In its retrospective on Indian cinema’s evolution, the piece published by The Indian Express highlights 2004 as a remarkably vibrant and varied year for Bollywood. Three standout films capture the tone: Swades, Maqbool and Main Hoon Na — each emblematic of different cinematic trajectories.

Swades — directed by Ashutosh Gowariker and starring Shah Rukh Khan — offered rooted patriotism without bombs, focusing on an NRI returning to India and reconnecting with his roots. Maqbool — a dark, elegant adaptation of Macbeth by Vishal Bharadwaj starring Irrfan Khan — signalled Hindi cinema’s appetite for serious, artistic storytelling that didn’t sacrifice depth. And then there was Main Hoon Na, Farah Khan’s directorial debut, which embraced the full spectrum of masala entertainment: romance, comedy, patriotism and spectacle, all rolled together.

The article argues that what makes 2004 special is the co-existence of these strands — mass-market star vehicles alongside ambitious art-films — signalling a cinema culture that could be both commercially vibrant and creatively bold. The year also featured Yash Raj productions like Veer Zaara and Hum Tum, further broadening the palette. Ultimately, 2004 stands out as a micro-cosm of Hindi cinema’s capacity for diversity, experimentation and mainstream reach all in one.