5 Bollywood Films Of 2018 That Did Not Get The Credit They Deserved

No one can stress enough on how good a year 2018 was for Bollywood. This year was a living testament to the changing taste of audiences of Hindi cinema which led to many unexpected, niche films not only receiving widespread appreciation but also smashing box-office collections.

However, despite many surprise hits, there were a couple of films that failed to get the credit they deserved. While many films like Patakhaa, Gali Guleiyaan and Mukkabaaz deserved better, there are some which we felt especially bad about. Here are the ones we are talking about.

Mulk

Director Anubhav Sinha delivered a total knock-out with this powerful piece of cinema. Apart from the stellar performances by the entire star cast and especially Rishi Kapoor and Taapsee Pannu, Mulk was a revelation. A powerful story coupled with effective direction Mulk was a film that surely deserved better. The film only managed to rake in 12.50 crores and was declared a flop, but for lovers of substantial cinema, it would surely be a film that they will keep going back to.

Manmarziyaan

Love stories and especially love triangle especially are literally the most ‘ghisa pita’ formula of Bollywood. However, in the hands of a master storyteller like Anurag Kashyap, Manmarziyaan became a love story that was unlike any other. Layered, sensitive and emotionally effective, Manmrziyaan proved that great directors do not need a particular genre to shine. Despite jaw-dropping performances by Abhishek Bachchan, Taapsee Pannu, and Vicky Kaushal the film only managed to collect 26.45 crores but money is hardly the correct yardstick to assess this brilliant piece of cinema.

Tumbbad

Although Anand L Rai disappointed big time with his Shah Rukh Khan starrer directorial Zero, we can forgive him for producing and making Tumbaad happen for us. Directed by Rahi Anil Barve, Adesh Prasad, and Anand Gandhi, Tumbbad was a cinematic experience that comes very rarely. A taut psychological horror, Tumbbad managed to register a collection of only 13.48 crores, but the film was so much beyond box-office.

Laila Majnu

Telling a tale that is as old as any, with a new and a relatively unknown star cast is not easy. But debutante director Sajid Ali made him happen with Laila Majnu quite brilliantly. The basic outline of this legendary love story set in the volatile political atmosphere of Kashmir made for a deliciously complex and layered film that resonated with the few who saw it. The film managed to collect only 2.50 crores at the box-office but will probably remain in our minds as one of the best re-tellings of this story of star-crossed lovers.

Manto

To be honest, when two of the greatest talents in the Indian film industry, Nawazuddin Siddique and Nandita Das join hands to tell the poignant tale of one of the most legendary and complex literary figure, expectations are bound to be sky high. Even though Manto fell short on the expectation of many, as a film it was beautifully crafted and brilliantly executed. This rare piece of glorious melancholy surely deserved more than a puny collection of 2.75 crores.