First of all, what is Bollywood? It’s basically the mainstream Indian cinema, often referred to as Bollywood, which comprises an industry of predominantly Hindi-language films produced in Mumbai (also known as Bombay), India’s largest and most important city. The term is a joining of the words “Bombay” and “Hollywood,” as Bollywood is responsible for making the big-budget Indian films, as well as one of the largest film production centers on the planet.
The movies produced there are characterized by songs, dances, vibrant colors, romance, and fantasy. These are the main ingredients of Indian masala films, watched by billions of people, both in India and outside.
By going behind the scenes of Bollywood, which is now the world’s largest film industry, someone not knowing about anything related to it, will understand how big it is.
Main differences when comparing to Hollywood movies
Indian films have that same range of emotions during the average three hours they last. Whether you are watching a comedy, action, drama or horror, at some point in the film there is (almost) always a click in the protagonists who become part of a hallucinatory video clip.
And this is where the Indian film industry differs greatly from its American kin. If Hollywood only uses music in musical films, Bollywood depends on songs not only to enliven every film, but also to sell a panoply of products attached to the film.
And if for decades Bollywood was considered the poor relation of Hollywood, seen as the laughable copy of the big American productions, this reality has changed radically in the last two decades. Bollywood has renewed and updated itself. In its scripts, kissing and sex scenes are no longer taboo, the stories have become more universal, and it has now become the biggest film industry in the world, employing several million people and selling more than 4 billion tickets annually.
In a sense, Bollywood is an industry that tries to emulate the charm and popularity of Hollywood but with a more vibrant environment and story. It represents popular Indian cinema, although this does not necessarily mean it is good. There are many regional production companies making more sincere and artistic films, but they don’t achieve the same popularity
Who makes Bollywood films?
In 1947, the Indian film industry was transferred from English control to Indian control. As a result, people known as producers started taking over the movies. Directors then became leaders of all aspects of movie making and not just directing and filming like they had been doing before then.
Where to watch Hindi movies online?
The most popular video sites that show Hindi movies are:
- Hotstar + Disney – Hotstar is a subscription video-on-demand and a great place to watch Bollywood movies online. There are many other Indian videos and languages available as well, so you can practice your Hindi language skills with ease!
- YouTube – YouTube is one of the most widely used sites for sharing free videos online. Bollywood movies can be watched as well as many other types of Bollywood videos from all over the world. Many families use YouTube to watch their favorite Bollywood movie together, or they might use it to practice Hindi diaries with their kids.
- Netflix – Netflix is a great site for watching Bollywood movies. It may be a bit difficult to navigate, but it’s still an excellent resource. You can watch Hindi movies online with Netflix on your computer or your TV.
- Amazon Prime Video – Amazon Prime is a great place to watch Hindi movies online, as well as other Hindi videos. It’s easy to navigate and the site is not too hard to understand.
- Hulu – Hulu is another excellent site for watching Hindi movies online. If you have an account, you will be able to watch your favorite Bollywood movies with just a few clicks of the mouse.
- Netflix – Netflix is a great site for watching Bollywood movies. It may be a bit difficult to navigate, but it’s still an excellent resource. You can watch Hindi movies online with Netflix on your computer or your TV.
- BBC iPlayer – If you are in the UK, the BBC iPlayer is a website that is mainly used on the TV set and computer. You can watch Bollywood movies on BBC iPlayer with computers, tablets, or TVs. You simply have to connect to the internet and you can watch your favorite Hindi movies.
Why are Indian movies so long?
Indian movies are not just any movies. They are usually around two hours long, which is a lot for comedy or action movies. There are many reasons why Indian movies take such lengths to make and they depend on each movie individually.
They tend to go through an extensive editing process and then there is the music production as well. Many official trailers can contain uncountable scenes and in between that they will have a song because the filmmakers want to give you a good taste of the movie before it comes out.
What do Bollywood movies teach us?
It really depends on the type of movie you are watching. If you are watching a comedy, then you will find many things to laugh at. Action movies will take you on a journey that is thrilling and action-packed, and period movies like the dramas help you escape from reality as if it were fiction.
The point of Bollywood movies
It depends on the movie you are watching as well as what you want to get out of them. Some of them have historical significance because they represent parts of history for you to reference or learn about. Others might be musicals in which case they are supposed to be entertaining for the audience. Regardless of what you might see when watching a Hindi movie, remember that it’s all in the eyes of the beholder and there is no right or wrong answer.
Bollywood movies have something for everyone.
If you are a man, you can watch a woman fall in love with a charmer, and then she will find out that he is not what he seems to be. She will then have to choose between him and her family or friends.
If you are a woman, then you can watch a man fall in love with an independent woman who is not afraid to speak her mind or do things she wants to do. However, later on in the movie, the man realizes that he still needs to protect his woman even though she can take care of herself.