Let’s take an overview of Indian film Industry to understand various landmarks and trends this industry has witnessed. It will create a ruf idea about the Indian film industry and its development. I am sure this ruf idea will help in creating many questions, interesting and curiosity into your mind. This will help us to dive deep into the study of directors and their work.
In 1896, the Lumiere brothers demonstrated the art of cinema when they screened Cinematography consisting of six short films to an enthusiastic audience in Bombay.
The success of these films led to the screening of films by James B. Stewart and Ted Hughes. In 1897,
Save Dada made two short films,
but the fathers of Indian cinema were Dada Saheb Phalke who in 1913 made the first feature length silent film
Ardeshir Irani who in 1931 made India’s first talking film. With the demise of the silent era and the advent of the talkies. The main source for inspiration for films came from mythological texts. Films were produced in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu and Bengali. Mythology flourished more in South India where its social conservative morals equated film acting to prostitution. But by the 1930’s, word had spread around the world about the vibrant film industry in India and foreigners with stars in their eyes landed upon Bombay shores.
Mary Evans, a young Australian girl who could do stunts. She did with no effort, lift a man and throw him across the room. She wore Zorro-like masks and used a whip when necessary. She changed her name to Nadia and was affectionately known by the audience as Fearless Nadia and that name stuck with her through the ages. Even though she did not speak any of the native tongues, her career spanned from the 1930’s to 1959. She had a huge cult following. The press and critics did not appreciate her; however, the audiences could not get enough of her stunt theatrics. Following on Nadia’s heels in 1940, Florence Esekiel, a teenager from Baghdad, arrived in Bombay and was soon given the screen name of Nadira. She played the love interest in a Dilip Kumar film who at the time was a leading heartthrob.
She moved on to playing bitchy parts and was forever type cast as a ‘vamp’ – the temptress, the bad girl. She gradually slipped into mother roles. One of her last appearances was in Ismail Merchant film Cotton Mary.
In 1947, When India gained its independence, mythological and historical stories were being replaced by social reformist films focusing on the lives of the lower classes, the dowry system and prostitution. This brought a new wave of filmmakers to the forefront such as Bimal Roy and Satyajit Ray among others. In this decades India witnessed partition, millions of people were migrated. Mahatma Gandhiji was assassinated, Pt. Nehru became PM and the focus of development was on basic infrastructure.
1950s The Indian Govt. put focus on education, 1st IIT Kharagpur, UGC and other educational developments. Projects of Dams and developments. Films like Awara, Do Bigha Zameen, Azad, Pyasa, Madhumati, Kagaj ke Phool,
In the 1960’s, inspired by social and cinematic changes in the US and Europe, India’s new wave was founded, offering a greater sense of realism to the public and getting recognition abroad, but the industry at large churned out ‘masala’ films with a mesh of genres including action, comedy, melodrama punctuated with songs and dances and relying on the songs and the stars to sell their films. Indian went in two wars and India had 3 Prime Ministers. Films which became milestones were Mughal–e–Azam, Kabuliwala, Bees Saal Baad, Gumrah, Guide, Teesri Manzil, Khamoshi etc.
1970s decade was made films on post-industrialization and urban life problems. This is the time when Indian Angry young man was born. The turbulent decade, Sholay, Safar, Anand, Pakeezah, Rajnigandha, Andhi, Amar Akbar Anthoney etc. This decade of rise and reign of RD Burman. We see various changes into themes of films and filmy-music
1980s A decade was dedicated to films mostly based on Masala films and urban life films. This decade is mostly known for Indian parallel cinema. Shyam Benegal, Govind Nihalani and Rishikesh Mukherjee and many other directors choose the themes of the films based upon social issues. This decade is also known of the beginning of modern times, computers and telecommunications. The PM was assassinated. Sikh riots, Films like Silsila, Arth by Mahesh Bhatt, Sadma, Utsav, Gulami, QSQT, MPK,
1990s a decade remembered for various family entertainment films and many new films stars emerged. Many new films makers and came. It is the decade when India entered into the phase of globalization. The parallel Cinema movement went ahead as many other directors entered and made experimental films. This decade witnessed Kargil war, ABV govt, films like Agneepath, Saajan, Roja, Rudaali, HAHK, DDLJ, Maachis, Dil to Paagal hain, Kuch kuch hota hain, Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam,
2000s decade, the decade when Indian has globalized. The films industry was divided into Masala films and Artistic films. Masala films promoted international tourism industry and created money. That money was used by producers to explore the creative expression and Artistic films. Film making has shifted from celluloid to digital. This decades was known for new states, Gujarat riots, Economic development, telecommunication revolution, Mumbai attack , UPA government returns. This films which were of discussion were Lagaan, Phir bhi dil hain hindusthani, kal ho na ho, ,Swades, Parineeta, Rang De Basanti, Jab we met, rab ne bana di Jodi, 3idiots,
2010s the current decade is known for various technological changes. Mobile telephony, growing urban areas, consumerism and urban poverty remained the main issues in cinema. The concept of Hero and Villain is altered and the filmic characters became more realistic. The setting of film became more day-to-day life. There are some exceptions but as the saying goes, “exceptions proves the rule.” Indian got its majority government in last 30 years, Cricket worldcup, Anna Hazare movement, the films like Udaan, Rockstar, Agneepath, Kai po Che, Highway, Dum Laga ke Haisha, Dangal, and many more.
2020, this decade films like Sui Dhaaga, Piku, Badhaai Ho and BalaBaahubali , Gangs of Wasseypur, Paan Singh Tomar, Shahid , PK , Masaan, Andhadhun, Article 15, Gully Boy. There is a lot of experiment took place in decade. These several changes made Bollywood more refined. Today when Indian cinema is launched on OTT and other platforms. Bollywood is finding new ways to make films even by mobile phone and web series is a new offshoot. Many youngsters are changing the trends of film scriptwriting, film making, cinematography, editing, music and lyrics. I am glad to see how Indian cinema is growing.
I am sure you must have got the idea of Bollywood films. I have purposely written these notes to make any non-film student to understand what is Indian Cinema.
Blogger-Akash Shinde😍 (Assistant Director)
Student of Journalism and Mass communication.
Migrant Worker 