2012 Wrap Up: Off Beat Movies

Cars flying, physics defying action and some witty one-liners by the lead hunk, this pretty much defines the trend of masala movies which have been ruling Bollywood for the past years. At a time when this formula has been declared blockbuster and the makers are raking in the moolah, taking risks and going the extra mile to make quality cinema is really a commendable job. In 2012, it was a job well done. BollyCurry has compiled a list of movies which pretty much sum up just how off-beat Bollywood movies have been in 2012.

Based on the true story of an Indian athlete of the same name, Paan Singh Tomar had everything which went against the present successful norms ruling Bollywood. Yet, based solely on the quality of the script, the brilliant performances and the finesse with which the technical aspects of the movie were handled, not only did it succeed in making the critics applaud the movie, it even held its head high in the business category. Made with a very modest budget, Paan Singh Tomar was declared a Superhit at the Box Office.Vidya Balan had already made everyone acknowledge her as an actor who knows her tricks in The Dirty Picture. But it was Kahaani which titled her as "The Fourth Khan" of Bollywood. A Bollywood movie with a female lead having the thriller genre tag, the movie reeked of risk. Yet, the originality of the script, the cinematography and specially the performances by the actors made the critics give a raving positive response to the movie and the audience to get those cash registers flowing. The breathtaking view of the city of Kolkata and a dramatically twisted ending of the movie are two of the major reasons why Kahaani will be remembered as an unforgettable, off beat Indian movie.There is only one ultimate hero in Bollywood who decides the ultimate fate of any film - good word of mouth. And this hero showed its might when Vicky Donor, a small budget movie marking the debut of Ayushman Khurana and tv actress Yami Gautam, was declared a Superhit at the Box Office. Based on the completely undiscovered and somewhat taboo topic of sperm donation, the movie made the critics praise it to high skies and the audiences love it. The witty humor of the script and the stupendous performances by all the actors involved, make Vicky Donor a truly paisa-vasool movie, or in it's own language, bada hi paisa-vasool sperm hai iss movie ka!Anurag Kashyap's bloody saga spanning over 60 years, Gangs of Wasseypur, is probably the first movie in Bollywood which had been made with a planned sequel. The genre of crime is not entirely new to Indian cinema but Gangs of Wasseypur and Gangs of Wasseypur II are truly benchmarks in many ways. The use of real lingo, the catchy music and the larger than life portrayal of characters makes the series that of truly breathtaking scenarios and actions. Gangs of Wasseypur, both in terms of acting and direction, remain a pair of highly critically acclaimed movies.Based on a Gujarati play, Oh My God! takes the issue of Man v/s God to the big screen. This topic is extremely sensitive, but the way it has been dealt with in the film is truly applaud-worthy. With a smooth narrative and a maturely-written script, the manner in which the whole moral of the story is showcased makes Oh My God! a true quality entertainer. Even the casting of the film is brilliant as the protagonist Kanji Bhai, played by Paresh Rawal, and the group of antagonists led by Mithun Chakraborthy make it an unforgettable journey. This is one movie which not only provided good entertainment but also gave the audience something to ponder over. It won't be wrong to say that Oh My God! is an unconventional gem of 2012.Made under the acclaimed banner of Vidhu Chopra Productions, Ferrari Ki Sawari is a heart warming story of a father-son relation and how a father does all he can to fulfill his son's dream. Though many movies have been made on the subject of family but what makes this one different is its very simple story line and a huge assemblage of brilliant characters ranging from an honest cricket coach to a greedy politician. This sweet ride has been praised by both critics and the audience alike and has given Sharman Joshi his first solo hit.After being absent for 14 years, Sridevi is back to the silver screen in a lead role with English Vinglish. And what a comeback! Playing the role of a housewife Shashi who enrolls herself in an English learning course to get the acceptance of her family, Sridevi is being praised by everyone who has seen the movie. The concept is very simple but the way debutante director Gauri Shinde has treated the movie and the unforgettable performances by the Indian and foreign leads make English Vinglish deserve all the praises and accolades which it has gotten.They are not disabled, they are differently-abled. Barfi! tells the story of a deaf-mute person, Murphy (who always pronounces his name as "Barfi!"), played by Ranbir Kapoor, and his journey and take on life. Priyanka Chopra plays an autistic girl and the movie marks the debut of the Southern Superstar, Illeana D'Cruz. Barfi! is truly magic on screen. The cinematography of the movie has been highly praised along with the perfect portrayal of the lead characters - Barfi, Jhilmil and Shruti. The movie has captured not only the physical beauty of the world, with the shots of deep forests, calm water and bustling city of Kolkata but it also explores the intangible beauty of the biggest emotions which rule our lives - love and happiness. Not only is Barfi! a critical success but such is the pull of this movie, that it is also a part of the coveted 100 crore club. Definitely, the most successful unconventional movie of 2012.