Traffic, both the original and its Hindi version, will forever bear testimony to the magnitude of the loss that Pillai’s untimely death represents for cinema.

This is a fitting swan song: an unmissable film.

Nil Battey Sannata is easy to recommend. It is light-hearted, easy on the eyes and mind, and full of heart.

This film says a great deal about a girl-child’s struggles, a mother’s hopes and the ways of the education system. But, in the end, Nil Battey Sannata is also a good old story about life and its vicissitudes.

A small film whose impact is enhanced manifold by Randeep Hooda’s presence, Laal Rang also has other bright spots. But cottoning on to them might call for patience.

Spare some, and you might just find Laal Rang worth your while.

Fan works for the most part because it has the fabulous SRK act as a ‘young’ star-struck boy. His energetic performance is worth the price of the ticket – if not more.

It is a film for children and adults alike. Not to be missed…

Director Shakun Batra keeps it all on a tight leash and skillfully mines the multiple conflict points as much for the humour inherent in them as for the dramatic frisson that they generate.

Kapoor And Sons is intense and incisive in its observation of human inadequacies but is always entertaining.

Mehta strips the tragic true story of all vestiges of overt sentimentality. Instead, he fills the depths of the understated but intensely moving drama with genuine, unsettling emotion.

So, in addition to being a portrayal of the gay experience in an unjust and insensitive society, Aligarh is a human drama with universal resonance. It encapsulates the plight of all dissenters.

It is a powerful story that tugs gently and delicately at the heartstrings.

It does not go overboard on attacking the lachrymal glands. But when it does, it is bang on.

There is so much to admire in Fitoor that it is easy not to be put off by its ponderous pace and lack of contextual detailing.

Go for it because there might not be too many better films than Fitoor this year.

Looking for a film that delivers more than just superficial entertainment? Jugni is the end of your search.