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5 Indian films to look forward to

Published: Jan 2, 2013 06:43:55 AM IST
Updated: Jan 3, 2013 12:29:49 PM IST

1. Dabba (Lunchbox) (Hindi) by Ritesh Batra
Irrfan Khan stars in this debut feature by Batra, whose shorts includeCafe Regular, Cairo, and Gareeb Nawaz ki Taxi. A mistaken delivery in Mumbai’s efficient lunchbox delivery system connects a young housewife to an old man, as they build a fantasy world through notes in the lunchbox.

2. Peddlers (Hindi) by Vasan Bala
A smart, gritty thriller that follows two youngsters—an orphan working for a small-time crook and a woman drug carrier—trapped in drug trafficking, with a sexy cop on their trail. The film was in the Cannes film festival’s Critics’ Week in 2012. A debut feature of Vasan Bala, who was the associate director in Michael Winterbottom’s Trishna, it crackles with sharp dialogues and convincing performances—with a terrific turn by Gulshan Devaiah.5 Indian films to look forward to



3. Annayum Rasoolum (Malayalam) by Rajeev Ravi
A Romeo-and-Juliet story between the Christian Anna and the Muslim Rasool, it stars talented Malayalam actor Fahadh Faasil and Andrea Jeremiah. It is the debut feature of Ravi, an impressive cinematographer whose credits include Anurag Kashyap’s Gangs of Wasseypur, Dev D and That Girl in Yellow Boots. It is an atmospheric ferryboat romance, superbly shot in Kochi and Vypeen Island in Kerala, with wonderfully evoked detailing of small-town hopes.

4. David (Hindi/Tamil) by Bejoy Nambiar
After establishing his credentials with Shaitaan, Nambiar takes on a gangster comedy. There are three Davids in the Hindi version (Neil Nitin Mukesh, Vikram and Vinay Virmani) and two Davids in the Tamil one (Vikram and Jiiva); the women are Tabu, Isha Sharvani and Lara Dutta. The Davids live in different cities and periods, including Vikram playing a fisherman in Goa, and Jiiva, a musician in Mumbai. If you’re wondering, Nambiar had assisted Mani Ratnam in Raavan/Raavanan.

5. Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola (Matru’s Bijlee’s Mandola) (Hindi) by Vishal Bhardwaj
Vishal Bhardwaj’s new film explores the relationship between Bijlee (Anushka Sharma) and the two men in her life—alcoholic feudal landlord daddy Mandola (Pankaj Kapur) and lover Matru (Imran Khan), who is Mandola’s Man Friday. Daddy arranges for her to marry a politician’s son, with dire consequences. Bhardwaj weaves a love story with a satire on communism and politics of the have-nots, all topped off with a magenta buffalo.


(This story appears in the 11 January, 2013 issue of Forbes India. To visit our Archives, click here.)

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  • Sriraam

    Mark my words.. Vishwaroopam would be India\'s first \'international\' movie- Made in India :)

    on Jan 11, 2013
  • Anil Prabhakar

    Pankaj Kapoor - Vishal Bharadwaj is an awesome combination. In the past they have given us gems such as The Blue Umbrella and Maqbool. Matru Ki Bijli ka Mandola has an unusual casting and an unusual story. Topped up with Gulzar\'s lyrics. I am all set to watch it.

    on Jan 9, 2013
  • Parthana Sinha

    what about Lootera from the makers of Udaan?

    on Jan 7, 2013
  • Jonny_bravo9009@hotmail.com

    Shahid by Hansal Mehta is another great film to forward to in the year 2013. I watched this film at MAMI and was completely stunned. Great Filmmaking.

    on Jan 4, 2013
  • Praveen Varghese

    Here are some additions to the list: Kai Po Che, Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, Rock On 2, Kadal Annayum Rasoolum is that movie I\'ve been waiting for since its press announcement. Looking forward to it! That\'s gonna be some frigggin\' new-generation montage.

    on Jan 3, 2013
  • Rajesh Nambiar

    What list is this without kamalhassan\'s Vishwaroopam...

    on Jan 2, 2013
  • Rejath

    missed Mani Ratnams \'\'Kadal\"

    on Jan 2, 2013
  • Karthikeyan

    Waiting for David..Chiyaan vikram

    on Jan 2, 2013
  • Mukul Verma

    You also missed Kai Po Che

    on Jan 2, 2013
  • Indiandragon

    You missed Kamal hasan\'s Viswaroopam and Rajinikanth\'s Kochadayan India\'s ! Both first of the kind in terms of Technology adapted in Indian Movies.

    on Jan 2, 2013
    • Kali

      And you completely missed the point..

      on Jan 2, 2013