Film Recommendations by Tasneem Hafiz

Bollywood films and TV series were a staple at my home.

I have cherished memories of spending weeknights with my grandmother, watching Indian soap operas such as Diya Aur Baati Hum (translated: We are the Lamp and the Wick) and Meri Bhabhi (translated: My Brother’s Wife), and immersing myself in Bollywood films encompassing an amalgamation of various genres.

I am delighted to share with you a curated list of 6 cinematic gems (all of which I rate 5 stars and made me cry [in a good way]) spanning from the classics to contemporary, showcasing a wonderful range of genres and featuring some amazing music.

I hope this list intrigues you and that you discover a film that piques your interest.

Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham

Translation

Sometimes Happiness, Sometimes Sadness

Release 2001 Available

Netflix, Amazon Prime

Rating 5 / 5 Plot

Yash Raichand disowns Rahul, his adopted son, for marrying a woman of lower social standing. Rahul and Anjali both move to London. 10 years later, Rahul’s brother Rohan goes to reunite his brother and sister-in-law and the rest of their family. This film marked my journey into the Bollywood Era and so, holds a special place in my heart. All the characters have layers of depth and the performances given are fantastic. The actors portray wonderful on-screen chemistry, and the soundtrack is my all-time favourite. Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham explores the complexities of family relationships and societal expectations. I have watched this film a few times and am convinced that I can get through it without crying until the last 40 minutes.

Om Shanti Om

Translation

Peace Be With You

Release 2007

Rating 5 / 5 Plot

Reincarnated 30 years after being killed in a suspicious on-set fire, a small-time actor is determined to punish the person who ignited the blaze. I found this film ambitious and unique, and at the same time hitting all the emotions. This film was my favourite to watch – the highlight for me was the song Deewangi Deewangi, which featured special cameo appearances from over 30 film actors spanning from the Bollywood repertoire (or I’d like to say, similar to Marvel’s Avengers: Endgame!).

Taare Zameen Par

Translation

Stars on Earth

Release 2007

Rating 5 / 5 Plot

The film tells the story of an 8-year-old boy named Ishaan who struggles with dyslexia and academic failure. His parent’s send him to a boarding school, where he meets Nikumbh, an Art teacher who helps him to discover his hidden talent and overcome his learning difficulties. The themes explored in the film includes the challenges faced by children with learning disabilities and the importance of understanding and supporting them. It also highlights the need for a more inclusive education system that recognises and accommodates the diverse learning needs of children. I found this story to be wonderful, heartwarming and eye-opening – Nikumbh is everything you want in a teacher who provides an unwavering amount of support and empathy to Ishaan.

Drishyam (2015)

Translation Visual

Release 2015

Rating 5 / 5

Available Netflix, Amazon Prime Plot

Drishyam 2015, a remake of the 2013 Malayalam film Drishyam, is a crime thriller based in a small village in Goa. It tells a story of Vijay Salgaonkar – a cable television operator who lives with his wife and two daughters and is a devoted family man. One day, Vijay’s daughter accidently kills the son of a powerful police officer, and the family is thrown into a web of lies and deceit as they try to cover up the crime. Inspector General Tabu (mother of the son who was killed) is determined to find out the truth and equally, Vijay goes to deep lengths to protect his family. I found the film’s exploration of family, loyalty, power dynamics and complex ethical issues compelling and gripping. It had me captivated from beginning to end!

Bajrangi Bhaijaan

Translation

Brother Bajrangi

Release 2015

Rating 5 / 5 Plot

Shahida "Munni”, a young mute girl from Pakistan gets separated from her mother while travelling to India. She is found by a kindhearted man named Pawan, a devoted follower of Lord Hanuman who, alongside Chand Nawab (a news reporter) sets out to reunite her with her family in Pakistan. My all-time favourite film shedding light on many themes including love, compassion, peace, and the challenges refugees face in a foreign land. I also really liked the brotherhood and friendship between Pawan and Chand Nawab which brought some funny scenes on-screen. Overall, the story, score and song Tu Jo Mila left me and my dad reaching for tissues!

Hichki

Translation Hiccup

Release 2018

Rating 5 / 5 Plot

Rani Mukerji stars in the title role Naina Mathur. Naina has a speech disorder called Tourette syndrome and despite her condition, has aspirations to be a teacher. She eventually receives an offer at the St. Notker's School to teach class 9F and is met with several challenges. Rani is my favourite actress, and I really liked this story and the overall message which was determination, perseverance and the power of education.

by Veidehi Hans

Bulla ki jaana by Rabbi Shergill

Rabbi Shergill’s 2005 iteration of Bulla ki jaana combines elements of sufi, folk and rock. While I loved the song growing up (it was a chart-topper and frequently on the radio), I never fully understood the lyrics (the song is sung in Punjabi and I speak Hindi). Only in adulthood did I look into the lyrics and became aware of the song’s rich history, and the poem from which it is adapted.

One of the most renowned examples of Kafi poetry, ‘Bullah Ki Jaana’ was written by Syed Abdullah Shah Qadri (1680–1757), known popularly as Baba Bulleh Shah (or Bullhe Shah) a Punjabi philosopher, reformer and Sufi poet, universally regarded as "The Father of Punjabi Enlightenment". A revolutionary poet, he spoke against powerful religious, political and social institutions, he wrote of humanism, equality, and tolerance, warning against the dangers of reciting words without comprehending them. His philosophy remains eternally relevant, never more so than in our present moment.