Bollywood 2020: New year ushers in a galore of anticipated movies
Bollywood in 2020 has got something new for every movie buff
While remakes of old Bollywood movies and sequels seem to be the majority in the list, there are a few real-incident and films based on unusual themes which are also highly anticipated this year.
As a new year and a new decade has arrived, heralding a new beginning with new expectations, the Bollywood cinephiles are also busy making their lists of the movies they are going to watch this year. With 2019 delivering quite a few blockbusters which were also critically appreciated like Gully Boy, Article 15, Super 30, Bala, Uri: The Surgical Strike and others, it has increased the expectations of the audience for the movies lined up to be released in 2020.
While remakes and sequels rule the rooster, there are also a bunch of movies based on historical characters or events, biographies and unexplored themes, which have piqued the moviegoers’ interest with their contents. Here is a list of few of the movies to look out for this year:
Real-life characters on the reel
Movies based on real-life people and incidents seem to be have found a loyal base as 2020 has a stellar line-up of such movies. Chhapaak (Splash), based on the life of acid-attack survivor Laxmi Agarwal, marks the beginning with release on January 10. Directed by Meghna Gulzar and starring Deepika Padukone as an acid-attack survivor, the trailer of the movie has garnered quite a positive response. Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl is the next biopic in line inspired by the life of Gunjan Saxena who alongwith Srividya Rajan were the first female Indian Air Force (IAF) pilots and also the first women combat aviators. Jahnvi Kapoor plays the protagonist in the movie.
Female-centric biopic seems to be in focus in 2020
Shakuntala Devi, next in the line brings the story of the genius mathematician popularly known as ‘human computer’, with Vidya Balan in the main role. It is followed by Thalaivi, where Kangana Ranaut plays J Jayalalithaa, the late politician and film actress who served as the chief minister of the south-Indian state of Tamil Nadu for fourteen years between 1991-2016. Director Sanjay Leela Bhansali is also bringing the story of Gangubai Kathiawadi, who was a brothel owner and matriarch of Kamathipura in Mumbai and had connections to the underworld. The movie has Alia Bhatt in the main role.
Vidhu Vinod Chopra’s Shikara addresses the plight of the Kashmiri Pandits and chronicles the riots that took place in 1989. Bhuj: The Pride of India is based on an incident during the Indo-Pakistan war of 1971, when 300 local women had helped in the reconstruction of destroyed airbase in Bhuj in west Indian state of Gujarat.
History and myth to enchant
With such a rich history of India, Bollywood has explored the genre of historical and mythology-based period drama for years and 2020 also has its share of period dramas lined up. The year begins with Ajay Devgn’s Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior based on the life of Tanhaji Malusare, who was the military leader of King Shivaji, the founder of Maratha empire and presents the events of Battle of Sinhagad. On the other hand, Akshay Kumar is going to play the role of King Prithviraj Chauhan in Prithviraj which also marks the debut of Manushi Chillar, Miss World 2017.
Biopics of freedom fighters also have been very popular with the audience and this year, director Shoojit Sircar with his Sardar Udham Singh brings to forefront the life of the less-known freedom fighter Udham Singh who played an important role in revenge against the Jallianwala Bagh massacre.
Sportsmanship on silver screen
While cricket seems to be the most loved sports in India, followed by football, sports-based Bollywood movies have always garnered audience even when dealing with hockey, wrestling or boxing. The year 2020 brings along the most-awaited sports drama 83 which captures the life of former captain of Indian national cricket team, Kapil Dev and the glorious moment of 1983 Cricket World Cup. Another big sports movie in the line is Maidaan featuring Ajay Devgn in the role of football coach Syed Abdul Rahim who is regarded as the architect of modern Indian football.
Kangana Ranaut’s Panga (To Mess With) is also a sports movie about a Kabaddi player coming back to the game overcoming stereotypes while Farhan Akhtar plays a boxer in Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra’s directorial Toofan (Storm).
Adaptations on the agenda
A much-awaited adaptation
Aamir Khan, known for delivering one blockbuster movie a year, is bringing along the official remake of 1994 Hollywood film Forrest Gump titled Laal Singh Chaddha where he plays a man with low IQ. Also, the Bollywood adaptation of John Green’s novel The Fault in Our Stars is slated to release this year named Dil Bechara (The helpless heart) with Sushant Singh Rajput and Sanjana Sanghi as the protagonists. Another Bollywood adaptation releasing this year is the remake of 2016 Hollywood movie The Girl on the Train based on a British novel of the same name.
Content and cast attracts curiosity
The 2017 Ayushmaan Khurana movie Shubh Mangal Saavdhan (Beware of marriage) had gathered positive critical response for its theme, it is coming back with a spin-off titled Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan (Be extra careful of marriage) themed on homosexuality.
A few movies attract attention due to its star casts and Gulabo Sitabo is one such film as it brings together Amitabh Bachchan and Ayushmaan Khurana with a love-hate relation like the lost glove-puppet characters from Uttar Pradesh who go by the same name. Angrezi Medium, a spin-off of Hindi Medium has also gained attention as it marks the comeback of Irrfan Khan after his brief break from the treatment of neuroendocrine tumour. The much-awaited first part of the sci-fi trilogy Brahmastra is also slated to be released this summer.
It seems the Bolly buffs have their movie-watching itinerary full-packed with such a starry line-up awaiting them.
