What2Watch4 in 07: Bollywood Edition

Sorry guys this should have been out on Dec 31st but with constant travels and other worldly pressures I couldn't get to it sooner. However as they say better late than never right? So here's my list of What2Watch4 in 07 in no specific order.

Guru - We've already had enough coverage on Guru, now it's time to put up or shut up. The movie is releasing next weekend for all of us to judge.

Salaam-E-Ishq - I don't think SEI will be the biggest hit of 2007 but it will certainly be up there. It's got enough actors to attract a wide range of audience and it's small stories will appeal to people that have the attention span of a gold fish (also known as ADD)

Eklavya - I don't know much about the storyline of this movie, but from the trailer it does look pretty intriguing. Amitabh is supported by a stellar star cast consisting of Vidya Balan, Saif, Sanjay Dutt, Jimmy Shergill and Jackie Shroff.

Nishabd - Bachchan in a totally new avatar, directed by Ramu, inspired by a classic. (See not a word about that hottie in the movie who is the BIGGEST reason why I will go watch it)

Ramu ki Sholay - Good or bad, but a lot of curious folks will buy the tickets for this one, me included.

Namastey London - Jingle Balle has a chance to click with overseas audience. Akki has actually improved his star status in the west over last few years.

Jhoom Barabar Jhoom - Shaad Ali brings Little B back and a host of other actors. This one will sure get a lot of buzz and a nice opening.

Chak De India - The only SRK film announced so far for 2007. It will be big because of its different story and because it has SRK in it.

Tara Rum Pum - What is it with New York and Indian film makers these days? It's like every second film is shot there. Siddhartha Anand who delivered a hit with Salaam Namastey is back with Saif and this time he has Rani as the leading lady, doing their thing in the Big Apple.

Shootout at Lokhandwala - Apoorva Lakhia, like Sanjay Gupta knows how to pick up off beat hollywoodesque subjects (even if it means blatantly copying a movie) and generate a lot of buzz and then deliver a totally crappy movie. So I am not getting my hopes up with this one. With Sanju going to jail, I am not even sure if this will get released.

Jodha Akbar - Hrithik and Aishwarya together!! Again!! Don't get your hopes up people I don't think kissing was cool in the Mughal period and showing it off to a billion people definitely wasn't. But this is a big budget movie from Ashutosh Gowarikar so I am sure there will be a lot of buzz around it. The only problem is if it's as boring as Swades this might not even survive long enough to beat Umrao Jaan.

Kismat Talkies - Another Hrithik movie, written by Farhan Akhtar. This one pairs him against Arshad Warsi, it'll be interesting to see their chemistry. The movie is directed by Raj Kaushal, the same guy who did Anthony Kaun Hai?  

Lajjo - There are 2-3 movies that Aamir Khan has been associated with for this year. I am not sure which will hit the theatres. There's Lajjo by Mani Ratnam starring Konkana Sen Sharma, then there's the Gajjini remake (I don't know why you would remake a remake, because Gajjini was a remake of Hollywood classic Memento) and then one more movie. But since he's Aamir he will occupy this space and I will wait for whatever he throws at us:-)

Sarkar 2 - The second part of Sarkar will hit the theatres this year and I am assuming it will mark the rise of Shankar Nagre to power. This one also has Big B and Aishwarya Rai in the leads. I liked the way Ramu did the first one so I have high hopes with this sequel. 

Saawariya - Sanjay Leela Bhansali's movies are always big. This time it launches the next generation of Kapoors, Ranbir Kapoor (son of Rishi Kapoor) and Sonam Kapoor (daughter of not looking to age anytime soon, Anil Kapoor). They will be supported by able jodi of Sallu mian and Rani Aunty. 

Then there are lot of other movies that will probably not have a wider appeal but are certainly worth looking forward to - Traffic Signal, Honeymoon Travels, Metro, possible launch movie of Deepika Padukone and then there was some talks about a Tigmanshu Dhulia film with Nana Patekar. I think if our film makers just build upon what they've achieved in 2006 then 2007 could a very blissful year for a bollywood movie buff.