Bollywood India: Hollywood of the East www.deekpay.com

IndiaIt is one of the largest film producers in the world, with studios across the country producing films in more than two dozen languages. Bollywood is the largest Hindi language film industry.

About Bollywood

Bollywood, often referred to as the Bombay film industry, is a film industry based in Mumbai, India. It was founded in 1932 by Dadasaheb Phalke and is the largest film industry in the world, producing around 1,000 films a year. With profits of up to $2 billion, the Hindi film Sholay is one of the most popular films of all time.

The Origins of Bollywood

The name Bollywood comes from Bombay (now Mumbai) in India. Bollywood is the Bombay film industry (Hindi film industry in India). The name "Bollywood" was coined in the 1970s. It is the largest film industry in India and the world in terms of films produced and distributed annually. The term Bollywood originated when the Indian film industry overtook the Hollywood film industry.

In 1896, brothers Auguste Lumière and Louis Lumière came to Bombay to introduce cinematography. And, Bombay became the centre of the Hindi film industry in India. In 1913, Dadasaheb Phalke, the father of Hindi cinema, produced his first feature film, Raja Harishchandra. The first Hindi film with a soundtrack was Alam Ara, which premiered in 1931.

Since 2000, Bollywood dance and cinema has gained increasing international recognition thanks to the growing NRI and overseas Indian community. Popularity continues to grow with new talent.

A Brief History of Bollywood

The history of the Indian film industry dates back to 1913 and since then it has been registering steady growth.

1. Early development: The first feature-length film produced in India was the 1913 silent film Raja Harishchandra, directed by Dadasaheb Phalke. The first sound film was released in 1931, at a time when India was producing more than 100 films a year.

2. Golden Age: In 1947, India gained independence from British rule and the country was divided into the Republic of India and Pakistan. From then on, the Indian film industry entered what historians call the Golden Age of Hindi cinema. Mehboob Khan's Mother India (1957) became the first Indian film to be nominated for an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. Many of the Hindi films of this period dealt with social issues such as class and boosted the careers of film stars such as Dilip Kumar, Raj Kapoor and Dave Anand.

3. Formation of Bollywood: The term "Bollywood" was coined in the 1970s. During this period, the conventions of Bollywood cinema were established, such as the masala film (which freely mixes the genres of romance, melodrama, comedy and musical) and the violent crime film (which explores the seedy underbelly of Indian society). In the 1980s, the Indian film industry produced about 800 films a year, making it the largest in the world.

4. Bollywood today: After stagnating in the 1980s, Bollywood experienced growth in the 1990s with the liberalisation of the Indian economy. Production budgets increased, and films often featured lavish sets in international locations. Today, Bollywood films are released in cinemas across the globe and on numerous streaming platforms.

5 Famous Bollywood Actors

Bollywood films are star-centric and the most famous Bollywood actors include:

Shah Rukh Khan: Known as the "King of Bollywood", Shah Rukh Khan has appeared in more than 100 films since the 1990s. He is known for playing romantic leads and has a large Indian and international following. Amitabh Bachchan: Amitabh Bachchan has appeared in over 200 films since the 1970s and is considered one of the most influential figures in Indian cinema. Priyanka Chopra Jonas: Priyanka Chopra Jonas is one of the highest paid artistes in India today, having appeared in Bollywood and Hollywood films and TV shows. She is married to musician Nick Jonas. Akshay Kumar: Akshay Kumar has appeared in over 100 films in the last three decades and is known for playing lead roles in action films. Madhuri Dixit: Dance is an important feature of Bollywood cinema and Madhuri Dixit is a classically trained dancer and an outstanding actress who has appeared in more than 70 films, especially in the 80s and 90s. (Other notable Bollywood dancers include Hrithik Roshan, Malaika Arora Khan, Shahid Kapoor and Katrina Kaif.)

8 Famous Bollywood Films

Bollywood produces more than 1,000 films every year, famously known as Bollywood films:

Pyaasa (1957): A classic of 1950s cinema, Pyaasa (meaning 'thirst' in Hindi) tells the story of an idealistic poet's struggle. Produced, directed by and starring Guru Dutt, the film has an enduring soundtrack by renowned music director SD Burman. Mother India (1957) : Starring Nargis, Rajendra Kumar and Sunil Dutt, Mother India tells the story of the exploitation of farmers in rural India. It was the first Hindi film to be nominated for an Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film. Sholay (1975): written by Indian screenwriting duo Salim Khan and Javed Akhtar, Sholay was influenced by westerns and tells the story of two criminals (played by Dharmendra and Amitabh Bachchan) trying to catch a bandit (played by Amjad Khan). Amar Akbar Anthony (1977): this 70s comedy tells the story of three brothers (played by Amitabh Bachchan, Vinod Khanna and Rishi Kapoor) who are born apart and raised in different faiths. Rainy Season Wedding (2001) : Mira Nair's Rainy Season Wedding combines comedy and drama, set against the backdrop of a lavish Indian wedding in Delhi. While it has many of the typical characteristics of popular masala films, including elaborate choreography and music, it also features realistic dialogue and tackles tough social issues. The film was nominated for a Golden Globe Award. Dil Chahta Hai (2001): This coming-of-age film directed by Farhan Akhtar stars Aamir Khan, Akshaye Khanna and Saif Ali Khan as three young men from Mumbai. The film's characters are rooted in Western liberal values, especially when it comes to drinking and sex, which is a departure from earlier masala films that usually put family first. Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham... (2001): director Karan Johar directed this melodrama starring a group of superstars, including Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, Hrithik Roshan and Kareena Kapoor, who portrayed a family broken up over the marriage of their son to a woman. woman from a lower socio-economic group. Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham was emblematic of the big-budget films of the era, delving into the lives of the super-rich and featuring elaborate sets, costumes and choreography. Go India! (2007) : This sports film stars Shah Rukh Khan as a disgraced hockey captain who coaches the women's hockey team.