Last year has been disruptive for most industries, and Bollywood is no different. With lockdown being imposed throughout the country, film theaters had to stop operating. Even though rules have been relaxed, turnouts are still far from being the same.
But how did this disruption affect the industry?
While there might be losses to deal with on the business hand, there is no denying the positive impact on the industry. Finally, content is the new King in the industry.
This is why today we are celebrating the cinematic gems released during the lockdown that have truly stood out. These movies/ series have changed how Bollywood is perceived and helped democratize content creation by uplifting young fiery actors and storytellers.
1. Panchayat (2020)
Released towards the start of the lockdown, Panchayat opened on Amazon Prime Video and was co-created by The Viral Fever. Starring veteran actors like Neena Gupta and Raghubir Yadav, with young Jitendra Kumar as the protagonist, the Bollywood tv-series received excellent reviews from the critics and the audience.
The series shares the story of a young engineer who decides to get a low-salary panchayat job in Phulera, UP. With no superstars in any frame, Panchayat scores an 8.8/10 on IMDb and has been one of the most beloved Indian TV series yet.
2. Kamyaab: Har Kisse Ke Hisse (2020)
Although this film premiered at Busan International Film Festival (2018), it was officially released for audiences on 6th March 2020. Even though it was unveiled before lockdown started, the buzz and success of this Sanjay Mishra masterpiece were only possible with lockdown limitations.
Produced by Red Chillies Entertainment and directed by Hardik Mehta, this Bollywood film tells the story of a veteran character actor looking to come back for his 500th film. It boasts a 7.9/10 rating on IMDb.
3. Pataal Lok (2020)
Created by Sudip Sharma and directed by Prosit Roy and Avinash Arun, the crime thriller Bollywood TV series is loosely based on the 2010 novel, The Story of My Assassins. Paatal Lok became a breakthrough TV series that starred character actors like Jaideep Ahlawat, Swastika Mukherjee, and Abhishek Banerjee.
Both Ahlawat and Banerjee shot to instant recognition with the release of the web series. It became a testament to how rich Indian stories can fill the market void for good content. In many ways, Pataal Lok gave recognition to many known faces in the acting industry whose names we never bother to find out. It scored a 7.8/10 on IMDb.
4. Indian-Matchmaking (2020)
Breaking barriers and compulsions of trying to be cool on Reality TV, this Netflix docuseries broke grounds in many ways and became an instant internet sensation. Indian-Matchmaking followed the narrative of a traditional matchmaker who traveled far and wide to help her clients align their stars and find the right life partner.
However, what sounds like extra-cheese on paper turned out to be quite a surprise on-screen. The documentary subjects were treated with their flaws, and reality TV could not have become more realistic.
From superstitions to ambition and other matters of the heart, Indian-Matchmaking was in many ways a well-treated eye-opener that unveiled the penetration of patriarchy and other social prejudices in the name of “traditional Indian values.”
While these are our top four suggestions covering the genres of drama, reality TV, comedy, and crime thriller, they weren’t the only good things that happened in the last year. However, they stand out because these Bollywood tv-series and Bollywood films brought back focus on creating stories that inform, inspire, entertain, and reflect on the various tenets of our society.
Think we should have mentioned other titles that dared to challenge perceptions and focus on content? Share their names and reviews below with your community.
Enjoyed reading this? Then we also suggest you head to 7 Simple Snack Recipes to Try at Home and get some snacking ideas for your next binge session.
