It has been a year since
versatile Bollywood actor Irrfan Khan bid adieu, leaving behind a void in the
film fraternity. Irrfan, who died at the age of 53 due to a colon infection, is known for bringing minimalism into mainstream with his effervescent acting. His simple yet enduring roles appealed to the common man and stayed with us for long.
On his first death anniversary,
let us recall his top 5 movies that entertained the masses and left a long-lasting impression:
1.
Piku– Playing the cab driver role in this movie, his
chemistry with Amitabh Bachchan and Deepika Padukone was exceptional. A road trip from Mumbai to
Kolkata is fraught with drama, laughter, and connections. As Rana Chaudhary, he
brings the innate quality of a driver who is irritated by the client, yet forms
conversations to connect with the father and daughter.
His conversations with
Deepika are emotional and filled with a tinge of comedy and sadness at the
same time. His role as a driver not only improved the father-daughter
connection in the movie, but also brought about a factor of relatability to Bengali
families.
2.
Hindi
Medium– The movie is known for bringing about
the cultural divide in India, between the Hindi and English-speaking crowd. This
comedy film was an apt satire on how Hindi-speaking parents face difficulties while trying to admit their child
to a prestigious English school. Playing the role of Raj, a businessman, Irrfan attempts to change his
image to get his daughter into an elite school. The difficulties that he undergoes
brought about the challenges that a middle-class Indian father would undergo in
the current situation of the education system.
3.
Talvar– With this movie, Irrfan proved that he is not only
best at comedy, but also at playing intense roles. Khan plays a role of a CBI
officer in this thriller, helping solve a criminal case inspired by real-life where a daughter is found
murdered. As Ashwin Kumar, he plays a powerful role in
solving the mystery. A cynical detective who is hard-bent on solving the crime,
he leaves the audience with a mesmerising role as the story unfolds.
Also Read: Using his memory to gain clout: Babil on how people accuse him of using Irrfan Khan’s name
4.
The
Lunchbox– In the movie that has won many
awards at the national and international level, Khan plays the role of a lonely
widower. The movie unfolds as a wrong lunchbox ends up
reaching Saajan Fernandes (Irrfan) and the relationship that builds between two
strangers. Reaching his retirement age, the lunchbox adds spice to his dull and
drab work life in Mumbai. The handwritten notes exchanged between Saajan and
Ila bring out the better side of him, as he is usually a grumpy uncle, who
everyone puts up with. This story is writ with anticipation of what
each of the characters will write to the other. As they share their daily
observations and challenges, it makes an impact on the common man. This movie
transformed the Indian cinema in exceptional ways with the simple yet
transformative roles played by Khan.
5.
Haasil– This very less talked about movie won Khan a
Filmfare best villain award. Playing the role of a student leader of Allahabad
University, he is cunning and violent, a goon who is after a girl. Khan as
Ranvijay plays the negative role to perfection, where the audience is as
captivated by the villain as much as the hero.
