Regarded as one of the best directors in Hindi Cinema, Imtiaz Ali began his career as a director with Socha Na Tha starring Ayesha Takia and Abhay Deol. The movie received positive reviews however it was only the beginning of the director’s success. His next movie, Jab We Met, became an instant hit and is still among the top Bollywood movies. Here are 7 Best Movies Directed by Imtiaz Ali.
Over the years, Imtiaz Ali has been praised for his unconventional themes, refreshing roles and multi-faceted stories. Having written most of his films and backing them with extraordinary albums, Imtiaz Ali has established his name in Bollywood.
From Jab We Met to Highway, Here are the 7 best movies directed by Imtiaz Ali-
1. Rockstar
It is only fair, to begin with Imtiaz Ali’s best work so far. Rockstar is a unique blend of musical drama, coming-of-age, rom-com and tragedy, and self-discovery, that brings out the very best of its plot and characters. The movie has developed- and rightly so- following over the years.
As Ranbir Kapoor’s character moves from Janardhan to Jordan, the story too transforms- embedding a layered story that leaves the audience thoroughly overwhelmed. Ranbir Kapoor’s performance itself was up to the level of storyline that Imtiaz Ali had weaved. If this was not enough, A.R. Rehman’s soundtrack further added charm to the movie.
2. Tamasha
Among the best movies directed by Imtiaz Ali, Tamasha finds a top place in the list. Although the movie was not a box office hit and remained underrated, Tamasha was a different and refreshing experience. In the first half of the film, Imtiaz Ali wonderfully weaved the story and brought much-needed intensity to it in the second half.
The narration used in the film where both Ved’s story and the storyteller’s anecdotes are merged was extremely creative. Imtiaz Ali peeled off the characters’ layers slowly in the film leaving them raw to show the vulnerability of human nature.
3. Highway
Although every movie directed by Imtiaz Ali carries an important theme, Highway touched upon sensitive subjects like sexual harassment and child abuse while portraying uncommon topics like Stockholm syndrome. Not only that, Highway was a breakthrough film for Alia Bhatt who earned that year’s Filmfare Award for Best Actor (Critics).
The movie underperformed at the box office however Bhatt’s performance, cinematography and storyline- all of them gave the spectators something different from the conventional movies. With metaphorical sequences and contrasting themes, Highway remains among Ali’s best works.
4. Jab We Met
A movie that almost everyone must have watched at least once, Jab We Met’s name is enough for the fame it has gathered over the years. It is worth noting that the romantic drama was Imtiaz Ali’s second project and the talented director was able to produce a movie as good as Jab We Met.
Even though his later movies had much more complicated themes and complex characters, Jab We Met is remembered and immortalized for its simplicity- and of course Kareena Kapoor and Shahid Kapoor’s chemistry.
5. Laila Majnu
Starring Avinash Tiwary and Tripti Dimri, Laila Majnu was a re-imagined modern version of the legendary romance tale. For this movie, Imtiaz Ali chose newcomers to cast and although the movie underperformed at the box office, it was praised by the critics.
Ali impeccably portrayed unrequited love while also adding layers to it by showing the class difference between the two protagonists, which has become a common feature in the classic Laila-Majnu stories already.
6. Socha Na Tha
While Imtiaz Ali’s career as a director and writer was still in the embryonic stage, Socha Na Tha was not a misfire considering it was the director’s first attempt rather it was quite good if anything. Pairing Abhay Deol with the charming Ayesha Takia, the movie demonstrates the complexities of love and relationships while dealing with issues like arranged marriages and settling careers. For a movie that came out in 2005, Socha Na Tha was an earnest work that gave a glimpse into Imtiaz Ali’s potential.
7. Love Aaj Kal
Ending the list with the film that has gathered cult followers, Love Aaj Kal portrayed the idea of love in its simplest form- that even when time changes, the emotion behind it remains the same. Following a non-linear narrative, Love Aaj Kal had a little issue with its pace, however, it was liked by critics and audiences alike since it became a commercial success.
Although the movie’s standalone sequel failed to deliver the same level that Love Aaj Kal had set, the original version remains Imtiaz Ali’s most memorable work.
Conclusion–
Imtiaz Ali is among the talented people who are known for their creative works even if they did not manage to earn fame at the box office. Almost all of his movies that garnered him acclaim from the critics were a box office failure. It may be that the wider audience is still not accustomed to complex themes that Imtiaz Ali wishes to project. Among the listed movies, which one did you find the most amusing? Let us know in the comment section. Hope you enjoyed this article on Best Movies directed by Imtiaz Ali.
Also Read – 8 Best Deepika Padukone Movies
