The films we absolutely loved in 2021
By: Surabhi Mathur
Tags: Bollywood, Cinema, Recommendations, Film, Movies

What a rollercoaster of a year it has been, right? And, if it weren’t for the movies, we’d definitely be bored to death, if not by the you-know-what! So, I decided to do an end-of-the-year recap of the films I loved in 2021. Let’s go.

1. The Disciple

Aditya Modak as Sharad Nerulkar

This masterpiece by Chaitanya Tamhane truly defined and underlined 2021. It showcased the culturally rich, yet rigid and unforgiving world of classical music. The spine of the film is the guru-shishya parampara, and how the disciple can sometimes just become a tool for the ageing guru’s validity and survival.

The journey of a classical vocalist Sharad, the disciple, spanning over three decades, shows his unending desire to keep at it, that which will make him, and the pain that ensues as he gains kilos, and loses his years.

Watch this sublime piece of art for its ace performances, shots of Bombay at night, the visceral voice-over by Aai, and for what it means to be alive.

2. Mimi

Mimi

A complex film in a beautiful package, what more do we want! This film belonged to Kriti Sanon, the performance of the year for me. With surrogacy as the running thread, it dealt with deeper things like love, parenting, family and what destiny truly means.

Watch it for a stellar performance by Sanon, Pankaj Tripathi, Manoj Pahwa and everyone, in fact. I thoroughly enjoyed, laughed, cried and was blown away by this little surprise of a film! It truly was nothing like I expected and wish there are more films like these in 2022.

Check out my full length piece on Mimi here.

3. White Tiger

Another star of 2021 was this bold and ferocious film based on the novel (White Tiger) by Aravind Adiga. What it means of be a servant in India, we may not know, but this film showed us the invisible, yet an unbreakable wall between the upper class and the lower class, that can never be taken down, unless there’s a white tiger in town.

Superbly portrayed by Adarsh Gaurav, the breakout actor of the year, his Balram is intelligent, realist, survivalist, loyal, and innocent. Watch this film for its superb direction by Ramin Bahrani, for its soul shaking story, and its pulsating soundtrack.

4. No Time to Die

A still from No Time to Die

Not gonna lie, it took me forever to get onboard the Bond bandwagon. But, it’s never too late right! This finale to a spectacular Bond series that began in 2006 (Casino Royale), with our very first blonde Bond, Mr. Daniel Craig, was just the perfect goodbye to the series that got everything right. Some films are just meant to be seen, not written about. This was that. The title song by Billie Eilish is just my favourite song of the year. It’s one film I was lucky to catch in the theatre and I will never forget the experience.

Thank you for your service Mr. Daniel Bond. We’re eternally grateful to you.

5. Roohi

In a year when theatres opened like the short window of opportunity, I am glad I managed to see this little gem on the big screen. A horror comedy, I didn’t know what to expect as we don’t do this genre right. In a country where superstitions are rampant, and even major films like Laxmi Bomb and Bhoot Police promoted these regressive ideas, it takes a bold filmmaker to flesh out the ghost that resides within, and make such a brilliant, ahead-of-its-time film.

Also, being a comedy, it’s such a delightful film, subtly talking about many things like forced marriage, a girl’s identity, her place in our society and how easy it is to believe she is a ‘chudail’ rather than let her be free in the true sense of the term. Watch this film for Janhvi Kapoor’s superlative acting as both Roohi and Afza, and also some good ol’ comedy by Varun Sharma and Rajkummar Rao.

6. Luca

Disney Pixar never disappoints, does it? Luca, a film about a curious little boy/sea monster who lives underwater, along the Italian Riviera is as authentic as their pasta. His adventures take him along a ride of a lifetime, where he sheds his fish-skin and learns to ride a Vespa, eat delicious pasta, and make lasting bonds of friendship with people he meets along the way.

It explores themes like feeling different from the rest, fear of the unknown, and the undying desire to overcome them. Watch it for the drool-worthy pasta eating shots, lovely animation, for the endearing little Luca and the quaint Italian setting of 1950s.

7. Sardar Udham

If there is one film that left me speechless, numb, and also a little sad about my own ignorance about our history, it’s this. A real-life story of Sardar Udham Singh, the man who lived with Bhagat Singh, saw the aftermath of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre himself, and how he found his purpose he carried in his heart for 21 years. In short, this film is a must watch.

Vicky Kaushal went beyond acting with this film, as it feels like you’re watching history unravel before your eyes. There’s one shot where he’s in prison and looking directly into the camera. His eyes cut deep into his soul and we see why he isn’t afraid of dying. He knows his purpose for being born, and what he’ll die for. They don’t make such men anymore, do they?

8. The Great Indian Kitchen

One of the most disturbing films I’ve ever seen, this Malayalam film showcases the deep roots of patriarchy that can strangle the spirit of any woman. The plight of the newly wed wife, once she enters this deeply traditional and patriarchal family of Kerala is every woman’s story. Look in any direction, and you will find most women in the kitchen from morning till night!

But The Great Indian Kitchen drives its point home so strongly, you just can’t look away. Seeing the woman clean after the husband and father-in-law daily, eating after them, cleaning pots all day, pounding coconut for chutney (the men like all things traditional. No mixer grinder for these gods) gave me goosebumps.

The apathy for a woman’s needs, her career, her life by the men of the house, their zero desire to help, (the father-in-law can’t even get his own toothbrush!) and how they systematically crush this educated woman’s spirit, till she decides to take her life in her own hands is why we make and need movies. To see the truth that’s staring in our faces.

9. Free Guy

Can there be a Ryan Reynolds genre? Because what Free Guy is, is only because of this guy! A very innovative film, set inside a video-game, the core premise of being free becomes all the more appealing, when the non-player character named Guy (Reynolds) of Free City decides to venture outside his usual bank teller job.

The feeling of being trapped in a routine, the hard-set patterns that keep on churning day-after-day till you die is beautifully conveyed. We all feel it, right? Watch this film for its innovative storytelling, humour and set yourself free like this Guy in 2022!

And, it’s a wrap!

See you all film lovers in 2022!

Wishing you a happy New Year from the Film Profile Blog.