aayirathil Oruvan
Don’t worry the MGR Blockbuster is not re-releasing but this one is the magnum opus from Selvaraghavan. Made at a whopping budget of Rs.32 Crores, this has Karthi, Reema Sen, Andrea and Parthiban in the lead. The trailers and the songs indicate a mythical adventure kind of a story. It can also have a Chozha connection, which increased my expectations manifold. Will it be the start of Indiana Jones of Tamil Movies?
Watch the trailer
3. Asal
Saran and Ajith combination have always been a runaway success. From
Kaadhal Mannan to Attagasam, they never failed to entertain. In fact, Ajith met his wife Shalini in Amarkalam, a movie directed by Saran. The deadly duo is back with a bang tagged with an impressive star cast of Bhavana, Sameera Reddy, Prabhu and Suresh ( Yes, the yesteryear lover boy is making a comeback of sorts as a villain). The story is under wraps and seems to be stylish crime-mafia thriller. Will Ajith get his next hit after almost one and half years?
2. Ashokavanam
According to me, he is the best director living in India. Who else other than Maniratnam can claim that title? Ashokavanam is the modern day adaptation of Ramayan from the master director. Prithiviraj as Ram, Aishwarya Rai as Seeta, Vikram as Ravanan and more importantly Karthik will be back as Hanuman. Ok they are not going to look in mythical costumes so don’t worry about it. With AR Rahman scoring the music and Santosh Sivan wielding the camera (after Roja and Dil Se), would you even think to miss this movie?
1. Endhiran
There is only one Super star and he reigns the number one spot here too. Writer Sujatha’s idea taking shape in the mind of Director Shankar with the music of AR Rahman and with Super Star is the best you can think of. Made at a paltry 120 Cr ( Pun intended) budget, this movie is produced by Sun Pictures. As usual, the production is under wraps and the whole of Tamil community is waiting for this one movie. A sure shot blockbuster in the making.
5 Bollywood Movies to watch in 2010
5. Rann and Koochie Koochie Hota Hain
Ramgopal Varma is the most misunderstood director in bollywood. He hits, he misses but he never stopped trying different things. In fact the different facets of Amitabh’s acting were brought well only in his movies. He comes back with Amitabh as a Harvard educated media baron who starts India’s first private news channel India 24×7 (Prannoy Roy). The star cast includes Ritesh Deshmukh, Gul Panag, Suchitra Krishnamurthy ( yes she is back) and Paresh Rawal. Ram Gopal Varma without controversies – that would be impossible – the promos aired had “Jana Gana Mana Rann” – a modified national anthem. How is that?
Watch the controversial song here…
Rahul and Anjali are back but with 4 legs… Confused? 2010 marks the 10th anniversary of Kuch Kuch Hota Hain, a landmark movie which marked the entry of Karan Johar and sealed the place of Sharukh as the super star.
So how do you celebrate the anniversary? Make an animated movie with big stars lending voices to the love story of dogs… Sharukh, Kajol, Rani Mukherjee and Sanjay Dutt will lend their voices to animated characters directed by Tarun Mansukhani and produced by Karan Johar. A different attempt indeed…
4. Kites
After watching Life in a Metro, I started following Anurag Basu. Although his previous ventures were crap copies of Hollywood blockbusters, Metro was excellent. So here comes the long awaited ” Kites” with Hrithik Roshan ( when did we last saw him- yeah Jodha Akbar), Kangana Ranaut and Latina girl Barbara Mori ( isn’t she hot?). A love story between a Hindi speaking Indian and a Latino girl- interesting. This movie had it’s own set of controversies linking Barbara and Hrithik… Hmm Let’s wait for this …
3. Ishqiya
Whenever Vishal Bharadwaj makes a movie, you are in for a surprise. It’s like “Dan tan Dan” (Kaminey) and this time he has written the script with the first time director Abhishek Chaubey who will be wielding the megaphone for this movie. Music by Vishal himself ( he is a better music director than lot others. Chappa Chappa- unforgettable ). The star cast is the most interesting part Naserruddin Shah, Arshad Warsi and Vidya Balan. Two thieves escaping from their boss take refuge with a widow. They fall in love with her and eventual brawl follows. Guess who plays the baddie? You are in for a surprise there too …
Watch the trailer here
2. Raavan
Nothing to say more. The Hindi version of Ashokavanam with Abhishek Bacchan as Ram, Aishwarya as Seetha Vikram makes his Hindi debut as Raavan and Govinda most probably as Hanuman.
1. My Name is Khan
Karan Johar was always criticized for his rosy sugar coated feel good movies which always showed the brighter side of life. When he changed paths in Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna, he was criticized for that too. He is someone who can’t be ignored. He is bringing Raj and Simran back but they are not Raj and Simran any more…
Sharukh as an Aspergus Syndrome patient and a Muslim in US falls in love with a single mother – Kajol… In the wake of 9/11, how their life changes is the story line. With Fox Star pictures buying the rights for the movie at 100 Cr, this movie has become the talk of the town. Will it be another scorcher of a hit from Karan- SRK – Kajol ?
Watch the promo here
5 Hollywood movies to watch in 2010
5. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows – Part 1
Although I don’t like it, this one is going to be one of the most awaited movies of 2010. Although I don’t like it, this movie will be one of the top grossers in2010. Although I don’t like it, this movie is going to be a blockbuster. The Harry Potter trio will be back in the first part of the last book. Directed by David Yates, who directed the previous two Harry Potter movies
4. Toy Story 3
15 Years back when Steve Jobs was in Pixar, he ventured and succeeded in producing the most advanced animation movie of that time. It grossed a fortune and was marveled for the technical innovation. Pixar over the years has grown and made innovations which people can’t imagine. Ratatouille and Wall E were awe-inspiring.
2010 will see the return of Woody and Buzz in the voices of Tom Hanks and Tim Allen. And they will come in 3D. Directed by Lee Unkrich (co-director of Finding Nemo, Monster’s Inc) and Darla Anderson (original maker of Toy Story), the movie will be produced by Pixar and distributed by Walt Disney. Can’t wait for Woody, my most favorite film cartoon character.
Watch the absolutely awesome promo…
3. The Expendables
Ok tell me this how about an action movie with Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Bruce Willis, Jet Li, Mickey Rourke, Dolph Laudgren and a cameo by Arnold Schwarzenegger. Dream come true? Yes it will be true in 2010. The movie will be directed by Sylvester Stallone himself and produced by Lions Gate films. The movie will be a tribute to all the action movies of the 90s which we grew along with. Don’t we miss it now?
2. Robin Hood
Although Blade Runner impressed the movie world, it was the Apple 1984 commercial that made Ridley Scott a star director. Then came a string of master pieces – Black Rain, Thelma & Louise, Gladiator (where he joined with Russell Crowe), Black Hawk Down, A Good Year, American Gangster and Body of Lies. Russell Crowe has been his most favorite actor. Russell Crowe will dawn the role of Robin Hood and Cate Blanchett will play Lady Marion. Needless to say about the story as it’s legendary, the treatment is expected to be different.
Watch the scintillating trailer here
1. The Inception
The last 3 films of this guy are blockbusters and in fact the last one is one of the highest grossers ever. The Inception is a sci-fi thriller from Christopher Nolan ( the director of Dark Knight) starring Leonardo Di Caprio, Ken Watanabe ( the last samurai), Marion Cotillard and Ellen Page. Why it’s the most awaited movie? Just because it’s from Christopher Nolan after The Dark Knight.
Next up will be “5 Books to Read in 2010″
– Post From My iPhone
