Bollywood 2008: The Worst 10
Ranvir Shorey in Ugli aur Pagli
A word on the selection process: Those films have been chosen which either have big stars, big filmmakers, big expectations or big pre-release hypes surrounding them. So here goes, what you shouldn’t be watching on television / DVD this year (in no particular order)…
Krazzy 4gettable
A film with four actors, three item numbers, two Zs and one sorry audience. Perhaps my biggest disappointment. Irfan Khan, Arshad Warsi and Rajpal Yadav ought to have been a deadly combination. Turned out, it was just dead.
Ta - shun
Regressive film that regurgitated Bollywood formulas discarded a long time ago. Another waste of a promising star cast. The music and a few jabs by Akshay Kumar may have been the saving grace but hardly. The only thing smaller than Kareena’s size zero was the entertainment value.
Horror Story 2008
Producers may splurge on their films but from where are directors going to bring in the imagination. Harman Baweja’s star vehicle (at least before it was released) only added strength to the argument that Bollywood cannot make a decent science fiction film.
Groan-a
If further proof is required to strengthen this argument, it is here. Goldie Behl’s purported fantasy epic that turned out to be a nightmare for anyone that did dare to go close to it. Let’s hope this buries this genre forever, but wait there was Krrish last year that did do well at the box office…
Golmaal Shouldn’t Have Returned
The trouble with sequels is that they try too hard to hang on to the glory of the original instead of trying to do something different. This one was no better. Sharman Joshi, the star of the first one saw his exit and Arshad Warsi’s role was abbreviated. What’s the point I say?
Mission Is-time-gul
A film starring Sunil Shetty, Vivek Oberoi and Zayed Khan. Period.
Kidnap Me
A few went in to see Imran Khan, fresh from the success of Jaane Tu…Ya Jaane Na. A few others went in to see Minissha Lamba in a bikini. And a minority to watch Sanjay Dutt. All came out disappointed.
Ugly Aur Pagli (no modification required)
This ought to have been a laugh riot. Ranvir Sheory rarely disappoints but this time he did. Indianised version of the infinitely more superior My Sassy Girl. This one neither had the unpredictability nor the humour of the original.
Yuvvraaj Singe
Almost everyone associated with this film pitches in with lackluster performances. Subhash Ghai, Salman Khan, Anil Kapoor, A R Rahman, Gulzar. And when will our filmmakers wake up and realize that Katarina Kaif can’t act.
Gha-zzzz-ni
Aamir Khan snorting and snarling isn’t a pretty picture. Neither are the godawful songs and lyrics. Logic less screenplay and an interminable length of three hours give you a migraine. Someone hit me on the head with a rod. I would like to forget this film.
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(7 votes, average: 3.43 out of 5)
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If Ghajini is a part of this list, so should Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi be. This shows your bias towards the overacting legend SRK.
how can ghajini be on this list? i think u have amnesia and have forgotten how good the movie is
Oh come on, Aamir Khan had a vast range of emotions throughout Ghajini that did not have to do with him ’snarling’ and ’snorting’ as you put it. This film (mostly the 2nd half) showed what a really good AK is.
i know aye these moives suck
SRK’s ‘Suri’ act saved him from featuring in this illustrious list.
Amused as I am by the fan rants, I cannot but agree that Rab Ne Bana Di Sorry should have made it to the list. Yes, in place of Ghajini if you ask me(Though Ghajini is defnitely one of Amir’s worst). A film is not what its leading man is. Story, music, credibility, acting…..it scores abysmally on all fronts.
Ghajini rocksl! chek out the collections and the quit ur job.
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Devang Ghia - Ghajini was one of the best movies of the year according to me and a 100 000 000 million other people. Aamir khan and Asin acted excellently well. The story was good, the suspence, trills and accting was brilliant. The whole concept of the movie was amazing.
It kept audiences glued from begining to the end, Every scene was entertaining. You mr Devang Ghia need to find yourself another job. And what was wrong with Kidnap. You need to be kidnapped and given a few hits if you ask me,
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I didn’t like Ghajini. It surely is one of the worst movies of all times. But you missed Rab ne bana di jodi
had a grt time readin ur write up (and the comments section). How do u keep producing these “hit” articles man?
This is a star phenomenon at work. People take it as a personal insult when their stars are criticized. People live through their stars — their unlived dreams, their extreme fantasies. Stars are much less their own creations (and even of their agencies, teachers, makeup artists, photographers and marketers), as of their fans. The halo behind their head, the aura, is a creation of the people at large; and the interfaces between the people and the stars — the backdrops against which the aura can be seen — are the media.
It was thought that at the age of pop-art, when the average upclass viewers of movies could afford a high lifestyle comparable to their stars, the stardom would gradually fade away. Clubbed to this reason for the stardom’s prophesied death, was a democratization of filmmaking (and reviewing). In this digital age, almost anyone can make a complete film with high quality image and sound, and special visual and sound effects. But, stars still exist, just as gods exist in this age of high capitalism.
Stars are a way of channelizing unrealized hopes to fruition, frustrations to catharsis.The magic of the created images is encapsulated in the stars. And a star is dethroned the moment s/he loses the fanbase, being too public or too private, or just by being too boring and cliché. Stars are one of the most basic elements of cinema as an industry. They are its basic capitals — the produced means of production. Hence, so much is written about them — so many scholarly books. Critics get a way in the public psyche through their reception of stars. Movies sell because of them (they still do. Ghajini is the biggest example of this year. Last year’s was OSO.) And people themselves feel insecured when their favourite stars are criticized or dethroned, because it is them who created those stars, it is them who are criticized. People are insecured, but they want to feel happy too, want to forget they are insecured. Finally, this life is about being happy. No?
I completely agree with you Anirban. In India movies are equated with their stars. Thus, the fact that Ghajini made the list had people making ludicrous assumptions that the writer is an SRK fan. I myself am no SRK admirer, and given a choice I prefer Amir’s movies. Despite that Ghajini would certainly make that list. In fact, though Rab Ne was also a typically feel-good Bollywood movie, it was far more watchable than the piece of crap that is the Memento wannabe. Of course, its another matter though I wouldn’t have been able to compile this list as Bollywood isn’t my cup of tea in the first place.
In fact, on that issue, I would like to request the contributors of Dear Cinema to give a second thought where Bollywood movies is concerned. I had been attracted to your site because I felt this is one of those rare Indian sites which deal with good cinema, if you know what I mean. Do you really want to write articles on movies which do not deserve attention, and end up having such crap in your comments section? In fact the review of Ghajini got more ludicrous and downright idiotic responses than perhaps you guys could have hoped for. There are numerous places I’m sure where those who call Ghajini the greatest movie ever made in this planet, would get to read all the praises and adulation they want to read just because they fail to differentiate between popular cinema and good cinema. Do give a thought on my views.
Now it’s your turn Bikas! I’ve elsewhere on this site commented on why blockbusters like Ghajini should be widely written about. The idea of good and bad movies are not very clear to me though. Whether such differences could be made becomes clearer with more such discussions.
Hi Devang.
I like your list of worst movies for 2008 but you have seemed to forget other worse ones as well:
(a) Drona, (b) Love Story 2050. (c) Yuvvraaj and (d) Karzzzz.
And nsquaredude , “Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi” has now been considered as a Blockbuster despite the “Ghajini” mania.
Dear Shubhajit,
The issue that you’ve raised is extremely pertinent and important. I do believe it calls for a discussion among ourselves.
I’m taking time to respond to it as would like to think, discuss with fellow authors, editors.
Off the head, all I can say, I value one nuanced comment like yours or Anirban’s much more than hundred flippant ones.
If 13 crass comments can lead to such a discussion as you propose, I think they’re worth the space.
However, my opinion is just my opinion and I welcome disagreements.
Everybody is invited to join the discussion.
Many Thanks,
Bikas
Hell hath no fury like an Aamir Khan fan scorned…I wondered what made Ghajini such a big hit. Now i can see what!!!
Aniruddha: I could tell you but then i can already see the fans brandishing their knives
Pratik: All four of your movies have been addressed in this list. Go through it again.
After the initial brickbats, the discussion seems to be mellowing down to some like minded cine-buffs. My two bits on the quality issue - No doubt a good film needs to be written about extensively, but the discussion will be restricted to a handful and that too with almost everyone agreeing on one basic thing, that the film was good. Whereas popular cinema like Ghajini will attract views from everyone. As the cliche goes, a balance needs to be struck between both the worlds.
Sorry Devang you are right. But there’s not mention of “Karzzzz.”
Groan - A was a big groan.
Shubhajit: I have always enjoyed Aamir Khan films ever since he was introduced in “QSQT! but I was totally dismayed with “Ghajini” and didn’t like it at all. So I would agree with you here and definitely needs a thought.
Karzzzz is mentioned in the intro - as a film I have not seen…
If we want to look through the popular trends and the reasons behind their existence, we must talk a lot about blockbusters. We get only a handful of Truffaut’s (or other’s) writing from the Cahiers and other magazines(such as, the Weekly Arts-Lettres-Spectacles) that talk about the so called arthouse cinemas. Instead, most of them wielded their pens against the mainstream movies, tore the films apart(shot-by-shot if necessary), and thus found out their alternate movie-making patterns as opposed to the masala patterns (or the most efficient masala patterns for a particular film-viewing culture as opposed to inefficient filmmaking). Such efforts were the preparatory classes for the young cineastes, who would make their own films with the experience they gained as critics.
Filmmakers can be of two types — active and theoretical. People like Bazin who never made a single movie himself, could easily be called a theoretical filmmaker. And for a theoretical filmmaker (as well as for an active one), anatomy of blockbusters is a must.
C’mon, just cause he included ghajini in worst movie list, doesn’t mean he’s a srk fan. He gave RBNDJ 2.5stars, I wouldn’t call that great or sucking up to SRK.
I agree with Anirban and Shubhajit too.
hi guyz ….i think u guyz r right ghajini is the worst movie ever …dat means people of india r fools …….
plz don ignore my point ….i agree dat ghajini is Aamir’s worst …..but not in the top 10 worst movie of the year …
movie has every thing drama ,action , comedy ,everything a common indian people want to watch …a total full time entertainment ….y u guyz wana criticize this movie …i couldn’t understand ….
after a long time aamir gave a totally commercial film ….but just go for SRK ,the king khan of bollywood ..who alwayz gives a commercial movie , a crap … if u remove songs n masala from his movie …den der is nothin to watch …isn’t it … i saw RAB NE BANA DI JODI …i think a very slow story ,alike old SRK movies , old pyar mohabbat …nothing new to watch ….so how is it better dan ghajini ………..
ghajini rocks ………….
I don’t see the usefulness of commenting when people don’t read them. Things have been written on exactly these points. Criticism is not meant to praise or bash a movie/filmmaker/star (or anything else). Any criticism (or critique, I’m not using the word in popular, vulgar sense) is meant for seeing why a certain mass of people like a certain film, why do they go to cinema. which class of people term which cinemas good or bad, how film-viewing taste is connected to economic class and lifestyle, how the trends operate, why a film becomes commercial success… and finally, why critics think the way they do.
Ghajini rocks is not the final point for criticism. It is where the criticism starts. Someone may begin writing with this two very broad questions — (1) Does it really rock? (ie, check its actual boxoffice return)
(2) Why does it rock and among whom?
Ghajini is a bad film, it shouldn’t rock, is an extreme personal value judgment. A reviewer normally does that kind of value judgment.That helps to market the film (in + - ways), and that also makes the difference between the critic and the reviewer. However, no one is a pure critic, or a pure reviewer. So, in every broad write up, there is always a mix of two, balanced on either way.
Ghajini (or any film) is a pretext for understanding the film-viewing culture, for the critic. But, for the reviewer, the film itself is important.
I have heard this argument many times before…and everytime it sounds more lame than the previous time…that a film is good because it has all masala ingredients viz. song, dance, action, comedy, pathos, etc. A film does not rock because it is meant to appeal to the least common denominator. It rocks because it appeals to you and you alone. And when it does or does not, it is articulated by a bunch of guys called ‘critics’ who present their POV in the form of a review. Coming from the more erudite of the lot, the review may take the form of an essay or critique which goes beyond what simply is good or bad about the film.
These rating here are purely personal and by no means aspire to take a snapshot of public sentiment. All disagreements are most welcome.
guyz ….
i m nt here to criticize sumthing …i m here only because of ur judgment skills…
Anirban told me in above post dat wat is criticism ….but Anirban r u honest ???
u guyz r promoting RUB NE BANA DI JODI ….i don know y??
a worst movie ever …no acting ..only overacting was in dat film …….can u guyz compare both of films here in a post ..give points in each n every field like story , script ,acting, songs, cinematography etc …then decide dat dis list is right or wrong…..i think dis is d most simple way…..
Chinmay Mishra, you are saying that “Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi,” is a worse movie ever…no actingonly overacting. You cannot compare this film to “Ghajini” for the simple reason being is the story is not the same, the acting is totally different as are the songs. While “Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi,” did not do much marketing, “Ghajini” did in every possible way, including Aamir Khan cutting childrens hair on TV to the style that he had in the movie and not to mention the news that he was to have eight packs in the film, which, in itself, if he is not careful, can lead to a disaster in health. Also what about the revealing of his image in the film on TV ? But “Ghajini” was definitely not his best movie and many did not like the violence it had.
I like watching Aamir Khan but I did not like this one at all. I would rate it as a mediocore film.
really ??
u like watching amir khan…..may b 
listen pratik u r right dat ghajini is d well marketed film but hw is it possible dat ,Aamir Khan cutting childrens hair on TV to the style that he had in the movie ,only on thing make dis movie d biggest hit of Bollywood …i don think….u wrote dat “Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi,” did not do much marketing….hw can u say dat …The song “Phir Milenge Chalte Chalte” pays tribute to Bollywood legendary actors Raj Kapoor, Dev Anand, Rajesh Khanna, Shammi Kapoor and Rishi Kapoor. The song is picturised on Shahrukh Khan and has special appearances by Kajol, Bipasha Basu, Lara Dutta, Preity Zinta, and Rani Mukerji. dis is also a old marketing style of SRK…
i know dat Shahrukh has done well in the role of Anushka’s husband but has completely disappointed the audiences with his over-acting in Raj’s character.
Hi Chimay.
What you say about SRK’s Marketing could be correct but that’s his style. But in terms of what is considered to be “catching public / peoples attention” in marketing, what Aamir Khan did in front of TV cameras, was gain peoples attention. His image in the poster, when it was revealed, is considered by many in marketing terms, “gaining attention” and having the title of the film mentioned, is another of gaining peoples attention and to even make them think about the film. Over the past few months, before the film was released, the mention of his look in the poster is another method to gain attention. Also, what Aamir Khan did, was when ever he was photographed in public, his hair style, which he had in the film, was noticed - another marketing gimmick. And finally, the introduction of the game, is another gimmick, not just for the film but also, another way to make money - which he has the right to do.
I agree that the song “Phir Milenge Chalte Chalte” was a tribute to the legendary actors Raj Kapoor, Dev Anand and Rajesh Khanna and having Kajol, Rani Mukherjee, Bipasha Basu, Lara Dutta and Preity Zinta, can be used as a marketing technique but not much was publicised other than the video of some of the songs broadcast on TV. Regarding the acting of SRK as “Raj”, he did marry a woman who was much younger than him and though, he loved her, she did not love him and felt that she was obliged as he helped her in times of crisis when her father after hearing of the accident. But in order to try and win her love, he had to change himself and make that one effort. We all know what the outcome was at the end.Personally I don’t think he went over the top with this part.