by Subhash K Jha

Karan Johar:
1.Black : "Actually this one should be numbers 1-20 among my favourites of the year. Black is the best film I've seen in a long time. It proves what a master Sanjay Leela Bhansali is. I'm haunted by Black even now months after seeing it.

2. Sarkar : "Dark, noire-ish stylish gangster epic with performances to die for by Amit Uncle and Abhishek. Ramu's best work .

3. Salaam Namaste : "Yashraj Films is my home territory. Of all their films this year I really loved this feel-good but seriously-underlined love story. Great chemistry between Saif and Preity.

Madhur Bhandarkar:
1. Sarkar: "Ramuji's best since Company. I loved the way the film told a real-life story with The Godfather as a reference point. Amitji and Abhishek were in full form. Really gripping stuff.

2. Iqbal: "Simple but heartfelt film with endearing performances. I like the way the film moves ahead without creating unnecessary drama. Very honest and direct."

3. Kalyug: "Bhatt Saab's film was about blue films. But it didn't have anything sleazy about it. Very powerful plot and good performances by Amrita Singh and Kunal Khemu.

Nikhil Advani :
1. Black : "Because it makes you believe there's hope for Indian cinema....Because it's Sanjay Leela Bhansali."

2. Hazaron Khwashien Aisi : "Great story, terrific performances...Tackling an era in history that's seldom spoken about , let alone filmed..A period piece without horses, carriage, costumes or patent periodicity."

3. Bunty Aur Babli . "It successfully handles a difficult subject...Perhaps mainstream Hindi cinema's first successfully made road movie. Great fun. Super music. And the two Bachchans and Aishwarya together in Kajra re.

Vipul Shah:
1. Waqt: Race Against time: "It dealt with the father-son relationship in a way no film has done....the film blended emotions and and humour."

2. Black: "It had amazing performances by Mr Bachchan and Rani Mukherjee...and some really beautiful scenes."

3. Page 3: "So many character...and they all had their own story to tell . They all came together in a cohesive whole without taking away from the main plot."

Subhash Ghai:
"Sorry, I'm no one to judge other people's works. Popular awards are doing the needful."

Anubhav Sinha:
("Do I have to exclude my own film?")

1. Apaharan : "Terrific performances, cohesive narration and consistency in dramatic elements....look at Ajay Devgan's walk after his confrontation with his father.

2. Hazaaron Khawishein Aisi : "For overall narrative quality, performances and innovative subject matter regardless of market value and formulas.

3. Garam Masala : "Sheer entertainment! And we got to see a new Akshay Kumar who was so comfortable with the camera....and Priyadarshan was in good comic form."

Ananth Mahadevan:
1. Parineeta : "It attempted a classic , recreated in glorious splendour a bygone era evoking genuine romance.

2. Yahaan : "It treated the Kashmir issue sensitively and attempted to show a forbidden romance amidst turmoil."

3. Paheli : "It attempted a story that was rooted in our culture...I also like Black and Main Meri Patni Aur Woh."

Suneel Darshan:
1.No Entry : "It was a laugh riot"

2. Black : " A designer product."

3. Dosti : "It appeals to the common viewer's sensibility."

Ekta Kapoor:
1. Black : "Brilliant visually and content-wise."

2. Sarkar : "Fabulous characters and performances."

3. Hazaaron Khawishein Aisi : "Realistic ambience and an unpredictable screenplay."

Sujoy Ghosh:
1. Black : "It was inspiring on every level—life or art."

2. My Brother Nikhil : "It's more a cause than a film. Again, very inspiring."

3. Waqt, Salaam Namaste & Bluff Master: "The first , Vipul Shah served up old wine in a new bottle..The other two for the newness they bought to Indian cinema. Like it or not we need change."

Anupam Kher:
1. Iqbal : "It was unusual and spirited."

2. Salaam Namaste : "Terrific treatment and frothy."

3. Maine Gandhi Ko Nahin Mara : "Unusual gutsy , it revived Gandhism to an extent."

Pritish Nandy:
1. Hazaaron Khawishein Aisi

2. Parineeta

3. Iqbal .... "They represent the very best of Bollywood cinema which has matured well beyond its clichés."

Apoorva Lakhia:
1. Sarkar: "The silences spoke louder than words. Both Amitji and AB Jr left their star status behind to get into character completely.

2. Mujhse Shaadi Karogi: Akshay Kumar and Salman Khan proved they're stars. Paisa vasool.

3. Black : Rani ruled with Amitji and showed us what acting is all about. Ravi Chandran's camera lit up the frames.

David Dhawan:
1.Black: "Sheer brilliance , and what performances by Amitji, Rani and the child (Ayesha Kapoor)

2. Iqbal: "A simple story well told."

3.Page 3 : "Madhur Bhandarkar is a talented director . I could identify with all the characters in his film."

Anil Kapoor:
1. No Entry : "A perfect example of a mainstream commercial film...clean family entertainer with no double-meaning lines or obscene visuals.

2. My Wife's Murder : "Brilliantly acted (ahem ahem, Anil Kapoor played the lead) and directed...Minimum budget but technically still brilliant.

3. Black : "Brilliant in all departments.

Sanjay Gupta:
1. Sarkar : "For Amit Roy's superlative photography."

2. Parineeta : "For Vidya Balan's superlative debut."

3.Black : "For Rasool Pookutty's incredible sound design."

Rakeysh Mehra
1. Iqbal: "It was simple and original."

2. Sarkar: "The performances were outstanding."

3.No Entry

Shabana Azmi
1.Paheli: "Quintessentially Indian and very charming."

2.Black: "Beautifully mounted and superbly enacted. Important landmark in mainstream cinema."

3. Iqbal : "Heartwarming and exhilarating."

Madhavan
1. Black

2. Black

3. Black..... "I can't think beyond this film"

Ram Gopal Varma (with a straight face)
"James, Neil 'N' Nikki, and Home Delivery are my three favourite films of the year because they're intellectually stimulating, rich in subtext and very very thought enhancing."