1. Mughal-E-Azam While we might be more equipped in the technical aspects of film-making now, Mughal-e-Azam is more about the grandeur and no director can replicate it. Mughal-e-Azam was not only an award-winning venture but it also proved to be a milestone in the history of Indian cinema. We lack the actors who can pull of the 'royal' vibe with authority and suave and to be honest, that's the biggest reason why Mughal-e-Azam should never be remade.
2. Mother India One of the best movies ever made in India, Mother India, is widely regarded as the gold standard of cinema. Nothing will ever match its brilliance. Mehboob Khan made Mother India with actors like Nargis and Sunil Dutt in 1957. Little would have any of them known that they were in the process of making a cult film for their country. Mother India, was a revolutionary film in its own right, enabling the woman protagonist to take the rebellious step of going against her own son and killing him.
3. Anand Anand is definitely one of the finest movies that Bollywood has ever made. It's almost criminal to try and recreate the magic of Hrishikesh Mukherjee when it comes to film-making aesthetics. The story of a man who is about to die but is willing to go all out to bring happiness in everyone's life touched a chord with the massses. The sweet friendship between the lead actors leaves a mark on every viewer's soul. The brilliance of the movie lies in its simplicity; a trait that has now been forgotten in Bollywood.
4. Pyaasa There have been a few Bollywood actors who have left their mark on the film industry with their sheer brilliance. No other actor will ever be able to replace Guru Dutt in this classic. The pathos of an artist in a commerical society and his yearn for love have been portrayed with so much conviction, you simply can't resist empathizing with the protagonist Vijay. There are a few classics that are the foundation stones of the Hindi film industry, and even if they attempt a remake, it'll always fall short of the gigantic expectations.
5. Andaz Apna Apna The brand of humour has evolved and so has the audience. Also, we won't get any more of the famous Amar-Prem chemistry. A huge reason behind the charm of Andaz Apna Apna was the chemistry between the two leads - Amar and Prem. Now that it's almost confirmed that they won't be reprising their roles, the movie just won't feel the same. It'll feel bland like an omelette without salt. Also, we were revisiting the glorious memories of the original a few hours ago and we realised that a lot of jokes are extremely pedestrian to say the least. We probably liked it because it was a 'fun' watch but with a new wave of comedy and the advent of YouTube comedians, the sequel to Andaz Apna Apna will have to step up its game a lot.
6. Lamhe This is one of those rare Bollywood movies that only gets younger with time. Widely considered one of Yash Chopra's defining movies because it addresses the complex matter of losing your loved one and finding them back in their daughter who looks exactly like her mother, the dilemmas are palpable and the characters humanised. A young man falling in love with a woman older than her and then an old man falling for a significantly younger woman - Lamhe expertly tackled taboo subjects.
7. A Wednesday One of the most iconic scenes of the movie is a telephonic conversation between Naseeruddin Shah and Anupam Kher. It's almost impossible to do something similar and live up to the original. A Wednesday is a movie that has a special place in our hearts. It hits home the brilliant point about the common man enduring all the shit that comes his way (#demonetisation) only for him to lash out one day. This is an extremely common sentiment and it'll always stay relevant. But a remake will never work just because of the terrific performances of the lead actors.
8. Chak De! India A good sports movie is a rarity in Bollywood and it's not possible for any other actor or writer to replicate the motivational moments of Chak De! India. Despite no romantic angle and despite being quite an unconventional film, Chak De India scored big time at the box office and is remembered as one of Shah Rukh Khan’s best films. When the movie first came out, it almost single-handedly changed the way Indians approached sports in general. The songs are still played during every major sports event in the country. Will we ever get another 'sattar minute hai tumhare paas' speech? Without SRK, that'll be pretty difficult.
9. Rang De Basanti This film has redefined patriotism in Bollywood. 'Rang De Basanti' became the epitome of modern patriotism for the youth which was trying to maintain a balance between globalization and westernization. Without a speck of doubt, this is the best directorial venture of Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra. The story of a young filmmaker from Britain, who is inspired by the lives of freedom fighters like Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, Chandrashekhar Azad, Ashfaqulla Khan etc. comes to India for a documentary and considers four friends to play these roles. One thing leads to another and all the four turn out to be real-life revolutionaries, fighting corrupt bureaucracies, thus meeting their tragic end, thanks to some filthy politics. ‘Rang De Basanti’ soared high and no other film has dared to match its credentials hence. And I hope none does for an even longer time.
10. Taare Zameen Par This Aamir Khan's directorial hit the right chords as it successfully created awareness about a condition called “dyslexia”. Darsheel Safary, as eight-year-old Ishaan, aptly portrayed the agony of a suffering child . One of the emotionally wrenching movies of the year, and also, probably of the decade in Bollywood, ‘Taare Zameen Par’ is the story of a dejected, lonely, dyslexic kid Ishaan, who is good with fine arts but poor in his academics. Aamir Khan, who plays an art teacher in the movie, takes the onus of bringing Ishaan up to speed with the materialistic world while making Ishaan’s parents realize what true love actually is – impartial and unconditional.