Movies like the Amazon Prime Video series Jubilee

Amazon Prime Video Original series Jubilee is a period drama that goes behind the glitz and glamour of the world of entertainment to delve into the lives of stars, filmmakers and those who make the industry tick. Now, there have been several Indian and Hollywood films dedicated to those who sparkle on the big screen and even those behind it. Some have narrated revealing stories of debauchery, portraying fiercely competitive actors, blatant nepotism and even superstars with fragile egos. Then there are others who have depicted the industry as one big family that embraces talented individuals from all backgrounds and also stands by each other at a time of crisis. Films and shows about the lives of those who weave stories on screen have inevitably attempted to portray their personal lives, giving us a peek into their struggles in an attempt to humanise them and also convey that beneath the veil of stardom, these superstars are just like us. They live and breathe, experience the same gamut of emotions and grapple with the same issues in their interpersonal relationships as well. So if you’re a film buff who fancies movies about movies, you’re in luck. Here’s our list of movies that take you behind-the-scenes and offer a peek into the lives of those who make dreams come true on the big screen:

Luck by Chance

Zoya Akhtar’s seminal directorial debut, Luck by Chance is described by some as one of the most riveting depictions of the inner workings of the Hindi film industry. It covers the gamut of industry figures, from those small town aspirants who flock to Mumbai hoping to snag a piece of the limelight to those dodgy casting agents who exploit them. Unsurprisingly, it also gets us intimately acquainted with those who’ve made it big in tinseltown but still struggle with their own challenges on the personal front. Luck by Chance includes a cast of powerhouse performers such as Farhan Akhtar, Konkona Sen Sharma, Rishi Kapoor and Dimple Kapadia, including cameos by Saif Ali Khan and Hrithik Roshan. What works for this film is the fact that it doesn’t underestimate the audiences’ intelligence and refrains from resorting to stereotypes associated with those from the film fraternity. One of the most compelling storytellers in the Hindi film industry today, credited with gems such as Dil Dhadakne Do and Gully Boy, this has hints of Akhtar’s early genius and surely qualifies as a must-watch.

Rangeela

Considered Ram Gopal Varma’s most soul-stirring work, the Urmila Matondkar, Aamir Khan and Jackie Shroff starrer Rangeela deserves to be a legitimate entry on this list. The film revolves around the life of a background dancer in Hindi films who accidentally gets her big Bollywood break when she’s cast as the film’s leading lady to fill in for the actress who happens to make an unceremonious exit. What begins as a peripheral yet immersive take on the Hindi film industry and those who run it, Rangeela also packs a touching love triangle that’s unlike most we’ve seen on the big screen. Matondkar delivers her career’s best as Mili, the dancer-turned-actress struggling to keep up with the sudden attention and stardom that befalls her. Aamir Khan is also a delight as Mili’s best friend Munna, who makes a living through odd jobs including black marketing movie tickets while Jackie Shroff slips into the shoes of superstar actor Raj Kamal who gives Mili her big break. Without giving away any spoilers, this is a bittersweet watch and packs a particularly moving climax that touches a necessary nerve. If you haven’t watched Rangeela yet, we highly recommend you do so right away.

The Dirty Picture

The Dirty Picture is an unofficial biopic of South Indian actress Silk Smitha who rose to fame for featuring in a string of modest budgeted films that found a strong following with the front row crowd particularly for their racy numbers and bold scenes. Vidya Balan, who plays the dancer-turned-actress Reshma literally carries this film on her dependable shoulders and packs her feisty character with a distinguished sizzle. To pull off a larger-than-life persona on the big screen can be a challenge. And since Reshma happened to be one such personality, even a minor lapse in performance could’ve been interpreted as overacting. On that front, Balan manages with finesse and restraint, rendering a memorable character who outlives the runtime of this film. Any film stands on three pillars: “Entertainment, entertainment and entertainment” – this and other iconic dialogues from The Dirty Picture are credited to Rajat Arora who manages to spark up every scene with his unique choice of words. This one is a definitive entry to this list as it packs a range of stereotypical filmy figures: a superstar with a massive ego, a filmmaker who only leans on formulaic storytelling and also an actress who’s willing to ‘compromise’ to improve her career prospects.

Har Kisse Ke Hisse - Kaamyaab

Hardik Mehta’s Har Kisse Ke Hisse - Kaamyaab is one of the lesser-known yet critically-acclaimed films about a junior artiste who struggles to make a comeback, years after retiring from films. The film stars Sanjay Mishra as Sudheer, a veteran character actor who has featured in countless forgettable roles in films over decades before resigning to a life of obscurity. When he learns during an interview with a TV channel that his filmography is one short of 500, he decides to make a comeback to complete his innings on a round figure. But having worked in films decades ago, he’s unfamiliar with the current process of cracking auditions, preparing for a role or simply, what it takes to make the cut. It helps that a prominent casting agent happens to be a friend and helps him snag a minor role in a big-budget period film. But what follows is particularly heartbreaking as the actor struggles to keep up with contemporary norms. From a generation when actors were allowed more freedom to approach the craft in their own distinct style, he’s caught off guard, also struggling to keep up with the meticulous discipline which has become an integral part of the filmmaking process today. While he’s confident of his skills, it barely seems like he can pull through his final adieu. Watch this touching tribute to character actors, the invisible heroes of cinema who’re often equated to potatoes as they can be tossed into any curry or dish – only to serve as a suitable complement.

Udayananu Tharam

Popular Malayalam filmmaker Rosshan Andrrews made his directorial debut in the 2005 blockbuster hit Udayananu Tharam. Written by the veteran actor and screenwriter Sreenivasan, the film is a satire on the Malayalam film industry and its decadence in the 2000s. The film stars Mohanlal as a struggling filmmaker named Udayan, who is striving for his big break in the industry. However, the script of his new film is stolen by a struggling actor named Rajappan, played by Sreenivasn. Rajappan convinces a producer to make the film and cast him as the lead, and he would eventually become one of the biggest stars in the industry. However, both Udayan and Rajappan are forced to work together on a new project a few years later, with Udayan as director and Rajappan as the lead. Udayan does manage to eventually release the film that he always envisioned, even though he had to put up with Rajappan’s outlandish demands during production. Udayananu Tharam also stars Meena, Mukesh, Jagathy Sreekumar, and Salim Kumar in prominent roles.

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

Quentin Tarantino has perfected the sub-genre of ‘alternate history’ with iconic films such as Inglourious Basterds, Django Unchained, and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, is Tarantino's most recent film, which was released in 2019, and it centres around a ‘what if…’ scenario where the infamous murder of actress Sharon Tate by the members of Charles Manson’s cult doesn't happen, partly due to a series of unexpected events and mainly because of the Herculean efforts of Cliff Booth played by Brad Pitt. While most of the characters in the film are real individuals from history, Pitt’s Booth and Leonardo Di Caprio’s character Rick Dalton are fictional characters, loosely based on real people. Di Caprio’s Dalton is a Hollywood star while Booth is his long-time friend and stunt double. The film is a black comedy action film that satirises Hollywood in the late 60s, a decade after the end of the fabled Golden Age of Hollywood.

Kaagaz Ke Phool

Guru Dutt's last film Kaagaz Ke Phool was one of his most prominent commercial failures when it was released in theatres in 1959. And it was only after Dutt’s demise five years later at the age of 39 when the film was discovered and recognised as a cinematic marvel. Kaagaz Ke Phool revolves around an eminent filmmaker named Suresh Sinha who finds himself in a crumbling marriage as his in-law's disapprove of his profession. The story takes a complicated turn when Suresh falls for Shanti, a struggling actress who he happens to cast in his film. While this isn’t an autobiographical account, in many ways, Suresh shares Dutt’s filmmaking sensibilities and inflexible approach to storytelling. Often regarded as a filmmaker who was ahead of his time, he was dismissed during his prime for narrating stories that most couldn’t relate to at the time. This is surely a definitive addition to this list as it attempts to convey the filmmaker’s vision and approach to storytelling and how it sometimes reflects real life.

Well that's the List hai toh hit hai episode for today on OTTplay , until the next time it's me Nikhil signing out.

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Written by Kunal Guha