Interesting article on bollywood style of story telling

http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/00 ... 091922.htm

Bollywood's over the top style works, say Tharoor, Amisha

Mumbai, Nov. 9 (PTI): Critics always turn up their noses at Bollywood's exaggerated style of story-telling but that is exactly what makes them successful, opined United Nations Under-secretary General and author Shashi Tharoor, and actress Amisha Patel.

Tharoor and Amisha Patel were speaking during a panel discussion on `Development and impact of Indian films' here yesterday.

Tharoor pointed out that since Indian films have over-the -top acting and narration, they have easily overcome the barriers of language.

"Hindi movies are popular even in Africa and Arab countries. A Senegalese woman can appreciate Bollywood movie without knowing Hindi and without benefit of subtitles," he said.

"Everything is so exaggerated in our movies, it becomes "telegraphic" and reaches out easily," he added.

While Tharoor held that exaggeration was necessary for reaching out, Amisha said people like it because it creates "an alternative reality".

"It offers a three-hour escape," she said. Talking about Bollywood's song-and-dance formula, she said it could be put down to lack of music channels like MTV in India before cable TV arrived.

Talking about Hindi cinema's capacity to influence, she said her blockbuster movie `Gadar' got her female fans even from Pakistan which is profusely bashed in the movie.

I doubt Gadar got her Pakistani fans. I'm shocked that she has fans.


anyway, this is just an excuse because they don't know how to present anything realistic whilst being entertaining.

She may have pakistani fans but I doubt it is from Gadar.

I guess he is saying that it works in the sense people keep seeing the films. Not that they are capable of doing enything else. There is some thruth to that. I saw a time magazine article recently which said that Bollywood films have a larger audience in terms of sheer numbers. This hold true even after excluding indian audience for Bollywood films and american audience for Hollywood films.

well, it's all theories. you really can't account for bollywood films as there is no legitimate system due to excessive piracy. although I must say that they are popular in parts of the world that I never imagined bollywood would have exposure to. some friends visited Peru for 'holiday' & they were shocked to see bollywood films on television sets in the local markets and bazaars, and I was shocked to hear of it.

yeah, I was also saying the same about her getting fans through Gadar.

Well there is another film industry thats more popular than bollywood and its called PORN - i guess soon we will see conventions on why PORN is very important



Well PORN can be appreciated by anyone - there is action, drama, suspense, comedy, spoof and yeah you dont even need subtitles !



Well this applies to PORN also

Thats it - i have decided, both PORN and BOLLYWOOD are very important to folks all over the world

It applies to HW blockbuster films too, with the action and CGI, and their overall dumbed-down quality.

dvdisoil, take a deep breath and slowly step away from that porn

I wonder how dead poet's society fared in germany isn't mohabatein remake of dead poet's society? I haven't seen Mohabatein, thankfully.

Going beyond the attention grabbing analogy, which compares only one aspect, should indian films market to such audience to go into foreign markets? (The analogy to Porn is worth discussing once people start broadcasting it on streets, playing it publicly in homes,shops and start watching it with their family).

In one sense there is no point in competing with Hollywood films on their own turf. It may make sense to market themselves to a niche audience.

I have several friends here in the US who have similar tastes to average americans i.e. they watch the movies that regularly top the boxoffice, but also have a liking for the song, dance and drama sort of indian movies i.e. the Yash Chopra kind. I have tried giving them other kinds of films to see on DVD. While their responses were polite, they didnt seem to be interested




Yes, that also explains why some of these kind of films do extremely well overseas even if their performance is average in the US. HK action films seem to be another apt analogy

Its a DPS remake, huh?

What's more annoying than Robin Williams in Dead Poets' Society?

Amitabh in the same role!

S. Khan was playing WIlliams role... And Williams was great. One of my favourite films.

Aaah! I see my prurient infulence on other zulmies is spreading quickly.

It's a really good film. they should've had an attractive cast though, like bollywood. not that they should be overly attractive, but some of these kids were too ugly to bare. maybe it had something to do with the period of the film. heheh either way, good film.

Ah, I just assumed that AB would be the teacher.

And I never cared for DPS. Found it rather shallow, considering its loftiness.

Kamal looks like Kal Pen in your sig. LOL