The year 2009 in Bollywood saw some good movies but very few managed to set the cash registers ringing at box office. The first hit of the year was the edgy Dev D, Anurag Kashyap’s modern version of Sarat Chandra’s classic love tale ‘Devdas’. But after that box office couldn’t warm up to better collections and, to make things worse, there was a producer’s strike for many months of the first half of 2009.
Yet, most of the films that released afterward tanked or managed just average business. Worst was the debacle of big-budget movies like Kambakkht Ishq, Kurbaan, Blue and London Dreams. In the year when more than 90 per cent of the films were declared flops, silver linings came in the form of Wanted, New York and Love Aaj Kal among others.
Here are top ten Bollywood films (in the order of their release) that catered to our entertainment needs and emerged successful at ticket windows.
Dev D
As the handsome Devdas of modern times, Abhay Deol couldn’t think beyond sharaab and shabaab. Loves a village belle, but eventually loses his heart to a cute prostitute. Anurag Kashyap’s ‘Dev D’ was refreshingly different and an instant hit. The movie also featured some good songs and performances.
As the handsome Devdas of modern times, Abhay Deol couldn’t think beyond sharaab and shabaab. Loves a village belle, but eventually loses his heart to a cute prostitute. Anurag Kashyap’s ‘Dev D’ was refreshingly different and an instant hit. The movie also featured some good songs and performances.
New York
Released in June, ‘New York’ came as a respite for Bollywood. Yashraj Film’s first and the only hit of the year. Katrina Kaif showed her acting skills, so did John Abraham. Kabir Khan tackled the terrorism issue with sensitivity, without taking sides.
Released in June, ‘New York’ came as a respite for Bollywood. Yashraj Film’s first and the only hit of the year. Katrina Kaif showed her acting skills, so did John Abraham. Kabir Khan tackled the terrorism issue with sensitivity, without taking sides.
Love Aaj Kal
This movie not only got thumbs-up from critics but earned well from all the quarters, including overseas. Imitiaz Ali knows how to deliver a ‘romantic’ hit. Loved Saif Ali Khan as Jai, a stereotype modern-day loverboy with commitment phobia and ambitious dreams, and also loved Rishi Kapoor as the old Veer Singh. But Giselle Monteiro was the real surprise.
This movie not only got thumbs-up from critics but earned well from all the quarters, including overseas. Imitiaz Ali knows how to deliver a ‘romantic’ hit. Loved Saif Ali Khan as Jai, a stereotype modern-day loverboy with commitment phobia and ambitious dreams, and also loved Rishi Kapoor as the old Veer Singh. But Giselle Monteiro was the real surprise.
Kaminey
Main ‘sa’ ko ‘fa’ bolta hun! Vishal Bharadwaj’s dark comedy, Kaminey was not a typical masala film, but audiences and critics liked it. Most of all Shahid Kapoor and Priyanka Chopra looked very ‘fexy’ together.
Main ‘sa’ ko ‘fa’ bolta hun! Vishal Bharadwaj’s dark comedy, Kaminey was not a typical masala film, but audiences and critics liked it. Most of all Shahid Kapoor and Priyanka Chopra looked very ‘fexy’ together.
Wanted
Salman Khan’s no-holds-barred action flick ‘Wanted’ emerged as a box office darling. Prabhudeva seemed at ease wielding the megaphone, just like the way he dances. Propped on Salman’s one-liners and Mahesh Manjrekar’s acting, ‘Wanted’ was a paisa-vasool film.
Salman Khan’s no-holds-barred action flick ‘Wanted’ emerged as a box office darling. Prabhudeva seemed at ease wielding the megaphone, just like the way he dances. Propped on Salman’s one-liners and Mahesh Manjrekar’s acting, ‘Wanted’ was a paisa-vasool film.
Wake Up Sid
A simple coming-of-age story of an aimless, rich boy. Wake Up Sid, starring Ranbir Kapoor and Konkana Sen, hadn’t something extraordinary to offer, but a simple tale dealing with sheer innocence got the viewers flocking to theatres.
A simple coming-of-age story of an aimless, rich boy. Wake Up Sid, starring Ranbir Kapoor and Konkana Sen, hadn’t something extraordinary to offer, but a simple tale dealing with sheer innocence got the viewers flocking to theatres.
All The Best
Though the movie wasn’t really good as a comedy, but Rohit Shetty pulled it off well. And when it’s Ajay Devgan, Sanjay Dutt, Bipasha Basu and Goa locales mixed with songs and comedy of errors, it does work.
Though the movie wasn’t really good as a comedy, but Rohit Shetty pulled it off well. And when it’s Ajay Devgan, Sanjay Dutt, Bipasha Basu and Goa locales mixed with songs and comedy of errors, it does work.
Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani
Rajkumar Santoshi returned to comedy in this frothy, breezy rom-com starring Ranbir as a goofy but adorable boy who makes others happy at the cost of his own feelings. Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani also marked a beginning for the stunning on-screen pair, Ranbir and Katrina Kaif.
Rajkumar Santoshi returned to comedy in this frothy, breezy rom-com starring Ranbir as a goofy but adorable boy who makes others happy at the cost of his own feelings. Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani also marked a beginning for the stunning on-screen pair, Ranbir and Katrina Kaif.
Paa
If you think he should retire, think again, Amitabh Bachchan is still around and here to stay. Paa not just tugged at our hearts, but Big B’s stellar performance left almost everyone spellbound. Moreover, Amitabh’s makeover into a 12-year-old progeric boy was a huge feat in itself.
If you think he should retire, think again, Amitabh Bachchan is still around and here to stay. Paa not just tugged at our hearts, but Big B’s stellar performance left almost everyone spellbound. Moreover, Amitabh’s makeover into a 12-year-old progeric boy was a huge feat in itself.
3 Idiots
Straight from the college campus comes Aamir Khan as an ‘idiot’ for 3 Idiots. The movie marks the end of 2009. Aamir has even tried some unique promotional strategy for the film – traveling incognito throughout India and revealing his identity only rarely.
Straight from the college campus comes Aamir Khan as an ‘idiot’ for 3 Idiots. The movie marks the end of 2009. Aamir has even tried some unique promotional strategy for the film – traveling incognito throughout India and revealing his identity only rarely.