10 Movies, 10 Years.
- Miss Belivet
- Dec 6, 2019
- 11 min read
After contemplating for a month now, I decided to do this list. This is not a list of best films of the decade and I do not think I can choose 10 best films because there have been way more than that. This article is about 10 movies that changed some part of me over the 10 years. If Pre-2010 me made this list, it would have just been Hollywood movies and Tamil movies. I am really glad that I got exposed to a wide variety of films in the past ten years. I discovered Bollywood - the ultimate reason why I am mad over Indian films. Then I discovered Malayalam films - a world that deserves a post on its own because some of the best films (technically & content wise) come from this small yet very versatile industry. I also got the chance to watch some great films in Telugu, Marathi and Kannada. Contrary to what Mr. Devarakonda believes, I feel that movies do affect you in one way or another. So here is a list of ten movies that have stayed with me over the last 10 years and I hope for many more years to come. They are listed in chronological order. I have attached the links to the trailers of each film in the article. If you need help finding a good quality copy with English subtitles, do not hesitate to drop me a message :)
1. Boss Engira Baskaran (2010)
Nayanthara & Arya as Chandrika & Baskaran in the film.
This film is one of my earliest memories of my obsession with films. I remember I was around twelve when this film released and I watched it multiple times. Life before streaming and smartphones. Oh yea! There was a time like that! I had gotten the (original!!!) DVD in a shop in Johor Bahru because for some reason Ringgit makes you feel like whatever you are buying is cheaper but it's actually almost the same price if I bought it in Tekka. What I loved about this film was the comedy. The comic timing in this film is insanely good. The "Pardon" joke is something I can think about even right now and laugh. The songs in the film were also such hits. Vivid memories of downloading them into some MP3 or MP4 I had :') I watched this film again recently and I still stand by my thoughts about this film. Chandrika and Baskaran have an super adorable relationship. How good Nayanthara & Arya looked in this film! This is a film that will always stay with me because I love comedy and good comedy is really hard to find.
2. Cocktail (2012)
Diana Penty, Deepika Padukone & Saif Ali Khan as Meera, Veronica & Gautam in the film.
I recall watching most part of Cocktail with my jaw on the floor because HOT DAMN DEEPIKA PADUKONE. Veronica was undoubtedly one of the biggest girl crushes I have had for a fictional character. It does help that Anaita Shroff Adajania styled Deepika in the film because whenever these two came together - killer looks only! You could see her styling in Tamasha too. This film made me fall in love with London. The city looked very much like Singapore but also very different in terms of the architecture etc. I always knew that if I ever visited London one day, I will go to places that they shot this movie to "relive the experience". So a few months back, I begged a friend to bring me to Borough Market to find the fish shop that they shot this scene.
Scene from the song Daaru Desi
I eventually saw the shop but it was a very crowded day and I did not want to stop in the middle of the market to take a picture of the shop. Well fun fact, I actually told (the) Deepika *casually name dropping* about this and she was literally like LMAO. Not to digress but she was actually kinda encouraging this weird obsession I had with London and said, "Actually where else did I shoot in the UK eh?" and decided to review various places in the UK & the World in general. Ok that's all I'm gonna say about thaaaaat. The film was definitely a really fun romantic drama to watch. However, I feel like Veronica should've just gotten together with Meera and left Gautam ALONE. Also fun fact, Deepika was actually offered the role of Meera first but she felt like it was very similar to the characters she did before so she decided to choose Veronica instead. WELL, THANK GOD FOR THAT. I can't think of a better Veronica.
3. Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani (2013)
Deepika Padukone, Ranbir Kapoor, Aditya Roy Kapur & Kalki Koechlin as Naina, Bunny (Kabir), Avinash & Aditi.
If you ask me how many times I have watched Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani, I would tell you I learnt Hindi first by memorising dialogues in this film. During O'Levels, I would literally play this film in the background while studying past midnight. The first few words I knew in Hindi were clearly Jawaani & Deewani. I watched it so many times that I could eventually watch it without the subtitles #weirdflex. YJHD was THE film for me. A bunch of friends having fun, falling in love, breaking into opulent song and dance sequences. I was all about that life. Deepika and Ranbir make an amazing onscreen pair and I shipped Bunny and Naina so hard. Then there was Aditi, a character that all of us could relate to in one way or another. I was floored by Naina's speech at Aditi's wedding that a friend and I made a pact to give similar speeches at each other's weddings. (You know who you are!) Not sure if I'll get married but I can assure you she has a speech ready. Another huge reason why I love this film is the songs. A WHOLE DAMN ALBUM with really great songs. That's why I love Bollywood. Gimme some of that! I can't count the number of people who I have taught the steps to the chorus of Balam Pichkari. Literally at any dance floor if you hear that song playing, I am at some corner getting into formation to break a leg. Not forgetting the locations they shot this film in! Manali!!! Yet again, #filminducedtourism. I went there in 2014 and I was basically in awe of every single thing in that really beautiful town. This film affected 16-year-old me in ways that I am glad it did and in some ways I wish it didn't. In retrospect, I feel Bunny is a douche. Life experiences and growing up teaches you that, "Flirting is not for girls like you. Girls like you are meant for love," is a really weird compliment (almost a backhanded one). But this doesn't take away the immense amount of love I have for this film and how I will continue to encourage every person I meet to watch this film once in their lifetime. This film is a good introduction to the whimsical world of BTown.
The song that made me want to attend Holi so badly. Spoiler: It's not as fun as the song shows it is :P
4. Bangalore Days (2014)
Dulquer Salmaan & Parvathy with Anjali Menon, the director of the film.
I have written a post on how much I love the film here. So I will just be focusing on my greatest takeaways from this film. Bangalore Days was the first film that made me watch films just for the director. Right after watching the film I did 2 things. One, find the actor who played RJ Sarah on Social Media (Spoiler: It's Parvathy) and find out the director's filmography. Not joking at all - I have loved every single film of Anjali's till date. Right from Manjadikuru to Koode. Each for different reasons but the fact that someone can make such beautiful films consistently is the testament to the sheer talent she possesses. I would really recommend anyone who is interested in watching good films to check out her work. I have never really been a fan of a particular director till I watched this film and discovered Anjali Menon. The other discovery that resulted from this film was undoubtedly Parvathy. I can't think of many actors who have a short role in the film but leave such a huge impact on the viewers. Every character was really great in the film but something about RJ Sarah left me awestruck. I was like, "WHO DIS GIRL AND WHERE HAS SHE BEEN ALL MY LIFE!?" Another talent that didn't disappoint with selective but quality films in her filmography. Another great find of the decade for me, for sure. Aju & Sarah's relationship in the film is so pure, the love and respect they have for each other is just so beautiful. For every Bunny, you know there's an Aju who will say, "I don't wanna walk behind you but beside you" and your heart will actually melt without the guilt.
Pictorial evidence of how these two will make you go "AWWWWW!"
5. Om Shanti Oshana (2014)
Nivin Pauly & Nazriya Nazim as Giri & Pooja in the film.
If you have ever had a crush on someone, then you have to watch the film. When I watched this film, I thoroughly enjoyed it and I really didn't think much. Later on, I realised that this whole narrative is told in Pooja's perspective. We have all heard of the male gaze. It was really refreshing to see what a potential female gaze would be like. It’s a simple story about a young girl having this huge crush on a man who is considerably older than her. Nazriya as Pooja was relatable on so many levels. Trust me, we all want a Giriettan in our lives. He's mysterious, charming, respected, caring...I could go on and on. But most importantly, he respects the women in his life. The screenplay at the ending of the film is really well written. I could not stop crying...On the other hand, when do I not cry? Om Shanti Oshana was a film that was revolutionary at a time when the male gaze was prevalent in love stories. The songs were also really instrumental in building up Pooja's admiration for Giri. If you haven't watched this, I can guarantee you that this film can be watched anytime, anyday!
6. Margarita With A Straw (2014)
Kalki Koechlin & Sayani Gupta as Laila & Khanum in the film.
I chanced upon this film on Netflix and let's just say it was the best accident ever. Margarita is a film about a teenager with cerebral palsy who explores her sexuality. There have been very few movies that have portrayed characters with disabilities with such dignity. You never feel like pitying Laila. She's just one of us. That's what I love about films that weave representation so well into the narrative. On top of all of this, we also get a queer relationship, a heartwarming tale of a mother and daughter and a multicultural family. This film will always be one of my favourites because it's one of the best queer films I have ever seen. It's right up there with Carol.
7. Ennu Ninte Moideen (2015)
Prithviraj & Parvathy as Moideen & Kanchanamala in the film.
I watched this film while trying to tick off films on Parvathy's filmography. I didn't research much about this film and dived in head first. Ouch! Imagine a 19-year-old in the middle of J2 CTs sobbing uncontrollably on her bed while staring at her phone. You'd think it was A's woes but this 19-year-old had cried enough thinking about A levels and decided it was a good idea to watch a movie during CTs. The movie is based on a true story so that definitely did not help with my waterworks. I would confidently say that this film is one of my favourite performances of both the lead actors. They have such great chemistry and really make us invested in their love story. While it may seem like the usual love story of star-crossed lovers at first, it's really much more than that. One character that I really loved was Appuettan played by Tovino Thomas. Do give the soundtrack a listen too! It really drains your emotions (whatever that is left) especially in the last scene.
8. Dil Dhadakne Do (2015)
Shefali Shah, Ranveer Singh, Anil Kapoor & Priyanka Chopra Jonas as Neelam, Kabir, Kamal & Ayesha Mehra in the film.
I had huge expectations for this film because Ranveer and Priyanka were co-stars for the first time! (Before Bajirao Mastani which released the same year) It also didn’t help that Ranveer looked so freaking adorable as Kabir. I watched this movie FDFS and I was raving about it to everybody! The film’s characters have such interesting character arcs. They definitely aren’t one dimensional. The men are just as vulnerable as the women. The scene where Ayesha’s husband says “He allowed her to work” so he’s #wokeaf is one of my absolute favourite scenes. The dialogues in this film were so nuanced and I can only thank Zoya Akhtar & Reema Kagti for it. It’s not all serious. The comedy in this film was also amazing. Especially that scene at the deck when all of them are tipsy. Too many puns, Kabir, too many. But I still loved them all. What I loved the most in the film was Kabir & Ayesha’s sibling relationship. So relatable yet something to aspire for! Everytime I watch the film, I feel “ON TOP OF THE WORLD!” 🥳 Priyanka & Ranveer were Kabir & Ayesha to me for the longest time and I was mind blown when I saw them as Bajirao & Kashibai later that year.
9. OK Kanmani (2015)
Dulquer Salmaan & Nithya Menen as Adi & Tara in the film.
When I first watched this film, I didn’t really have much of an opinion except for the fact that I loved the song Mental Manadhil. OKK grows on you. You need the time to ponder, to enjoy each moment and eventually fall in love with the characters. The film’s core aren’t Adi and Tara only. Adi’s house owners played by Leela Samson & Prakash Raj are very much crucial to the film’s progress too. OKK was a phenomenon because it tackled the subject of live-in relationships and Tamil films never really showed that in films much before. It was also set in my favourite city in India - Mumbai so that was the cherry on top of the cake. It helped that Dulquer & Nithya had this electrifying chemistry between them after all the movies they’ve done before. My favourite scene is the portion where Aye Sinamika comes in the film. That choreography is stunning. Dulquer...oooooooof 😍 OKK is undoubtedly one of my go-to films. You might be anywhere in the world but watching OKK is like having a cup of hot coffee on a rainy day. Warm and fuzzy.
A still from the song, Aye Sinamika
10. Mahanati (2018)
Keerthy Suresh as Savitri
Mahanati was a film that I was excited about since the day they announced the film. Keerthy Suresh, Dulquer and Samantha in one film! I didn’t know much about Savitri but I know that growing up, I’ve heard of her through my parents and grandparents. What I love about this film is not only Keerthy as Savitri but the whole movie itself. The director Nag Ashwin is a huge fan of the late actress Savitri and watching his interviews about the making of the film really showed how much this film meant to him. The songs, the lyrics, Dulquer’s charm (again!) Made Savitri come alive. I know there’s been criticism that the film glorifies her and her actions but I saw the core of this film. The Director was a fan dedicating it to a superstar he loved and that I thought was impeccable. If there is any biopic on actresses in the future, you know what’s the standard. 😁
Other films I loved:
- Naanum Rowdy Thaan (2015): I became a Vijay Sethupathi fan in this movie and yet again, a good comedy film that’s hard to find.
- Virus (2019): This film is a miracle and a cinephile's dream. To see so many prolific actors in a movie that was so well written. Aashiq Abu, how did you get them all on board! Also, I brought a group of friends to watch this movie before we went to India & let’s just say they were scarred.
- Oh Baby! (2019): I’ve written about this film here. It’s a beautiful film about reliving your youth and it has a precious grandparent-grandchild track that I love!
- Maryaan (2013): This film and Virus are cinematic wonders. Each frame looks like a painting. Dhanush and Parvathy were freaking amazing in this film and the songs!!!!!!
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