Bollywood is the term that refers to the Indian film industry,an industry that produces more films annually than Hollywood. Thecenter of Indian cinema is in Bombay, which is how the nameBollywood came about.
The typical Indian movie features a love story among twohopeless romantics, who, in between their quixotic dialogues, takepart in spectacular song and dance performances. Any Hollywoodmovie of this nature would not be successful, because Hollywoodmovies thrive on reality, while Bollywood movies thrive on fantasy.Why are millions of people of South Asian origin, mainly Indians,Pakistanis and Bengalis addicted to this mode of entertainment? Theanswer is simple – escapism.
People of all classes watch Indian movies for the sole purposeof being entertained by stories and characters that are larger thanlife. It is true that every form of entertainment provides someescape from reality, but what an Indian movie offers the people ofthe Indian subcontinent cannot be matched. When one enters thetheater for one of these three hour films, he or she braces for ajourney into a world of fantasy that involves melodious tunes,colorful cinematography and actors and actresses who, along withtheir good looks, can hold an audience’s attention withexcellent performances.
The success of these films has spawned a new-age culture to anarea of the world that is already rich in traditions and customs.People want to now dress and look like the stars of these movies.They want to sing and dance the same way their favorite actor oractress does on screen. The songs from these films can be heard atweddings around the world while choreographed dances are done byfamily members and friends. The fact that America’s very ownBroadway carries a musical about the Indian film industry called”Bombay Dreams” is just another testament to theglobalization of Indian cinema.
In an area that has seen its share of wars due to religiousdifferences and spars between the neighboring countries of Pakistanand India, the movies have shown that they have the power to bringpeople together, while some, unfortunately, focus on topics thatenhance the divisions.
The film “Main Hoon Na,” (I Am Here Now) which wasreleased early this year and stars India’s highest paidactor, Shah Rukh Khan, is a lighthearted film on the comingtogether of India and Pakistan. A few weeks later the film”Lakshya,” (Target) was released and focused on arecent war between the two countries and even caused a few brawlsin theaters among Indians and Pakistanis.
For the most part, however, the movies bring people of allbackgrounds together. Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Christians,Pakistanis, Bengalis and Indians all gather together in cinemahouses around the world for evenings of singing, dancing andromance. Khan, who is the top actor, is a Muslim, while the topactress, Ashwariya Rai, is a Hindu. Indian cinema has provided acommon ground among a diverse group of people and will hopefullycontinue to unite and not divide people who share the sameentertainment value.
