Films I’m Looking Forward to in 2024

2024 looks like it is going to be a quite interesting year for the movies - new pairings, new stories, new biopics, and new talent to look out for - and the cinephile in me cannot stop celebrating! Here are few films which I am really looking forward to in 2024.

Films I’m looking forward to in January: Sriram Ragahavan’s Merry Christmas and Siddharth Anand’s Fighter.

I’m going to start the year with Sriram Raghavan’s Merry Christmas – a thriller with Katrina Kaif and Vijay Sethupati – the casting itself is fresh and I cannot wait to see what is in store.

Then there is Siddharth Anand’s Fighter – I honestly can’t wait for this film to see the crackling chemistry between Hrithik and Deepika (and watch them sizzle on screen - the songs already prove this) I am also looking forward to this film because Anand is doing well for himself and this film of his is something away from the spy universe, which I think we have had enough of for now.

Kiran Rao’s Laapataa Ladies and Dharma and Sikhya’s Kill made a lot of roar in the festival circuit, especially at TIFF.

Other films I’m really excited to watch are the films which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), hopefully releasing this year - Kiran Rao’s Laapataa Ladies in March. The subtleness and calmness with the way she showed Bombay in Dhobi Ghaat, made me fall in love with the city. And I can’t wait to watch the subtlety with which she explores the lives of two married women in Laapata Ladies.

Next, creating roar at TIFF and worldwide, and something I’m really looking forward to is Dharma Productions’ and Sikhya Entertainment’s collaboration in the gory Kill starring Lakshya Sen and Raghav Juyal. The film, which is said to have reinvented violence for the Indian landscape, has also been lauded by its performances, especially that of  Juyal, and I can’t wait to watch it on the big screen.

RSVP’s Punjab 95 directed by Honey Trehan, based on the life of prominent human rights activist Jaswant Singh Kalra is another film on my watchlist for this year. The film, which premiered at TIFF has not made much noise online or in the other festival circuit, but after Honey Trehan’s Raat Akeli Hai, I’m sure this film is another one of his masterpieces.

Another biopic by Diljit I am really awaiting this year is Imtiaz Ali’s Chamkila which takes a deep dive into the life and death of popular singer Amar Singh Chamkila, who had enraptured Punjab with his music. Starring Diljit Dosanjh and Parineeti Chopra in an AR Rahman - Imtiaz Ali musical - what more do you want?

I had the privilege of watching Hansal Mehta’s The Buckingham Murders starring Kareena Kapoor Khan and Anurag Kashyap’s Kennedy at this years Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival - two films which should be on your watchlist for this year.

I am also really excited to watch Kalki 2898 AD – the fantasy thriller written and directed by Nag Ashwin. The film has released its first glimpse and it looks smashing. The film also boasts of a stellar ensemble cast featuring Prabhas, Amitabh Bachchan, Kamal Haasan, Deepika Padukone and Disha Patani.

Clockwise from Top: Jigra, Superman of Malegaon, and the Crew definitely is on my watchlist for this year.

Along with Kalki 2898 AD, I’m really looking forward to Vasan Bala’s Jigra, Reema Kagti’s Superman of Malegaon (based on the 2012 documentary of the same name) starring Shashank Arora (from Made in Heavan) and Adarsh Gourav (from White Tiger, Kho Gaye Hum Kahan) and Rajesh Krishnan’s The Crew.

Jigra, starring Alia Bhatt is a prison-break film backed by her own production house, Eternal Sunshine and Dharma Productions, and I am really excited to see Alia in this new role – something very different from what we have seen her in Gangubai Kathiawadi or Rocky Aur Rani ki Prem Kaahani.

I’m excited for the crew, solely because of its casting - Tabu, Kareena Kapoor, Kriti Sanon and Diljit Dosanjh in the lead roles. With such fresh pairing and it being a female centric/led film, it is surely on my watchlist for this year.

In the sequel space, I’m really looking forward to Rishabh Shetty’s Kantara: Chapter 1. After watching the first film I was blown away with the performances and the storytelling. Kanatara Chapter 1 is said to be a prequel to the film. The teaser looks gripping, and so does Shetty.

Another sequel I’m waiting to watch is Pushpa 2 - The Rebel. I just can’t wait to see what is in store for Pushpa, and where the film picks up from the first.

Dibakar Banerjee’s LSD2 is another sure-shot film on my watchlist this year. After acting like one of the greatest launches for Rajkumar Rao, the second part of the famous franchise is said to be an anthology like the first - but has something to do with the metaverse and the impact of social media as a short in the anthology. It will be interesting as to see what Dibakar has in store on that front.

Dune 2 and Joker: Folie a Deux are two international sequels I am really looking forward to this year.

Internationally, I am really looking forward to 3 sequels/parts.

The first is Denis Villeneuve’s Dune 2, starring Timothee Chalamet and Zendaya. The film continues from the first part in which Paul Atreides unites with Chani and the Fremen while seeking revenge against the conspirators who destroyed his family.

The second is Todd Phillips’ Joker: Folie a Deux starring Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga. The musical thriller is said to be the sequel to the 2019 film Joker, for which Joaquin Phoenix won the Academy Award for Best Actor.

The third international sequel/part I am really looking forward to is Inside Out 2. Ever since the emotion of Anxiety was introduced with the feelings and emotions of Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear and Disgust, I have been waiting to watch the film.

There are several other films which are on my watch list this year. There is Kabir Khan’s Chandu Champion with Kartik Aaryan, Laxman Utekar’s Chhavi starring Vicky Kaushal, based on the life of Sambhaji Maharaj, Bong Joon-Ho’s Mickey 17, and ofcourse, Luca Guadagnino’s Challengers with Zendaya, Josh O'Connor and Mike Faist. After Call Me By Your Name, I can’t wait to see how Guadagnino experiments with this tennis love triangle.

As for shows, my current exciting picks for next year would be Mirzapur 3, Paatal Lok 2 and Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Heermanadi - there is no official date for their release this year yet, but I cannot wait to fantasise a full-fledged Bhansali production this year.

What are the films you are looking forward to this year?