From gripping action thrillers to inspiring biographies, 2023 proved to be a momentous year for Bollywood. Of all the big hits, I would like to pick Jawan, Sam Bahadur and Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani as my Top 3 Bolly films of the year. Watching Shah Rukh Khan as a suave action hero in both Jawan and Pathaan was mind-boggling. His ability to pull off such characters at 58 exemplifies his commitment towards his art. His tantalising charisma is unrivalled, propelling him as one of the greatest actors of our generation. Super excited for his upcoming projects!

Widely admired for his knack for war dramas, Vicky Kaushal once again mesmerised his audience with his top portrayal of India’s first Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw in Sam Bahadur. His character exhibited every remarkable trait embodied by Field Marshal Sam with great authenticity. The way he brought to life the personality and achievements of the great soldier made us feel proud of our indigenous heroes. Meghna Gulzar has mastered the art of creating the finest films.

Lastly, Karan Johar’s Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani was hands down the most entertaining romantic comedy film of the year. Starring Ranveer Singh and Alia Bhatt as the leads, the film not only bridged the cultural gap between the titular characters but also redefined true love in classic KJo style. Ranveer as a high-spirited Punjabi munda was a heartthrob, winning over the audience with his flamboyance. Besides the performances, the film’s album was an absolute chartbuster conveying every emotion immaculately. (Which are your Top 3 Bolly films of 2023... December 24)

Aayman Anwar Ali

Three of Us: This poetic masterpiece directed by Avinash Arun is a hauntingly bittersweet exploration of life’s fleeting moments and memories, self-discovery and self-confrontation. Lifted by powerhouse performances, the film is characterised by stunning cinematography and piercing solitude.

Animal: Bloodthirsty and brutal, this epic crime saga boasts an astonishing act from Ranbir Kapoor who gives the action sequences an unprecedented fierce intensity. With his expressive eyes and raw physicality, his unhinged, violent character portrays a versatile mix of hard-hitting emotions born of childhood trauma, paternal vacuum, dysfunctional pathos and the like, in a very organic and natural manner, which makes the ‘toxic’ film temptingly watchable.

12th Fail: Vikrant Massey’s beautifully affecting performance as real-life IPS officer Manoj Kumar Sharma wins my vote hands down. Quietly heartfelt but loudly motivational, this tear-jerker gives a gut-wrenching reality check on life’s hardships and endurance levels, as well as privilege and the harsh lack of it.

Anamitra Bhaduri

My top three Bolly films are Sam Bahadur, The Archies and Jaane Jaan. The look, mannerisms and confidence of Vicky Kaushal as Sam Manekshaw, India’s first Field Marshal, will remembered for a long time. This biographical movie is inspiring as well as enriching. The Archies gang wins the audience’s hearts with their colourful, energising presence. This movie is very entertaining and a stress buster. Its lyrics, tunes, rhythms and fairy-tale-like scenes soothe the eyes and mind. Small, valuable messages for the modern generation make it all the more praiseworthy. Jaane Jaan gave a great story to a mystery-loving audience like me. Jaideep Ahlawat’s acting was brilliant. This movie also gave me the chance to do some mental exercises in logical reasoning. These movies, with their wonderful stories, performances, songs and freshness entertained me most in 2023.

Sarbani Banerjee

Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani is on my high-priority list. There are others like 12th Fail and Sam Bahadur. The first movie that boggles my mind is Sam Bahadur, based on General Manekshaw, the chief wheel behind India’s victory against our neighbouring country. This biopic is in the genre of a classical movie pivoting around bravery, discipline and a willingness to win in the face of adversities. Meghna Gulzar has done a wonderful job. Second up is 12th Fail. A Vidhu Vinod Chopra movie presenting the tenacity of a guy... heartbroken, distressed and disheartened and trying to add gloss to others’ lives. And finally, Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani is a basket of entertainment. The complexity of relationships is truly presented.

Kousik Majumdar

Jawan: Shah Rukh Khan made a grand comeback in 2023 with three successful films, but Jawan would be my favourite. It is a masala entertainer with twists and thrills and lots of action, but the most special thing was the subtle political commentary available for grabs by clever viewers.

Satyaprem Ki Katha: This film starring Kartik Aaryan and Kiara Advani is a brave take on today’s marriages. Kudos to the makers to focus on the issue of date rape. What I particularly liked is how Kartik’s character decides to stand up against the antagonist and gives firm support to his newly-wed wife who was in trauma about what happened to her.

Sam Bahadur: Vicky Kaushal gets less appreciation for the kind of quality work he does, especially in biopics like Sardar Udham, or Sam Bahadur where he portrayed the role of Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw, an unforgettable character in the history of Indian geopolitics, to perfection, but unfortunately without deserving appreciation.

Resham Das

The award for excellence in providing a platform for lesser-heard, richly-talented and hugely underrated movies goes to OTT platforms.

Jaane Jaan: Directed by Sujoy Ghosh and streaming on Netflix is a brilliant thriller. With superb acting and a nailbiting plot, it was my favourite film of the year.

Khufiya: A thriller about a traitor who sells national secrets. Directed by Vishal Bhardwaj, this movie is again a Netflix gem. Must watch.

Bheed: Directed by Anubhav Sinha, this movie will make you rethink all of your preconceived notions about life, the society we live in, and how far have we come from ancient Indian times. All of this in the backdrop of the COVID outbreak. There are more contenders. Shiv Shastri Balboa and Mrs Chatterjee vs Norway are great movies too.

Pampa Paul

My top three Bollywood films of 2023 all are SRK movies — Pathaan, Jawan and Dunki.

Sourish Misra