Hindi cinema

Hindi Cinema: The Heart of Indian Entertainment

Imagine a world where the magic of storytelling and music come together to create a spectacle that captivates millions. That’s Bollywood, the vibrant film industry based in Mumbai, India, which produces motion pictures in Hindi. Isn’t it fascinating how this term ‘Bollywood’ is actually a portmanteau of ‘Bombay’ and ‘Hollywood’?

Bollywood produced 1,986 feature films in 2017, with 364 being in Hindi. In 2022, Hindi cinema represented 33% of box office revenue. This industry is one of the largest centers for film production in the world, and it’s a testament to its enduring appeal.

The Evolution of Hindi Films

Traditionally, Hindi films have used vernacular Hindustani and later Hinglish. The most popular genre is masala film, which mixes different genres including action, comedy, romance, drama, and melodrama with musical numbers. Masala films are a subset of musical films, and Indian cinema has been the largest producer since the 1960s.

Parallel cinema, presenting realistic content without musical numbers, also exists alongside commercial masala films. The distinction between commercial masala and parallel cinema is blurring, with increasing mainstream films adopting parallel cinema conventions.

The Birth of ‘Bollywood’

The term ‘Bollywood’ was probably invented in Bombay-based film trade journals in the 1960s or 1970s. It has been criticized by some film journalists and critics who believe it implies that the industry is a poor cousin of Hollywood. But isn’t it intriguing how this term has stuck, becoming synonymous with the heart of Indian entertainment?

A Historical Journey

Indian cinema’s early history dates back to 1897, with Professor Stevenson’s stage show at Calcutta’s Star Theatre featuring Hiralal Sen’s first film, The Flower of Persia (1898). Dadasaheb Phalke’s silent film Raja Harishchandra (1913) is the first feature-length film made in India. The Indian film industry underwent significant changes from the 1930s to the 1960s, driven by technological advancements and social shifts.

By the 1930s, the industry was producing over 200 films per year, with Ardeshir Irani’s Alam Ara (1931) being the first Indian sound film. The Great Depression, World War II, and India’s independence movement had a significant impact on the industry during the 1940s.

The decade saw an expansion of Bombay cinema’s commercial market and its presence in the national consciousness. Films like Kismet (1943), which became a blockbuster hit, tackled contemporary issues related to Indian Independence. Bimal Roy, Sahir Ludhianvi, and Prithviraj Kapoor participated in creating a national movement against colonial rule.

The 1940s also saw the migration of filmmakers and actors from Lahore and Calcutta to Bombay due to partition violence. This led to Bombay becoming the center of Hindustani-language film production.

The Golden Age

The late 1940s to the early 1960s is regarded as the Golden Age of Hindi cinema, with critically acclaimed films like Pyaasa (1957), Kaagaz Ke Phool (1959), Awaara (1951), Shree 420 (1955), and Mother India (1957). These films explored social themes, primarily dealing with working-class life in India.

Mother India was the first Indian film to be nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. The period saw a genre of dacoit films, including Gunga Jumna (1961), and epic films like Mughal-e-Azam (1960). Dilip Kumar pioneered method acting, influencing future actors such as Amitabh Bachchan and Naseeruddin Shah.

Parallel Cinema

The 1950s also saw the emergence of a parallel cinema movement, led by Bengali cinema but gaining prominence in Hindi cinema. Films like Dharti Ke Lal (1946), Neecha Nagar (1946), and Bimal Roy’s Do Bigha Zamin (1953) paved the way for Indian neorealism.

Hindi films frequently competed at Cannes during the 1950s and early 1960s, with Guru Dutt receiving belated international recognition in the 1980s. The industry was dominated by musical romance films with romantic-hero leads until the arrival of screenwriting duo Salim-Javed, who revitalized the industry with gritty, violent crime films.

The 1970s: A New Era

The 1970s saw a shift to ‘angry young man’ films, popularized by Amitabh Bachchan and Salim-Javed’s writing. Films like Zanjeer (1973) and Deewaar (1975) reinterpreted rural themes in an urban context, reflecting the socio-economic and socio-political climate of 1970s India.

The name ‘Bollywood’ was coined during the 1970s, defining the conventions of commercial Hindi films. Actresses from this era include Hema Malini, Jaya Bachchan, Raakhee, Shabana Azmi, Zeenat Aman, Parveen Babi, and Rekha. Key to this was the masala film, which combines a number of genres (action, comedy, romance, drama, melodrama, and musical). The masala film was pioneered early in the decade by filmmaker Nasir Hussain and the Salim-Javed screenwriting duo, pioneering the Bollywood-blockbuster format.

The 2000s: A New Dawn

By the 2000s, Hindi cinema experienced another period of box-office decline due to concerns over violence and video piracy. However, films like Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak (1988) and blockbusters like Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995), introduced a new generation of actors, including Aamir Khan, Shah Rukh Khan, and Salman Khan.

The decade marked the entrance of new performers in art and independent films. The most influential example was Satya (1998), directed by Ram Gopal Varma and written by Anurag Kashyap, which led to the emergence of a genre known as Mumbai noir: urban films reflecting the city’s social problems. This led to a resurgence of parallel cinema by the end of the decade.

Global Influence

Hindi cinema’s greatest influence has been on India’s national identity, becoming part of the ‘Indian story’. Indian films played a key role in shaping the Republic of India’s national identity in the early years after independence. Bollywood has long influenced Indian society and culture, with many trends being inspired by the industry.

Hindi films have also had a socio-political impact on Indian society, reflecting Indian politics. Hindi films are primarily musicals with catchy song-and-dance numbers woven into the script. A film’s success often depends on the quality of these numbers. Indian audiences expect value for money in a good film, referred to as paisa vasool, combining action, comedy, and romance.

Modern Challenges

The industry faces several financial challenges including funding from private distributors and unregulated finances. Illegitimate sources such as the Mumbai underworld also influence the film industry. Widespread copyright infringement is a significant problem, with bootleg DVD copies available before cinema releases and estimated annual losses of $100 million for Bollywood.

Despite these challenges, Bollywood continues to thrive, reaching new heights in production values, cinematography, and screenwriting. The genre has impacted the US, particularly Monroe Township in New Jersey, which saw rapid growth of its Indian population. Bollywood’s influence extended to Western musical films, such as Moulin Rouge!, and inspired composers like A. R. Rahman and produced music for shows like Bombay Dreams.

Bollywood films have popularity among Indians living abroad in Nigeria, Senegal, Egypt, Russia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Afghanistan, Southeast Asia, and China. In South Asia, Bollywood films are popular in Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Nepal due to linguistic similarities. In Afghanistan, Shah Rukh Khan, Ajay Devgan, Sunny Deol, Aishwarya Rai, Preity Zinta, and Madhuri Dixit are popular actors.

In Southeast Asia, the three Khans (Salman, Shah Rukh, and Aamir) are popular in Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand. Indian cinema’s early contacts with other regions led to its introduction to Western audiences and producers during the late 20th century. Some Bollywood films have been widely appreciated in China, Japan, and South Korea.

Bollywood is a global cultural ambassador of India, comparable to Hollywood’s role with American influence. The genre has impacted the US, particularly Monroe Township in New Jersey, which saw rapid growth of its Indian population. Bollywood’s influence extended to Western musical films, such as Moulin Rouge!, and inspired composers like A. R. Rahman and produced music for shows like Bombay Dreams.

Bollywood films are multi-million dollar productions with budgets up to ₹ 1 billion. Sets, costumes, special effects, and cinematography were less than world-class until the mid-to-late 1990s. Recent films have employed international technicians and crews.

The popularity of Bollywood in the former Soviet Union dates back to the post-World War II era, when Indian films provided a cheap source of entertainment for the masses. The Soviet government praised Bollywood’s positive portrayal of family values, and the films were dubbed into Russian and shown throughout the Soviet Union. After the collapse of the Soviet film-distribution system, Hollywood filled the void in the Russian market, but Bollywood maintained its popularity in Poland and other Eastern European countries.

Indian filmmakers have been successful in adapting to Australian locations and culture in their films, incorporating local settings and themes into their stories. The Indian diaspora in Australia has also helped to promote Bollywood films among non-Indians, contributing to the genre’s growing popularity in the country.

Bollywood films are regularly screened in Dubai cinemas, and Bollywood is becoming popular in the Middle East. In North Africa, Hindi films were popular during the 1970s and 1980s but were later restricted by the Egyptian government. Due to significant South Asian diaspora communities in some countries, Hindi-language movies have become popular.

Bollywood films influenced Hausa clothing and culture in Nigeria and were also popular among Indian expatriates. The first Bollywood film shot in Mauritius was Souten in 1983. Several Bollywood figures have traveled to Africa for projects, including Padmashree Laloo Prasad Yadav and Dil Jo Bhi Kahey. However, Bollywood’s popularity in Africa has declined due to more explicit content and Westernization.

In Western Europe and North America, Bollywood is appreciated in France, Germany, the Netherlands, and Scandinavia, with Shah Rukh Khan being a recognized actor in Germany. Bollywood has experienced revenue growth in Canada and the United States, particularly in South Asian communities. Indian films earn more money in the US than any other non-English speaking country.

Plagiarism is common in Hindi cinema, with writers and musicians copying ideas, plot lines, tunes, or riffs from other industries or foreign films without acknowledgment. Copyright enforcement has improved, but plagiarism remains a problem due to lax laws and pressure to produce successful films quickly. Some studios comply with copyright law, such as Orion Pictures remaking Hollywood’s Wedding Crashers in 2008.

The Pakistani Qawwali musician Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan had a significant impact on Hindi film music in the 1990s, inspiring numerous Indian musicians working in Bollywood. However, there were instances of plagiarism, including Viju Shah’s song ‘Tu Cheez Badi Hai Mast Mast’ being plagiarized from Khan’s Qawwali song ‘Dam Mast Qalandar.’

Bollywood soundtracks also plagiarized Guinean singer Mory Kanté, particularly his 1987 album Akwaba Beach. His songs inspired two Bollywood songs: ‘Tamma Tamma’ in Thanedaar and ‘Jumma Chumma’ in Hum.

The music director Anu Malik claimed that he loved Khan’s music and was showing admiration by using his tunes, but Khan reported being aggrieved when Malik adapted his spiritual song ‘Allah Hoo, Allah Hoo.’