Saw a bunch of theater re-releases over the last week.
Interstellar - Rode to the Wadala IMAX in Mumbai for this one. Throughly enjoyed it. Reaffirmed my belief that Nolan is to this era what Spielberg was to the previous one, when it comes to mastering technical finesse and an ambitious plot(line) while still ensuring it remains a human story at the end of it all. And Zimmer's score, gosh, was goosebumpy in that IMAX setting.
Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak - Had seen this eons ago and remember being so surprised at the freshness of it. Surprisingly, that freshness still remains and seems to be a Mansoor Khan specialty. Although a debut vehicle for the lead stars, their performances don't betray that fact. Loved Juhi, especially. The music was another highlight, and watching it on the big screen made a big difference. On the downside, neither the print nor the sound looked like they were remastered. Okay quality.
Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar - Another cult Mansoor Khan flick that remains eminently rewatchable even after 30 years. The music especially was fantastic and again, the experience enhanced by the big screen. Near perfect casting and acting by the cast; I really can't find much to fault with this evergreen story. Also, just how good was Dipak Tijori - such a versatile and hugely underrated actor. But as with QSQT, the visual and audio quality was alright, could've been way way better.
Lagaan - Was a young teen when this released and watching those songs in the theater is a memory etched in my mind. Happy to have relived that experience with this. While the runtime was a bit difficult to sit through, it's just such a well-made and ambitious film. Musical numbers aside, the acting really is top-notch and makes up for the slightly meandering screenplay.
P. S. - I miss the Aamir Khan and Ashutosh Gowariker of this era. They seemed so much more ambitious back then and more importantly, managed to execute them so convincingly. The sheer variety of their work in the 95-07 period is amazing. Lagaan also served as a throwback to some of Rahman's best years and work.