The 90s and early 2000s were a time when Indipop was at its peak as was Bollywood. Some of the best films were made during this time and millennials were lucky to be old enough to watch them. Check out these 90s movies that are just the first lot in what looks to be a long running series!
1942: A Love Story (1994)
There was so much that was done right in this movie. The casting for one was top notch. Manisha Koirala was perfect as the luminescent girl the boy falls for. The ‘boy’ at 38 was Anil Kapoor but his performance was so sincere and impressive that his real age hardly mattered. Anupam Kher was only 39 when he played Manisha Koirala’s father. The actress was 24 at the time. Jackie Shroff’s swashbuckling Shubhankar are what rugged dreams are made of. The music, the sets, the locations brought the audience to a location in the country never really explored before in Indian cinema save for some songs. The backdrop of the 1942 Quit India Movement lent the anchor of the highly emotional drama period piece. A must-watch.
Satya (1998)
This RGV movie is one of the greatest gangster/mafia movies ever made in India. It is to Indian gangster films what The Godfather is to Hollywood mafia films. Calling it a Bollywood film would be unfair, as the term Bollywood does tend to lend an air of frivolity which this movie definitely is not. It is C.I.N.E.M.A.
A relatively unknown actor in Hindi movies till then, Chakravarthy, played the lead backed up by a stellar Manoj Bajpai as gangster Bhiku Mhatre. Saurabh Shukla, Urmila Matondkar, Shefali Shah, Makrand Deshpande and Govind Namdeo made up the rest of the main cast. Bhiku Mhatre is one of the most iconic characters in Indian cinema. The movie filmed in the monsoons in Mumbai captured the essence of the city that never sleeps and “bhai-giri” at its peak. If you haven’t watched Satya, put that on your to-do list now!
Dil Se (1998)
This Mani Ratnam film should be on every must-watch list. As an intense love story, very few come close. An enamoured, obsessive man; a reclusive, mysterious woman; familial obligations, political issues, the songs (you will not want to skip ahead) and beautiful cinematography are just some of the reasons to watch this film. The movie did average at the box office but has now become a cult favourite and rightfully so. There is so much to love about this movie. The two women (Manisha Koirala and Preity Zinta) in Amarkant’s (SRK) life could not be more different and his frustration at not being able to get through to the one he loves is raw and unlike the other obsessive roles he’s done. If you’re looking for a movie that you want to think about after it’s over, pick this.
Rangeela (1995)
This was the first time the clean cut Aamir Khan took on the role of a “tapori”. It was quite the jolt for movie buffs who had seen him and loved him as the star crossed love in Qayamat se Qayamat Tak (QSQT), the hapless uncle in Hum Hain Rahi Pyaar Ke (HHRPK), the mischievous youngster in Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikander (JJWS), the worldly-wise journalist in Dil Hai Ki Maanta Nahi (DHKMN) and of course the guy who wants to marry rich in Andaz Apna Apna.
Rangeela was a horse of a different colour. And what a colourful horse that was. Clothes, language, sets, everything! We also saw the sweet Urmila Matondkar, think “Masoom”, in a completely different avatar. Jackie Shroff as usual was his dashing self. Add to this, A R Rahman’s debut in Hindi music and RGV and we got movie magic. If you haven’t seen it, you’ve missed out on one of the most iconic Bollywood films ever made. Amir Khan as Munna dining in a five star restaurant is what cringe is born from. Genius!
Gumrah (1993)
Think Brokedown Palace, but terrifying. Sridevi and Sanjay Dutt seemed like quite an odd pairing at first, but what a splendid performance by both. Add Soni Razdan, Anupam Kher and Rahul Roy to the mix and you get a movie that you will never forget. Sridevi, always the icon, as a scared, confused traumatised woman, falsely accused in Hong Kong, found guilty and sentenced to death will make you weep and then fear for yourself every time you enter an airport in a foreign country. Sanjay Dutt with his earnestness will win your heart. The movie didn’t perform that well at the box office but then again it wasn’t really your typical Bollywood masala mix. It was quite bold making such a non-glamourous movie in 1993 considering it was the year that saw movies like Darr, Khalnayak, Aankhen, Baazigar, Tiranga, Damini and Hum Hain Rahi Pyaar Ke.
Part II coming up soon!
