Best Bollywood films in 2013: when experiment & industry took giant strides

If 2013 is significant for being the centennial year of Indian cinema, it didn’t disappoint with its output either. From breaking BO records to breaking new grounds, the film industry achieved it all.

If 2013 was significant for being the centennial year of Indian cinema, it didn’t disappoint with its output either.

From breaking BO records to breaking new grounds, the film industry achieved it all.

We list top 15 Bollywood films that scored at the box office and received critical appreciation as well.

Bhaag Milkha Bhaag

Farhan Akhtar's biopic on Indian athlete Milkha Singh collected over Rs 100 crore. This Rakyesh Omprakash Mehra directorial venture did have critics cry foul over its length (with many suggesting that a half an hour less would have been good), Farhan's acting came up for universal praise. The audiences of course lapped it all up.

The Lunchbox

Ritesh Batra's The Lunchbox may not have collected hundreds of crores but recovered more than its budget. The Irrfan Khan, Nimrat Kaur-starrer was a fresh departure from the routine romantic films of Bollywood.

Chennai Express

When Shah Rukh Khan and Rohit Shetty joined hands to make a film, it resulted in a superhit that not only entertained the masses but also became the then fastest entrant to Rs 100 crore club. Chennai Express crossed the coveted figure in its first weekend.

Kai Po Che

Loosely based on Chetan Bhagat's 3 Mistakes of My Life, Abhishek Kapoor's film brought the talents of Sushant Singh Rajput and Rajkumar Yadav to the limelight. Both are among the best talents in Bollywood today.

Lootera

Vikramaditya Motwane's Lootera came as a surprise, not because anyone doubted Motwane’s talent. Remember Udaan? It was expected that he would pick O Henry’s Last Leaf and create magic. But the surprise was that he picked mainstream stars like Sonakshi Sinha and Ranveer Singh, who have excelled in commercial cinema. And further surprised when both emerged as serious actors. Critics applauded their skills while producers were happy with the profits.

Raanjhanaa

Anand L Rai brought South superstar Dhanush to Hindi cinema with Raanjhana. The love saga not only stormed the box office to enter the Rs 100 crore club but also brought the Kolaveri Di actor-singer to national limelight. Sonam was also appreciated for her acting.

Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani

This Deepika Padukone, Ranbir Kapoor starrer set the box office registers ringing within days of its release. The movie received mixed reviews from critics while consolidating the lead pair’s standing as stars who can pull crowds.

Shahid

Hansal Mehta's Shahid is one of the small budget films that made big impact in 2013 primarily for two reasons. First was the superlative performance by its lead star, Rajkumar Yadav. Second, the film brought into sharp focus the issue of Muslim youth being wrongly accused for terror tag and the trauma that their families have to go through.

Krrish 3

Hrithik Roshan's magnum opus Krrish 3 met the expectations of emerging as one of the biggest blockbuster of the year. The film got a major fillip when its special effects were lauded for being as good as the best from anywhere in the world.

Madras Café

John Abraham explored a completely new genre with Madras Café which blended feature film format with documentary style narration apart from bringing back the Tamil question in Srilanka back into focus. John Abraham’s performance came up for decent reviews as well.

Goliyon Ki Raasleela - Ram-leela

Despite being involved in controversies over its title, Sanjay Leela Bhansali's adaptation of Romeo-Juliet earned wonderfully at the ticket counter. The film was remarkable for its artistry, the chemistry of the lead pair and established Deepika Padukone’s status as a major star in Bollywood firmament.

Aashiqui 2

The highly ambitious sequel to 90s musical superhit Aashiqui may have failed to impress critics but the audience graced the film with love and enthusiasm. For particular mention were its songs and impact its lead pair had as lovers.

Ship of Theseus

Anand Gandhi's Ship of Theseus was one of the first small budget films of the year that was widely talked about and received wonderful reviews. Complex and compelling, all will agree.

Dhoom:3

Aamir Khan turned baddie for Dhoom:3 but audience have been lapping it up with great vigour. Despite mixed reviews from critics, the movie is almost reaching the Rs 300 crore club. If in doubt ask your kid for special mention.

Shuddh Desi Romance

Sushant Singh Rajput emerged as of the most promising actors of 2013. With its out-of-the-box romance, the film was not too popular with the audience but received nice reviews.

We may have missed quite a few wonderful films this year. Share your list in the comment box