Beyond the tripe of Bollywood, India produced some really good cinema in 2016. While some received widespread theatrical release, a few (like Manipuri film Loktak Lairembee) are still creating quite a buzz in the film festival circuits around the world. Marathi film Sairat got a pan-India release, and ran for an impressive six weeks outside its home state. Thithi, which won the National Award for the best Kannada film, was refreshing because its actors were all non-professional first-timers. Some were commercial hits, but all of them were critically acclaimed for their content and production. Wrap this year up with these must-watch films:
Chauthi Koot (Punjabi)
Released in film festivals around the world in 2015, this film directed by Gurvinder Singh was out in theatres this year after being lauded by critics. Based on two stories by Waryam Singh Sandhu, Chauthi Koot (meaning 'the fourth direction') is set in Punjab in the aftermath of Operation Blue Star. Kanwaljit Singh (Rustom) and Survinder Vicky (Kaptan) are part of the cast. It perfectly captures the emotional tension that gripped the Sikh and Hindu communities at that time, as characters oscillate between trusting complete strangers and blatantly displaying suspicion. Besides earning a screening at Cannes in 2015, it also won the Singapore International Film Festival Silver Screen Award in the Asian feature film category.
Sairat (Marathi)
Directed by Nagraj Manjule of Fandry fame, Sairat ('wild') surpassed Natsamrat (another must-watch Marathi film released this year) to become the year's top Marathi film, both critically and commercially. With realistic performances by debutante actors Rinku Rajguru and Akash Thosar, the film is said to challenge not just caste, but also gender stereotypes. The simple story of a lower caste boy in love with a higher caste girl is told in a refreshing way, symbolic in every frame. According to reports, Karan Johar bought the rights to make a Bollywood version.
Thithi (Kannada)
The cast of this Raam Reddy film comprises non-professional actors from Mandya, Karnataka, who totally owned the film with their honest portrayals. Thithi, which means funeral, revolves around the family after the death of its century-old patriarch. Central to the conflict within the film is a plot of land in this old man's name, and the three generations after him who try to acquire it. Funny and insightful, with well-sketched characters and a strong story, the film is a rare blend of all things good from both commercial cinema and the arty.
Visaranai (Tamil)
Produced by Dhanush, Visaranai (meaning 'interrogation') is a disturbing but hard-hitting thriller about the power of the influential over the powerless. It focuses on police brutality, and how unsuspecting people are forced to confess to larger crimes they haven't committed. Directed by Vetrimaran, the story is based on a novel, Lock Up, by Chandrakumar, written from his own experience. Starring Dinesh, Silambarasan and Murugadoss, the film is violent but highlights what happens behind the closed doors of an interrogation room. It was well-received by critics and was selected (but not nominated) as India's entry for the Academy Awards. It also won this year's National Award for the best Tamil film.
Kammatipaadam (Malayalam)
Directed by Rajeev Ravi, who was the cinematographer for several Anurag Kashyap films, including Dev.D and Gangs of Wasseypur, Kammatipaadam is his third film in Malayalam. The Dulquer Salmaan-starrer is as much about casteism, exclusion from economic growth, and land mafia as it is about friendship and love. It spans about 30 years, starting from the childhood of two friends and ending as a revenge thriller. The unconventional film-making style and aesthetics were unseen in Malayalam cinema till date, and the critics' verdict on Ravi's film was largely positive.
Loktak Lairembee (Manipuri)
Winner of the Golden Gateway Award at this year's Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival, this Manipuri feature by award-winning director Paban Kumar Haobam gives one a unique insight into the lives of fishermen in trouble. When an edict in 2011 led to authorities burning down fishermen's homes, claiming to protect the ecosystem, many were rendered homeless. Loktak Lairembee (lady of the lake) revolves around one of these fishermen who lives in a makeshift hut. A loose adaptation of a short story, Nongmei, by Sudhir Naoroibam, the film looks like a documentary, but uses the visual serenity of Lake Loktak to its best.
Cinemawala (Bengali)
Fellini Prize-winner Kaushik Ganguly, known for his 2012 award-winning Shabdo, pays tribute to single-screen theatres with Cinemawala. Paran Bandhopadhyay and Parambrata Chatterjee (of Kahaani fame) star as father and son with difficulties between them. Two parallel stories play out at once: on one hand, a film enthusiast and single-screen theatre owner (Paran) is caught on the wrong side of the industry as multiplexes become popular; on the other, his son ekes out a living by selling pirated films, which is against the old man's principles. Shot in digital, instead of film reel, Ganguly was praised for bringing out the best in his actors, as well as his strong, emotional story.
