2007 in Perspective - PB Critics´ Roundtable – Lidia Ostepeev´s Top 10

- Lidia Ostepeev           Let us know what you think about this article

Planet Bollywood presents you an exclusive series of top movie picks of 2007 by its critics.

Best Films of 2007

10. Saawariya

A lyrical, sumptuous but somewhat obscure love story. I’m prepared to give it some time because it is visually interesting.

An imaginative exploration of a child’s world view which isn’t common in Bollywood film. A little labored at first but has a nice manipulative, melodramatic second half.

A remake of a Malayalam hit, this thriller goes through some repetitive loops but still manages the build-up to a powerful almost subversive ending.

There’s a bit of a nod to Polanski’s “Chinatown” in a bleak, layered story which conceals a black heart. It’s big on intrigue and ambience.

The multi-love stories don’t quite mesh but the ending is a lot of fun, the music is uplifting and Govinda’s performance as the taxi-driver is quite charming.

Off beat humour, eccentric characters, lots of little departures from tradition in this honeymoon trip to Goa. It doesn’t quite manage to resolve itself but it’s an interesting ride.

With wonderful retro packaging, catchy songs, lots of novel ideas and a boundless sense of fun there’s also the sense of a missed opportunity where the melodrama is concerned.

No messy, conflicting sub-plots; just a simple well developed movie about falling in love.

A feel-good movie which cleverly prods the viewer into thinking about issues of community and matters of the heart. Much of the film’s impact comes from a well choreographed and beautifully shot morality play.

Intersecting love-stories set against the backdrop of pulsating Mumbai. Nocturnal and overcast - it’s not all grim though; there’s some lightness on offer, some quirky characters and a very well crafted ending. The music and musicians-on-show really added to the style and pace of the film.

As a non-Indian Australian, Lidia Ostepeev first became aware of the popularity of Bollywood cinema about six years ago while she was teaching in Indonesia. Many films later, she still enjoys the escapism that drew her to Bollywood films in the first instance.

Disclaimer: All opinions expressed in this article are entirely those of the writer and are neither those of Planet Bollywood nor its management.

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