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Ask any film trade expert from Bollywood about the best time for a film’s release and pat comes the reply: “There is no better period in India than Diwali for a film.” This, in fact is now conventional wisdom in Bollywood and hence filmmakers bank upon the Diwali weekend to rake in the moolah. Diwali is unique in that it is spread over four days and thus its supposed to be the period that draws maximum crowds to movie theatres.

This Diwali too the box-office expects fireworks with two of the most anticipated films of the year releasing simultaneously. Some call it the clash of the titans: King Khan’s ‘Om Shanti Om’ VS magician Bhansali’s ‘Saawariya’. Each film has its own merit to lure the audiences. ‘OSO’ has SRK flaunting his newly developed six-pack abs alongside the gorgeous newcomer Deepika Padukone . The film is a love story based on the theme of re-incarnation. ‘Saawariya’, on the other hand, introduces two newcomers – Ranbir Kapoor and Sonam Kapoor . But what’s going to pull audiences to the theatres is the fact that the film has been directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali , a man known to have a deft command over filmmaking.

So, since when did this idea of slating big-banner films for release during Diwali catch up? Its relatively a recent one, aver trade analysts. They point out the fact that it was not until the mid-1990s that it became an established trend. Maybe the filmmakers started to think seriously about Diwali after the success of Feroze Khan’s Yalgaar and Ajay Devgan’s Jigar in 1992. The following Deepawali (in 1993), ensured the trend became common practice when Shah Rukh Khan’s Baazigar became a big hit (unexpectedly!). Diwali has become a golden period for Bollywood (well almost!) since then. Lets take a look at some of the Box-Office sparklers released during Diwali from then:

• DDLJ : 1995
• Raja Hindustani : 1996
• Dil To Pagal Hai : 1997
• Veer Zaara : 2004
• Don : 2006

Some films however flopped miserably even though their release was scheduled during Diwali.

• Ashoka : 2001
• Jeena Sirf Mere Liye : 2002
• Jaan-e-Mann : 2006

Multiplexes these days determine the fate of a film over a single weekend. The four days of Diwali are more than adequate to decide whether a film sizzles or fizzles out at the box office. That’s precisely what Om Shanti Om and Saawariya are battling over this Friday.

However, as already pointed out just scheduling a release during Diwali wouldn’t make any movie a hit, it the paying public who would actually decide its fate. They nonetheless have ample time and choice! this Diwali.

He is undoubtedly the biggest star to have come out of Indian cinema. After reading the title of the post, you may be tempted to add that he was voted so in the BBC millennium survey for the century ending 1999. Agreed, that was the past millennium, now we are in the new one!
Many critics have excoriated his decision to act in films such as Nishabd, Jhoom Barabar Jhoom and essaying the role of Babban Singh in the disaster of the Sholay remake called RGV ki Aag. Then, there are many others who have panned some of his movies from late Eighties and Nineties. Films such as Jaadugar, Ajooba, Mrityudaata and Lal Baadshah were not befitting of his status and cult following.

Let critics have their say, but can someone deny the fact that he has towered over an entire industry within the span of last 38 years. As an actor he is in a class by himself. He is not OF any school, he IS a school, and nobody can do it quite like him. If he has taken on a script, he has done full justice to it with his meticulous approach to acting.

Here’s a short list of some of best Amitabh Bachchan movies(alright, they are from the era gone by, but aren’t these the ones which are truly his best!).

• Zanjeer
• Anand
• Sholay
• Deewar
• Kabhi Kabhie
• Laawaris
• Chupke Chupke
• Silsila
• Don
• Amar Akbar Anthony

Tolmol Movies has all of your favourite Big B movies apart from those listed above.

On your 65th birthday, all one could wish for maybe would be that you choose your current roles more wisely and less freely, Happy Birthday, Sir!

A simple love story combined with enchanting music has been the age old recipe of success for most of Bollywood’s biggest hits. However, of late romance, if only temporarily, seems to have taken a back seat in Bollywood movies. The mellifluous ethereal feeling of love has been replaced by comedy, thriller and topics on infidelity. Taking a look at the movies released in the last few years, it appears that Hum Tum released 3 years ago was the last Bollywood love story. It was preceded by experimental love stories such as Saathiya, Chalte Chalte and Veerz Zara which enjoyed great success at box office. While over the years, most of the romantic films have had the same oft repeated formulae there have been some amazing romantic films which have had those magical moments which have still managed to sustain romance in Bollywood. Here, we take a look at some of the best romantic films available on Tolmol Movies.

• Devdas
• Mughal-e-Azam
• Ek Duje Ke Liye
• Aradhana
• Kabhi Kabhie
• Bobby
• Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak
• Maine Pyar Kiya
• Dil Hai Ki Manta Nahin
• Hum Aapke Hai Kaun
• Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge

There are many many more. Undoubtedly, Bollywood has been a big reservoir of love stories. Today’s generation certainly enjoys those great romantic moments created on celluloid by the stars of yesteryears. Hopefully, with Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Sawariyaa which features stars of today (ok, perhaps the future!), love story makes a comeback.

October the 2nd is a national holiday for all of us. For people at large, while there are some things to look forward to on other National holidays viz. the magnificent parade on 26th January and the PM’s speech on 15th August (new schemes are generally announced in it), Gandhi Jayanti is a day to relax. This observation when looked from the perspective of the youth is even more evident. The ideologies of Peace, Ahimsa, non-cooperation, Swadesi, honesty and integrity were mere words for Gen X. The principles followed by the father of the nation have for long been looked upon and typecast as stereotypical and dull by young India.
Well, all this seems to have changed after the Indian cinema’s resolve to revive the icon of the nation`s freedom struggle - Gandhi. New age directors such as Rajukumar Hirani (Lage Raho Maunna Bhai) and Feroz Abbas Khan (Gandhi My Father), have shown the youth the effectual results that come out of the implementation of these ideologies in today`s fast paced world. If Richard Attenborough’s celluloid epic had swayed audiences across the continents in the 1980s, these recent Bollywood films have sought to explore different aspects of the Mahatma’s mystique. In Jahnu Barua’s interestingly titled film, Maine Gandhi Ko Nahin Maara, a retired lecturer suffering from Alzheimer’s who is convinced that he assassinated Mahatma Gandhi.
As you look to get inspired from such movies just browse, compare prices and buy from your favourite seller on Tolmol movies.
Before concluding, another interesting piece of trivia, that would justify the title of this post. A recent poll on university campuses across the US put Mahatma Gandhi ahead of political figures anywhere in the world — the only man more popular than him among the student community, understandably, was Bill Gates!