Top 2024 MAMI Movies That I Watched (Ranked)

Disclaimer: There are many films that were showcased at MAMI & many films were missed out too. Yet, these are the rankings based on the films that were watched.

PS : PLEASE NOTE THAT ‘THE SUBSTANCE’ AND ‘THE REMARKABLE LIFE OF IBELIN’ WERE WATCHED OUTSIDE THE FESTIVAL AND HENCE NOT A PART OF THIS LIST!

PSS : To Read Detailed Reviews Of Each Of These Films, Click On the Image Or Name Of The Film In This List!

#20 Go Noni Go

It is in the early reels of the drama that you are acquainted to Noni (Dimple Kapadia) through her talking car (voiced by Karan Johar). There is a playful tone in contrast to her otherwise mundane life that is filled with loneliness post the passing away of her husband… Read More…

#19 The Shameless

It is difficult to determine the actual core of The Shameless because the writing never stays focused beyond the first act. To be fair, things are interesting early on when Renuka befriends a young 17 year old girl Devika (notice the reference to the Indian Goddess), a character who has grown up in a brothel even as her mother has already pushed Devika’s elder sister in the realms of the big bad world, even while Devika has to wait for her turn, reluctantly and almost oblivious to her. Renuka for that matter, sees a lot of herself in Devika, something that is immensely relatable and heartfelt… Read More…

#18 Ghamasaan

The opening sequence of Ghamasaan is an unconventional one given that you are neither quite introduced to the ‘hunter’ or the ‘savior’. Instead, it marks a reunion of a family that are casually interacting with each other. Through their conversation you get to know that a character is willing to relocate to a metro city even as his parents aren’t in full agreement… Read More…

#17 Little Jaffna

When it comes to a city like Paris, the first thing that instantly pops in mind is the Eiffel Tower, a symbol of love. It is definitely amongst the top tourists spots in the world that has now been synonymous with the identity of the city… Read More…

#16 Cloud

One of the interesting aspects of the story is the character of Yoshii himself, who is so consumed by his own ability to earn a quick buck that he completely ignores the pleas of his boss who offers him a promotion, only to resign from his job. This is true only also for his friend and reselling mentor Muraoka who suggests that they team up for a new venture, only for his words to fall on deaf years (given that Yoshii is fast outgrowing him)… Read More…

#15 The Room Next Door

The Room Next Door by Pedro Almodovar is essentially about contrasting entities. From the characters to their ideologies and to the setting, the drama is filled with contrasting imperfections that eventually shape the film. It is very early on in the film that you are introduced to the two characters… Read More…

#14 Kill The Jockey

ven before the title of the film appears in the film Kill The Jockey which is Argentina’s Official Entry to the Oscars of 2025, you are introduced to a character sitting in the bar and heavily intoxicated while being found by a menacing male party… Read More…

#13 Boong

Meet Boong – a little boy from Manipuri who is a rebel and knows how to have fun. In fact in the opening sequence itself, you see him using a slingshot to hilariously stone the letters from the school’s name at the entrance… Read More…

#12 Armand

The urgency of a thriller is setup very early on in the Norwegian film Armand, Norway’s Official Submission to the Oscars of 2025. In its opening scene, you are privy to the lovely local landscapes of the countryside, even as a stationary camera on a moving car epitomizes the urgency… Read More…

#11 A Different Man

It is difficult to separate A Different Man from The Substance. Both film originate from the same tangle of human emotions emerging out of conditioning and the will for transformation. Yet tonally, both are different films with varied moods to accompany the narrative… Read More…

#10 The Fable

The Fable opens with a black screen and a sound of a character brushing his teeth. This was an unusually mundane opening for a film that had an otherwise intriguing title. But wait….there is more!.. Read More…

#9 Emilia Perez

One of the most fascinating aspect of Emilia Perez, France’s Official Submission to the Oscars of 2025 is its characterization. It is quite early on in the film that you are introduced to the character of Manitas, a dreaded gangster and a king-pin in the drug cartel… Read More…

#8 Shambhala

The layers in the movie Shambhala, Nepal’s Official Submission to the Oscars of 2025, lies in its setting and simplicity. Shambhala, an imaginary place set in the Himalayas, is a land where only the pure-hearted can live… Read More…

#7 Santosh

A lot of the action has already taken place in Santosh, United Kingdom’s Official Submission to the Oscars of 2025. You are introduced to its main protagonist Santosh (a brilliant Shahana Goswami), a widow following her police constable husband who has been killed in a riot… Read More…

#6 Girls Will Be Girls

Girls Will Be Girls is effectively a subversive on the popular proverb ‘Boys Will Be Boys’. Just as the phrase tells about the flawed acceptance of boys in the wake of patriarchy, the drama uses the same phrase for girls with respect to girlhood and romantic awakening on the face of it… Read More…

#5 Village Rockstars 2

It is early on in the film Village Rockstars 2 that you are privy to the lush green landscapes and clear blue skies in a village setting in Assam that play important characters in the drama that has clearly progressed to the adolescent stage for Dhunu… Read More…

#4 The Girl With The Needle

One of the most intriguing aspects of The Girl With The Needle, Denmark’s Official Submission to the Oscars of 2025, was the aspect ratio in which the film was shot. The 3:2 aspect ratio coupled with the monochrome images are indicative of two things very early on in the film – there is a deliberate attempt to make the drama claustrophobic and grim, which is in line with the brooding mood of the drama… Read More…

#3 Anora

There are two ways to look at the film Anora – one from a glossy, superficial level that promises dollops of comedy along the way. The other from a deep-rooted emotional perspective that offers a searing commentary on the class divide… Read More…

#2 Kneecap

I have developed a liking for provocative cinema that has traces of anti-establishment to accompany the narrative. This isn’t because I necessarily like to sway the rebellious way, but because the drama does offer an unpopular perspective that is worth pondering on… Read More…

#1 All We Imagine As Light

The opening film at MAMI, All We Imagine As Light (Grand Prix Award Winner at the Cannes Film Festival) opens with a searing shot of Mumbai, a city that is romanticized by many with regard to its ‘Spirit’. The grim shades of grey and blue followed by a montage featuring unknown voices of the city, paint a different landscape whose fabric is a sharp contrast from what is showcased on celluloid… Read More…

POPCORN REVIEWSS