2018 Bollywood Releases to Look Forward To

This weekend we have films such as Genius and Happy Phir Bhag Jayegi on offer.  The reviews seem to indicate that perhaps waiting for the next few releases may be a better idea than to watch either of these or maybe you could catch Mulk or Karvaan if you haven’t already done so. Meanwhile here is a ready reckoner of upcoming Bollywood films that you can look forward to:

The movie is apparently based on a “ridiculously true phenomenon”; of the comedy horror genre.  This is a story about the urban legend of Nale Ba, the witch who apparently goes knocking on doors at night in parts of UP. Rajkumar Rao is a tailor of a small town where he and his little group of friends are told to steer clear of the ‘stree’ who is said to haunt the area. Shraddha Kapoor is the mysterious woman; the ‘stree’ in a story that promises to startle and amuse by turns. Apparently, iss saal, mard ko dard hoga in the movie that releases on 31 August 2018.

Releasing on 7^th September, the movie title pretty much gives away the story and of the doomed love story and its likely tragic end. However the treatment of the timeless legend ought to be interesting to watch. Starring Avinash Tiwari and Tripti Dimri, the movie is produced by Ekta Kapoor and co-scripted by Imtiaz Ali. The film is set in contemporary times, against the backdrop of Kashmir. IMDB describes the film as a passionate love story about feuding families.

Also releasing on 7^th September is this psychological drama directed by Dipesh Jain. Inspired by a true story, the film stars Manoj Bajpayee, Ranvir Shorey, Neeraj Kabi, Shahana Goswami and debutant Om Singh. It is about a man who is trapped in a city’s walls and inside his own mind and the attempt to break free to find a human connection. The abusive father and abused child could be personifications of the adult man’s own traumatic past; though the trailer seems unclear on this.

The story seems to be a disturbing story based on human trafficking; the brain child of Tabrez Noorani who has personal experience of the issue and who also participated in brothel raids personally. The movie features an eclectic cast that includes Mrunal Thakur, Freida Pinto, Demi Moore, Mark Duplass, Manoj Bajpayee, Rajkummar Rao, Richa Chadda, Anupam Kher and Adil Hussain among others. The movie releases in theatres on 14^th September 2018.

Also releasing on 14^th September 2018, this is a romantic comedy drama directed by Anurag Kashyap and written by Kanika Dhillon. The movie features Taapsee Pannu, and Vicky Kaushal and we also see Abhishek Bachchan on the big screen after a long time. It seems to be a tempestuous love story featuring some highly quirky characters. The commitment phobia of one seems to propel the second into the arms of the third. This one promises to be about some complex adult relationships.

This is the story about the American raised desi girl who comes back ‘home’ to an India she never really knew. Starring Rajkummar Rao, Nargis Fakhri, Bo Derek, Candy Clark. Apart from the frivolity of Indian weddings the film seems to feature a serious track that explores the world of transgenders as well.