2010 - The Year That Was... 2011 - A Very Promising Year!

Dear Readers,

First and foremost, here's wishing you all a VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! May 2011 be a year filled with Good Luck, great Health, and never-ending Happiness!! :D

Now, as usual, I shall give you the list of contents, of this blogpost. Sort of the trailer of the movie that awaits you, metaphorically speaking, that is.

• Introduction
• Bollywood:
• 2010 in review: The Best Movies of the Year and the Best Songs of the Year.
• 2011? Big movies await us!
• Cricket:
• The biggest event in the sport: the World Cup - Advantage India.
• Lifeblog: 
• 2010 - Best year of my Life.... 2011 - Even better?
• First year at University of Geneva: BEWARE! EXAMS AHEAD!

Introduction 

And there ends yet another year. Where another new year begins. New moments to be cherished, new milestones to achieve, new reasons to smile... There will be ups-and-downs, there might be bad moments, but one needs to sail through it all, because it takes more muscles to frown than to smile. Be Happy, keep Hope when things don't go in your way, because when things are very low, they are bound to get better! :)

Here's a cute animated short film which really is a very simple, but wise one. Moral of the story: Be the Happiness! :)

Hope that this one gave you a smile :) One of Pixar's cutest, according to me.

Bollywood

2010's Best Movies

There weren't a big amount of gems, among the Hindi movie releases of last year. Unfortunately, I can even count them on the tip of my fingers. But still among the ones I've seen this year, there have been great ones. So here's my personal choice for last year's Top Hindi movies.

Raajneeti  

A good screenplay. A well-written storyline about the dirty politics in our country, inspired by the Mahabharata. A great starcast, which includes a mix of youth and experience, with big names like Nana Patekar, Manoj Bajpai, Ranbir Kapoor, Ajay Devgan, Arjun Rampal and Katrina Kaif. Each did a SUPERB job in their respective roles. This one was the 2nd best flick of the year, according to me, mainly due to the powerful performances.

My Name Is Khan

Shahrukh Khan. Baadshah of Bollywood. King of romance. Maybe all these superlatives are relevant, but not in this movie. Here he doesn't have to sing a song to any heroine, nor does he have to play a tough hero who kills the villain at the end of the movie. And that's the best part. In fact, he portrayed the role of an autistic person. Someone who has Asperger's Syndrome. And he did it amazingly well. Period. I believe, it's his best performance till date, and probably the most challenging role he has ever played. Top it up with some very soft music, a great screenplay, touching scenes and dialogs, and great cinematography, and you've got yourself a very beautiful film.

 

Tere Bin Laden

 Among the small-budget films that released this year, there is this HILARIOUS flick called Tere Bin Laden. It's a movie based in Pakistan about this young reporter who makes a fake clip of Osama Bin Laden, so that he can fly to the US. Okay, so maybe the synopsis doesn't sound good, but go for it! If you're up for a smartly-made comedy movie, that is! Hilarious movie, but which makes you think as well! Pakistani singer-turned-actor Ali Zaffar makes a small debut, but a good one to make his mark into Bollywood.

I Hate Luv Storys

Not a masterpiece, nor a movie made for the critics. But a simple, light-hearted movie with a great combo: romance and comedy. Imran Khan does the role which doesn't demand a lot, but which suits him the best. Sonam Kapoor looks just gorgeous in this one. Beautiful locations, a superb soundtrack, and a very sweet script. If you are into romantic flicks made for the youth, try it out!

 

Dabangg

Salman Khan. The one who already rocked 2009 with Prabhu Deva's Wanted. Well, he does an encore in 2010 with Dabangg! Enacting the role of the much-loved Chulbul Pandey, as a cop who is like a Robin Hood, corrupt but for the good, he does a fantastic job. The whole movie rides on his star power, his comic rib-tickling dialog delivery, his acting, his dancing, and even his muscles! (Note the scene in the climax, in which his own muscles rips his shirt off, like an Indianized Hulk!) Sonakshi Sinha does a confident debut in this one. Directed by Abhinav Kashyap, and the current record-holder for the biggest box-office collection ever, beating Ghajini. Beat that, hard-nosed critics!

Enthiran - The Robot

Won't elaborate much on this one, since if you have read my previous blogpost, you should be knowing what I'm talking about. THE event of the year in Indian cinema. Starring Superstar Rajinikanth. Directed by Shankar. Superb watch!

Peepli [LIVE]

And now we have come to THE best movie of the year, according to me. No big stars in this one, apart from the Khan that rocked the year without even facing the camera: Aamir Khan. Turned producer for this one, Aamir showed an immense amount of trust in debutante director Anusha Rizvi, by giving this movie a shot. And it rewarded him, and how! The movie is a satire about a farmer who wants to commit suicide, and how the media makes a mountain out of this molehill, by sensationalizing this news in a very extreme manner. A sad outlook on the current Indian news media. Worth a watch, for all Indians! This one is going to represent India at the Oscar's, and here's hoping it wins!

And finally, here are the movies that I've not seen unfortunately, but which deserve a watch, according to critics and the general public opinion: Once Upon A Time In Mumbai (a blast from the past), Love Sex Aur Dhoka (controversial movie about MMS scandals, a flick highly appreciated by critics), Udaan (childhood revisited), Guzaarish (Hrithik touches your heart as a quadraplegic) & Band Baaja Baaraat (love story set in Delhi).

2010's Best Songs

Here is the list of my favorite Hindi songs of 2010. Before that, I should certainly point out three peoples' amazing music: Amit Trivedi and composer duo Vishal-Shekhar. Amit Trivedi composed the music of Aisha, but ended the year with a SUPERB track called 'Dilli' from the movie No One Killed Jessica. The rest of the album is also very interestingly composed. And Vishal-Shekhar were the music rulers of the year, with THREE consecutive chartbuster albums: Break Ke Baad, Anjaana Anjaani & I Hate Luv Storys.

• Sajda - My Name Is Khan
• Bin Tere - I Hate Luv Storys
• Behene De - Raavan
• Pee Loon - Once Upon A Time In Mumbai
• Tere Mast Mast Do Nain - Dabangg
• Tumse Hi Tumse - Anjaana Anjaani
• Mere Bina - Crook
• Zor Ka Jhatka - Action Replayy
• Sheila Ki Jawani - Tees Maar Khan
• Dilli - No One Killed Jessica

  

2011? Big movies await us!

Well, I think I've given you enough names for a blogpost. So I won't give a list of all the forthcoming movies, since you'll anyway see their names appear in the eventual blogposts that will follow this year. But here's the recent poster that's making a buzz in Bollywood recently: Shahrukh Khan in a superhero costume, for Ra.One. Looking stylish, according to me. Check it out and please do post in your comments about it!

Cricket

Now here's what I want to see 11 Indian men carry and lift with pride, in front of their home crowd. The ICC Cricket World Cup 2011.

We have everything in our favour. The home advantage. A perfectly balanced team, with youth and experience. THE Sachin Tendulkar. Mahendra Singh Dhoni who has been having a great run so far, as captain of the Indian team. The most dangerous batting line-up and bowlers that can win matches. And most important of all, confidence and a superb support in their own country!

COME ON INDIA!! Let that World Cup stay in our country only!

Lifeblog

©Santhosh Muraleedharan

Luckily, 2010 has been an outstanding year in my life. Everything went the way I wanted, there were some unexpected pleasant surprises, and Happiness all throughout. I passed my final year of college, got admission in University of Geneva. Met my entire family in India, got to enjoy the celebrations of my parents' 25th Wedding Anniversary there. Got to enjoy great cricket and nice movies. Kept in good Health all throughout.

So yes, here's thanking God for having given me such an eventful and amazing 2010. And here's praying that He continues to shower, not only me, but ALL the 6 billion people on this planet with Happiness, Luck, Love and Good Health.

Here's hoping you enjoyed reading this blogpost, as much as I've enjoyed writing it.

Cheers, keep smiling, and PLEASE do post in your comments and views on my blog, in the small box called 'Comments' located under every blogpost.

Happily and sincerely yours,

Santhosh