By Matija Šerić
Film is considered one of the most important branches of art and is also one of the most significant cultural media. Moving images that tell stories, convey ideas, feelings, emotions, and vividly portray real life changed the world throughout the 20th century. Over time, films became an essential part of modern daily life. Some forms of film are present all around us. It is enough to open social media on a smartphone to be exposed to some form of film production (quality is another matter).
Bollywood – India’s Cultural Trademark
However, not everything that glitters is gold. In the long run, only quality works of art can leave a lasting impression. One of the most successful film industries in the world is the Indian one. The Indian film industry became globally recognised under the term Bollywood (a harmonious blend of Bombay/Mumbai + Hollywood, coined by journalists in the 1960s and 1970s). This term essentially refers to Hindi-language cinema, while the Indian film industry as a whole includes films in other languages such as Bengali, Tamil, Telugu, Marathi, and many others (India has 22 official languages according to its constitution). Although films in other languages are also excellent, Bollywood is one of India’s main cultural symbols, and one could say its most powerful tool of soft power. It was precisely the phenomenal Hindi films that popularised Indian culture, customs, and lifestyle more effectively than any politician ever could.
Term Explained
Humble Beginnings
In the early days of Indian cinema, no one knew how far its reach would go. Today, the father of the Indian film industry is considered to be director Dadasaheb Phalke. Although he had created other works earlier, in 1913 his film Raja Harishchandra saw the light of day. This silent film, which Phalke spent six months working on (serving as director, screenwriter, and producer), is regarded as the first feature-length Indian film. The main character is the mythical king Harishchandra. That same year Phalke released Mohini Bhasmasur, in which—contrary to social taboos—a woman was given the lead role, followed by Satyavan Savitri (1914) and Lanka Dahan (1917). He directed many other films as well. As a superb film technician, Phalke used photographic tricks and special effects to bring fantastic motifs from Indian myths and legends to the screen.
The Arrival of Sound and Expansion
In 1931, Indian films acquired sound, and the first sound film, Alam Ara (“Ornament of the World”), achieved outstanding commercial success. Hindi cinema quickly expanded as sound films became dominant. Musicals started to be produced—an ideal medium of expression for a Hindu society deeply rooted in song, dance, and celebration. The famous filmmaker Himanshu Rai became a new leader of Hindi cinema and in 1934 founded the production house Bombay Talkies. He worked closely with Sashadhar Mukherjee, creating a series of excellent films. Although early movies were often escapist in nature, during the 1930s and 1940s more films began addressing social issues (such as caste and poverty) and the struggle for independence from British rule. Kisan Kanya (“The Farmer’s Daughter”) from 1937 was the first Indian film in color, although color films became the norm only in the late 1950s.
The Golden Age
The period from the 1940s to the 1960s is often considered the golden age of Indian cinema—and for good reason. Films achieved outstanding market success while being watched by millions. Movies such as Kismet (1943), the first Indian blockbuster, helped raise national awareness and strengthen the belief among ordinary Indians that independence from British rule was a prerequisite for social progress. The film featured patriotic songs that became a hallmark of India’s independence movement led by Mahatma Gandhi.
Independence – A Generator of Creativity
Independence from Britain in 1947 provided a strong boost to the film industry. Do Bigha Zamin (“Two Acres of Land”, 1953) and Naya Daur (“New Era”, 1957) are among the best Indian films ever made, depicting the struggles of ordinary people finally freed from colonial oppression. Other great films of the period include Awaara (1951) and Shree 420 (1955). Director Guru Dutt achieved international recognition with his close-up shots and melancholic themes. The drama Mother India (1957) lost the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film by only one vote. The movie tells the story of a poor village woman named Radha (Nargis), who struggles to raise her sons and survive despite a cunning moneylender and many hardships. Mother India became a model for Indian cinema for decades.
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Three Acting Giants
This period also saw the rise of actors who became superstars. The three most popular actors of the 1950s and 1960s were Raj Kapoor, Dilip Kumar, and Dev Anand—each recognisable for a unique acting style. Kapoor resembled Charlie Chaplin, Kumar was a forerunner to Marlon Brando, and Anand was compared to Cary Grant and Gregory Peck. Kumar had the greatest influence, inspiring generations of actors to emulate his acting method. The 1950s also saw the rise of New Indian Cinema, i.e., cinema in languages other than Hindi, with Bengali cinema becoming the most influential thanks to its emphasis on social realism—an approach that soon spilled over into Hindi films.
Romance and Crime
In the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s, the main genre became the romantic drama featuring love heroes and antiheroes. Actor Rajesh Khanna became immensely popular in such films. It was during these years that the term Bollywood emerged. In the late 1970s, action and crime films about urban outlaws (dacoits) and the Bombay underworld dominated. This era also saw the rise of masala films—unique blends of genres (drama, comedy, action) within a single movie. Yaadon Ki Baaraat (“Procession of Memories”, 1973) was the first masala film, a genre that remains central to Hindi cinema today.
The Fruitful 1980s
By the early 1980s, Bollywood’s annual revenue was around seven billion rupees (693 million USD), equivalent to about 2.19 billion USD in 2018 terms. The 1980s produced a wave of commercial hits—explosive mixes of action, melodrama, and star-studded casts. By 1986, India’s annual film output had risen to 833 films, making it the world’s largest producer of movies. The most internationally successful Indian film of the decade was Salaam Bombay! (1988) by director Mira Nair (mother of New York City mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani). It won the Caméra d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival and was nominated for an Oscar. At the time, it wasn’t the stories but the charismatic stars that drew audiences into theatres.
The Three Khans
Late in the decade, two young actors burst onto the scene: Aamir Khan with Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak (1988) and Salman Khan with Maine Pyar Kiya (1989). Soon after, Shah Rukh Khan debuted in 1992 with Deewana, becoming a superstar with the cult classic Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995). The Three Khans—Aamir, Salman, and Shah Rukh—ruled Bollywood for decades. Their romantic and action roles captivated generations, cementing them as legends of Indian cinema.
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The New Millennium Brings Global Popularity
At the turn of the 21st century, the Indian film industry reached astonishing scale. Bollywood, its largest and brightest segment, produced up to a thousand feature films annually across all major languages and cities. Meanwhile, the magic of Indian films was increasingly reaching the world. The Indian and broader South Asian diaspora in the UK, USA, Canada, the UAE, Iran, and elsewhere began embracing Bollywood, helping expand its global presence.
In 2001, the film Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India was nominated for an Oscar. Directors Karan Johar and Aditya Chopra played key roles in exporting Bollywood to the diaspora and beyond. As India’s economy grew and the standard of living improved, cinema-going became a more accessible form of entertainment. Over time, Indian films improved technically and visually, with leading production houses like Dharma Productions and Yash Raj Films setting new standards. Women increasingly took on leading roles (e.g., Kahaani (2012), Queen (2013), Gangubai Kathiawadi (2022)), with Vidya Balan becoming one of the most prominent actresses. Actors became true celebrities, followed by paparazzi and fans. Alongside the Khans, the most popular stars of the 2010s included Hrithik Roshan, Ranveer Singh, and Ranbir Kapoor.
India’s Strongest Instrument of Soft Power
In the 21st century, Bollywood stands as India’s most powerful instrument of soft power, surpassing the influence of Buddhism, music, yoga, Indian cuisine, or diplomacy. Music from Indian films is not only present at Indian weddings but is also featured at international events where Indian representatives perform. Hindi films achieve major success in China, the former Soviet Union, across Asia, as well as in the UK, Germany, France, the Netherlands, Scandinavia, the USA, and Latin America. Indian films are the highest-grossing foreign-language films in the United States. In 2017, Indian cinema produced 1,986 feature films, the largest number of which—364—were in Hindi.
Bollywood accounts for one-third of all revenue generated by the Indian film industry. Mumbai is one of the world’s leading film hubs, and international production houses also film there. Each year, Hindi films sell more than 300 million tickets in Indian cinemas. In 2023, the Hindi film industry generated 1.3 billion USD in revenue. Besides Hollywood, Bollywood’s biggest global competitor today is the South Korean film industry, and watching their rivalry unfold is fascinating.
In any case, even if not always fairy-tale-perfect in quality, Hindi cinema has a bright future ahead, given India’s huge population and its rapidly growing diaspora. And quality should not be lacking. It never has before.
References:
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Bollywood-film-industry-India
https://www.nfi.edu/what-is-bollywood/
https://fortune.com/2024/01/02/bollywood-2023-box-office-1-3-billion-comeback-year-gross-india/
