Bollywood Half-Yearly Report: The Best Films of the Year So Far

The quality of Bollywood films has consistently been on the rise over the past few years. That can be witnessed from the quality of some of the films that have been produced in first six months of this year.

Not only these movies have raised the bar for good cinema but have challenged several preconceived notions attached to Bollywood films.

So, without further delay, here are the best Bollywood films of the year so far:

Udta Punjab

Exploring the complex drug situation in Punjab with grit, humour and a lot of cuss words, Udta Punjab was highly effective, both in raising an important social issue and providing rollicking entertainment. Special mention needs to be given to Amit Trivedi's fantastic soundtrack and Alia Bhatt's daring performance.

Waiting

The effortless acting of Naseeeruddin Shah and Kalki Koechlin is enough of a reason to watch this charming fillm. Directed by Anu Menon, the film tackles the most difficult questions of life with remarkable sense and simplicity. 

Fan

Fan works both as an absorbing thriller and as a showcase for Shah Rukh Khan's immense acting talent.

Kapoor & Sons

To break several notions of a mainstream Bollywood and still remain that at heart requires some smart filmmaking. This well -scripted drama is an example of the new direction that Bollywood is taking. 

Aligarh

The assured way with which the film handles its delicate subject makes this important film intensely watchable. At the heart of it all is Manoj Bajpayee, whose performance as an isolated gay professor is par excellence.

Neerja

Based on the real incident of 1986’s hijacking of Pan Am Flight, this deeply moving film also featured Sonam Kapoor’s best performance till date.

Nil Battey Sannata

This gem of a movie is a must-see for all fans of good cinema. Featuring a terrific performance from Swara Bhaskar, this movie about a person's ability to dreams is a feel-good drama done right.

Phobia

It's much harder to pull of a pscyhological thriller/horror movie than one might think.That is the exact reason why so very few good ones are made in Bollywood. Phobia defies many expectations with its engaging narrative and smart thrills.

Airlift

This sincere film about evacuation of 170,000 Indians in the aftermath of Iraq's invasion of Kuwait has some flaws. But they are overridden by film's unique story and Akshay Kumar's charisma.

Raman Raghav 2.0

Anurag Kashyap's Raman Raghav 2.0 has the director working at his twisted best. This visceral and mind-bending film also features Nawazuddin Siddiqui's career-best performance.

Read more: Bollywood Half-Yearly Report: 10 Biggest Hits of the Year So Far