That's another year which comes to an end. A mixed year for Bollywood, 2007 has seen many top contenders falling by the wayside, while others have managed to resurrect themselves. Still others, have reiterated their pull at the box office. Tinsel town has seen many ups and downs this year, like every other year. But it has given us many lingering memories, which will stay with us, long after the curtains come down.

Was there any one winner? Well not exactly. The box office 'badshah' Shah Rukh Khan, brandishing a hockey stick and a helming a rag-a-tag hockey team of girls, was one of the most enduring and successful stories of the year. Shah Rukh followed his class act in Shimit Amin's Chak De India with his Diwali dhamaka Om Shanti Om. Besides giving the audience the pleasure of seeing SRK do a Salman with his new six-packs, Farah Khan's film also gave to the industry a beautiful heroine in the form of Deepika Padukone. But if there was Badshah Khan continuing his tenure at the top of the heap, Akshay Kumar seemed to be very close behind. Slowly but surely, this Punjabi munda is catching up with SRK. His overseas market is increasing and he has had three hits in the year that's gone by, beginning with Namaste London, Heyy Baby, Bhool Bhulaiya. Welcome, his year-end release also seems to be doing pretty well at the box office.

The other contender for the number one spot, Abhishekh Bachchan began the year very well with Mani Ratnam's Guru. The film was appreciated by the public as well as the critics. And then, in the meantime, he also decided to tie the knot with Aishwarya Rai in April. Much was expected from his next release, Shaad Ali's Jhoom Barabar Jhoom, but the film bombed miserably at the box office. After that there was a brief appearance in Apurva Lakhia's Shootout At Lokhandwala. The actor has Goldie Behl's Drona and Ram Gopal Varma's Sarkar Raj to look forward to next year. Career-wise not really the best of times for Bachchan Jr. Not that Bachchan Sr had an easier time this year. His tryst with Ramu has not really worked any wonders for him. Neither Nishabd nor Ram Gopal Varma Ki Aag went down well with the critics or the audiences. But he had a brief respite with Cheeni Kum opposite Tabu. His appearance in Shootout at Lokhandwala did not really carry any weight. Besides his professional woes, the Big B was plagued with all kinds of controversies, on the professional and personal front. But none of that has tarnished his standing as the greatest superstar of all times.

His bahu, Aishwarya, too began the year well with Guru, but her following film, Provoked did not evoke too many reactions at the box office. What Ash will be looking forward to is ushering in a grand 2008 with Ashutosh Gowariker's Jodhaa Akbar. Actor Hrithik Roshan, has unfortunately not even had a release this year. All hopes are definitely pinned on Gowariker Mughal epic drama. Of course, the year ahead has Krrish 2 as well.

The original six-packer, Salman Khan, managed to hold on with David Dhawan's Partner. His earlier release, Salaam-e-Ishq did not fare too well. But Partner not only gave him a new lease of life but also resurrected the career of his old friend Govinda. Both are back in action again.

This has been an emotionally turbulent year for the third of the Khans, Saif. The Chhote Nawab, who had divorced from his wife Amrita Singh, and moved in with girlfriend Rozza, then went ahead and broke up with the Italian beauty. His eyes first settled on Bipasha Basu till they finally came to rest on Kareena Kapoor, and Shahid Kapur was history. As far as his professional life is concerned, 2007 has been quite a downer for him. His Ta Ra Rum Pum flopped and so did Eklavya. But he has a couple of aces lined up for 2008, not the least of which is Yash Raj Films' Tashan.

2007 had opened as the year for Rani Mukherjee, but the lady, failed to reinvent herself and ended the year quite miserably. Ta Ra Rum Pum flopped and so did her much-awaited release, Laaga Chunri Main Daag, directed by Pradip Sarkar. In fact, the show in the latter film was stolen from under Rani's nose by Konkona Sen Sharma. Her contemporary Preity Zinta too did not have it good this year. With Jhoom Barabar Jhoom failing to create an impact, Ms Zinta preferred to concentrate on her film with Rituparno Ghosh and Jhanu Barua. So 2008 should see a little more of Ms Zinta.

The Deol family staged a comeback of sorts with Apne. While Sunny had a relatively quiet year, with Big Brother and Apne, his brother Bobby was part of the botched up Jhoom Barabar Jhoom, Apne and Samir Karnik's Nanhe Jaisalmer. But it was Big Daddy Dharmendra who won hearts with his show in Apne, and then the later Johnny Gaddar. This was one veteran it was good to have back.

It was good to see Madhuri Dixit back on the silver screen after so many years. Alas, Aaja Nachle, came and went with a whimper. Despite the brilliance of Madhuri's magic, the film did not create many ripples. It rubbed a few the wrong way, but that's about it. It's a pity really, because Madhuri managed to rise above the feeble script give an inspired performance.

Sanjay Dutt finally managed to end the year on an upbeat note as he ended his now-in-jail and now-on-bail silsila once and for all. Rajkumar Hirani is waiting to make the next part of Munnabhai and his next release may well be Sunil Shetty's EMI. However, Ajay Devgan disappointed with his release Cash. But 2008 augurs well for the actor, whose film Halla bol directed by Raj Kumar Santoshi releases in January. Devgan's debut film as director, starring himself and his wife Kajol, U, Me Aur Hum is also slated for a release in 2008. That should more than make up for a disappointing 2007.

The year also belonged to Shahid and Kareena who gave the biggest hit of their careers in Imtiaz Ali's Jab We Met, right after they broke up. Director Imtiaz's talent was never in any doubt. After all, he had made Socha Na Tha as well. That one did not do too well commercially but it established his reputation as a director to watch out for. And Jab We Met was the surprise package of the year. Earlier in the year, director Anurag Basu made his presence felt with his film Life in a Metro. The film was lauded as much for its bold theme, the sensitive manner in which it was handled by Basu, its music by Pritam and the wonderful acting by its ensemble cast consisting of Kay Kay Menon, Irrfan Khan, Kangana Ranaut and Konkona among others. There was Sriram Raghavan with his noir thriller Johnny Gaddar which saw the late singer Mukesh's grandson, Neil, make his debut.

2007 will also be memorable for being the year when music-composer-cum-singer Himesh Reshammiya finally made his filmi debut with Aap Kaa Surroor. With the film doing quite well, the singer has taken the wise decision to only sing for himself. Talking of debutant directors, Sajid Khan, brother to Farah Khan, made an impressive debut with Heyy Baby.

Where newcomers are concerned, Sanjay Leela Bhansali's much awaited Saawariya went down without a protest but its lead pair of Ranbir Kapoor and Sonam Kapoor have not really been affected by its dismal fate. Ranbir, the heir to the RK legacy, is already a star and has been signed by big banners like Yash Raj Films. Sonam, daughter of Anil Kapoor, has been signed on by Rakyesh Mehra for Dilli 6 opposite Abhishek.

The performances which stand out really this year are the those by Irrfan Khan in Namesake and Metro; Tabu in Mira Nair's Namesake; Shah Rukh as the beleagured hockey coach; Pankaj Kapur in Dharma, Konkona in Metro. But no account of this year can end without a mention of that elusive Aamir Khan. He proved once again that once he takes on something, he does it better than anyone else. Taare Zameen Par, Aamir's end-of-the year gift to the audience was an exquisite story, rendered on the screen with great sensitivity by Aamir the director. One could not have asked for a more satisfying end to the year. On that note, Movietalkies.com would like to wish all of you a very Happy New Year!