A JOURNEY OF MOTION PICTURE IN INDIA | EP10

Now, the Indian cinema has reached the new level and a revolution of sorts has happened in terms of defining glamour, entertainment, commercial values, budgeting, marketing and box office reports. Today Indian Cinema ,especially, Hindi cinema is not only popular in India but in parts of the Middle East, Pakistan, UK and every other place where Indians live. Major global studios such as 20th Century Fox, Sony Pictures, and Warner Bros are investing in Indian cinema because of which Indian cinema has reached to Global level but at the start of the year 2000 it was a different ball game altogether.

The star I gave a hint about in my last blog is Mr. Amitabh Bachchan (Big B), after being a superstar for almost 2 decades it was a shocker for him to see his stardom sway away and go bankrupt. Trying his luck in production Big B failed miserably and strived to revive his acting career but apart from Suryavansham in 1999 no other film worked. Hoping the year2000 would bring back his fortune soon tables turned when Aditya Chopra’s Mohabbatein hit the theatres and became an instant hit.

Followed with more hits Big B’s career revived and experimented with many of his characters. Now it was time for some fresh talent to enter and sooner arrived Hrithik Roshan with his director dad Rakesh Roshan launched him in a cult hit Kaho Na Pyaar Hai opposite Ameesha Patel. A classy romantic tale starring a handsome hunk quickly established a bond with the audience and it became the highest grossing film of the year 2000 with as many awards.

The twenty-first century has brought a major change in films. Let’s talk about in the next episode.

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A JOURNEY OF MOTION PICTURE IN INDIA | EP8

The Indian film industry was moving towards modern age world cinema. India was developing with its infrastructure, economics, technology and culture. People had diverse opinions and likes-dislikes. Meanwhile the film industry was being filled up with upcoming talents such as Anil Kapoor, Govinda, Jackie Shroff, Madhuri Dixit, Amir Khan, and Salman Khan Etc. Commercial Hindi cinema grew throughout the 1980s and the 1990s with the release of films such as Ek Dooje Ke Liye (1981), Mr India (1987), Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak (1988), Tezaab (1988), Chandni (1989), and Maine Pyar Kiya (1989)

Masala films were back into action as the metro city life had taken full speed. Cinema became a stress buster and family entertainer. The films during this period gained audience and success but fell into a repetitive loop of action, crime, song, dance etc.

Heart throb Zeenat Aman had her year of charm while Danny Dangzongpa and Pran created terror. Competing Hindi cinema, Malayalam cinema of Kerala was experiencing its own 'Golden Age' in the 1980s and early 1990s. Some of the most acclaimed Indian filmmakers at the time were from the Malayalam industry, including Adoor Gopalakrishnan, G. Aravindan, T. V. Chandran and Shaji N. Karun. 

Adoor Gopalakrishnan directed some of his most acclaimed films during this period, including Elippathayam (1981) which won the Sutherland Trophy at the London Film Festival, as well as Mathilukal (1989) which won major prizes at the Venice Film Festival. He is often considered to be Satyajit Ray's spiritual heir as his movies make you remember Ray’s work

Shaji N. Karun's debut film Piravi (1989) won the Camera d'Or at the 1989 Cannes Film Festival, his second film Swaham (1994) was in competition for the Palme d'Or at the 1994 Cannes Film Festival. Commercial Malayalam cinema also began gaining popularity with the action films of Jayan, who lived a short success before an unfortunate demise.

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A JOURNEY OF MOTION PICTURE IN INDIA | EP5

    
In the 60’s cinema had started getting noticed and was gaining huge popularity by the Indian audience. The filmmakers were also catering to this audience very particularly keeping in mind their taste and preferences. Ticket prices were also reduced so that a common man can purchase it and for the elite better seats and facilities were provided on high priced tickets.

The commercial success of films triggered an emotional aspect with the audiences and made people go crazy for their favorite actors and actresses. India’s social life and culture was being put into cinemas as example festivals like Holi, Diwali, Karvachaut etc. which created a bonding among audiences.    Seeing this rapid growth global audience and markets became aware of Indian Film Industry.

To reach the audience in rural areas Cinemas were being put up in a tent. These came to be known as tent cinema introduced by Swamikannu Vincent in which a tent was erected on a stretch of open land close to a town or village to screen the films. The first of its kind was established in Madras, called "Edison's Grand Cinemamegaphone".

As the growth was happening, during World War II, Indian audiences were being treated with masala films and that has been a successful ingredient for Indian film. Masala films stands for all those commercial films which primarily have songs, dance, romance, fight etc. An entertainment package which still stands successful in today’s Indian film industry.

During the 1940s cinema in south India captured almost half of India’s cinema halls. Cinema came to be known as a part of cultural revival. After partition of India the assets were divided and number of studios went to the neighboring country Pakistan.

After Indian independence the cinema of India was handled by S.K. Patil Commission. S.K. Patil, head of the commission, viewed cinema in India as a 'combination of art, industry, and showmanship' while noting its commercial value. Patil set up of a Film Finance Corporation under the Ministry of Finance. In 1960 the Film Finance Corporation came into being to provide financial support to talented filmmakers throughout India.

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