Seven Bollywood films you cannot miss in 2015

The New Year brings with it a wave of novelty, eager resolutions, to-do-lists and for the cinema junkie, a bunch of highly awaited films. Films that promise gripping concepts, stellar star casts or simply talented filmmakers at the helm of it all. With filmmakers releasing first looks, promos and even songs much before the release of the actual film, in a big build up to the finale, the average cinema goer already has a mental list of those movies that merit a watch and those that can be given a miss.

2015 is definitely looking up for the Hindi film industry with some refreshing stories, much talked about casting coups and prominent filmmakers surfacing after a while. More than sufficient to get our hopes up and expectations high from some of the highly awaited titles releasing this year.

We present our top pick of movies that we plan to catch first day first show.

Ayushmann Khurrana in Hawaizaada

Baby: Director Neeraj Pandey’s Baby is amongst the first promising films of the New Year. Pandey and Akshay Kumar team up once again after their successful outing with Special Chabbis. If the heist drama captivated you, Baby, touted to be a hard-hitting action thriller promises to keep you at the edge of your seat. Set against the backdrop of terrorism, the film features Akshay Kumar as an intelligence officer and who better than the king of action himself to perform those nail biting stunts that keep you gripped? The other cast members are equally noteworthy with names like Anupam Kher, Kay Kay Menon, Danny Denzongpa and others. Action is the highlight of this film and the makers have roped in international action director Cyril Raffaelli known for Hollywood titles like The Transporter, to choreograph the high-octane action sequences. It’s been a while that we saw a well-made action thriller and Baby seems to be just about that.

Release Date: January 23

Ayushmann Khurrana in Hawaizaada

Hawaizaada: Hawaizaada is a biopic on the life of scientist Shivkar Bapuji Talpade who is said to have made the first ever flying machine. The concept of the film is its biggest hook, considering that most people were not even aware of this fact, let alone know about Talpade. Ayushmann Khurrana, known for his romantic roles, playing an eccentric Marathi scientist is definitely something we look forward to. Accompanying him is the maestro Mithun Chakraborty, and watching him on screen is always a delight. Though it is Vibhu Puri’s directorial debut, one look at the trailer and you know that the story is in the right hands. The film, also a period drama, takes you back in time to a lesser-known Bombay, which seems to have been well recreated and we can’t wait to discover it. Hawaizaada definitely looks like a highflying film that cannot be missed.

Release Date: January 30

Dhanush and Amitabh Bachchan in Shamitabh

Shamitabh: Director R Balki helming a film is reason enough to get people to the theatres. Couple that with an interesting star cast comprising stalwarts like Amitabh Bachchan and Dhanush, who won hearts with his confident performance in Raanjhanaa, and you have a film to look forward to. From Amitabh Bachchan’s interesting look to the quirky title, which is apparently a combination of the names of the two stars, ‘Sh’ from Dhanush prefixed to Amitabh, the film has generated enough curiosity. Though the story has largely been kept under wraps, buzz says Dhanush plays a deaf and mute actor while Mr. Bachchan lends his voice to him. And how these two distinct individuals come together only to be separated by a clash of egos. Shamitabh also marks the debut of Akshara Hassan, noted actor Kamal Hassan’s younger daughter. Celebrated composer Ilaiyaraaja’s mesmerizing music is another aspect that takes the excitement a notch up.

Release Date: February 6

Sushant Singh Rajput in Detective Byomkesh Bakshy

Detective Byomkesh Bakshy: When was the last time you saw a good detective drama in Bollywood? It is a genre that has barely been explored but with Dibaker Banerjee’s Detective Byomkesh Bakshy, things are starting to look up. Sushant Singh Rajput is all set to play the Bengali detective adapted from Bengali writer Sharadindu Bandyopadhyay’s story. Set in the 1940s in Calcutta, the story promises to transport you to a dark world ridden with crime where the young detective is out to solve a mystery. Banerjee has put in a lot of time and research to keep it authentic yet retain the element of fantasy. In addition to the exciting storyline and the director’s treatment, it is the production design and cinematography that have gripped our attention. And lastly but most importantly Sushant Singh Rajput, who seems to have seamlessly transformed into the young Bengali detective, has made this film a must watch for the year.

Release Date: April 10

Amitabh Bachchan in Piku

Piku: A lead pair comprising Deepika Padukone and Irrfan Khan sounds enough to garner eyeballs. Add it to a comedy drama directed by Shoojit Sircar revolving around a crazy father-daughter relationship where the father is none other than Amitabh Bachchan and you know you have a fascinating film. It will be interesting to see Big B as a wacky pot bellied dad after the intense Shamitabh. Director Sircar is back post the gritty Madras Café with this lighthearted film that promises to be a roller coaster ride of fun and emotions. Accompanying him is writer Juhi Chaturvedi who in the past also wrote the much-loved Vicky Donor. It will be interesting to see the chemistry of the three lead actors that are powerhouses in their own right, especially the romantic pairing of Irrfan and Deepika. All in all a fresh, fun and enthralling movie to look forward to.

Release Date: April 30

Bombay Velvet: It is the year of period dramas and one of the most awaited among them is Anurag Kashyap’s Bombay Velvet. It takes you back to the 60’s when Bombay was redefining its identity and jazz was coming alive. Ranbir Kapoor plays a street fighter and Anushka Sharma a jazz singer but it is the antagonist of the film that we are kicked about. Filmmaker Karan Johar makes his acting debut playing a flamboyant media moghul. Kashyap’s films, among other things, are known for their stellar casting and this one too doesn’t fall behind. It is also going to be interesting to see how composer Amit Trivedi has captured the essence of jazz and given it his own quirky touch. We also look forward to seeing the era through the lens of cinematographer Rajeev Ravi who has shot most of Kashyap’s films in the past. This dark drama is one of Kashyap’s biggest projects and we can only wait with bated breath to see the magnificent output.

Release Date: May 15

Bajirao Mastani: Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Bajirao Mastani has been talk of the town ever since it was announced. The film brings together the hit trio of Bhansali, Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone post the success of Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela. It is a historical romantic saga and who better than Bhansali to create the grandeur and elegance for this drama. The film also boasts of a fine star cast including Priyanka Chopra playing the Bajirao’s first wife, Mahesh Majrekar as a Maratha King, Tanvi Azmi as Bajirao’s mother amongst others. With the amount of training and preparation that the actors are underdoing and Bhansali’s love for perfection, one can surely expect to revisit the era of the Maratha Peshwa in all its finery. Ranveer Singh has apparently gone bald for the film, further piquing the interest and establishing the level of dedication to make the story come alive. With Bajirao Mastani, audiences are up for a royal treat at the end of this year.

Release Date: December 25

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