The Podcast Episode on Bollywood For Beginners is here.
Ever wanted a Guide To Bollywood? A Quick Primer on Bollywood – dishing out the essential need-to-knows and Movie Recommendations? Well, here it is – Bollywood 101! Let’s get started!
What is Bollywood?
Bollywood is the Hindi film industry from India. We get Bollywood by combining “Bombay” (the previous name of Mumbai city) with “Hollywood”. Bollywood films are perceived mostly as musicals – where actors spontaneously burst into song, with a hidden orchestra/musicians somewhere off-screen. Yes, a lot of Hindi films have singing and dancing.
Are all Bollywood movies musicals?
Short answer: No. Bollywood films of the 80s and 90s were mostly romances or action-romances, but in the past 15 years or so, have diversified so that plots are not as cliched. Mainstream, massy, commercial Bollywood films still depend on “masala” – which literally is “spice-mix”, but in this context means a combination of song-dance (hence musicals), romance, action, emotional drama with some humor thrown in. But there are also lesser-known, non-commercial films, often made on lower budgets, sans the fripperies of big-name actors, songs, dances, expensive sets and “masala“, which generally do well and are often released only in India’s urban metros/internationally/on-line.
What’s in it for me?
Bollywood has something for everyone – from masala to art-house and stuff in-between. If you’re familiar with Bollywood and would d like to start digging in, look through the two below lists (curated lists of ~300 movies):
– Best Hindi Movies By Year
– Best Hindi Movies By Genre
How do I get started?
Consider this a crash course in Bollywood :). If you are new to Bollywood movies but don’t know where to start, this is your handy-dandy Guide to Bollywood. Also, here’s a list of 18 movies to ease you into it – these are grouped by most popular/common genres.
Here we go!
Colorful, vibrant Bollywood romances:
These are fun, pleasing, polished entertainers with great music. The first 2 below will appeal to more modern sensibilities, while Jab We Met is tethered in the more traditional scenario, but a wonderful watch nevertheless!
– Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani (2013)
– Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara (2011)
– Jab We Met (2007)
Gritty, earthy dramas:
A recent arrival in Bollywood, these have strong plots and unique stories and can have either big stars or lesser known ones. Also use background music, but aren’t musicals per se. Gully Boy starred Ranveer Singh, who’s a big star currently, and Mukkabaaz starred Vineet Kumar Singh, who’s not in the same league but is starting to get noticed.
– Gully Boy (2019)
– Mukkabaaz (2018)
Crime dramas:
Crime dramas have become popular as a Bollywood genre in the past decade or so, Kaminey was directed by Vishal Bharadwaj and was the tale of twin brothers, one of whom is a gangster. Gangs of Wasseypur, was directed by another notable director Anurag Kashyap, and was about criminals in the badlands of Uttar Pradesh.
– Kaminey (2009)
– Gangs of Wasseypur (2012)
Family dramas:
A Bollywood staple, family dramas are relationship-focussed and often have romance and humor thrown in. These are mostly clean and great viewing for the entire family.
– Rocket Singh (2009)
– Piku (2015)
– Dil Dhadakne Do (2015)
Suspense/Thrillers:
Well-done thrillers are few and far between in Bollywood. Kaun starring Urmila Matondkar and Manoj Vajpayee is a creepy, suspenseful film. Manorama 6 feet Under is the rare Bollywood film which has a well-fleshed out detective story. And the newest film of the three, Andhadhun is a twisty tale about a murder and its sole witness.
– Kaun (1999)
– Manorama 6 feet under (2007)
– Andhadhun (2018)
Bollywood Arthouse:
These are Bollywood’s offbeat films. A few gain international acclaim like The LunchBox, which starred Irrfan Khan and Nimrat Kaur. Others like Barfi didn’t corner the mainstream market but are appreciated by audiences and critics alike. Main Meri Patni Aur Who is an interesting tale about a short, insecure man and his lovely, confident wife.
– The Lunchbox (2013)
– Barfi (2012)
– Main meri patni aur woh
Feminist Hindi Movies:
Feminist and women-oriented films have started to become more common in the recent years. English Vinglish about a housewife gaining new confidence starred the late Sridevi. Queen is about a young woman jilted at the altar who decides to gone the honeymoon by herself. Lipstick Under My Burkha, directed by Alankrita Shrivastava followed 4 women of different ages in their quest for unfettered lives.
– Queen (2014)
– English Vinglish (2012)
– Lipstick Under My Burkha (2017)
