In our Swades, we have a man who’s Pehla Nasha was to direct movies and had put his life on a Baazi to get positive Lagaan from his fan followers and nation. Even people from ancient history like Jodha Akbar would have exclaimed looking at him and would have asked him “Whats your Rashee” that is encouraging you to make such wonderful movies?

Hmmmm, Confused as to what the hell does the above sentence mean? Read again and this time carefully, I am talking about India’s one of the finest director in today’s era “Ashutosh Gowariker”.

In today’s glamour world where we have people who is just out to make money either by some skin shows or big banners and exotic locales, we have very few people who are really out to make some sensible cinema.

Ashutosh started his career in filmdom with some minimal roles of a supporting actor in films like Holi, chamatkar, Naam & kabhie haan kabhie naa. He also made his appearances in some of the television serials like Kachchi Dhoop, Circus (Even Sharukh Khan worked in this serial), C.I.D. Etc…

His first Directorial venture was “Pehla Nasha” in 1993 which was based on a Hollywood Movie “Body Double” which is about a man (Deepak Tijori) who has a phobia and deep fear of enclosed spaces and gets involved in a murder mystery. But unfortunately this was not a box office hit.

In 1995, he directed another movie “Baazi” starring Aamir Khan who is a Police inspector who gets jailed in acrime that he has not done and escapes from jail and proves his innocence. One of the finest performance by Aamir (one cannot forget the song in which Aamir has portrayed himself as a women). This was a average box office hit.

After a pause of 6 years, Ashutosh came out with a bang with another directorial venture “Lagaan“, also known as Lagaan: Once upon a time in India. This is the 3rd movie from India to get into the nomination of Oscars into Best Foreign Language Film.

This movie is set in the Victorian period of the British Raj, and revolves around the peasants from a barren village who are oppressed by high taxes imposed by the British. When the peasants attempt to persuade the officers to reduce the taxes, the officers put forth a proposition to the peasants. One senior officer offers them to cancel their taxes for three years if their village team beats them at cricket. After accepting this proposition, the villagers face the arduous task of learning the game and playing for a result that will change their village’s destiny.

The film received critical acclaim and awards at several international film festivals, as well as many Bollywood awards. Ashutosh set a new trend by this movie at a stage where we had enough of masalas in the typical Yash Raj movies…

After the success of this movie, Ashutosh could have easily made some more bucks by directing yet another masala type movie, but then in 2004, he not only directed but also produced the movie Swades, which has one of the most finest acting from Shahrukh Khan (along with Chak De) in which he has given some substantial acting and fine and clean direction from Ashutosh.
Very sad to know that this movie was not a hit, because our Indian audience are not used to see the realities of life. They are happy with the Hi-Fi dreams that Yash Raj & Karan Johar portrays in which the hero would be millionaire. The true facts of India can be clearly seen in Swades. This is according to me one of the most finest movies in this era.

Yet again, in 2008, Ashutosh created another history by making a historic epic of Jodha & Akbar. Jodha Akbar is a sixteenth century love story about a marriage that gave birth to true love between a great Mughal emperor, Akbar, and a Rajput princess, Jodha. Ashutosh had to go through some initial tensions where people claimed that Jodhaa was married to Akbar’s son and not Akbar. But, leaving everyone behind, this film got released, though not a box office hit, it was critically acclaimed for the amazing Moghul sets and Aishwarya’s truly elegant ornaments from Tanishq added more diva & beauty to the blue eyed actress…

By making such tremendous movies, Ashutosh has stood at the stage where at one time Shyam Benegal & Hrishkesh Mukherjee used to be. Ashutosh can be proud of some of the finest movies that he has directed. I personally appreciate this great director with such variety.

In the near future, he is coming out with yet another movie but with a twist.. His next venture is What’s Your Raashee? that stars Harman Baweja & Priyanka Chopra. (another movie together after Love Story 2050). This is Ashutosh’s first romantic comedy based on the Gujarati writer Madhu Rye’s novel Kimball Ravenswood.

We are eagerly waiting for this movie which is due to release in 2009. I am sure Ashutosh will continue to create magic in comedy also. Lets wait and watch…

So don’t you all think Ashutosh should receive more applause and accolades than he is shown? We as Indian audience should know how to differenciate a movie as to good or bad. Voice out your thoughts and hereafter promise to judge all the movies based on substancial acting, story and direction skills rather than just masala and skin shows…

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