Directors to watch for in 2010

Amit Rai: Film: Road To Sangam USP: Rai brings no glamorous baggage to his imagination. Like Ram Gopal Varma, Rai grew up watching films in a video library. It’s the love for cinema that drives him forward. Verdict: With seasoned actors like Paresh Rawal, Om Puri and Pavan Malhotra, Read More">the road seems well paved. AbhishekRead More

Amit Rai:

Film: Road To Sangam
USP: Rai brings no glamorous baggage to his imagination. Like Ram Gopal Varma, Rai grew up watching films in a video library. It's the love for cinema that drives him forward.
Verdict: With seasoned actors like Paresh Rawal, Om Puri and Pavan Malhotra, the road seems well paved.

Abhishek Chaubey:

Film: Ishqiya
USP: Much talked-about for its explicit verbal content and Vidya Balan's come-hither seduction act, Chaubey has been trained under the exponent of expletives Vishal Bhardwaj.
Verdict: The hard- talk puts off women and children

Read More">With two new directors Mudassar Aziz and Jugal Hansraj coming a cropper on the same Friday 2010 has started badly for debutant directors. But there’s hope. This Friday gives us Amit Rai with a lovely lyrical Gandhian parable Road To Sangam. 2009 gave Bollywood new directors of different dimensions and talents such as Anthony D’SouzaRead More

With two new directors Mudassar Aziz and Jugal Hansraj coming a cropper on the same Friday 2010 has started badly for debutant directors. But there's hope. This Friday gives us Amit Rai with a lovely lyrical Gandhian parable Road To Sangam.

2009 gave Bollywood new directors of different dimensions and talents such as Anthony D'Souza (Blue) and Rensil D'Silva (Kurbaan). Believe it or not 2010 has approximately 20-25 debutant directors and among them only one female director! As the industry continues to be predominantly male-oriented do we have plenty to look forward to in the coming year?

Mudassar Aziz:

Film: Dulha Mil Gaya (already released)
USP: Mudassar is the film's leading lady Sushmita Sen's hand-chosen man of the year. He has roped in Shah Rukh Khan to play an extended guest appearance. This would be SRK's only release in 2010 apart from My Name Is Khan. The last time Sush-SRK teamed up in Main Hoon Na they created magic
Verdict: Giving audiences the impression that SRK has a full-length role went against the film. Besides, besotted directors tend to make lopsided films. Check out Ram Gopal Varma's Naach.

Jugal Hansraj:

Film: Pyaar Impossible (already released)
USP: Producer Aditya Chopra has full faith in Jugal's abilities. But he also trusted Anurag Singh (Dil Bole Hadippa) and Anil Mehta (Aaja Nachle) recently.
Verdict: Could a film with Uday Copra ever work?

Milap Zaveri: Film: Jaane Kahan Se Aayi Hai USP: Like Anees Bazmee, Zaveri comes from the domain of the written word, Read More">therefore knows exactly how to punctuate his narrative. Verdict: It’s a film about an ET coming down to earth. Krissh worked. Kiran Rao: Film: Dhobi Ghat USP: Mrs. Aamir Khan gets to direct herRead More

Milap Zaveri:

Film: Jaane Kahan Se Aayi Hai
USP: Like Anees Bazmee, Zaveri comes from the domain of the written word, therefore knows exactly how to punctuate his narrative.
Verdict: It's a film about an ET coming down to earth. Krissh worked.

Kiran Rao:

Film: Dhobi Ghat
USP: Mrs. Aamir Khan gets to direct her illustrious husband. The promising Prateik is also in the cast.
Verdict: Kiran is the only female director of 2010. She had better deliver.

Faruque Kabir: Film: Allah Ke Bande USP: His hard-hitting film starring Sharman (Idiot) Joshi and Naseeruddin Shah is being touted as the desi City Of God. Kabir who plays one of the leads has earlier made The Awakening which nobody saw. Verdict: Films about crime, no matter how brilliant, Read More">don’t appeal to a wide sectionRead More

Faruque Kabir:

Film: Allah Ke Bande
USP: His hard-hitting film starring Sharman (Idiot) Joshi and Naseeruddin Shah is being touted as the desi City Of God. Kabir who plays one of the leads has earlier made The Awakening which nobody saw.
Verdict: Films about crime, no matter how brilliant, don't appeal to a wide section of moviegoers.

Abhinay Deo:

Film: Delhi Belly
USP: An Aamir Khan production, featuring his star-nephew Imran Khan is an offer no one can resist.
Verdict: The film is stuck since apparently producer Aamir Khan wants to re-shoot and re-edit the material. PS. Delhi Belly is a Ranbir reject.

Punit Malhotra: Film: I Hate Luv Stories USP: Fresh Imran Khan-Sonam Kapoor-Sammir Dattani triangle set in the film industry Verdict: Producer Karan Johar gave us remarkable directorial talent in 2009. He better deliver this year too. Siddharth Malhotra: Film: Love You Maa (tentative title) USP: In this remake of the Susan Sarandon-Julia Roberts tearjerker, Read More">KajolRead More

Punit Malhotra:

Film: I Hate Luv Stories
USP: Fresh Imran Khan-Sonam Kapoor-Sammir Dattani triangle set in the film industry
Verdict: Producer Karan Johar gave us remarkable directorial talent in 2009. He better deliver this year too.

Siddharth Malhotra:

Film: Love You Maa (tentative title)
USP: In this remake of the Susan Sarandon-Julia Roberts tearjerker, Kajol and Kareena Kapoor get together to enact one of the most powerful pairs of screen queens seen in recent times.
Verdict: The story of a dying wife/mother adopting her husband's second wife should have the women in the audience sobbing the film to success.

Also coming in 2010 Kookie Gulati (Prince It's Showtime), Shawn Aranha (Hide N Seek), Deven Khote (Phillum City), Vijay Lalwani (Karthik Calling Karthik), John Owen (Peter Gaya Kaam Se).