In one of the articles, it states Bollywood ‘exists on a lower tier, little brother to the big brother of Hollywood…’ (Jones, M, 2009). It refers to to the Hindi-language film industry located in what was then Bombay, nowadays Mumbai. It is merely one area of film production in India that center on the lives and domestic rituals of Indian families…(Jones,M,2009).
Many Bollywood films produced often reflect the struggles in lower class families that address particular social issues. While this is the purpose for producing films such as ‘Slumdog Millionaire’, it has been suggested that the targeted audience often go to watch films like that just to escape from the reality. While the film depicts real life faced by Indian families, however, as suggested by critics, ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ fails in connecting with to the tragedies depicted on screen since the films starred non-Indian people. Those in directing or casting in the film do not have to live with the hardships in India that’s why it is hard for them to connect with the story. This then comes to the Rasa theory.
The Rasa is what brings out the flavour in most Bollywood films. It is the emotion that an audience undergoes in the enjoyment of a performance. It is the actors and the performance that dictate these emotions. This differs from Hollywood films as actors have to adapt to the character’s role. But rasa is a pure expression of of emotion which something Hollywood films may not be able to adapt to.
So what does it mean for Bollywood and Hollywood? Will Bollywood be able to be as big as Hollywood? Although there has been films in which Indian films try to imitate Western films and vice versa, I think the context of these films are quite different. As one watches an Indian version of a Western film, he/she might find it funny whereas indians may find it the opposite because in some way or another, the film relates to him and his culture. So because of the cultural differences and different contexts in which films are produced, I think Bollywood will not be able to spread/ globalize because its culture may not be widely accepted or understood As both genres of films are in some ways influencing the other as such (don’t get me wrong, i think it is good that this is happening), I just feel audience of Indian films will be better suited with films that directly pinpoints its culture without any other cultures embedded within it otherwise it won’t be as successful but at the same time, I’m appreciating the way both Bollywood and Hollywood films are influencing each other.
