Mid-Year Report Card- The best Hindi films of 2024 so far

Imtiaz Ali is back and how! Known for his sensitive stories and characters, Ali's latest Amar Singh Chamkila was a bold project in the director's repertoire of films. Based on slain Punjabi folk singer Amar Singh Chamkila, the film featured Diljit Dosanjh and Parineeti Chopra in the lead. Released on Netflix, the film takes viewers back in time - to the 1980s to be specific- when Punjab and Punjabi culture was undergoing massive change.  

In Imtiaz Ali's film, singer-actor Diljit Dosanjh transforms himself to play the man who became an enigma in North India in a short period and one whose assassination remains still unresolved nearly four decades later. Amar Singh Chamkila the film highlighted the class divide that existed in Punjab and talked of the political turmoil in the country in the 1980s. 

Kiran Rao's heartwarming tale about two missing brides was equal parts funny and equal parts emotional. Featuring newcomers Sparsh Srivastava, Pratibha Ranta, and Nitanshi Goel along with Chhaya Kadam and Ravi Kishan, Laapata Ladies talked of self-reliance, women empowerment, and the importance of education. The beauty of Laapataa Ladies is that even though the film is feminist in its approach it never makes the men look bad nor does it whitewash them. Rao creates a stunning world where everyone and everything is Nirmal (gentle) much like the film’s treatment and the place it's set in. 
 

Based on the Gujarati film Vash, the psychological thriller by Vikas Behl kept the audience hooked from the first shot of the film. It featured stellar actors like Ajay Devgn, R Madhavan and Jyothika but young actress Janki Bodiwala stole the show with her possessed act. While the film's writing dipped in the second half, it was the credible performances by the lead cast that made all the difference. 
 

Sports biopics run a predictable course and it is the implementation and performances that make the difference.  At a time when cricket has almost become an unofficial national sport of the country, the story of Syed Abdul Rehman, often known as the architect of modern Indian football, is truly inspiring and one that everyone should know. Directed by Amit Ravindranath Sharma, the film featured Ajay Devgn in the lead role. The film was a tad long but it still made for a compelling watch despite its predictability. 
 

Vidya Balan and Pratik Gandhi's film focussed on a two flawed individuals and their troubled marriage. Directed by Shirsha Guha Thakurta, the film took an interesting take on modern marriage and the complications that come along with it. The part breezy, part contemplative, and part emotional film has Balan and Gandhi in top form. The film takes a non-judgemental approach to modern romances and has middle-aged people talk about sex, desires, and love openly and unapologetically- which is new for Bollywood. 

Kartik Aaryan's stupendous act as paraplegic swimmer Muralikant Petkar in Kabir Khan's sports biopic won hearts. Petkar was the first Indian to win gold at the German Paralympics in 1972 but never got his due credit in India until 2018 when he was finally awarded the Padma Shri. An incredible story of an individual's will to fight back despite the odds had its usual trappings of a sports biopic but Khan's simplistic approach and Aaryan's restraint, layered performance made Chandu Champion a true winner.