Post the huge success of ‘The Dirty Picture’, the entry of Bollywood into a new era has been confirmed. The past two years has been quite a revolution and some very bold movies were made. Some were appreciated while some were not up to the mark. Yet one fact remains. Gone are those days where the male lead was the sole hero of the movie and running around in the meadows of Switzerland made the most romantic movie ever. Being bold is the new mantra and this has been proven time and again. The filmmakers and actors have made a positive effort to break the taboo and help the 100-year-old industry move ahead with time. This is, indeed, a welcome change.
The most relevant example would be that of ‘The Dirty Picture’, in which the performance of Vidya Balan created quite a few ripples. The film turned out to be a major success and Balan was heavily praised for her portrayal of the late controversial southern star. Apart from her performance, what stood out the most were the bold dialogues and one-liners, which left the audience dumbfounded. The dialogues actually made people sit up and think if what they heard was what actually was said on-screen. The film not only attracted throngs of Indians all over the world, but also swept a lot of awards. Vidya Balan became an overnight sensation and though always known for her talent and versatility, she has carved a niche for herself.
‘Delhi Belly’ is yet another film which marked a shift in contemporary Indian cinema. The movie’s unique daftness made it an entertaining watch. However, the constant use of cuss words and certain objective scenes made way to controversy yet again! But this movie too made a mark with the audience and the critics. A popular, yet again controversial song from this movie created frenzy and was widely loved and accepted. Yet another brave movie, made based on the sensitive topic of sperm donation and infertility received positive response worldwide.
Priyanka Chopra’s act in ‘7 Khoon Maaf’ changed the way people perceive a widow. Again a brave attempt! Women-oriented movies are also gaining widespread appreciation. Also films based on real life incidents are making it to the news. The 1999 murder of Jessica Lall and the subsequent court proceedings that questioned the credibility of the Indian judiciary was adapted into a film, which garnered positive reviews. Rani Mukherjee’s portrayal of a firebrand journalist was not only bold, but inspiring too.
Bollywood has certainly changed its ways. It about what the reality is and not about what we want the reality to be. This is a great development, certainly indicating the developing broad-minded mentality of not only the film-makers but also the audiences. Many of these films were criticized for being extremely bold, loud and in some instances, vulgar. Some of them were pinpointed for the open use of expletives. They were considered inappropriate for certain sections and derogatory to the Indian culture. But what these critics need to realize is that the scenario has changed. The language and way of living, as shown in these films are exactly the same as that of those in the new generation. Welcome to the 21st century.
These are just some of the popular films. A lot more of them had been produced in the past few years. Some might have failed to create an impact, but each of them, nevertheless, was a laud-worthy effort and deservingly won the heart of millions of audiences everywhere.