So this is my first blog. I wanted to start with writing about something current and topical. Topic of Burqa ban perhaps, Hype of Jessica Watson, Food lovers from Masterchef or even Bieber fever. But I thought some of those topics may be a little too intense for my first blog. I really should be doing my assignments …
So I’m officially welcoming myself to blog land with a topic that never lets me down, something that is current and topical – something that Is literally so hot right now. Yes I am talking about Bollywood.
Haven’t heard of the term Bollywood cinema? Surely you’ve heard of Slumdog Millionaire at least or even the recent Pussycat Dolls song ‘Jai Ho’ that was from the movie. If you haven’t heard of either of those you have been living in a rock and need to get a little more culture in your life. And yes you thought right, Bollywood is rather uniquely named after Hollywood when it overtook it back in the 70s as the world’s largest film producer. Unlike Hollywood though, Bollywood doesn’t actually exist in a particular place.
Bollywood is not just huge amongst the Indian Diaspora but also in Africa, Asia, Europe and North America. They release about 800 movies a year.
For many Asians, Bollywood movies tell stories that they can relate to both personally and culturally. Like many other central Asians, I grew up in a household that watched Bollywood movies which is where I also picked up the hindi language aswell.
If you’ve never seen a Bollywood movie, and if I could describe it to you in a nutshell then I’d say they are : extremely long – usually 2-3 hours. Musicals, lots of singing and dancing – usually running around a tree. And quite melodramatic – involving lots of drama about forbidden relationships, underdogs rising to fame and success and greed, corrupt politicians,underworld deals and villains, or just comedic movies with a much different sense of humour to Hollywood movies.
The phenomena of Slumdog Millionaire was recognised universally, winning eight Academy Awards. Slumdog Millionaire simply scraped the surface of the potential of Hindi Cinema. Coming from someone who has watched countless Bollywood movies, there are plenty of other movies just as good as Slumdog Millionaire but didn’t get the recognition that Danny Boyle did.
The hype of Bollywood Cinema in the west perhaps also has a nostalgic factor for many expats. The glitz, glamour, melodrama and fantasy of Bollywood Cinema is also an escape from reality. I love watching them simply for the unique blend of music and dance and drama of Bollywood and sometimes simply because it takes you to a fantasy land, even if it is for a few hours.
After exposure to world cinema and movies like Slumdog Millionaire, more recent Bollywood movies seem to be a little more realistic – following real world themes. Some of them don’t even have songs – booo.
So if your looking at being a little more cultured or want to be exposed to something new, then try watching a Bollywood movie. It might be slightly painful to watch initially until you get your head around the drama of it all, but you’ll become addicted and soon enough will catch the Bollywood disease I promise.
So I’m officially welcoming myself to blog land with a topic that never lets me down, something that is current and topical – something that Is literally so hot right now. Yes I am talking about Bollywood.
Haven’t heard of the term Bollywood cinema? Surely you’ve heard of Slumdog Millionaire at least or even the recent Pussycat Dolls song ‘Jai Ho’ that was from the movie. If you haven’t heard of either of those you have been living in a rock and need to get a little more culture in your life. And yes you thought right, Bollywood is rather uniquely named after Hollywood when it overtook it back in the 70s as the world’s largest film producer. Unlike Hollywood though, Bollywood doesn’t actually exist in a particular place.
Bollywood is not just huge amongst the Indian Diaspora but also in Africa, Asia, Europe and North America. They release about 800 movies a year.
For many Asians, Bollywood movies tell stories that they can relate to both personally and culturally. Like many other central Asians, I grew up in a household that watched Bollywood movies which is where I also picked up the hindi language aswell.
If you’ve never seen a Bollywood movie, and if I could describe it to you in a nutshell then I’d say they are : extremely long – usually 2-3 hours. Musicals, lots of singing and dancing – usually running around a tree. And quite melodramatic – involving lots of drama about forbidden relationships, underdogs rising to fame and success and greed, corrupt politicians,underworld deals and villains, or just comedic movies with a much different sense of humour to Hollywood movies.
The phenomena of Slumdog Millionaire was recognised universally, winning eight Academy Awards. Slumdog Millionaire simply scraped the surface of the potential of Hindi Cinema. Coming from someone who has watched countless Bollywood movies, there are plenty of other movies just as good as Slumdog Millionaire but didn’t get the recognition that Danny Boyle did.
The hype of Bollywood Cinema in the west perhaps also has a nostalgic factor for many expats. The glitz, glamour, melodrama and fantasy of Bollywood Cinema is also an escape from reality. I love watching them simply for the unique blend of music and dance and drama of Bollywood and sometimes simply because it takes you to a fantasy land, even if it is for a few hours.
After exposure to world cinema and movies like Slumdog Millionaire, more recent Bollywood movies seem to be a little more realistic – following real world themes. Some of them don’t even have songs – booo.
So if your looking at being a little more cultured or want to be exposed to something new, then try watching a Bollywood movie. It might be slightly painful to watch initially until you get your head around the drama of it all, but you’ll become addicted and soon enough will catch the Bollywood disease I promise.
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