5 lessons we learnt at the movies this year

Rajeev Masand points out five lessons from the performances of the movies in 2010.

Akshay Kumar isn't funny anymore! The puerile humor in 'Housefull' may have been the last straw. The dismal response to 'Khatta Meetha', 'Action Replayy' and 'Tees Maar Khan' has proved that the Khiladi Kumar needs to reinvent himself… and quick!

There's more to Deepika than those long legs! Unlike fellow newbie Sonam Kapoor who was mostly insufferable in both I Hate Luv Storys and Aisha, Deepika Padukone showed us a glimpse of some real potential in her performances in 'Lafangey Parindey', 'Break Ke Baad' and even that snoozefest 'Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Sey'.

The big guys need to pull up their socks! Mani Ratnam, Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Ashutosh Gowariker and Farah Khan delivered some of their most disappointing work in 2010. Big budgets and big stars couldn't save 'Raavan', 'Guzaarish', 'Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Sey' and 'Tees Maar Khan' from stinking up the cinemas. All four filmmakers need to get their mojo back!

Home is where the heart is! The audience responded warmly to home-grown stories set in the Indian heartland. 'Dabangg', 'Raajneeti', 'Ishqiya', 'Peepli Live' and 'Phas Gaye Re Obama' captured a unique slice of Indian life, while routine stories set in fancy foreign locations - like 'Anjaana Anjaani', 'Kites', 'We Are Family', 'Jhootha Hi Sahi' and 'Break Ke Baad' - failed to make a mark.

Greed is good! The only leading man to have as many as six major releases in the year, Ajay Devgan disproved the "less is more" theory by delivering hits in 'Atithi Tum Kab Jaoge', 'Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai', 'Raajneeti' and 'Golmaal 3', even though 'Aakrosh' and 'Toonpur Ka Superhero' came croppers. Likely to land a Best Actor nomination for 'Once Upon A Time in Mumbaai', he's having his cake and eating it too!

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