Got Bollywood?
Bollywood??, you would ask, did you misspelled Hollywood? Bollywood is a new emerging film industry in India. In fact it is largest film industry in world and releases over 600 plus films in more than 10 languages. Although it got it name from Bombay (now Mumbai) and Hollywood – Bollywood, films made in Bollywood are nothing like your typical Hollywood films. Bollywood films are called masala films, literally meaning “spicy films”, has numerous lengthy and eloquent song sequence, comedy, thrills and love triangle. Movies often has magic ingredients such as star crossed lovers, love triangles, angry parents, family ties and fortunes, sacrifice for lover both emotional and physical, corrupt politicians who seems to own everything, novice kidnappers, gangster smuggling gold and ammunition, conniving villains, courtesans with hearts of gold, relatives and twins separated by fate or by villains, dramatic reversals of fortune and event, and convenient coincidences makes masala film very appealing to masses. Movies are made to appeal masses but there are few movies which tried to set new trends.
Bollywood is not popular only in India but also among a large Indian Diaspora in English-speaking countries and middle-east. Russia and Japan also have a very large fan base for Hindi Movies, particularly Raj Kapoor and Rajni Kanth.
Bollywood music is called ‘filmi music” in which stars on the scene lip-synching the pre-recorded song. Playback singers are more popular than average stars and have an enormous fan base who often go to movies to just listen to the song from their favorite singer. Kishor Kumar has a huge fan base and official fan club not only in India but all over the world where Bollywood movies are popular. Lyrics are written by professional poets and not by singers themselves.
Like lyrics, there are “dialogs” which are written to appease mass. If you are watching the movie in the theater, don’t’ surprise by people throwing “coin” on the screen when their beloved star delivers dialog like “Kute, Tera Khun Pi Jayuga”, meaning, “Bloody Dog!, I’ll suck the blood out of you”.
Aspiring stars come from all over India to try their luck and become Bollywood’s Biggest Celebrities. Some of them are former miss world, Aishwarya Rai, former bus conductor Rajni and former cook Akshay Kumar and Shah Runk Khan. Bollywood loves its star and gossip.
Like Bollywood, there are Kollywood, Tollywood, and Lollywood, taking their names from Hollywood and major cities in India where they primarily shoot films in regional language.
Like Oscar, Bollywood has its own set of awards and celebration. Zee award, IIFA awards to name a few are very popular and celebration is often done outside India.
In the latest trend, there are an increasing number of Bollywood films are being carried by video rental stores in the US, like a blockbuster. So what are you waiting for? Rent some good movies like “Hum Aapke Hain Koun” (1994) and “Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge” (1995) and indulge yourself in the magical world of Bollywood.
