My 12 favourite scenes...

Its actually quite a task  to select 12 of your favourite scenes. Its much more difficult than selecting your 10 favourite movies, trust me.

In this selection, I have tried ( unsuccessfully?):

- to only consider movies released after 1994

- to select scenes irrespective of their length and importance to the movie

- to not be partial towards any particular genre

Listing these, starting from least favourite to most favourite, they are : ( the youtube video  links follow the headings )

12. Rang De Basanti :  www.youtube.com/watch?v=L8Q7xgCu8oc

Aamir Khan in the car with Sue next to him. Very faint, almost imperceptible background music. He tells her how college days will come to an end soon, and life will change for everyone. The amazing metaphor about the being on either side of the college gate. Something we all have experienced.

11. Kabhi Alvida na Kehna: www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-QZo9Um4QU

Contrary to public opinion, this movie remains very clsoe to my heart. It has so many scenes that are so special to me: Priety and Rani both crossing the road at the same time, the entire mitwa song, Amitabh's party speech, the dinner table scene, etc etc.

But his particular scene, when rani and Shah Rukh meet for the first time, on her wedding day, is the stand out.

Simply because it asks a simple question: What will you do, if you find true love after marriage ?

For me this remains Karan Johar's finest work till date.

10. Lagaan :  ( no Youtube link)

You would think that the final six hitting scene woyuld be my favourite, but I love two other scenes.

i) The sarat (bet) scene, when the villagers are sitting with Aamir standing. He is offered the bet of winning the cricket  match and not paying taxes for 3 years. The villagers plead with Aamir to refuse the bet. With pulsating background music, he locks his eyes into the Englishman's and says just three words, that emody the spirit of Lagaan. " Sarat manjur hai".

ii) The last scene of the movie, when in the pouring rain, all the villagers are watching the English troops leave their land. As Elizabeth says goodbye and the camera pans out, Amitabh's narration in his rich baritone says, " Yeh kahaani itihas ke panno me kahi kho gayi " and the end credits start rolling.

9. Mohabbatein : ( no Youtube link)

This scene was awarded the Sony Best Scene  Filmfare award  that year, and deservingly so. This is the scene just before the climax scene, where Amitabh, basking in his victory, adopts a patronizing attitude towards Shah Rukh, who meekly apologizes. Just as he about to leave, he puts things in perspective by telling Amitabh that it is he who has actually lost. In the background, a giant Aishwarya Rai portrait tells its own story. Very effective use of the thunder sound effect.

8.Chak de India: www.youtube.com/watch?v=LPue3ESHN5A

After the final victory, you would expect a trademark presentation ceremony, followed by a long and emotional speech by SRK. In his speech he would thank the girls, pass cheeky comments agaisnt the selectors, say spirited lines against the media who branded him as a traitor and in the end, declare his love for the country. But all he does after Vidya saves the final penalty, is go weak in his knees and just look at the tri colour. I still belive that it is because of this one scene, that he was chosen over Darsheel Safary.

7. Taare Zameen Par: www.youtube.com/watch?v=OeDn8VmMBtM

All of us have choked almost continously throughout his movie, even more so in the 2nd half. As the climax builds up during the final painting competition, with the song Kholo Kholo, Darsheel Safary finally cannot contain his curiosity any longer. He has to know what his Sir is painting. He tentatively peers over the canvas and sees his own portrait. Unable to hold back any longer, he breaks down and looks at Aamir Khan, who is about to break down himself.They hug each other. We, in the audience are spell bound. Outstanding.

6. Kal ho naa ho : www.youtube.com/watch?v=vo1Uo_DWvkM&feature=related

Another of my favourite movies, with almost 15 scenes that are really special. Shah Rukh has had many famous entry scenes in his carreer.. the jump onto the stage in Dil to Paagal Hai, the helicopter entry in K3G, the rose in Mohobbatein, etc.

But his entry in this movie is the best for me. A disspirited and dejected family kneels down in prayer together,  asking for Jesus to send them an Angel, a farishta, who will make all wrongs right.

And bang on cue, Shah Rukh appears, with a sweet flashback of the spilt coffee. The way the light comes on in his house, the way he sees them praying and looks up into the sky cannot be forgotten easily.

All this, of course, with the haunting Heartbeats instrumental in the background.

5. Dil Chahta Hai : www.youtube.com/watch?v=sleDFrWsIlE

One of the best friendshjip scenes ever, a repentant Aamir Khan  stops at the Wilson College signal on Marine Drive and realizes his folly as he remembers his college days. He calls up Akshaye Khanna, says sorry and asks him to Just Turn Around. 

4. Sarfarosh : www.youtube.com/watch?v=kMee9JlC2og

Aamir has trapped Naserrudin Shah into comminting a murder, so that he can be arrested. Naserrudin tries to justify all his actions and then Ammir launches into a fiery  soliliquie that shuts every one up. Who can forget " chand sikko ke liye apne desh ko bechne jaa raha tha, saala haramzada", a line that is cut from the version played on cable channels.

3. Black : ( no Youtube link)

One of the most delicate and difficult scenes of this path breaking movie, where Rani wants to  feel a kiss. Amitabh wrestles with his conscience and finally gives in. Totally devoid of titillation, there is a hushed silence in the cinema hall as the kiss unfolds. And then, flooded with shame, Amitabh leaves the room. Leaving us in tears.

2. Swades : www.youtube.com/watch?v=ITBc-mu-pz4

The famous "Cup of Water " scene, where Mohan Bhargav is returning from his journey. He has almost made up his mind, but not quite. At a station, a poor, almost naked boy pleads with him to buy a cup of water for a few annas. The boy doesnt have change, so he keeps fiddling in his pockets to find some. Meanwhile, the train srtas shugging out of the station. Mohan, only drinking mineral water till then, rasies the cup and drains it. And his eyes do all the talking. And hats off, A R Rahman, for a beautiful background music score, which incidentaly, won the Filmfare award that year.

1. Devdas : www.youtube.com/watch?v=FkiC09qIbKk

For me, this scene is the pinnacle of acting, the ultimate. Although the climax scene of Devdas is mindblowing, this scene is truly special. After Maar Dala, Devdas starts a long soliloquie , smashing bottles as he keeps talking. Madhuri provides ample support, her body jerking with every bottle breaking. The scene then moves outside, as he stumbles down the steps and staggers on to the bridge. The cresecendo builds up, with Devdas Narayan Mukherjee announcing a mock sentence of the court on himself  " To drink till death ".   Goosebumps all the way.