Bollywood Romantic comedies (2007 - 2014)
Jab We Met (2007)
Starring: Shahid Kapoor and Kareena Kapoor
Jab We Met redefined, or maybe defined for the first time, the genre of romantic comedy in Bollywood. Kareena Kapoor plays the Manic pixie dream girl in the first half, but post-interval things change dramatically. One of Imtiaz Ali's best.
Starring: Imran Khan and Genelia D'souza
Imran Khan's debut movie is a perfect little romantic comedy. And in some parts it is more than perfect. The casting director did an awesome job on the big supporting cast, and A R Rahman's music is perfect accordingly. This could act as a good introduction for the newbie. One of the best movies in this list.
Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani (2009)
Starring: Ranbir Kapoor and Katrina Kaif
This movie proved that slapstick comedies do work with contemporary audiences. Director Rajkumar Santoshi created a tribute to classic comedies like Amar Akbar Anthony and his own Andaz Apna Apna. A huge hit at the box office, it was (more than) likely during this movie's making that Ranbir and Katrina first came close to each other. The chemistry clearly shows.
Band Baaja Baaraat (2010)
Starring: Ranveer Singh and Anushka Sharma
Director Maneesh Sharma recreates Delhi and it's inhabitants with painstaking detail in his debut. The female lead's character was so unprecedented, that it prompted Shabana Azmi to comment that the girl not only has a career, she has a "plan". The movie introduced Ranveer Singh to Bollywood audiences. Salim-Sulaiman's music is a plus.
Mere Brother Ki Dulhan (2011)
Starring: Imran Khan, Katrina Kaif and Ali Zafar
An average rom-com in the first half, in the second half the story goes so crazy that the audiences had a hard time keeping up. But for the ones who did get it, it more than made up for the first half. Katrina really lets herself go in this one.
Mujhse Fraaandship Karoge (2011)
Starring: Saqib Saleem and Saba Azad
Starring four unknown faces, this rom-com with an indie feel keeps you entertained throughout. Facebook is used so prominantly in the story, that Zuckerberg should have paid them for product placement. Saqib Saleem has a good future in Bollywood if he gets signed for bigger movies. And yes, Tara D'souza is hot.
Tere Naal Love Ho Gaya (2012)
Starring: Ritesh Deshmukh and Genelia D'souza
The most under-rated, under-seen romantic comedy in recent years. The first half is fairly entertaining, but it's the second half (the part that wasn't there in the trailer) that really blows you away. Finally a Ritesh-Genelia movie that is worth watching.
Lesson learnt: On rare occasions, a movie can be better than it's trailer.
Shuddh Desi Romance (2013)
Starring: Sushant Singh Rajput, Parineeti Chopra and Vaani Kapoor
Maneesh Sharma is turning out to be a very frustrating director. This movie is frustrating and awesome in equal parts. The three leads are fantastic, the chemistry is awesome, the comedy is funny, but the story seems unsure of where it finally wants to lead to.
Pros - the usual detailing of places and characters you would expect in a Maneesh Sharma movie... and Vaani Kapoor. I mean in a movie that has Parineeti Chopra and Sushant, you don't expect a newcomer to steal the scenes!!
Cons - Would require spoilers so I'm skipping that.
Cons - Would require spoilers so I'm skipping that.
2 States (2014)
The concept is almost revolutionary in Bollywood. Neither elope, nor give in to your parents demands. Convince them. While the strategy might not be revolutionary in real life (I'm looking at you sister and jiju) in bollywood where a love story cannot work without the high-pitch drama of lovers' rebellion and elopement and/or suicide, it is revolutionary. Who would have imagined that convincing the parents could be so funny and entertaining?
The best things about the movie? Alia Bhatt and Amrita Singh. Alia lights up every frame that she is in, and Amrita Singh is hilarious. This one crossed 100 crores at the box office.
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