What Is Bollywood? A Brief History of Bollywood Films

Bollywood is the Hindi-language film industry in Mumbai (formerly Bombay), India. The largest of the Indian film industries, Bollywood (the word is a portmanteau of "Bombay" and "Hollywood”) makes up a majority of the films produced in India, though a large number of films are made in regional languages including Bengali, Tamil (nicknamed Kollywood), and Telugu (Tollywood). The Indian film industry is the largest film industry in the world in terms of number of films released per year with 1,500 to 2,000 movies released a year across twenty languages.

The Indian film industry dates back to 1913 and has achieved steady growth ever since.

1. 1. Early developments: The first full-length feature film made in India was the 1913 silent film Raja Harishchandra, from director Dadasaheb Phalke. The first talkie, or talking film, was released in 1931, by which time India was producing more than 100 films a year.
   
2. 2. Golden Age: In 1947, India gained independence from Britain, with the country partitioned into the Republic of India, and Pakistan. From that point, the Indian film industry entered what historians call the Golden Age of Hindi cinema. Mehboob Khan's film Mother India (1957) became the first Indian film nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. Many Hindi films during this time address social issues such as class, and propelled the careers of movie stars such as Dilip Kumar, Raj Kapoor, and Dev Anand.
3. 3. The formation of Bollywood: The term “Bollywood” was coined in the 1970s. During this time, the conventions of Bollywood films 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 movie industry was producing around 800 films annually, making it the world’s largest film industry.
4. 4. Bollywood today: After stagnating in the 1980s, Bollywood saw an uptick in the ’90s as India underwent economic liberalization. Production budgets increased, and movies often had lavish sets in international locations. Today, Bollywood films are available globally, both in cinemas and on numerous streaming platforms.

Bollywood films are star-centric; some of the most famous Bollywood performers include:

1. 1. Shah Rukh Khan: Shah Rukh Khan is known as the "King of Bollywood" and has appeared in more than 100 films since the ’90s. Known for playing the romantic lead, he has a large following both in India and internationally.
2. 2. Amitabh Bachchan: Amitabh Bhachchan has appeared in more than 200 films since the ’70s and is regarded as one of the most influential figures in Indian cinema.
3. 3. Priyanka Chopra Jonas: One of India’s highest-paid entertainers today, Priyanka Chopra Jonas has acted in both Bollywood and Hollywood movies and TV shows. She is married to musician Nick Jonas.
4. 4. Akshay Kumar: Akshay Kumar has appeared in more than 100 films in the last three decades, and has made a name for himself playing the lead in action films.
5. 5. Madhuri Dixit: Dancing is a critical feature in Bollywood films, and Madhuri Dixit, a classically trained dancer, was a prominent actress, particularly in the ’80s and ’90s, appearing in over 70 films. (Other notable Bollywood dancers include Hrithik Roshan, Malaika Arora Khan, Shahid Kapoor, and Katrina Kaif.)

Bollywood produces more than 1,000 films per year. Some notable Bollywood films include:

1. 1. Pyaasa (1957): A classic of 1950s cinema, Pyaasa (which means “thirsty” in Hindi), is about the struggles of an idealistic poet. The film was produced, directed by and starred Guru Dutt, and has an enduring soundtrack by the famous music director SD Burman.
2. 2. Mother India (1957): Mother India stars Nargis, Rajendra Kumar, and Sunil Dutt and is about the exploitation of farmers in rural India. It was the first Hindi film to be nominated for Best Foreign-Language Film at the Oscars.
3. 3. Sholay (1975): Written by Indian screenwriting duo Salim Khan and Javed Akhtar, Sholay was influenced by Westerns and follows two criminals (played by Dharmendra and Amitabh Bachchan) who try to capture a bandit (Amjad Khan).
4. 4. Amar Akbar Anthony (1977): This 1970s comedy tells the story of three brothers (played by Amitabh Bachchan, Vinod Khanna, and Rishi Kapoor), who are separated at birth and raised in different faiths.
5. 5. Monsoon Wedding (2001): Combining comedy and drama, Mira Nair’s Monsoon Wedding is set around a lavish Indian wedding in Delhi. Though it has many of the typical features of popular masala film, including choreographed dancing and music, it also features realistic dialogue and tackles thorny social issues. The film was nominated for a Golden Globe.
6. 6. Dil Chahta Hai (2001): This coming-of-age film from director Farhan Akhtar stars Aamir Khan, Akshaye Khanna, and Saif Ali Khan as three young men from Mumbai. With characters rooted in Western liberal values, particularly around drinking and sexuality, the film was a departure from earlier masala films that typically put family first.
7. 7. Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham…(2001): This melodrama from director Karan Johar stars a bevy of superstars, including Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, Hrithik Roshan, and Kareena Kapoor, who portray a family that is fractured when the son marries a woman in a lower socioeconomic group. Emblematic of the big budget movies of this era, Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham... delves into the lives of the ultra-wealthy, and features elaborate sets, costumes and dance numbers.
8. 8. Chak De! India (2007): This sports film stars Shah Rukh Khan as a disgraced field hockey captain who coaches a women's field hockey team

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