desi flicks
Bollywood and beyond:
the filmi chakra of desi flicks that promise to keep you entertained this year
2007 gave Bollywood a parting hit in Taare Zameen Par, Aamir Khan's directorial debut. The golden run is likely to continue in 2008 with new releases promising romance, thrillers and period dramas. Plus, we even have two Pakistani films to really look forward to...

Compiled by Saba Sartaj K

This is the first mega release of the year and will introduce newcomer Nikhil Dwivedi, who is already being billed as a 1 crore rupee star. Directed by National Award winner E. Niwas, the film boasts of three other National Award winners - Mithun Chakraborty, Anupam Kher and Pawan Malhotra and has Amrita Rao as the leading lady. The actress who is still riding high on the success of Vivah makes a comeback as the leading lady in MNIAG.
Status: Released

Love Story 2050
Genre: Drama / Musical / Romance

This might be Priyanka Chopra's ticket to superstardom. For most for her career, Priyanka Chopra did not get a meaty role except for an Aitraaz and she had a cold year in 2007. Love Story 2050 is a science fictional film with a double role for the dusky lass Priyanka Chopra. Love Story 2050 is one of the most expensive movies ever made in Bollywood. It marks the debut of her good friend(and boyfriend) Harman Baweja in a leading role opposite Priyanka. The movie is produced and directed by Harry Baweja and it is most likely that a robot will have a prominent role to play in the movie as well.
Status: Releasing April

Delhi 6
Genre: Comedy / Drama

The best director of 2006 Rakesh Om Prakash Mehra produces and directs this film. It is an autobiographic take on his growing days in Delhi. The film should be the trump card for actress Sonam Kapoor. It also stars Abhishek Bachchan. There is a huge expectation from the director who started a revolution with Rang De Basanti.

Ramchand Pakistani
Genre: Art / Drama

Directed by Mehreen Jabbar and written by Mohammad Ahmed and Javed Jabbar, Ramchand Pakistani is based on actual events. The story is about a Pakistani Hindu boy and his father who accidentally cross the border into India from their village in Pakistan at a time of extreme war like tension between the two countries and end up spending five years in an Indian prison while the mother left behind wonders what has happened to them.
Status: Releasing Early 2008

Sunday
Genre: Comedy

At the end of the first month of the year, Rohit Shetty of Golmaal - Fun Unlimited fame will serve another comic recipe garnished with thrills. Titled Sunday, the film stars Shetty's favourite actor Ajay Devgan, along with Irrfan Khan and Ayesha Takia. It also has Pakistani band Suroor's track 'Pyar to hona hi hai' so more the reason to look out for it.
Status: Releasing February

Wanted - Dead or Alive
Genre: Action / Romance

Starring the muscular Salman Khan and the voluptuous Ayesha Takia, Wanted - Dead or Alive should be the first big hit of the most under rated performer of Bollywood, Ms. Takia. Prabhudeva's first Bollywood directorial venture is a remake of his Tamil-Telugu blockbuster Pokiri. The pairing of the two beautiful actors is wonderful and the chemistry is going to sizzle the screen.

U, Me Aur Hum
Genre: Romance

After Fanaa with Aamir Khan, Kajol returns with U, Me Aur Hum opposite her husband Ajay Devgun. Ajay Devgan does what Aamir Khan did in 2007 i.e, debut as a director in his home production for which he will play the main lead. If their on-screen chemistry is anything to match that of Dil Kya Kare, this film is sure to be a winner. The story seems to be inspired by the Hollywood film The Notebook.
Status: Releasing April

Sarkar Raj
Genre: Crime / Drama / Thriller

Ram Gopal Verma will be doing what he is best at- exploring yet another facet of underworld and politics. Sarkar Raj is a sequel to Sarkar, one of the best movies of Ram Gopal Verma. It stars members of a famous family-Amitabh Bachchan, Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai. The most beautiful woman in the world has a pivotal role to play in the film. Rumors are there that this movie is inspired by the Enron fiasco.
Status: Releasing May

Mission Istanbul
Genre: Action

Mission Istanbul starring Vivek Oberoi, Abhishek Bachchan and Tusshar Kapoor is based on cross-border terrorism. It is extensively shot in Afghanistan, Mumbai, Istanbul and Srinagar. It is produced by Balaji films, so expect Tusshar Kapoor in a meaty role.
Status : Releasing Summer 2008

Halla Bol
Genre: Thriller / Crime

Will mark the return of maverick director Rajkumar Santoshi, who was burrowing after Family, starring Amitabh Bachchan and Akshay Kumar, bit the dust. This time Santoshi has teamed up two veterans - Pankaj Kapur and Ajay Devgan. The film, inspired by murdered theatre activist Safdar Hashmi, sends a social message. It urges people to raise their voice against injustice. It is inspired by Aamir Khan's involvement in the Narmada Bachao Andolan. The movie shows Ajay Devgan rising to become a movie star, a perfectionist to the core. He then comes across a scenario where his social consciousness comes to the fore and raises a voice against the injustice done. His views are maligned by political forces and a section of the media and he becomes a victim of acute criticism and scorn.
Status: Released

Race
Genre: Action / Drama

Race promises to be a racy-pacy Abbas Mustan thriller. It has the crème de la crème of stars: Saif Ali Khan, Akshaye Khanna, Katrina Kaif, Sameera Reddy and Anil Kapoor. It is based on adrenalin pumping horse races. Cooking in the plot are two rich bookies, a sexy model, a marriage, some suspicion, and of course a murder! And Atif Aslam has recorded a song on the film's sound track so that's reason to buy the album too.
Status: Releasing February

Main Yuvraj
Genre: Drama

This movie promises to be a breezy romantic musical treat from the maestro of music A.R.Rahman and lyrics by Gulzar. Expect another Taal coming your way if not better! It is Subash Ghai's most expensive movie till date and stars Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif. You may see shades of Taal in the film because Anil Kapoor who is also in the film, plays the role of a musical genius while Salman Khan is a chorus singer.
Status: Released

Tashan
Genre: Thriller

Yash Raj Films' first release of the year Tashan will open in 2008. The Dhoom technical team is really going places. Vijay Krishna Acharya who has written the screenplay and dialogue for Dhoom and Dhoom 2 will be making his directorial debut in this Yash Raj musical. Tashan has some of the most successful stars in Bollywood this season. Akshay Kumar, Saif Ali Khan, Kareena Kapoor and Anil Kapoor grace the movie and each of them have been given a stunningly sexy look for the film. The movie promises to be a visual as well as an auditory treat. Saif Ali Khan's son will debut in the film while Anil Kapoor will play the baddie.
Status: Releasing April

Khulay Aasman Kay Neechay
Genre: Romance

This film, starring Sana, Humayun Saeed, Salim Sheikh and Meera, will be the first Pakistani film to be simultaneously released in India and Pakistan, as well as overseas.
Pakistan's movie magnate Javed Sheikh will reach the zenith of his Tinsel Town career with the release of his production, Khulay Aasman Ke Neechay, the most expensive film ever produced at home.
Status : Releasing February

Golmaal Returns
Genre: Comedy

Rohit Shetty is aspiring to recapture the success story that Golmaal did in 2006 with its sequel Golmaal Returns. Build on a lavish and expensive scaled compared to the former Golmaal, Golmaal Returns stars all the old actors Ajay Devgan, Tusshar Kapoor, Arshad Warsi, Paresh Rawal with the exception of two, Rimmi Sen and the funny Sharman Joshi. As a replacement for both, we have the talented Shreyas Talpade and the explosive Kareena Kapoor.

Status: Releasing summer 2008