Film Gecko

The Bollywood Beat

by Administrator on November 16th, 2005

If you’re like me, you often find yourself lamenting the fact that the days of the golden musical, where Rodgers and Hammerstein kicked out classic Hollywood hits and Ginger and Fred tickled the floor. The musical may have been all but abandoned by North American studios, but rest assured that it’s alive and well on the Asian sub-continent. Indian films, including the internationally popular titles coming out of Mumbai, formerly known as Bombay (Bombay + Hollywood = Bollywood), are rarely found without at least one rousing song and dance number, even in the midst of the most serious of plots. A far cry from syrupy Sound of Music style musicals, Bollywood directors tackle topics that newcomers to the genre will recognize as common in more familiar Hollywood settings. The acting tends to be bit on the overdone side compared to western movies, but the plots are diverse and cover everything from love triangles, marriage, action/adventure, corruption and soap opera style family dramas.

Don’t expect to see any Julie Andrews doppelgangers though, Bollywood stars rarely do their own singing, so in essence every Bollywood film consists of two casts, the actors, and the singers who provide the stunning vocals that make the soundtracks to these movies seriously elaborate productions. What the stars can do though, is dance. Lately, there seems to be a mix of traditional Indian dancing blended with, or alongside, western pop moves. Bollywood has shown the ability to adapt to the changing tastes of its audience when it comes to music, but in many ways, is still a very conservative form of media, where kisses can be shocking occurrences and sex? Not likely in mainstream movies.

In addition to requiring a lot from the performers, these movies can also require a great deal more patience from the viewer than the average Bruce Willis flick. Their run time often pushes the four hour mark, making for sore bums and tired eyes, but their colourful nature and wandering plots are usually enough to avoid boredom.

Bollywood film revenue on a per year basis tends to blow away Hollywood numbers by totals in the millions, thanks in part to the huge viewing audience. Their popularity is extending beyond Indian borders and into the UK and Canada in particular. Bollywood even has its own version of the Oscars, called the Filmfare Awards, which are handed out annually to the top films, film makers, and film stars in the industry.

Current popular stars you might want to check out are:

• Aishwarya Rai, known to fans as the “Queen of Bollywood”, and who may be familiar to some from the Bollywood adaptation of Pride and Prejudice, Gurinder Chadha’s Bride and Prejudice. She’s been snapped up by the west faster than you can say exotic, with modelling contracts following hot on the heels of her Miss World win in 1994. She can now be seen in add for Vogue, L’Oréal Paris, De Beers Diamonds, and Coca-Cola. Other films of note: Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, Taal, and the Cannes hit Devdas.
• Shahrukh Khan deserves mention seeing that he has won the Filmfare Best Actor Award a ridiculous 6 times and has a trophy case that must be groaning under the weight of the rest of his hardware. Check out these films for more on him: Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Mohabbatein , Chalte Chalte, and Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham.
• Kajol, another highly decorated Indian actress, is often seen acting opposite Shahrukh Khan, and handles his star power by putting on tour de force performances in her own right. Some of her recent films include: Kuch Khatti Kuch Meethi, Raju Chacha, Dil Kya Kare, Hote Hote Pyaar Ho Gaya.
• A newcomer to superstar status, be sure to give Hrithik Roshan a chance to impress. This Bollywood hunk has been winning hearts and awards at an astounding rate. See him in: Lakshya, Koi… Mil Gaya, and Kaho Na…Pyaar Hai.

Worried that you don’t speak Hindi? Don’t be! The increasing popularity of Bollywood has seen more and more movies available with English subtitles, or as in the case of Monsoon Wedding, English dialogue. I’m by no means a Bollywood pro, but it’s a growing addiction, so feel free to feed it with your own suggestion of must-see movies.

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POSTED IN: Film Industry, Foreign