In basic terms, Bollywood is the Hindi-language part of the Indian moviemaking industry. It is based in Mumbai, India (formerly known as Bombay), which is like the LA of India. In fact, the term Bollywood is actually a mashup of the words “Bombay” and “Hollywood”.
Yes, India is a vast country with many different languages, and Bollywood is indeed among its most prominent movie industries, but it’s definitely not the only one!
Tamil and Telegu cinema make big films too. They are smaller based on the number of films they produce each year, but they still pull their weight in terms of their percent of the Indian net box-office revenues. Bollywood does indeed make the most in revenue, but that shouldn’t be a surprise since Hindi is the national language of India, whereas Tamil and Telegu are only state-wide languages in the south. The funny thing about Bollywood is that it makes Hindi films, but is based out of the central state of Maharashtra, whose primary language is Marathi. Figure that one out!
A Taste of Bollywood Cinema
Once you watch a few Bollywood movies, it doesn’t take long to become a full-time movie buff.
You will see yourself through the eyes of Raj, who will come to rescue his Simran, like in the 1995 musical romance film Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (transl. “The Big-Hearted Will Take the Bride”), one of the most famous Bollywood movies of all time. Also known by the initials DDLJ, the film features Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol. It was directed by Aditya Chopra in his directorial debut and was produced by his father Yash Chopra.
Or you will want to embrace Zaara, for whom Veer leaves his entire world behind, like in the 2004 epic romantic drama Veer-Zaara, directed by Yash Chopra, who co-produced it with his son Aditya Chopra. It stars Shah Rukh Khan and Preity Zinta as the star-crossed lovers from India and Pakistan.
You will feel the pain of a father training his daughters for a national Gold medal, like in the movie Dangall (transl. “Wrestling Competition”). Dangal is a 2016 biopic about an amateur wrestler, played by Amir Khan, who trains his two daughters to become India’s first world-class female wrestlers.
If there’s one thing about Bollywood movies you must know, it is that they will make you cheer, cry, and cringe all at the same time!
The Masala Film
The most popular commercial genre of Hindi films since the 1970s has been the masala film, which mixes action, comedy, romance, and drama, along with musical numbers.
Inevitably, every masala film has a heroic storyline with a love interest. And, of course, there will be plenty of drama. But they all have their heart in the right place. The math is simple. Good almost always triumphs over evil in the end.
Yes, recently, things have started to change. People are getting attracted to movies with strong themes that have less song and dance. From mythologies to social movies, the industry is starting to cater to different tastes. But the popularity of masala entertainers hasn’t wavered. And it doesn’t look like that’s about to change any time soon.
If you want to get a true taste of Bollywood, you should start with a masala film. No pun intended. These movies will really introduce you to the world of Bollywood in its full glory.
Actors To Watch Out For
No, we cannot believe you haven’t yet heard of Shahrukh Khan! Who doesn’t know the man from DDLJ who spread his arms wide and made women of all ages long for him? Shahrukh Khan, better known as the King of Romance, is every girl’s first crush. Then there’s Salman Khan with his jacked-up body who catches all the ladies, Amir Khan with his amazing script choices, Amitabh Bachan on whose back Bollywood was built, and so many more.
These are just a few of the heroes who make Bollywood what it is, whose faces are recognized worldwide, and whose movies you should definitely watch if you want to learn more about the industry!
Among the actresses are Kajol, Sri Devi, Madhuri Dixit, and recently Deepika Padukone, Alia Bhatt, Shraddha Kapoor, and Kareena Kapoor Khan. And these are just a few of the names..
Bollywood Awards
Even the Bollywood awards are nothing short of a celebration. There’s dance, music, a festive atmosphere, comedy, and everything else you can ask for.
The National Award is, of course, the most prestigious award ceremony, but if you want something more commercial, we recommend the Filmfare awards. You can even watch some old Filmfare awards on Youtube. Their entertainment value is evergreen.
Summing it All Up
So if you fancy embarking on a blockbuster ride filled with unexpected twists, turns, fights, romance, and of course, the random dance number, then you have to watch a Bollywood film. Masala or no masala, the films manage to help you park your worries aside for a few hours and immerse yourself in the make-believe worlds they have built just for you. And thank god for that.