Bharat to Kesari: 19 Bollywood films to watch in 2019
With the onset of 2019, cinephiles are looking forward to some great cinema. And here is a list of 19 films that are set to take Bollywood by storm.
2018 once again proved that content is king in Bollywood. Gone are those days when superstars could sell every and anything, and the failure of films like Zero, Thugs of Hindostan and Race 3 at the box office is a proof of it. It was content-driven cinema that found acceptance from Bollywood lovers last year. And with the onset of 2019, cinephiles are looking forward to some great cinema once again. So, here is a list of 19 films that are set to take Bollywood by storm.
URI-THE SURGICAL STRIKE: Movies in 2019 will start with one of the most-talked about events of 2016, the surgical strikes. Vicky Kaushal has donned the uniform for Aditya Dhar's Uri: The Surgical Strike. The film is based on the surgical strikes that the Indian Army carried out on September 29 in response to the deaths of 19 soldiers, who were killed at Kashmir's Uri base-camp on September 18, 2016 in an early morning attack by Pakistani terrorists.
GULLY BOY: If he is Bollywood's live wire, she is a powerhouse of talent. And when a filmmaker decides to bring two most talented actors of recent times in one frame, Bollywood fans couldn't be more excited. Ranveer Singh and Alia Bhatt are coming together for Zoya Akhtar's Gully Boy. The film revolves around an underdog who rises from the slums of Mumbai to become a rapper.
EK LADKI KO DEKHA TOH AISA LAGA: When the teaser of Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga came out, many expected it to be a love story between Sonam Kapoor and Rajkummar Rao. But the trailer of the film pull down the curtains on this notion at least. Because Sonam's latest is treading the path many conventional filmmakers and actors shy away from - same-sex love. But looks like Bollywood is making bold choices and that too, in commercial cinema. For the very first time, Sonam will play a lesbian in the film, and her fans cannot stop hailing the actress for pushing the envelope and bringing this story to the big screen.
MANIKARNIKA - THE QUEEN OF JHANSI: Kangana Ranaut has stepped into the shoes of Rani Laxmi Bai for her first period drama, Manikarnika: Queen of Jhansi. No doubt that the 31-year-old actress is one of the best talents in Bollywood today. While her fans and critics swear by her acting chops, she tries to bring something new to the table with each of her films. And Manikarnika looks no different. Leaked pictures from the sets of Manikarnika and the trailer have already piqued the interest of people. And after months of waiting, the film will now see the light of the day on January 25, 2019.
BHARAT: Salman Khan + Ali Abbas Zafar = Blockbuster. This deadly combination of actor and director is a sure shot formula to making hit films. After blockbusters like Sultan and Tiger Zinda Hai, the duo is reuniting for their third collaboration, Bharat. An official remake of Korean film An Ode To My Father, Bharat depicts the history of India through the life of an ordinary man. The film, which also stars Katrina Kaif, is set to hit the screens on Eid 2019.
BRAHMASTRA: Ayan Mukerji's Brahmastra has been in news more for their lead actors' real-life love story than anything else. But the filmmaker is set to stun the audience with his fantasy adventure film. The film, whiich will see Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt and Amitabh Bachchan in lead roles, is set to hit the screens on Christmas 2019.
KESARI: It was in October 2017 that Akshay Kumar and Karan Johar joined hands for an ambitious project Kesari. Based on the battle of Sarigarhi, Kesari will see Akshay play Havildar Ishwar Singh, who led the Sikhs in the fight. The battle was fought between British Indian Army that comprised 21 Sikh soldiers and Afghan Orakzai tribesmen in North-West Frontier Province. And after a year of hard work, the film is set to hit the screens in 2019.
KALANK: Karan Johar is a name synonymous to candy-floss romantic dramas. From Kuch Kuch Hota Hai to Kabhi Alvida Na Kehnaa to Ae Dil Hai Mushkil, his films have been high on romance and drama. However, for the first time, the producer is steering away from his known genre and making a period drama. Set in the 1940s, Kalank is a film on partition. Starring Alia Bhatt, Varun Dhawan, Madhuri Dixit, Sanjay Dutt, Sonakshi Sinha and Aditya Roy Kapoor, Kalank has become one of the most-anticipated films of 2019.
MENTAL HAI KYA: Kangana Ranaut and Rajkummar Rao are back and how! The two won the hearts of millions with their stellar performances in 2014 film Queen. And five years after that superhit film, Kangana and Rajkummar are set to be back, but with a twist. This time, they are set to take you on a crazy ride with Mental Hai Kya. The film takes a stand against equating individuality with madness.
SUPER 30: In a career spanning over 18 years, Hrithik Roshan has portrayed a variety of characters on screen. If he donned the cape of a superhero in Krrish, he played a blind man who seeks revenge for the death of his wife in Sanjay Gupta's Kaabil. Now, the 44-year-old actor is set to make his debut in the biopic genre with Super 30. Hrithik headlines the biopic on Patna-based mathematician Anand Kumar, who runs the famed Super 30 program for IIT aspirants in Patna.
STUDENT OF THE YEAR 2: Back in 2012, Karan Johar introduced Alia Bhatt, Varun Dhawan and Sidharth Malhotra to Bollywood, courtesy Student Of The Year. And seven years after the hit film, KJo is ready with Student Of The Year 2 , but with a new star cast. This time Tiger Shroff, Tara Sutaria and Ananya Panday will be seen in this Bollywood-style high-school musical.
THE ZOYA FACTOR: It's going to be an interesting mix of North and South, as Sonam Kapoor and Malayalam actor Dulquer Salmaan will come together for the on-screen adaptation of Anuja Chauhan's best-selling novel, The Zoya Factor. The film revolves around a Rajput girl Zoya, who meets the Indian Cricket Team through her job, as an executive in an advertising agency. She becomes a lucky charm for the team in 2010 Cricket World Cup.
TAANAJI-THE UNSUNG WARRIOR: Fans are waiting with bated breath to see Ajay Devgn playing the legendary Maratha warrior, Subedar Taanaji Malusare, in Taanaji: The Unsung Warrior. Taanaji was one of Chhatrapati Shivaji's generals and a warrior par excellence. Saif Ali Khan has been roped in to play the anti-hero, Rajput warrior Udaybhan Rathod, in Taanaji: The Unsung Warrior. The film will mark the onscreen reunion of Ajay and Saif after 12 years.
PANIPAT: Ashutosh Gowariker can never get enough of historical dramas. After Jodha Akbar and Mohenjo Daro, the filmmaker is back with yet another story from the past. This time Gowariker is set to bring the Battle of Panipat on the big screen with his next film. The film will bring Sanjay Dutt, Arjun Kapoor and Kriti Sanon together for the first time.
MISSION MANGAL: Directed by Jagan Shakti, Mission Mangal will bring the story of India's Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM) alive on celluloid. The space drama features a stellar ensemble cast, including Akshay Kumar, Vidya Balan, Taapsee Pannu, Sonakshi Sinha, Kirti Kulhari and Sharman Joshi. It also marks the Bollywood debut of popular South actress Nithya Menen. Akshay has earlier delivered unforgettable films which have drawn inspiration from true events, such as Airlift and Pad Man. The actor promised that Mission Mangal would be a "meaningful and entertaining cinematic experience".
SONCHIRIYA: Get set to enter the world of dacoits with Sushant Singh Rajput in the centre as a rebel you wouldn't want to mess with. Abhishek Chaubey's Son Chiriya revolves around a gang of dacoits who rule the Chambal on their own terms, and who ever decides to stand up against them will get the only punishment - death.