Here is a broad look at how different generations have impacted Bollywood and vice versa:
It\u2019s easy to argue whether Bollywood\u2019s golden age was the 1940s-60\u2019s or the 1950s-60’s; some might even argue that it was the 1990s or early 2000s, but we will leave that to personal preference. Here, we are talking about the humble beginnings of Bollywood. This was a time that can be described as the start of a transition from David to Goliath. It’s ironic, isn\u2019t it? Well, yes, of course, Bollywood was also once a very small and limited version of itself. Let\u2019s see more about it.<\/p>\n
How Is Indian Cinema Changing? Madhur Bhandarkar On Bollywood\u2019s Evolution, OTT & Global Competition<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
1)<\/span>The Golden Age and Its Legacy<\/span>
The “Golden Age” of Bollywood is usually referred to as the mid-20th century. Filmmakers like Raj Kapoor, Guru Dutt, and Satyajit Ray are the ones who started shaping another cinematic language. The films representing the era, with Shree 420 and Pyaasa, strike a note with people caught in problems just after independence, relating some social justice and patriotic issues with personal dilemmas. These are ideal heroes and heroines, with memorable music and poignant storytelling that gets etched into the minds of Indian audiences. Films that are cultural touchstones for viewers are used to shape their values and emotional responses. Here are this era\u2019s character traits:
Social Realism: <\/span>The bulk of the films dealt with social evils or problems in society, such as poverty, corruption, and inequality.
Classical music: <\/span>timelessness in pieces by the eternal composers S.D. Burman and Shankar-Jaikishen, with soulful tunes and poetic lyrics.
Artistic Direction: <\/span>Heavy storytelling, emotional reach, and breakthrough cinematography lie deep at the core.
Legendary Stars: <\/span>Raj Kapoor, Dilip Kumar, and Madhubala were among those who became the faces of idealized heroism and beauty during those times.
Patriotism and nationalism: themes<\/span> of independence and national pride emerge everywhere.
2)The influence of the 80s and 90s<\/span>
The 1980s and 1990s were periods of thematic change in Bollywood. These films turn toward the new socio-economic scenario of India. With the growing urban audience came a growth in the popularity of “masala” films, which would blend romance, action, and drama. Stars like Amitabh Bachchan became icons and showed strength and resilience. It has also thrown up romantic comedies and family dramas as genres of entertainment, portraying the aspirations and struggles of the middle class\u2014very much a reflection of India’s economic liberalization and modernization. Here are this era\u2019s character traits:
Masala Films: <\/span>This is a hybrid picture incorporating action, romance, drama, and comedy. For example, Sholay, 1975, and Hum, 1991.
Larger-than-Life Heroes: <\/span>It comprises those characters with overstated histrionics, all of which are usually portrayed by actors like Amitabh Bachchan and Shah Rukh Khan<\/a>.
Songs and dances: elaborate<\/span> song sequences with catchy music and elaborate choreography became the hub of storytelling.
Family-oriented plots: <\/span>This would include such themes as family values and relationships and their interaction with societal norms.
Star Power: Major film stars of that era have become symbols, and even now, their influence tips greatly on public perception and cinema.
Evolution<\/span> from Black and White to Colored Films:<\/span> During this era, Bollywood also made a shift from black and white to colored film stock, making this a significant evolution in the Hindi film industry.
While Bollywood transitioned from black and white to color, Kamlesh Pandey, a veteran film writer, feels that Bollywood cinema has somehow lost touch with its roots. The writer who wrote films like ‘Tezaab’, Rang De Basanti’, and ‘Laawaris’, to name a few, strongly asserts that the story of our Bharat has taken a back seat from films. He said, “Having witnessed cinema from the 1960s to the present, I find that the most significant and perhaps most tragic change has been the disappearance of rural India from our movies. The stories of Bharat, the heart of the nation, have also vanished from our screens. This absence, I believe, has contributed to the declining connection between audiences and the films being made today. After 1965, Hindi cinema seems to have lost its heart. The writers and directors who crafted films with genuine emotion passed away, and unfortunately, they were not replaced by equally talented individuals. As a result, the quality of our films has suffered, with the music being one of the worst affected. In the past, music was an integral part of the screenplay, seamlessly advancing the story and becoming an unforgettable part of our collective memory. However, the advent of commercial television has transformed songs into mere tools for film publicity, stripping them of their narrative significance. It feels as though we have shifted from making movies to simply making money, following the same commercial path as everyone else, including the film stars. As an audience, we have allowed ourselves to be consumed by the products these stars endorse, losing sight of the deeper connection we once had with cinema.”<\/p>\n
![\"Nasreen](\"https:\/\/static.toiimg.com\/thumb\/imgsize-23456,msid-112646014,width-600,resizemode-4\/112646014.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n