Although Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Black starring Amitabh Bachchan and Rani Mukherjee is still awaiting its Oscar verdict, the Time magazine has already selected it as one of the World’s 10 best films of 2005.

Black is placed in the fifth position because of its superb Direction, remarkable performance and touching screenplay.

Time magazine has given the list like this - Germany’s ‘The White Diamond’ and ‘Grizzy Man’ at the top, Ingmar Bergman’s ‘Saraband’, Fernando Meirelles’ ‘The Constant Gardener’, Rob Marshall’s ‘Memoirs Of A Geisha’ and then Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s ‘Black’.

Bhansali feels his hard work has paid off, “If a distinguished critic from another part of the world thinks Black is one of the ten best films of the year, there must be something to it. It’s a great victory for Indian cinema, and all my cast and crew” he said.

Time magazine critic Richard Corliss gave his reasons, “This is an unusual film for India: no songs, a running time under two hours, and most dialogues in English, yet it became a box office hit. It could also be a test for Western audiences unused to the fever pitch of Indian melodrama; they may need a warning label- Caution: extreme sentiment (may be contagious)”

“Everyone else can dive right into the bathos and savour the brave, passionate performances of Amitabh Bachchan, who harnesses gravity and humour to his magisterial machismo in what may be his greatest role and the two Michells (played by child actor Ayesha Kapoor and Rani Mukerji), who revere and adore their teacher as the one man who matters” He added.