A message for newcomers to the world of Hindi film: you have a lot of catching up to do. For those of you who are turned off by the thought of wading through a ton of very good, but low fidelity by today’s standards, movies, check out some of the many newer movies available for viewing these days. Although many of these have started to depart from the more classic Hindi cinema where romance, comedy, family, and friendship were all present in one movie, they still make for some damn fun and interesting entertainment. Here are the 3 best Hindi movies of 2009 and what they are about (“best” in this case means highest grossing:
Hindi Movies 2009
1. 3 Idiots
This film broke all box office records for opening day on its release, and went on to become the highest-grossing movie of all time in India (if inflation is not adjusted for). A buddy movie that offers lots of laughs, the movie centers around three former college buddies who are on a quest to win the love of the girl-next door while posing as the grandson of a blind couple. Directed by Rajkumar Hirani and featuring Aamir Khan and Kareena Kapoor as Rancho and Pia, respectively.
2. Wanted
A film which centers on the balance between organized crime and the law in Mumbai (formerly Bombay), featuring cold-blooded hitman Radhe (played by Salman Khan) who straddles both worlds. The police commissioner’s daughter, Jhanvi (Ayesha Tatiak) falls for Radhe, our mafioso gangster, and her world is rocked as she realizes that people are not necessarily all good. Wanted is a modern-day tale of these betrayals and complex relationships which go unseen by the average person. Directed by Prabhu Deva.
3. Love Aaj Kal
Translated into English as “Love These Days”, this film is about the timelessness of love. In it, we follow Jai and Meera’s relationship from togetherness to separation, and whether it can transcend oceans, time, and even other partners! A modern day couple living in London, they decide to grant each other the freedom to follow their own life paths as opposed to tying each other down. So it is that Meera heads back to India and starts dating her boss, Vikram, while Jai remains in London chasing his dream job in San Francisco and also starting a relationship with another woman. This film has special appeal to those modern young people who either know what it’s like or are currently dealing with a long term-relationship and commitment and job issues.