Have you heard of Bollywood? There is no typographic error there. I do not mean Hollywood that produces 400+ films a year. I mean Bollywood, which churns out twice Hollywood's number and a tad more at 1000 movies a year. Yes, close to 1000 movies a year and all of them full length feature films averaging three hours each.
Chances are, you have not heard of it. Bollywood is a mammoth industry. Fourteen million viewers throng the theaters each day to lap up its movies. Four billion cinema tickets are sold each year. According to published reports, in 2004, more people globally watched Bollywood movies than Hollywood movies - 3.8 billion vs. 3.6 billion (Paul Brett, British Film Institute [BFI], UK). I’m sure 2005 and 2006 numbers were similar or better. Bollywood movies compete for top slots in the UK box office. In the US, it fares in the top 20-30 despite very limited runs.
Bollywood, Bombay’s Hollywood, is the Indian film industry. It is a tacky and sometimes controversial name given to the Bombay (now Mumbai) based Hindi-language film industry of India. When combined with the rest of the Indian film industries, it is considered to be the largest film industry in the world in terms of number of films produced.
Almost all of Bollywood's films are musicals. There have been a few exceptions to the norm in recent years. Movie soundtracks (released prior to the movie hitting the theaters) and their success (or lack of it) contribute to a film's profitability and can be partly responsible for the movie's fate as well. A run of the mill offering is the masala movie. Like the mixture of various spices in a masala (seasoning for Indian curries) the movies are awash with songs, dances, love interest, comedy, and daredevil thrills — all of this neatly packed into a three hour-long extravaganza with an intermission.
Like western musicals, the tone is melodramatic. Often the good triumphs over the evil. Heroes are omnipotent and are portrayed as being able to overpower a gang of villains. They are the defenders of the society and the sons every mother would wish for. Formulaic ingredients such as star-crossed lovers, corrupt politicians, twins separated at birth, conniving villains, angry parents, courtesans with hearts of gold, dramatic reversals of fortune, and convenient coincidences are almost always woven into the story.
Article comments
1 - sanju
BTW indian mvies just don't end with bollywood. south has regional films.
2 - Chanakya
Sanju,
Thanks for reading the article and posting.
When combined with the rest of the Indian film industries, it is considered ..
does signify that there are other regional fares be it north, north east or south. Since this was meant to be an introduction to Bollywood too much of digression into those has been avoided.
Chanakya
3 - Lisa McKay
Congratulations -- this article has been chosen as an editor's pick this week!
4 - Chanakya
Thanks a lot Lisa !
5 - Nancy
Ooooo - Thanks for directing me here, Lisa!
I saw my first Bollywood film last year - Monsoon Wedding - & loved it. Then last week, I got Bride & Prejudice - & I'm hooked! At first I thought it was a bit silly, but the colors, costumes, scenery (& guys...well, & girls, too) were SO gorgeous, and the music SO bouncy - I still sing it on my way to work & play it when I exercise. I just ordered 4 more from Amazon: Devdas (the 2005 version), Kandukondain Kandudondain, & a couple others I can't spell.
I love the musical numbers, & the gorgeous saris & jewels are to die for, the architecture, the scenery ... and on and on....
Can anybody give me additonal suggestions besides the ones above for some more good Indian movies, preferably with lots of luscious costumes & palaces? English or subtitles would be appreciated.
Many thanks!
6 - TV and Film Guy
I think just about anything with Shahrukh Kahn would fit the bill, particularly when he stars with Aishwarya Rai (save for Shakti though, Shahrukh only has a bit part, and Ash really isn't there at all). I know that that's really not a take off of an English literary classic, but Shahrukh has a certain witty presence to him that I really enjoy, so I'd say Devdas would be a great choice (it has both of them in it). Or, perhaps, something like Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham. It's got Shahrukh, and not Aishwarya, but it does have Amitabh Bachchan (who of course is the father of the man Aishwarya just married). And lastly, I really like Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge. These are all culture clash movies (again, not based on Jane Austen), maybe not quite as funny, but I'd say better films on the whole.
7 - Chanakya
Nancy,
Good to hear you like what you have sampled. With so many to choose from it becomes a tad difficult to suggest, but you affinity to costumes, song and dance should help me narrow dowm.
Agree with TV and Film Guy. "Most" Shahrukh capers are good. Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge is definitely a good pick. Dil to Pagal Hai is another Shahrukh hit that is good. If you have not already Veer Zaara & Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam are song, costume and culture rich offerings. A bit of folk with great costumes and a good story is Paheli.
All of these are contemporary movies. If you like oldies or serious subjects, I can have a quick list as well.
8 - Venkat
Extremely well-written article.. I'm a homegrown Indian and just chanced upon this blog - Enjoyed reading every word of it. I've seen all the movies in your 101 and 202 list (apart from the shawshank remake).. I must say you command great taste :) Thanks!