Alia Bhatt's Raazi, Varun Dhawan's October, Amitabh Bachchan's 102 Not Out - 5 Best Bollywood Films in The First Half of 2018

The first six months of 2018 has gone by and it is time to view the report card of how Bollywood performed this year. Box-office wise the year has been great for Bollywood with so many hits delivered, like Padmaavat, Sanju, Race 3, Veere Di Wedding, Raazi, Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety, Raid etc. But does box office success really mean that it is a good movie? Point to note, Race 3!

So in this half-yearly look-back, we check out five movies that impressed us the most with their cinematic aesthetics rather than box office credibility. As history has taught us through the debacles of Swades and Andaz Apna Apna, box office performance is not a proper benchmark for a good film. So without further ado, these movies have made it to the best 5 Bollywood films of 2018. Just don't expect all of your favourite blockbuster movies to make it to the list.

Love Per Square Foot

This year's best romcom didn't come to a theatre near you, but straight into your homes, i.e. if you have a Netflix subscription. Love Per Square Foot is funny, sweet and touching with incredible performances from Vicky Kaushal (who is on a roll this year) and Angira Dhar (who needs to be seen in more movies. Also, the supporting cast (Ratna Pathak Shah, Raghubir Yadav, Supriya Pathak etc) is brilliant. Do watch it if you didn't get a chance to do so!

Hichki

Rani Mukerji's comeback movie is a delightful film that narrates a heart-warming motivational tale, that questions if our society really cares about giving good education to all. Playing a teacher suffering from Tourette's syndrome, Rani gives a nearly flawless performance that manages to elevate this decent feel-good film to greater heights.

October

October is not everyone's cup of tea, thanks to its abstract nature of the plot and the slow-burn narrative. But give it a try and you will end up watching a genuinely emotional and impact human story about love and death. After playing to the gallery in his last few films, Varun Dhawan surprises viewers with a brilliantly understated performance, that deserve all the plaudits he is getting for the movie.

102 Not Out

Brushing away the debacle of All Izz Well, director Umesh Shukla crafts a family entertainer, that transcends the gimmick of casting Amitabh Bachchan and Rishi Kapoor as a father-son jodi, to be a heart-warming venture. Sure, there are flaws aplenty, but the Bachchan-Kapoor's endearing camaraderie and some heart-tugging emotional moments make the watch worthwhile.

Raazi

Superbly crafted by director Meghna Gulzar, this spy drama deserves all the acclaim that came its way on its release. Based on the book Calling Sehmat, Raazi has its thrilling 'spy' moments, but it's the humane portions that make the movie reach closer to the audience. Alia Bhatt is brilliant, while the supporting cast, including Vicky Kaushal, Rajat Kapoor, Jaideep Ahlawat, is superb. Also, Ae Watan is my fave song of the year!

Near Misses: Padmaavat (mounted in an epic manner, but too contrived), Pad Man (has its heart in the right place but needed better execution), Pari (a weak second half followed by a tepid climax), Sanju (good film, bad biopic).

Agree with our choice of the best films selected? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 03, 2018 10:30 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).