<span class=normal>Docks se maal utarne waala hai<BR><br><p class=clear>&nbsp;</p>Supaari li hai, choona nahi lagaoonga<BR><br><p class=clear>&nbsp;</p>Log Sultan ko smuggler ke naam se jaante hain, mujhe woh Don keh ke bulaayenge<BR><BR><br><p class=clear>&nbsp;</p>Dialogues like above and at least a couple of dozen more are what turns out to be the highlight of retro flick Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai. While seetis and taalis have been the order of the day for this film, whether in multiplexes or single screens, one struggles to remember when was the last time one heard such dialogues? 1970s? Or perhaps 1980s before Aamir Khan and Salman Khan turned around the Bollywood scene with candyfloss cinema like Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak and Maine Pyaar Kiya respectively. <BR><BR><br><p class=clear>&nbsp;</p>A decade of mush and romance topped with ample comedy (courtesy Govinda) followed in the decade ahead. However, it was from 2000 onwards when Bollywood saw a total change for itself. Multiplex era begun and masala potboilers were totally thrown away from the face of cinema. Well, pretty much so before Ghajini, Wanted, Raajneeti and now Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai arrived. <BR><BR><br><p class=clear>&nbsp;</p>In this weeks Reflections, lets explore how Hindi cinema, which has seen a gradual shift over last 20 years, may well be deriving inspiration from the cinema of yore and come back full circle in months to come. <BR><BR><br><p class=clear>&nbsp;</p>Filmmakers waking up to masala entertainers<BR><br><p class=clear>&nbsp;</p>As always, one can expect a certain Aamir Khan to bring in a change. When it was safely presumed that masala action flicks were a passe, courtesy a rapid downfall that films featuring veteran action heroes like Sunny Deol and Sanjay Dutt were seeing, Aamir Khan rose up to the challenge. From being a school teacher, he turned into a monster of sorts with Ghajini. <BR><BR><br><p class=clear>&nbsp;</p>This was being looked as a hara-kiri of sorts since Shah Rukh Khan was continuing in his comfort zone with Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi, Akshay Kumar was not allowing his winning run of comedies to see any road roadblock, Hrithik Roshan was living in his own world (Kites) while Salman Khan was engaging himself with a hit and miss game. Still, Aamir Khan surprised audience, trade and industry by delivering Bollywoods first ever 100 crore runner in Ghajini.</span>