Bollywood provides audiences with melodrama, action and glamour - Indian-style.

Films are made all over India, in all about a thousand a year, but Bollywood dominates the industry. The name is a cross between Bombay (now Mumbai) and Hollywood. Mostly Hindi-speaking, Bollywood films are enormously popular not only throughout India but in many regions of the world. The West has also started to discover Bollywood, and some films, such as Dhoom 2, Devdas and Om Shanti Om have done well in America and Europe.
What is a Bollywood movie? If you think of a showy, three-hour-long feature film with strong emotions, impossible love, action and comedy mixed with energetic song-and-dance numbers, you are on the right track.
This typical mix of genres comes in part because of the need to appeal to wide audiences.

The vast majority of Indian moviegoers are poor, and film is one of their only means of getting away from life’s harsh realities, at least for a while. That is why it is important for viewers to get “the full package” when they go to the cinema, and Bollywood delivers just that- a chance to laugh, to cry, fall in love, root for the hero, to celebrate, feel despair… and then to rejoice as everything works out for the best in the end, as love and goodness triumph over trouble and hardship – all in the same movie. Another reason for the appeal of Bollywood movies is their relative lack of sex and violence. Up to the past five years at least, even kissing was a rare sight in Indian films, and anything more was basically unheard of. However, Bollywood seems to be changing in this respect, growing closer to the Hollywood formula – films targeted to narrower audiences, more believable story lines, and more scantily clothed women.
Tasks and Activities
Comprehension
- Bollywood Drag and Drop
- Bollywood is one segment of Indian cinema, producing around 200 films a year. How many films are made in India in total?
- Where does the name Bollywood come from?
- What language is spoken in Bollywood movies?
- Describe the “typical” Bollywood movie.
- Name at least one reason why Bollywood movies contain so much plot.
- How is Bollywood changing?
Set Expressions
Classroom Billboard
Make a Bollywood - Classroom Billboard.
Minitalk
Choose a Bollywood star and make a mini presentation: Bollywood - Minitalk.
Film Dialogue
Write a dialogue, and act it out: Bollywood - Film Dialogue.
Discussion
Bollywood is taking after Hollywood in many ways. There is also an increasing number of stars with lighter skin and eyes. Can you think up any arguments against this trend? Write your ideas under the heading "Keep Indian Films Indian".
Further Reading
Learning content
India
Fagstoff
An Introduction to India
Core content is a subject that is on the curriculumIndia - Culture
Core content is a subject that is on the curriculum- Core content is a subject that is on the curriculum
BollywoodYou are here
India's Cybercity, Bangalore
Core content is a subject that is on the curriculumS. Rushdie: Good Advice is Rarer Than Rubies
Core content is a subject that is on the curriculum"Shantaram" by G.D.Roberts
Core content is a subject that is on the curriculumEasy Text - An intro. to India
Additional content is a subject that is not on the curriculumAdditional content is a subject that is not on the curriculum
Oppgaver og aktiviteter
India - Comprehension Quiz
Core content is a subject that is on the curriculumIndia -True and False Quiz
Core content is a subject that is on the curriculumQuiz about India - Culture
Core content is a subject that is on the curriculumTask: Bollywood
Core content is a subject that is on the curriculumTask: Bollywood film dialogue
Core content is a subject that is on the curriculumTask: Bollywood classroom billboard
Core content is a subject that is on the curriculumIndian IT Worker
Core content is a subject that is on the curriculumGood Advice is Rarer than Rubies - Tasks
Core content is a subject that is on the curriculum