Taare Zameen Par
Release date: 21.12.2007
What: A world of cut-throat competition, a dyslexic child, ignorant parents and an understanding teacher. Aamir Khan’s directorial debut touched a chord in both parents and children.
Why: A superlative performance from Darsheel Safary and a restrained act from Aamir himself had the audience reaching for its hankies more than once. The awards and the acclaim poured in, starting 2008 on a surprisingly sensitive note for Bollywood.
Verdict: SUPERHIT

My Name Is Anthony Gonsalves
Release date: 11.01.2008
What: An innocent young man is torn between his love and the murky world of murder and mayhem. So, what’s new?
Why: Debutant Nikhil Dwivedi tried hard to impress, but failed miserably. Amrita Rao’s sexy makeover went unnoticed. Mithun’s bit role was the only bright spark. The audience chose to stay away, with the film only being remembered for the song that inspired its name.
Verdict: FLOP

Bombay To Bangkok
Release date: 18.01.2008
What: A doctor who is actually a bawarchi. A nurse who is actually a call girl. A don who is actually a rap singer. And a film that is actually a pain in the wrong place.
Why: The cast (led by Shreyas Talpade) turned in good performances, but the wafer-thin storyline spelt doom for B2B, half-a-dozen liplocks nothwithstanding.
Verdict: FLOP

Welcome
Release date: 21.12.2007
What: Two dons —one paints at traffic signals and another aspires to be an actor — are desperate to get their sister married. A comedy of errors from start to finish.
Why: Anil, Nana and Feroz Khan cooked up a storm, with Akshay riding the tail wind and Katrina as breezy and beautiful as ever. People were happy to leave their brains at home. So the year began with a tearjerker and a laughathon.
Verdict: SUPERHIT

Halla Bol
Release date: 11.01.2008
What: Yet another Bollywood film set in Bollywood, this Rajkumar Santoshi venture was the tedious tale of a reel superstar emerging a real hero.
Why: A terrible hotch-potch of the real and the reel with a hackneyed plot and half-hearted performances (Ajay Devgan leading from the front on this count).
Verdict: AVERAGE

Sunday
Release date: 25.01.2008
What: A Sunday goes missing from Ayesha Takia’s life. Two hours are taken trying to find it. The journey is tedious.
Why: An incoherent film from reel one with a Cornetto chomping Ajay Devgan only adding to the mess. A rip-roaring act from Irrfan was the only saving grace.
Verdict: AVERAGE

Rama Rama Kya Hai Dramaaa
Release date: 01.02.2008
What: Rajpal Yadav is married to Neha Dhupia but thinks of every other woman as his wife. Care to know more?
Why: Very few people mustered up the courage to watch this howler. The ones who did still haven’t recovered. A traumatic watch.
Verdict: FLOP

Superstar
Release date: 08.02.2008
What: A wannabe star and a superstar — a Kunal Khemu double bill with emotions, tears and mistaken identities.
Why: A film with promise and a host of stellar performances, but not many were willing to give the Rohit Jugraj film a chance.
Verdict: FLOP

Mithya
Release date: 08.02.2008
What: A gangster film turned on its head with dark humour woven smartly into the proceedings.
Why: Mithya’s unpredictability worked in its favour. A rare Bollywood thrill-spill by actor-director Rajat Kapoor that managed to keep the audience hooked.
Verdict: AVERAGE

Jodhaa Akbar
Release date: 15.02.2008
What: The untold story of the romance between Emperor Akbar and Rajput princess Jodhaa. Epic in style and content.
Why: The smouldering Hrithik-Ash chemistry and A.R. Rahman’s haunting tunes ensured repeat footfalls despite 210 minutes of the Ashutosh Gowariker film.
Verdict: SUPERHIT

Black & White
Release date: 07.03.2008
What: A terrorist has a change of heart after a family offers him shelter and support. But he is a man on a mission.
Why: Showman Subhash Ghai made a comeback with a no-frills film in which Anil Kapoor, Shefali Shah and debutant Anurag Sinha turned in award-worthy performances. Sadly, few saw them.
Verdict: FLOP

One Two Three
Release date: 28.03.2008
What: Three men with the same name. The rest was a risque riot that was best avoided.
Why: A plot skimpier than Rakhi Sawant’s blouse, double-meaning jokes and a ho-hum soundtrack sunk the crass caper.
Verdict: FLOP

Race
Release date: 21.03.2008
What: A tale of love, lies ,deception and disillusionment. A typical Abbas-Mustan thriller with triple the twists and turns.
Why: The women sizzle, Saif turns on the heat and the suspense keeps you on the edge of your seat. Total timepass fare from the masters of thrill and spill.
Verdict: HIT

Two potential moneyspinners for the second quarter of 2008 — U, Me Aur Hum and Krazzy 4 — released yesterday. Will the all-new sizzling Kajol in hubby Ajay Devgan’s directorial debut or the wild antics of Irrfan, Arshad Warsi and co. find favour with the audiences this summer? Watch this space.

TASHAN
Why: The ‘ishtyle’, the ‘goodluck’, the ‘pharmoola’... and Saifeena. The big Yashraj film of the year

BHOOTHNATH
Why: AB plays a loveable ghost, with SRK in a special appearance. Watch out for GenY

JANNAT
Why: The serial-kisser is back! And, Fossils frontman Rupam makes his Bolly playback debut


(UNTITLED KUNAL KOHLI FILM)
Why: The Hum Tum pair, a house full of children and a do-gooder angel on a mission

SARKAR RAAJ
Why: The three ABs (Pa, beta and bahu) star in the Sarkar sequel with Aishwarya calling the shots