India has witnessed extraordinary growth and the realities of life for many have improved dramatically in recent times, but to the dismay of some of its critics mainstream Bollywood continues to peddle escapist fantasy.
The most popular films in India are so-called masala pictures - diversionary fare delivering a combination of romance, comedy, action, melodrama, song, dance and nearly always an unrealistic happy ending.
Some cultural commentators maintain the country's mainstream film industry produces fantasy because, despite improvements, many Indians still live under conditions of extreme poverty.
Bollywood films are very often seen as reinforcing and reflecting the values of a patriarchal culture with women portrayed in stereotypical roles.
Top Indian director Shekhar Kapur agrees. "We hang on to this idea of the Suffering Woman that in her suffering that she would be the Great Woman."
But one of Bollywood's biggest female stars, Priyanka Chopra, sees it rather differently. She believes there has been some progress.
"One of my most critically and commercially acclaimed films was a film Fashion that was entirely on my shoulder(s). It was a girl's journey in the fashion industry and her ups and downs, so yes, I do think that Hindi films have evolved in terms of female parts."
Although Bollywood films are evolving some areas are still taboo. Portraying certain kinds of sex can be fraught with difficulty, top independent filmmaker Anurag Kashyap has discovered.
His 2010 film - That Girl in Yellow Boots - showed massage parlours selling sex in the sleazy underbelly of Mumbai. It provoked a backlash.
"The moment you deal with sex, for a lot of people, it becomes morally upsetting, and because you're dealing with it in a very real way. If you do it in a very suggestive way or a dramatic way, it's fine.
"A lot of people involved with the film were embarrassed about the film. A lot of people we thanked in the film who actually lent us money, they said, 'Please take our names from the film,' because they don't want somebody to see and say 'You gave the money to make this film!'"
Middle-class revolution
India's large young population is stirred by the same issues and topical debates found in the West.
While Hollywood may still be reluctant to address certain hot button subjects such as abortion and gay rights there's much more opposition in India.
Bollywood actor - and heartthrob - Ranbir Kapoor, 29, says: "It's still a little taboo for a mainstream actor to do a gay role, but we are hopeful. We're not pushing the boundaries that much to actually make a film on abortion or just gay rights.
"I think someday we'll get there. Someday we'll have total freedom of making anything and everything we want."
The biggest move towards more realistic cinema comes from India's burgeoning new wave of filmmaking fuelled by the country's young middle class. While the vast majority of Indians go to single-screen cinemas, the urban generation with money to spend flock to newer multiplex cinemas seeking films that are a little more daring and challenging than Bollywood crowd pleasers.
One of the directors catering to the needs of this growing audience is Dibakar Banerjee, who sees his most recent film, Love, Sex aur Dhokha, as a reaction against Bollywood.
He thinks his picture portrays a realistic view of love and the impact it can have in the lives of ordinary Indians - a portrayal that he argues stands in contrast to Bollywood love stories.
Bollywood, he says, might preach love conquers all but his film presents a very different picture.
"What happens in real life is that when a person from one caste marries or falls in love with a person from another caste, they might be killed for that in some places in India," he says.
Replacing fantasy with reality can bring big rupees to the box office as the makers of Delhi Belly discovered. Their film was one of the biggest successes this year in India's multiplex cinemas.
The picture is an irreverent crime caper replete with lavatory humour. It's seen as India's first mainstream move into "gross-out" adult comedy.
The screenplay comes from writer Akshat Verma - a man on a mission to inject more lifelike and relatable portrayals into Indian films.
"My biggest problem growing up, watching a lot of Indian films, was characters in situations I did not relate to," he says. "So my desire was to try and write characters which were some of the people I'd known, friends who had a rudeness or irreverence to the way they approached the world, with a certain dark humour."
Although there are divisions within the Indian film industry over storytelling and content a workable equilibrium appears to have been established.
Bollywood has a well-established star-system that continues to bring escapist fantasy to the masses. While the country's growing independent film movement strives to bring Indians more gritty and realistic movies.
But both these sectors happily co-exist - and both are flourishing.
Bollywood actor - and heartthrob - Ranbir Kapoor, 29, says: "It's still a little taboo for a mainstream actor to do a gay role, but we are hopeful. We're not pushing the boundaries that much to actually make a film on abortion or just gay rights.
"I think someday we'll get there. Someday we'll have total freedom of making anything and everything we want."
The biggest move towards more realistic cinema comes from India's burgeoning new wave of filmmaking fuelled by the country's young middle class. While the vast majority of Indians go to single-screen cinemas, the urban generation with money to spend flock to newer multiplex cinemas seeking films that are a little more daring and challenging than Bollywood crowd pleasers.
One of the directors catering to the needs of this growing audience is Dibakar Banerjee, who sees his most recent film, Love, Sex aur Dhokha, as a reaction against Bollywood.
He thinks his picture portrays a realistic view of love and the impact it can have in the lives of ordinary Indians - a portrayal that he argues stands in contrast to Bollywood love stories.
Bollywood, he says, might preach love conquers all but his film presents a very different picture.
"What happens in real life is that when a person from one caste marries or falls in love with a person from another caste, they might be killed for that in some places in India," he says.
Replacing fantasy with reality can bring big rupees to the box office as the makers of Delhi Belly discovered. Their film was one of the biggest successes this year in India's multiplex cinemas.
The picture is an irreverent crime caper replete with lavatory humour. It's seen as India's first mainstream move into "gross-out" adult comedy.
The screenplay comes from writer Akshat Verma - a man on a mission to inject more lifelike and relatable portrayals into Indian films.
"My biggest problem growing up, watching a lot of Indian films, was characters in situations I did not relate to," he says. "So my desire was to try and write characters which were some of the people I'd known, friends who had a rudeness or irreverence to the way they approached the world, with a certain dark humour."
Although there are divisions within the Indian film industry over storytelling and content a workable equilibrium appears to have been established.
Bollywood has a well-established star-system that continues to bring escapist fantasy to the masses. While the country's growing independent film movement strives to bring Indians more gritty and realistic movies.
But both these sectors happily co-exist - and both are flourishing.
ReplyDeleteBollywood has a really distinct characteristic that when you see a Bollywood movie, you’d know straight away. It’s all the dancing and singing. I don’t really watch it because personally I think it’s a bit annoying to watch. It depends on personal taste, and I have nothing againts people who actually loves it.
I noticed that Bollywood gets bad raputation from remaking American movies. Some would think that it’s because they don’t have any other movie ideas to make or because it’s succesful in the states it would be the same in India. There are a lot of Hollywood movies that are also remakes of old movies, but presented well enough to grasp the viewer’s attention.
Nowadays, Bollywood movies are targeted to a spesific audience or genres. It’s understandable if elderly people or not so open-minded viewers, critisize on gay roles. Every country has it’s own view of the world and it is based on their culture and norm. That’s why there are appropriate adjustments being made. They can’t be compared to Glee, where it’s okay to embrace being gay. In all fairness, it’s understandable to create a different situation rather than their beliefs. They want to explore their limits, and see the society’s reaction towards it.
Start of something new isn’t always bad. If it brings education for life I personally think it can be count as a benefit. People have imagination, they tend to escape from reality to imagine or draw a new beautiful world inside their minds. But don’t forget to take a look at the “reality bites”. Life can’t always walk the way you want it to be, so spending your whole day watching romantic movies or anything else which have unrealistic endings would be pointless or useless.
ReplyDeleteBollywood movies are identical with dancing and singing, its uniqueness is the main reason its worldwide known, until today. But strangely, directors don’t make many story line variations of Bollywood. I only watch Bollywood movie once in a year, because almost 600 Bollywood movies contain similar story line. Embracing real life stories for people to watch is not wrong, but still they have to filter which part can be shown or not, in order to avoid controversy (with people beliefs and culture). Many people don’t know what’s really happening in their surroundings, so directors or film makers tell them through movies, which are usually easier to understand. I hope that Indian movies (Bollywood) and Indonesian movies will develop and improve better for entertainment, but also education.
I think I got this lesson from my Indonesian literature teacher, “Licentia Poetica”. That phrase means that a poet could say anything and everything in their poem disregarding everything, even God Itself. I don’t know if it apply to movie though, but I think that artists, poets, or directors of a movie are free to express their feelings. What I don’t feel like agreeing is why most people think that sex problem (sex industry etc) in society is a taboo in movies. They always think that a movie depicting sexes is always bad. What are you, a hypocrite? Look at yourself before pointing Bollywood movies as an impossible dream; we need to stop turning blind eye to the reality in the front of us!
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, Bollywood movie is not a bad movie. They just have their own style to do their movie with their dancing and singing. Maybe it is not good for a lot of people, or even annoying, but I find it fascinating to watch. I believe all the hates come from modern people dislikes of Bollywood singing and dancing. The movie “Three Idiots” is the proof of that statement. Many peoples in my age like Three Idiots, and they always will be.
This article caught my attention with the success being made by Delhi Belly in the Indian box office. Unlike most of the Bollywood comedies (Three Idiots, etc.) that we know of, Delhi Belly is a black comedy. It is bold and bright in which it delivers its lifelike portrayals of Indian societies and humour, which is why it is filled unapologetically with a lot of obscene words and "offensive scenes" (according to the Government of Nepal). This shows that Indian audiences are now maturing as they start appreciating films that are different from their typical Bollywood films.
ReplyDeleteAkshat Verma, the writer of the film, is actually based in Los Angeles and studied Screenwriting in UCLA. His exposure to the rich and brave writing styles of Hollywood films undeniably influenced him while writing Delhi Belly. Although India is essentially still a very conservative market in terms of cinema-viewing, his Delhi Belly broke through the market successfully with some aplomb. In my opinion, generally film audiences do not really care whether a film is too imaginative or too realistic. If it is delivered with poise, written brilliantly, and has great casts, the film will hit the jackpot with the audiences and, in turn, will bring the money home.
What do you think about Indian movie? If we talk about Indian movie, we will imagine a couple singing and dancing. I don’t know why? Indian movie always takes dancing as an important part in the movie. Sometimes, we can find more than three times dance part in the one movie. Honestly, I like Indian movie. Most of Indian movie tells about love story. The story becomes more interesting because there are a lot of scandals, affair, or tragic ending. I take an example from Kuch Kuch Hota Hai movie. That movie tells about a love triangle between one man and two women. The story is very simple, but they can touch our feeling. In the other case, I find another fact in Indian movie. Sometimes, we can find an Indian movie that contains sex. Some people assume a sex part is taboo. Maybe, they can improve the quality of the film with education content. The other way, they can take realistic story. I think, there is an improvement in Indian movie. Today, we can find Indian movie with realistic story such as Slumdog Millionaire, Delhi Belly, or Three Idiots.
ReplyDeleteI watched some indian movies when I was in elementary school. My maid used to loves watching indian movies. Indian movies usually containing a drama musical and also the dance between the man and woman which are fallin in love each other. I don't really know about indian movies, because I don't like indian movies and also korean dramas. I know the story are good, but I don't like it because I think some movies are really too dramatic or we can call it "lebay" . Haha I ever watched the kuch kuch hota hai (i'm sorry if it's wrong) and I can't catch the movie, I don't even know what the movie storyline. I was just enjoy watching it because I didn't have nothing to do. I know the most popular actor in indian movies is Shahrukh Khan. He is awesome guy. He starred many movies and the movies approximately are good movies. And I also know the best actreess in indian movies, I think she is Kajol. She is very beautiful and nice. She starred many movies and also become an icon of many branded products. She is not young anymore, but she still active in entertainment world, whether it is bollywood or hollywood. I think indian movies are good but some films are too exaggerate for me. Every person has a different point of view, I'm sorry if I wrote any bad opinion
ReplyDeleteThis article has changed my perception on Bollywood entertainment. I used to watch a lot of Bollywood movies back then when I was in elementary school because my maid controlled the TV remote. When I read or heard the word Bollywood the first thing that came out of my mind were always these three words; singing, dancing, and romance.
ReplyDeleteI bet almost everyone knows that. For low-educated people those kinds of movies will probably still be interesting to watch. But people with higher education will just think of them as cheesy entertainments that are not worth to watch.
Change is always good, and new is always better. It’s good to know that Bollywood screen has now developed. The society has become smarter these days and it’s obvious that they demand for things with better quality. The viewers should be more open-minded on appreciating the new kind of Bollywood movies because they are bright and bold and they are definitely better than the old ones.
Winnie
In United States, they call it Hollywood. In India, they call it Bollywood. It's a bit like "Chinese copycat", isn't it? By "Chinese copycat" I mean that Chinese people tend to nick an international company's name and change it a bit to make it a different product, despite the identical appearance.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, Indian being trapped in fantasy movie idea have good and bad things. People have rights to use pretty much every idea they can get, and express it in media through film. Using all women or a gay theme on their film, it's their free choice. Although the gay theme is against my religious belief, we don't have absolute control on what idea they want to use on their film unless it goes beyond idiocy.
Having a lot of original idea for a film means Indian people have great creativity; they may have creativities beyond average people. This could be a reason why Britain wants to establish (or already established) a closer political and economical relationship with India. There may be another reasons, but then again, India have so many potential pupils that can be used for many purposes, aside from theatrical one, since some of them are controversial.
I think Indian people, like Japan, have many ethics. They say that poking shoulder is deemed inappropiate and considered a sexual offense. Even a simple mouth-to-mouth kissing is considered pornography. There are so many things that are common in either United Kingdom or United States that could be either inappropiate or have a certain ethics before in India.
So yes, the idea of "Suffering Woman turned into Great Woman" is a great thing from India, so long as it's still a sensible idea. As for the other film in this post? Well, I say they're "beyond comprehension", that's all.
I don’t watch Bollywood movie. I don’t really like watching about a movie that most of the story line is about love, dancing and singing. And I also think that almost all of the movie’s story lines are the same. But, not for Three Idiots Movie. I found this Indian movie is interesting. The story is about three best friends that have to struggle facing problems of their college life to chase their dream. This movie is very touching. That’s my favorite Indian movie. After reading this article, I know that the Bollywood movie is in their way to improve the quality of their entertainment, especially movie. Changes are not always bad thing. And also, entertainment is all about creativity. So, there’s no doubt that producers are making more creative movie. About putting some sex scene, I think many people still consider it as taboo. I think, we need to add more educational things in movie. And again, it will back to ourselves to decide what kind of movie we will watch.
ReplyDeleteOne thing that I remembered the most about my childhood was when one of the helper in my house watch Bollywood movie while doing her works. I used to watch any Bollywood movie that aired in the television with her and I used to found it interesting too, especially when the boys and the girls singing and dancing together and the most memorable scene was when the main girl circle a pillar (they used to have that scene in almost every movie that I watch). At that time I don't really understand why they're watching it, but now I can assume the reason why they're watching it was because of the unrealistic happy ending. Now I can't say that I enjoy that type of movie, because truthfully I think that people need to be more realistic about their lives. Even though I'm not a frequent watcher of Bollywood movie, I do have a favorite movie which is called "The Three Idiots." I think that movie portrayed the changing in Bollywood world and even though the story and the ending were a little bit impossible to happen but I really appreciate their differences with any other Bollywood movie.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I don’t really watch Bollywood movies. Its unrealistic plot, exaggerated scenes and characters, excessive singing and group dancing between pillars, and the cliché storyline bore me. My first ever Indian movie was Kuch Kuch Hota Hai which was very popular back on 1998. I watched this film together with my maid at home when I was little. To be honest, the only thing that I remembered about that movie was the song. It got stuck into my head up until now.
ReplyDeleteHowever, despite of my critics about Indian movie, I do have my own favorite. My Name Is Khan is probably the best one that I’ve ever watched, and Slumdog Millionaire goes second. The movie is about a Muslim man named Khan that is mentally ‘different’ facing discrimination as he lives in The United States due to the 9/11 incident. It was a touching movie as Shah Rukh Khan portrays how the main character struggles for justice despite of his Asperger syndrome. I have to admit, Indian movies are starting to be more realistic, and enjoyable for the global audience. The Indian movie industry must’ve realized the existence of global market wherein audience craves for good quality movies.
I once watched a Bollywood movie and it was, let’s say, quite okay. Besides the fact that you know how the story will work out in the end it is pretty hilarious to watch the whole drama and the beautiful rouged dancers. Once in school we had to read and watch the film “Bend it like Beckham” in our English course. It is of course not only a Bollywood movie but it has some elements in it like the popular “rain scene” when all the dancers are standing in the rain, getting wet and everybody is happy again.
ReplyDeleteI saw many Indonesians watching Bollywood movies and when I asked them they admitted that they love them. Now and then I would agree to watch such a movie but I can’t understand the hype behind it. But surely, it is relaxing to settle down on your couch and watch it, knowing that it has some turbulences but in the end everybody is happy and it gives you a good feeling and maybe some hope even for your personal situation if you have a secret lover.
I still remember how I used to watch Bollywood movie that is aired on national television and I watched it with my maid also my sister. Although I don't really get what's the point of the movie, since all I remember they are just dancing and singing in all of sudden. I don't know why my maid are watching that kind of stuffs and this got me curious too, how do they memorize the song from the Bollywood movie. It's quite catchy I have to say, the one that i remember the most is Koi Mil Gaya. I remember that Shahrukh Khan is the one who sang that song, since he's the only Indian actor that I know. I can't say that I hate Indian movie, but lately I've been watching some Indian movies like My Name is Khan, The 3 Idiots and Taare Zameen Par. I think that Indian movie has improved not only dancing or singing anymore but it contains a valuable lessons, just like in Taree Zameen Par movie it tells about a dyslexic kid who always end up getting scolded at school for being disruptive and is sent to a boarding school. Things get worse, but then there's a teacher who teach him to be creative through art rather than being a disruptive student. The ending of the Indian movie that used to be unrealistic now it started become more realistic. I agree with Stephanie's opinion, The Indian movie industry may have already realized about the existence of global market so they started to produce a good quality movies and have realistic ending.
ReplyDeleteLoosely speaking, I am not too interested with Indian movie which called “Bollywood” movie. Well, I ever watch Bollywood long time ago. It was around my elementary school year. Hearing about “Bollywood” is just remembering me about drama. The unrealistic love dramas full of singing and dancing. I think that most of people also have the same opinion about Bollywood, like Winnie and Thalita said.
ReplyDeleteAnd I really agree with Winnie if the low education people love to see the Bollywood drama. My maid also loves to see the Bollywood drama when I was in my elementary school. I still remember that before my swim course, I waited in my maid’s room and watched the Bollywood together. That’s sounds really funny.
People with higher education are too lazy to watch that kind of movie. They think that this is not educated movie. Just like crap, losing their time. They prefer to watch the western movie. Is that called “Hollywood”? Or Hollywood and Bollywood are just the same? I still confused about it.
It is the same as Telenovela. It is also a romantic movie full of love story and drama. The story is easy to be known because all of the stories are just the same. Well, not the same, but look alike. So, sometimes it is boring.
Personally, I also prefer to watch Western movie to the Bollywood, Telenovela, or Sinetron because the western movie educates people. It makes us to think twice and there are lots of the idea we can have for a better life.
Frankly speaking, when I read the headline, I laugh a bit, cause you know, that the headline is simply true. Yeah, same as Stephanie, I'm so not into Indian films. They are all (for me) completely rubbish. Just the same as Indonesian 'sinetron', the rich fell in love with the poor, which probably would NEVER happen. And one thing I hate about Indian films are, they are singing and dancing way too much. My ears are hurting and my eyes are tired of listen them singing and dancing. They made such a musical drama which I will be sleeping instead, if I were asked for watching it. Besides, when they are singing, some TV in indonesia putting the subs in Indian, which on earth, I don't understand, not even a word. Like "kuch kuch hota hae". What does that means? I don't even put my interest to know what the meanings are. No offense, but this is what I think about the Indian films.
ReplyDeleteI once enjoyed watching Bollywood movies when I was around 6 years old. My grandmother used to watch it everyday and she would asked me to join her. I like dancing and singing so somehow now I get why I used to like it haha. Until now, I actually only watched one full Bollywood movie. Because when I try to watch any different tittle, it will end the same way. Always happy ending. I didn't get why Bollywood movies always have happy ending. But then I know from this article that the film industries want to create hopes for Indians. It says there that many Indians still live under conditions of extreme poverty. And these movies are what they ran away to, from the bitterness of their lives. I feel sorry to hear about this.
ReplyDeleteI think that India has to slowly remove the tradition to marry someone only from the same caste. Bali has the same tradition like that. But Bali is developing so much recently that a lot of people 'ignored' the tradition and nothing bad really happened. I don't think that this is a bad thing because in the end we just have to do it if we want to develop more. If we are surrounded by the same people for the rest of our lives (especially village people), we will not develop; we will not discover and learn more.
Bollywood movies always identic with dancing and singing I have a secret when I was child I had a fight with my baby sitter because I want to eat and she accompany me eating in front of the tv and then I want to watch a cartoon but suddenly she change the channel to india movie I was angry and tell my mother about it and my mother told my baby sitter to not to change the channel again when I watching tv and after that when I arrived from school she quickly change the channel froom Bollywood movies into another shows in order to not make me angry and don’t’ want to take my lunch. but I must admit that the quality of Bollywood movies are getting better because nowadays lot of Bollywood movies got an award at the international movies award events so I hope that Indonesia movie will do the same someday.
ReplyDeleteWatching Bollywood movies has been one of my guilty pleasures since childhood. I used to watch it often with my babysitter when I was in elementary. Though sometimes annoying, there's something about the whimsical and euphoric style of the movies that enchants me, especially those unusually high-pitched singing done by the women with the saris (Indian clothing).
ReplyDeleteThroughout the time, I started to realize that maybe the hip-hip-huzzah style of movies that Bollywood producers like to make is to create a way for the majority of Indian citizens, who are impoverished, to escape the harsh reality of life. The producers, however, started to improvise the style of movies and making more films with more human interest values and/or with genre closer to hollywood, such as Three Idiots, Slumdog Millionaire, Delhi Belly, and Endhiran, one of the best films that India's ever made.
I'm totally agree with him about watching Bollywood movies has been one of my guilty pleasures since childhood. And I also used to watch it with my babysitter who introduced me to that kind of movie. Until now, I still remember several Bollywood soundtrack that's really easy listening.
DeleteAbout Indian movie, I directly remember about my childhood where i watched the film with my cousin. I really like the movie setting, and I think, bollywood has reach their "gold-period" in about 1998-2000. What I still remember is about how the setting of the movie, like in exagerrating the problems, for example a woman feel so upset and there coming rain, it is such a good setting. Also when a couple started to sing a song with their Indian dance and music, it is a part of Indian film which I still remember until now. The effect is song like Kuch-kuch hota hai is still glued in head. Indian film industry has contribute in world movie industry with their unique music and dance. The setting about how to set a sad scene, a happy scene, and like how set a conflict has influenced in a world wide movie setting. I think Indian film was not bad, and even Indian film has reach their gold on their period.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was still in Kindergarten, I often watched Indian movies. Because, after I got home, my maid always turned on the TV and watched Indian movies. But, personally, I don’t really like it. Because of mostly, Indians movies’ storyline are the same. So it’s like watching the same movies but with different actors and actress. That opinion is based on what I felt in Kindergarten when watching Indian movies. Like this statement says “Bollywood films are very often seen as reinforcing and reflecting the values of a patriarchal culture with women portrayed in stereotypical roles. Top Indian director Shekhar Kapur agrees. "We hang on to this idea of the Suffering Woman that in her suffering that she would be the Great Woman." Now, I never watch Indian movies. I don’t have the time to watch it, and not interested either. I prefer watch Hollywood movies. Sometimes, the storylines are unpredictable, and not always ended with happy ending, which is the most Indian movies do. But now I know why Indian movies are always ended with happy ending “Some cultural commentators maintain the country's mainstream film industry produces fantasy because, despite improvements, many Indians still live under conditions of extreme poverty.” And like as Kareena Kapoor stated, they believe in escapist cinema. They like to get away from the harsh reality of things. They’re constantly escaping the truth and looking for entertainment. Maybe, I should spare some time to watch Indian movies, so my opinion can be changed. Thank you for reading.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the statement that said Bollywood movies are always showing about fantasy and love affair. The most common scenario in love category for Bollywood movies are when the main male character is dying because getting shot on the body, and then he suddenly gets up to fight the enemies, finally he saved his lover and live happily ever after. Oh, don't forget that all the actor and actress will dance just before the movie end.
ReplyDeleteI also agree that Bollywood movies are made with a lot of fantasy because there still a lot of indians live under the conditons of extreme poverty. People need some entertainment for them to feel like a short moment far away from reality. I agreed because like what Gerald said, I feel eouphry feelings when I hear Bollywood’s songs, it feels like I’m listening to Pink Floyd’s songs hahaha.
Although India's movie includes a lot of love affair, the movies still have some boundaries for sex scene and showing gay materials, in my opinion India's movies industry will have their freedom of showing what they want.
Although I am not Bollywood movies enthusiast, but I agree to a remark that in general Indian movie industry are unable to capture the ongoing situation and prefer to falls onto stereotype story and characters. That fantasy and over dramatic story are still being emphasized by the major movie makers. While I also notice about certain audience prefer to see comfort and entertaining movie rather than reality or not necessarily a happy-ending story, but not all. I doubt on connection between the continuity of making fantasy movie for those living under poverty. Does poor have in-house television? Or even visiting cinema for movie? To me, it is more like low-cost movie production with an existence manner narrative have not too much risks, and maybe still profitable. That how it seems the movie makers will exist within the industry. In other hand, audiences don’t have so much choice available. People are looking for entertainment anyway, especially with Indian are becoming more prosperous, nowadays.
ReplyDeleteI accept to rather promising views from middle-class level about their wish to bring Indian movie sentiment into more commonsense and reality as well as delivering more global issues rather than cliches. But I think Indian society would need some times for these changes, as all of those evolution in the world took place. Some taboos would still remain as people resistance, such as same gender relationship or any sexual exposure pictures. As these are still regarded as ill-value within their society. It would not be wise to duplicate Hollywood without keeping their traditional and valuable aspects of life, anyway. Because it would never picture Indian real-life anymore and again falling to another western -fantasy, if they do so. Recommending more issue on gender equality and presenting genuine gestures will likely to be preferred, while keeping their well-known dancing won’t hurt either!
Bollywood is really popular back then in Indonesia, but the popularity has decreased a lot now. As we can see that there is not much channels that play this kind of movie anymore, we rarely see it. Unlike several years ago, we can see Bollywood movie was played almost every day. The most unique thing of Bollywood movie that we can clearly see is the singing and dancing. Every sad or happy moment always expresses in singing and dancing. In a situation, the main actor and actress fall in love with each other. They will sing a happy song and dance in a park. There are a lot of back dancers behind them. They will hold each other’s hand, spin around and laugh together. In another situation, the main actress is broken heart. She will sing a sad song in the rain and cry while dancing. She will spin around and fall to the ground. I know that it really contains a lot of drama. The similarity of Indian movie and Indonesia movie is both of the stories are pretty easy to be guessed.
ReplyDeleteBollywood is well known as Indian movies industry that has been developed rapidly since 1930. The movies without dancing and singing are completely nothing. The music and setting plays an important role in every session. Music is the soul of the film. Honestly, I have to say that bollywood movies are sometimes like Indonesian movies, it’s really easy knowing what will happen next, even before we finish watching them. Through many critics and comments of it’s plot, concept, and theme. Nowdays, several bollywood movies such as Slumdog Millionaire, 3 Idiots, Dabangg 2 and so on can be categorized as top 3 the best bollywood movies of all time by Box Office Collection. But we can’t also deny most of bollywood movies still hard to break away from the monotony concept about love sanctioned, triangles love, family conflict, etc. But, try something new to break the ‘mainstream’ that has been created over the years, is totally a good idea for the movies industry in India. Hopefully, someday the bollywood’s fans might grow and the movies quality are better than what we turn to expected before.
ReplyDeleteBollywood and Hollywood, there are many extreme differences between these two productions of movies. I only watch less than seven Bollywood film and I think the focus and what makes the Bollywood different with others kind of film are the strong India’s culture in the film. The culture are how they singing and dancing. There are many musical films with singing and dancing but Bollywood films have their own unique characteristics. Even though the background of the film is in Europe countries, they still do not lose their India’s culture and I really salute for them not to lose the identity. After I read the article, I think again and I realise that it is true that many of the Bollywood film I watch do not really reveal the reality of India itself. Changes can be good and bad, it is depends on the culture of that place. In my personal opinions, they do not need to make a film that portrait about gay.
ReplyDeleteI have never watched a “Bollywood movie“. I might be mistaken since I don’t really watch a lot of television, but I think Bollywood movies are not very popular on German TV or in Germany in general. Nevertheless, I would like to comment on the first part of the article. "We believe in escapist cinema. We like to get away from the harsh reality of things. We are constantly escaping the truth and looking for entertainment." I think escaping the reality can also be a good thing in terms of taking a break and gaining new energy. Of course the movies should not reflect on woman in a bad way and you cannot constantly escape the reality. I actually like the fact that sexual scenes are not really shown in movies. Nowadays, especially American movies are so full of sex and gory scenes that I sometimes feel like the authors forgot about story and content.
ReplyDeleteI remember when I was child, my maid was a fan of Bollywood and she liked to watch some Bollywood films with me, even I didn't get it why so many people were dancing and running behind the trees all of a sudden. There was a Bollywood film that you should remember since the film was really popular back then. It's Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, which was starring the famous Sharukh Khan and Kajol. It was released in 1998 and it's the most memorable Bollywood film I've ever watched.
ReplyDeleteBollywood movie is known for the dancing and singing in most of its scenes. The conflict actually isn't really complicated but the dancing and singing itself which makes the film interesting. Well, I think if the Bollywood lovers can accept it and enjoy watching the film with those dancing and singing scenes, it's okay. I’d also like to watch western film ‘High School Musical’ and the musical TV series ‘Glee’ yet my friends said both of them aren’t really different from Bollywood since they have many dancing and singing scenes. Well... I’m not bothered at all
Indian movies are usually contained with so many dancing and singing, and it spend for like 3 hours per movie. The plot and the ending of the story usually just same with the other Indian movies, which makes it easy to be guess. But what I like from Indian movies, they still consider some cultural point of view and still not evolve the scenes that the society consider to be called taboo, such as sex scene. Even though usually Indian movies are way too dramatic (imagine, whenever the movie character feel something, they will sing a song and dancing with a lot of people! Or every time the main character feel sad, the rain will pouring down), I have to admit that some of Indian movies are very touching and also worth to be watch, such as: 3 Idiots, My Name is Khan, and Slumdog Millionaire. Those 3 movies can make me laugh and cry at the same time.
ReplyDelete“Bollywood” is a generic term that conglomerates the film and its industry in Bombay. However, by convention in discourses, Bollywood is often used inclusively to refer to the entire Indian cinema as one genre. (http://www.academia.edu/attachments/3438176/download_file)
ReplyDeleteMainstream. That is the thing about Bollywood to me. Every movie has the same storyline. You can not deny this.
There are so many issues in the world but Bollywood, somehow, IS ALWAYS a love story between middle aged actress (falling in love) with a hero who looks like her kid brother. Then you will get to see them dancing for like every 20 minutes. And no matter where they are (in the mall, in the campus, at a wedding party) people WILL ALWAYS start dancing with the protagonist. HAH.
Oh and there will always be a fighting scene with a fake fighting sound and hey the hero will always manages to lose his shirt. And I need to stop. It gets pretty bad every time I talk about Bollywood. It is just so b*d.
Oh yeah and good luck finding any of these genres : gothic, horror, and suspense. But I’d recommend they would not try though. It will only get worse. Stay with romance, Bollywood.