Ultimate guide to Bollywood

Dubai - Khaleej Times gives you a complete package on everything about the world of Indian movies. From its history, top movies, trivia, records and award shows, you'll find all your questions answered.

The History of Bollywood

Bollywood dates back over 100 years. The concept of storytelling was always present in ancient texts from the Ramayan and the Mahabharata, one of the most significant ancient epics or poems in world literature. Another way of storytelling included paintings and artwork.

When the word Bollywood is mentioned, it is usually associated with musicals, colorful attire, and melodious soundtracks. Bollywood leaves its mark within various cultures across the globe. It has been the forefront of many joyous occasions, including wedding receptions, henna parties, and themed events. While many look up to Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, or Salman Khan, young females are often inspired by the adornments and attire that is showcased in Bollywood cinema.

Upon purchasing a cinema ticket or watching a Bollywood movie in the comfort of your home, you often see the final product, which can take over six months of filming and postproduction. Some scenes are recorded over 100 times to produce a three-minute segment.

Many western shows have also contributed to the widespread knowledge of Bollywood or Indian cinema. Shows such as "So you think you can dance," an American TV series, that has inspired many to learn various forms of Bollywood style dances and learn more about the music and movies in Indian cinema.

The Hindi film industry, often known as Bollywood and formerly known as Bombay cinema, is the Hindi-language film industry based in Mumbai. The term is made up of the words "Bombay" and "Hollywood". Indian cinema includes South Indian cinemas and has the highest amount of feature films produced.

Bollywood films are known for their comedy, singing, dancing, and heart-wrenching emotions, as well as the diversity of genres. Every movie shares a unique concept, and a new storyline, which usually sheds light on issues faced globally within Asian cultures or depicted storylines that assists with creating awareness for the masses on taboo subjects.

Indian film production has an annual estimated output of 1,985 films, Bollywood is its most significant film producer, producing over 350 Hindi movies annually. Bollywood is responsible for 43 percent of Indian net box-office revenue, while Tamil and Telugu cinema brings in 36 percent, and regional cinema constitutes the remainder 21 percent.

Bollywood is one of the most significant contributors to film production in the world. In 2001 Bollywood ticket sales were reported at an estimated 3.6 billion tickets worldwide, compared to Hollywood's 2.6 billion tickets sold.

The first hero and heroine concept were created in the Indian film industry, and even though in some films males played female roles, the idea of heroism set the tone for future films to come. Indian culture has always influenced Bollywood. Therefore, many people found it relatable as they understood the concept and could see themselves in a Bollywood movie. Indian cinema allowed viewers to use their imagination and live vicariously through the actors and actresses. For many, songs were associated with happy and sad life events and used to express emotions.

The rise of Bollywood cinema took place in 1895, after The Lumiere brothers, Auguste Marie Louis Nicolas and Louis Jean, were among the first filmmakers in history. The French cinematographers showcased a film in Paris, which featured scenes of a train. It is rumored that people were afraid of the graphics in the movie, and they ran out of the cinema as they did not understand the concept. The same film was showcased in Bombay, the idea was not foreign to Indian viewers and was received well.

Save Dada, formerly known as Harishchandra S. Bhatavdekar was so inspired by the Lumiere brothers, he sourced a camera and film equipment from England and went on to produce a short documentary about wrestling, which was titled "Wrestling Match and Monkey Dance in Hanging Gardens." The film was recorded in The Hanging Gardens, which is one of the most iconic gardens in Mumbai. This marked the first time that a movie was on projection in India, and it is the first Indian factual film. Save Dada was the first Indian to create a motion picture.

In 1897 Professor Stevenson produced a stage show at Calcutta's Star Theatre. Stevenson encouraged Hiralal Sen, an Indian photographer, to make a film of scenes from that show, "The Flower of Persia". Hiralal Sen is known as one of India's first filmmakers and photographers. He created India's first advertising film as well as India's first political film. In 1917 a tragic fire destroyed all his movies and work.

The Lumiere Brothers also inspired Dadasaheb Phalke, an Indian producer, director, and screenwriter. Hundiraj Govind Phalke, known as Dadasaheb Phalke and titled as Father of Indian Cinema, was born in the town of Trimbakeshwar in Nasik. During his childhood, people from his hometown had just one profession, which was being a religious scholar. His father was a Sanskrit scholar, and Phalke was destined to follow in his footsteps. However, Phalke opted for a different future and rebelled. He joined Mumbai's JJ College of Arts in Mumbai to pursue his creative passion in film.

Phalke made a feature film after watching The Life of Christ, which was released in 1906, at a theatre in Mumbai. He was curious and wanted to showcase Indian gods on screen. He was influenced by religion and produced the first Indian motion film. Phalke was overwhelmed by the technology of motion pictures that he traveled to Germany and London to learn filmmaking techniques and started Phalke Films.

He imported filmmaking equipment from England, France, Germany, and the United States. He shot a short film "Ankurachi Wadh" (Growth of a Pea Plant), to attract investors. He advertised roles for cast and crew in numerous newspapers. Phalke took on many responsibilities; he oversaw the script, direction, production, makeup, editing, as well as film processing. Phalke completed filming and producing a film in 6 months, and it consisted of four reels.

Phalke went on to produce the movie "Raja Harishchandra" (King Harishchandra), the movie was released in 1913, the film was silent and is the first full-length feature film in Indian cinema. The original film had explanations in English and Hindi. The storyline was based on a mythical story - a king who sacrificed his family and kingdom for the Gods; in return, he was given divine power. Males played the female roles in the film because they did not want to act in films as they did not feel it was appropriate.

To produce Raja Harishchandra, Phalke needed an estimate of Rs 30,000 (USD $400). He decided to take a loan from his life insurance policies, his wife Saraswatibai Phalke sold her jewelry to support his dream. The couple went on to sell their utensils and furniture to finance the movie. When the film Raja Harishchandra was released, it was well-received, the popularity of the film reached England and was exhibited in London in 1914. It is reported that the western filmmakers were so impressed by Phalke's work, they insisted that he stay back and make more movies. He declined offers so that he could be close to his wife.

Saraswatibai Phalke was also India's first film editor. Apart from being a supportive wife, she actively participated in editing and assisting on set. Saraswatibai assisted by mixing film-developing chemicals, perforating raw film sheets at night by the light of a candle, and holding white bedsheets for hours in the scorching sun as to create light reflectors. Additionally, she cooked for the film crew, which comprised approximately 70 people. Dadasaheb Phalke went on to make 95 feature-length films and 27 short films in his 19-year career.

His most noted works include:

Mohini Bhasmasur (Ash-demon) -1913

Satyavan Savitri - 1914

Lanka Dahan (Lanka Aflame) - 1917

Shri Krishna Janma - 1918

Kaliya Mardan (The Childhood of Krishna) -1919.

The Dadasaheb Phalke Award for his lifetime contribution to cinema was instituted in his honour by the Government of India in 1969. The Dada Saheb Phalke award is the most sought-after honor an actor or performer can receive.

Indian cinema is categorised in different eras which consist of the following:

The early history (1890s - 1940s)

The first film released in India was a Marathi film Shree Pundalik, by Dadasaheb Phalke on the 18th of May 1912 at Coronation Cinema, Bombay.

Phalke went on to make Raja Harishchandra, and it premiered at the Olympia Theatre, Mumbai, on the 21st of April 1913, and had its theatrical release on Saturday, the 3rd of May 1913, at Coronation Cinema. Only one print was made, and it is partially lost. The first and last reels of the film are preserved at the National Film Archive of India.

Parsi entrepreneur Jamshedji Framji Madan, who produced Phalke's 1917 remake of Raja Harishchandra, owned the first group of Indian cinemas, including the Madan Theatre. He oversaw the production of 10 films annually and distributed them throughout India, beginning in 1902. He founded Elphinstone Bioscope Company in Calcutta, which later merged into Madan Theatres Limited in 1919. The company was responsible for bringing many of Bengal's most famous literary works to the stage.

South Indian cinema made its debut in 1916 when R. Nataraja Mudaliar made the first silent film in Tamil, Keechaka Vadham (The Extermination of Keechaka). Unfortunately, there are no prints or reels of the film found to date. C. Rangavadivelu wrote the screenplay. The story was based on an episode from the Virata Parva segment of the Hindu epic Mahabharata, focusing on Keechaka's attempts to persuade and impress Draupadi. The film stared Raju Mudaliar and Jeevarathnam as the main characters.

Keechaka Vadham's success prompted Nataraja Mudaliar to make a series of historical films, which built the foundation for the South Indian cinema industry and led to his being recognized as Tamil cinema's father.

In 1927, the British government tried to promote the market in India for British films. The Indian Cinematograph Enquiry Committee was formed, and it was established to "investigate the adequacy of censorship and the supposedly immoral effect of cinematograph films,". T. Rangachari, a Madras lawyer, led the committee. This committee failed to support the recommendations of supporting British films, instead recommending support for the Indian film industry.

The 1930s and 1940s were difficult times as many people faced stress due to the Great Depression. Most Bollywood films allowed people to escape reality. Several filmmakers attempted to create films where severe social issues were discussed or they used the struggle for Indian independence as a setting for their movies. Many could relate to this and found a sense of comfort in Bollywood films.

In the 30s, 40s and 50s, most movies were filmed at night, due to directors not having access to studios. High noise levels during the day made it challenging to record and produce quality films. Many jobs were created as the film industry required technicians, playback singers, extras, dancers, and many more. People were eager to get involved not only as a viewer, but for roles behind the scenes as it provided them with a sense of purpose and an escape from reality.

Ardeshir Irani's Alam Ara, meaning light of the world, was the first film to feature talking and music. The film was released in 1931 and went on to start the era for color and animation. This also changed the dynamic of the class of people that viewed films. When films had no sound, the audience was from a middle class. However, when the movie introduced music, dancing, and sound, this attracted the working class and lower class

By the 1930s, over 200 films were made. This era had a lot of censorship. Filmmakers portrayed support of the war and wanted to expose social issues.

In March 2011, Google created a Google Doodle to celebrate the film Alam Ara's 80th anniversary. Once music and sound were introduced in films, the Film Indrasabha was made and featured seventy-one songs.

In 1933, the film Karma was the first Indian movie that showcased a kiss four minutes long. The onscreen couple was also a real-life couple. In the 90s and early 2000s, Bollywood cinema used symbolism to showcase topics or scenes that are taboo in Indian culture, such as kissing or any physical romance. Affection is often shown through facial expressions or song and dance. Censorship is still very prominent in Indian cinema and media.

In 1937, Irani made the first Hindi color film, Kisan Kanya. The following year, he made a color version of Mother India. However, color did not become a popular feature until the late 1950s.

Bollywood cinema has produced some moves that promote socialist reforms, movies such as:

Aadmi (Person) was released in 1939 and was noticed by Charlie Chaplin

Neecha Nagar (Lowly City) was released in 1946, it went on to achieve international acclaim. However, it did not receive much appreciation in India. The movie showcased social reform between rich and poor. Neecha Nagar won the best film at the Cannes Film Festival. Ravi Shankar was the music director and he influenced The Beetles in a big way.

Golden Age (late 1940s-1960s)

The late 1940s to the early 1960s is known as the Golden Age of Indian cinema. Some of the most critically acclaimed Hindi films of all time were produced during this era, such as:

Pyaasa (Thirsty) - 1957, directed by Guru Dutt and written by Abra Alvi

Kaagaz Ke Phool (Paper Flowers) -1959, directed by Guru Dutt and written by Abra Alvi

Awaara (A wanderer) - 1951, directed by Raj Kapoor and Khwaja Ahmad Abbas

Shree 420 (Mr 420) - 1955 which was directed by Raj Kapoor and Khwaja Ahmad Abbas

Aan (Pride) - 1952, directed by Mehboob Khan and featured Dilip Kumar

In the 1940s, the film industry started to gain popularity across India. Even though ticket prices varied, it was affordable, which allowed the masses to enjoy the cinematic experience. For those who wanted exclusivity and additional comforts, tickets were available at a higher price.

The films explored social themes and working-class life in India. Awaara is based on the character Raj, who murders the man responsible for the separation of his parents. While on trial, he realises the judge is none other than his estranged father. Pyaasa is based on a struggling poet, Vijay, who tries to get his work published but faces constant rejection. However, he gets unexpected assistance from Gulabo, a lady of ill repute who falls in love with him and his work.

Prior to the 1947 Partition which divided the country into India and Pakistan, Bollywood, formerly known as the Bombay film industry, was intricately linked to the Lahore film industry (currently the Lollywood industry of Pakistani cinema).

Hindustani film production was also linked to the Bengali film industry in Calcutta. Bengal Presidency (now Kolkata, West Bengal) produced Hindustani films and local Bengali language films.

Many actors, filmmakers, and musicians from the Lahore industry migrated to the Bombay industry during the 1940s, including KL Saigal, Prithviraj Kapoor, Dilip Kumar and Dev Anand as well as playback singers such as Mohammed Rafi, Noorjahan, and Shamshad Begum.

In 1957, the film Mother India, produced by Mehboob Khan, which was a remake of his earlier film Aurat (woman), was released in 1940 and was the first Indian film nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. Unfortunately, it lost by one single vote.

Mother India defined conservative Hindi cinema for decades. In 1961, Dilip Kumar wrote and produced Gunga Jumna, which was a crime drama about two brothers on opposite sides of the law. Some of the best-known heroic films of Hindi cinema were also produced at this time, such as Mughal-e-Azam (The Great Moughal), which was produced by K. Asif.

The three most popular male Indian actors of the 1950s and 1960s were:

Dilip Kumar

Raj Kapoor

Dev Anand

Each had a unique style of acting and technique. Raj Kapoor took on Charlie Chaplin's persona and referenced the manner of his acting. At the same time, Dev Anand modeled himself on the glitz and glamour of Hollywood and wanted to follow in the footsteps on Gregory Peck and Cary Grant.

Dilip Kumar started a form of method acting that predated Hollywood actors such as Marlon Brando. He was described as "the ultimate method actor" by Satyajit Ray. Kumar also inspired future generations of Indian actors that took over the limelight, the likes of Amitabh Bachchan, Naseeruddin Shah, Shah Rukh Khan and Nawazuddin Siddiqui.

Even though male actors dominated the screen during this era, many actresses left their mark and influence on Hindi cinema. Some of them are:

Suraiya

Nargis

Sumitra Devi

Madhubala

Meena Kumari

Waheeda Rehman

Nutan

Sadhana

Mala Sinha

Vyjayanthimala

The 1950s emphasized social realism. Filmmakers drew attention to the real socio-political conditions of the working class to critique the power structures behind these conditions. This was led by Bengali cinema, and it also began gaining prominence in the Hindi cinema.

Some examples of parallel cinema include:

Dharti Ke Lal (Children of the Earth) - 1946, directed by Khwaja Ahmad Abbas and based on the Bengal famine of 1943.

Neecha Nagar (Lowly City) - 1946, directed by Chetan Anand and written by Khwaja Ahmad Abbas.

Do Bigha Zamin (Two bighas of land. A bigha is a traditional unit of measurement of land) - 1953, directed by Bimal Roy

The films' critical acclaim and success paved the way for Indian neorealism, promoting the working class's stories.

The 1950s and 1960s formed part of the golden era. Music from the '50s and '60s has been popular throughout the years. Even though new music has been released, the films that were made in the '50s had popular social themes which took a long time to prepare. Many people who like Bollywood music prefer older music and hold sentimental value to it.

Classic Bollywood (1970s-1980s)

During the 1970s, Hindi cinema was dominated by musical romance films. The arrival of screenwriting duo Salim Khan and Javed Akhtar, also known as Salim-Javed, shifted the pattern and revitalised it. They began the genre of action and violent films, including Bombay underworld crime films, namely Zanjeer and Deewaar.

Salim-Javed reinterpreted Mehboob Khan's Mother India, and Dilip Kumar's Gunga Jumna in a contemporary urban context, reflecting the socio-economic and socio-political climate of 1970s India. They wanted to channel the feeling of discontent and cynicism. They also focused on shedding light on the rapid growth of slums and those living in poverty, corruption, and crime.

Their "angry young man", personified by Amitabh Bachchan, reinterpreted Dilip Kumar's performance in Gunga Jumna in a contemporary urban context and anguished urban poor.

Actresses from the classic era include:

Hema Malini

Jaya Bachchan

Raakhee

Shabana Azmi

Zeenat Aman

Parveen Babi

Rekha

Dimple Kapadia

Smita Patil

Jaya Prada

Masala films in the 1970s

Masala films fall under the musical film genre and Indian cinema has been the largest producer since the 1960s. Masala films includes romance, comedy, action, drama, songs, dances and melodrama.

Amitabh Bachchan was the most successful Indian actor in the 1970s and 1980s, and he is considered one of India's greatest and most influential movie stars known for starring in masala films.

Alongside commercial masala films, a distinctive genre of art films known as parallel cinema has also existed, presenting realistic content and avoiding musical numbers.

The masala film was pioneered early in the decade by filmmaker Nasir Hussain, and the screenwriting duo, Salim-Javed, assisted in pioneering the Bollywood blockbuster format. Yaadon Ki Baarat (Procession of Memories), which was released in 1973, directed by Hussain and written by Salim-Javed, has been identified as the first masala film and the first ideal Bollywood film.

By 1983, the Bombay film industry was generating an estimated annual revenue of $693.14 million. The most internationally acclaimed Hindi film of the 1980s was Mira Nair's Salaam Bombay (1988), which won the Camera d'Or at the 1988 Cannes Film Festival and was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.

In 2010, Rajesh Khanna was the first Indian actor to be recognised as a "superstar". He starred in 15 consecutive hit films from 1969 to 1971. After the social-realist film Neecha Nagar (Lowly City) received the Palme d'Or at the inaugural 1946 Cannes Film Festival, Hindi films were frequently in competition for Cannes' top prize during the 1950s, and early 1960s and some won significant awards at the festival. Unfortunately, director Guru Dutt was overlooked during his lifetime. However, he received international recognition during the 1980s.

New Bollywood (1990s-present)

Hindi cinema experienced some stagnation during the late 1980s, and there was a box-office decline due to increasing violence, lack of musical quality, and a rise in video piracy. The movie Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak (End of days, or From Doom till Doom) was released in 1988 and presented a mix of youthfulness, family entertainment, emotional intelligence, and strong melodies, which encouraged people to watch Hindi film cinema and lured audiences back to the screen. This set the tone for Bollywood musical romance films, which defined the 1990s Hindi cinema.

"New Bollywood" was also known as contemporary Bollywood, and is linked to India's economic liberalisation during the early 1990s. Early in the decade, the pendulum swung back toward family-centered romantic musicals.

Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak was followed by blockbusters such as:

Maine Pyar Kiya (I have loved) - 1989

Hum Aapke Hain Kaun (Who am I to you) - 1994

Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (The brave hearted will take the bride) - 1995

Raja Hindustani (Raja, the Indian) - 1996

Dil To Pagal Hai (The heart is crazy) - 1997

Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (Something..something happens) - 1998

The era also introduced a new generation of actors who have grown to be the biggest stars in Bollywood. The three Khans entered the Bollywood scene, Aamir Khan, Shah Rukh Khan, and Salman Khan. The Khans have dominated the Indian box office for three decades and have starred in most of the top 10 highest-grossing Bollywood films.

Shah Rukh Khan was the most successful Indian actor for most of the 1990s and 2000s, and Aamir Khan has been the most successful Indian actor since the mid-2000s. Akshay Kumar and Govinda were known for their comedy roles in Hindi cinema.

This decade marked the beginning for many new performers in art and independent films, some of which were commercially successful. The most famous example was Satya (truth), which was released in 1998. The film was directed by Ram Gopal Varma and written by Anurag Kashyap.

After receiving critical and commercial success, it initiated a new genre known as Mumbai noir. Mumbai noir is urban films reflecting the city's social problems. This led to a rebirth of parallel cinema by the end of the decade. The movie featured actors whose performances were often praised by critics.

The 2000s saw increased Bollywood recognition worldwide due to the growing of Non- Resident Indian (NRI) and Indian communities overseas. The growth of the Indian economy and a demand for quality entertainment in this era led the country's film industry to new heights in production, cinematography, screenwriting and technical advances in special effects and animation.

The largest production houses, namely Yash Raj Films and Dharma Productions, were the producers of new modern films.

Some of the most popular films of the decade were:

Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai (Tell me that you love me) - 2000

Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham (Sometimes Happiness, Sometimes Sadness) - 2001

Gadar: Ek Prem Katha (Mutiny: The Love Story) - 2001

Lagaan (Land Tax) - 2001

Koi Mil Gaya (Found someone)- 2003

Kal Ho Naa Ho (There May Or May Not Be A Tomorrow) - 2003

Veer-Zaara (2004)

Rang De Basanti (Paint me with the colours of spring) - 2006

Lage Raho Munna Bhai (Carry On Munna Bhai) -2006

Dhoom 2 (Bang 2) - 2006

Krrish (2006)

Jab We Met (When we met) - 2007

These films featured fresh faces, and many new movie stars made their debut into Bollywood cinema. In 2010, Bollywood stars began to feature in big-budget masala films like:

Dabangg (Fearless) - 2010

Singham (Lion) - 2011)

Ek Tha Tiger (Once There was a Tiger) - 2012

Son of Sardaar - 2012

Rowdy Rathore - 2012

Chennai Express - 2013

Kick - 2014

Happy New Year - 2014

Most stars from the 2000s continued successful careers into the next decade and the 2010s saw a new generation of popular actors in different films.

Among new conventions, female-centered films started gaining financial success, movies include:

The Dirty Picture - 2011

Kahaani (Story) - 2012

Queen - 2014

Parched - 2015

Pink - 2016

Six significant influences which have shaped Indian cinema:

Indian films often have plots that branch off into sub-plots.

Ancient Sanskrit, with its general nature, created an emphasis on music, dance, and gesture or the emotions felt by the audience.

Traditional folk theatre became popular around the 10th century with the decline of Sanskrit theatre. Its regional traditions include the Jatra of Bengal, the Ramlila of Uttar Pradesh, and the Terukkuttu of Tamil Nadu.

Parsi theatre combined realism and fantasy, music and dance, narrative and stage presentation, blending them into a dramatic discourse of melodrama.

Hollywood musicals were popular from the 1920s to the 1950s.

Western musical television has had an increasing influence since the 1990s. Focusing on its pace, camera angles, dance sequences, and music may be seen in the 2000s Indian films.

Bollywood films tend to use the Hindustani vernacular and modern Bollywood incorporates elements of "Hinglish". Sharmistha Gooptu identifies Indo-Persian-Islamic culture as a significant influence. During the early 20th century, Urdu was the bridge language across northern India. It was established in popular performance art traditions such as nautch (court dance performed by girls) dancing, Urdu poetry, and Parsi theatre. Urdu poetry and the ghazal tradition strongly influenced filmi music (music produced for Bollywood).

Influence of Bollywood

Bollywood's most significant impact has been on India's national identity; it has become part of the "Indian story". According to economist and Bollywood biographer Meghnad Desai, "cinema has been the most vibrant medium for telling India its own story, the story of its struggle for independence, its constant struggle to achieve national integration, and emerge as a global presence".

Mehboob Khan's Mother India (1957) played a crucial role in shaping the Republic of India's national identity in the early years after independence from the British Raj. The film conveyed a sense of Indian nationalism to urban and rural citizens alike.

Bollywood has also had a socio-political impact on Indian society, reflecting Indian politics. In classic 1970s Bollywood films, Bombay underworld crime films written by Salim-Javed and starring Amitabh Bachchan, such as Zanjeer (Chain) -1973 and Deewaar (Wall) - 1975, reflected the socio-economic and socio-political realities of contemporary India.

The films channeled growing discontent and disillusionment and state failure to ensure welfare at a time of inflation, loss of confidence in public institutions, increased crime and the growth of slums. Salim-Javed and Bachchan's films dealt with urban poverty, corruption and organised crime. Audiences perceived them as anti-establishment, often with an "angry young man" protagonist presented as a vigilante whose suppressed rage voiced the anguish of the urban poor.

How is Bollywood perceived internationally?

Bollywood stems from Indian cinema and has created a significant Indian influence globally. This has helped to increase awareness about India and break stereotypes and generalisations.

During the 2000s, Bollywood began influencing musical films in the Western world and played an instrumental role in reviving the American musical film. Baz Luhrmann said that his musical film, Moulin Rouge (2001), was inspired by Bollywood musicals; the film incorporated a Bollywood-style dance scene with a song from the movie China Gate. The critical and financial success of Moulin Rouge began a renaissance of Western musical films such as Chicago, Rent, and Dreamgirls. Indian film composer A. R. Rahman wrote the music for Andrew Lloyd Webber's Bombay Dreams, and a musical version of Hum Aapke Hain Koun (Who am I to you) was staged in London's West End. The Bollywood film Lagaan (Land Tax) - 2001 was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. Two other Bollywood films, Devdas and Rang De Basanti, were nominated for the BAFTA Award for Best Film Not in the English Language. Danny Boyle's Slumdog Millionaire, which was produced in 2008, won four Golden Globes and eight Academy Awards, was inspired by Bollywood films and Mumbai-underworld crime films, such as:

Deewaar (Wall) - 1975

Satya (True) - 1998

Company - 2002

Black Friday - 2007

Deewaar had a Hong Kong remake, The Brothers (1979), which inspired John Woo's internationally acclaimed breakthrough called A Better Tomorrow (1986). The latter was a template for the Hong Kong action cinema's heroic bloodshed genre.

Bollywood genres:

Melodrama and romance are common ingredients in Bollywood films. Bollywood films are primarily musicals and are expected to have catchy song-and-dance numbers intertwined into the script. A film's success often depends on the quality of music. A sample of genres are listed below:

Action films

Films based on actual events

Adventure films

Biographical films

Children's films

Crime films

Comedy films

Documentary films

Drama films

Family films

Hindu mythological films

Historical films

Horror films

Masala films

Romance films

Sports films

Spy films

Teen films

Thriller films

Vigilante films

War films

Western (genre) films

Bollywood plots have tended to be melodramatic, with topics such as star-crossed lovers, angry parents, love triangles, family ties, sacrifice, political corruption, kidnapping, villains, long-lost relatives and fortune.

Some Bollywood plots features many Western customs and lifestyles including dating openly, dancing in clubs rather than pre-arranged marriages, traditional Indian culture continues to exist outside the industry.

The influence of Bollywood music and Indian cinema:

Technopop pioneers Haruomi, Hosono, and Ryuichi Sakamoto of the Yellow Magic Orchestra produced a 1978 electronic album.

Cochin Moon based on a fusion of electronic music and Bollywood-inspired Indian music.

Truth Hurts' 2002 song "Addictive," produced by DJ Quik

Dr. Dre was lifted from Lata Mangeshkar's "Thoda Resham Lagta Hai" (It takes a little silk) in Jyoti (1981).

The Black Eyed Peas, a Grammy Award-winning American Musical group, won an award for the song "Don't Phunk with My Heart" which was inspired by two 1970s Bollywood songs: "Ye Mera Dil Yaar Ka Diwana" (My heart is crazy for my lover) from Don (1978) and "Ae Nujawan Hai Sub" (Hey young man) from Apradh (1972). Both songs were composed by Kalyanji Anandji, sung by Asha Bhosle, and featured the dancer Helen.

The Kronos Quartet re-recorded several of R. D. Burman compositions sung by Asha Bhosle for their 2005 album You've Stolen My Heart: Songs from R.D. Burman's Bollywood, which was nominated for Best Contemporary World Music Album at the 2006 Grammy Awards.

Filmi music composed by A. R. Rahman (who received two Academy Awards for the Slumdog Millionaire soundtrack) has frequently been sampled by other musicians, including the Singaporean artist Kelly Poon, the French rap group La Caution the American artist Ciara.

The cast and crew of Bollywood cinema:

Madhuri Dixit is considered one of the greatest actresses of Indian cinema for her critical and commercial success during the 1980s and 1990s. Models and beauty contestants, television actors and stage actors come to Mumbai to become stars. Like in Hollywood, very few succeed and go onto making it as an acting sensation. Since many Bollywood films are shot abroad, many foreign extras are employed.

Industry connections are no guarantee of a long career. Film stars such as Dilip Kumar, Dharmendra, Amitabh Bachchan, Rajesh Khanna, Sridevi, Madhuri Dixit and Shah Rukh Khan did not have connections in show business before they started.

Bollywood dialogues and lyrics:

Scripts are usually written in basic Hindi, so that it is understood by the masses and is relatable. Bollywood films tend to use a local register of Hindustani, mutually intelligible by Hindi- and Urdu-speakers.

Some of the classic scriptwriters in Hindi cinema includes:

Salim-Javed

Gulzar

Rajinder Singh Bedi

Inder Raj Anand

Rahi Masoom Raza

Wajahat Mirza

Salim-Javed wrote in Urdu script, which was then transcribed by an assistant into the Devanagari script so Hindi readers could read the Urdu dialogues. During the 1970s, the Urdu writers and screenwriters Krishan Chander and Ismat Chughtai said that "more than seventy-five percent of films are made in Urdu" but were categorised as Hindi films by the government. Urdu poetry has strongly influenced Bollywood songs. Some films have used regional dialects or archaic Urdu in old historical films. Cinematic language is often exaggerated, invoking God, family, duty, and self-sacrifice. Song lyrics are often about love and frequently use the poetic vocabulary of court Urdu. Music directors often prefer working with certain lyricists, and the lyricist and composer may be a team. This phenomenon has been compared to the pairs of American composers and songwriters who created classic Broadway musicals. Sound in early Bollywood films was usually not recorded on location. It was traditionally created in the studio, with the actors speaking their lines in the studio and sound effects added later. This created synchronisation problems. Commercial Indian films are known for their lack of ambient sound, and the Arriflex 3 camera assisted with dubbing. In 2001, Lagaan was filmed with sync sound, and several Bollywood films have recorded on-location music since then.

Song and dance in Bollywood

Bollywood film music is referred to as "filmi" music.

Bollywood songs

Songs were introduced with Ardeshir Irani's music in the film Alam Ara (The Ornament of the World). The song "De De Khuda Ke Naam Pe Pyaare" (Please give me in the name of God) set the tone for music in Indian cinema. Professional playback singers generally pre-record Bollywood songs, with the actors then lip-syncing the words to the song onscreen, usually dancing accompanied by backup dancers. Most actors are excellent dancers, and some are good singers too. For example, Kishore Kumar, who starred in several notable films during the 1950s, had a rewarding career as a playback singer. K.L. Saigal, Suraiyya and Noor Jehan were also known for both singing and acting. Music can make or break a film. Films that have entertaining dance scenes and a good range of music often succeed and dominate the box office for much longer than films without any music or dance performances. Globalisation has changed Bollywood music, and there is an increase in mixing Hindi and English lyrics. Global trends such as salsa, pop, and hip hop have influenced the music heard in Bollywood films. Playback singers are featured in the opening credits.

Popular Bollywood singers include:

Late Mangeshkar

Mukesh

Mohammed Rafi

Asha Bhosle

Geeta Dutt

Shamshad Begum

Kavita Krishnamurthy

Sadhana Sargam

Alka Yagnik

Shreya Goshal

KL Saigal

Talat Mahmood

Manna Dey

Hermant Kumar

Kishore Kumar

Kumar Sanu

Udit Narayan

Sonu Nigam

Kishore Kumar and Mohammed Rafi have been considered the best singers of Bollywood songs, followed by Lata Mangeshkar, who has recorded thousands of songs for Indian films in her six-decade career. Composers of film music, known as music directors, are also well-known. Remixing of film songs with modern rhythms is common, and producers may release remixed versions of some of their films' songs with the films' soundtrack albums.

Bollywood dance routines

Bollywood cinema is known for the unmatched dance routines. There are various forms of Indian dance, with classical dance and folk dance being among the popular ones.

In more recent films or modern films, Indian dance blends with Western dance styles, as seen on western TV channels such as MTV or in Broadway musicals. Western pop and classical-dance routines are commonly seen side-by-side in the same film. The main actors often perform with a group of supporting dancers. Many song-and-dance routines in Indian movies contain unrealistically quick moves of location or costume changes between verses of a song. If the hero and heroine dance and sing a duet, it is often staged in natural surroundings or architecturally grand settings. It may externalise a character's thoughts and the songs are often referred to as a "dream sequence". Song and dance scenes were often filmed in Kashmir. These days, they are shot in western Europe, notably Switzerland and Austria.

Contemporary Bollywood actors who are good dancers include:

Madhuri Dixit

Hrithik Roshan

Sridevi

Meenakshi Seshadri

Malaika Arora Khan

Shaahid Kapoor

Katrina Kaif

Tiger Shroff

Helen (Cabaret style)

Madhubala

Vyjanthimala

Padmini

Hema Malini

Mumtaz

Cuckoo Moray

Parveen Babi

Waheeda Rahman

Meena Kumari

Shammi Kapor

Bollywood producers are known to release a film's soundtrack before the film's release. The aim is to create awareness about the film and attract audiences, and a soundtrack is often more popular than its movie. Some producers also release music videos with a song from the film. Bollywood films are multi-million-dollar productions, with the most expensive productions costing up to $20 million. The science-fiction film Ra.One was made on a budget of $27 million, making it the most expensive Bollywood film of all time.

Sets, costumes, special effects, and cinematography were mediocre, with some notable exceptions, until the mid-to-late 1990s. As Western films and television are more widely distributed in India, there is increased pressure for Bollywood films to reach the same production levels. Recent Bollywood films like Krrish, which was released in 2006, had employed international technicians such as Hong Kong-based action choreographer Tony Ching to assist in the production. The increasing accessibility of professional action production and special effects has seen a rise in action and science-fiction films since 2006.

Due to the popularity of international film scenes, Mumbai film crews are filming in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Europe. Indian producers have also obtained funding for big-budget films shot in India, such as Lagaan and Devdas. Funding for Bollywood films comes from private distributors and large studios. Indian banks and financial institutions were forbidden from lending to film studios. The ban has since lifted.

According to Rediff.com, Mumbai organized crime hitmen shot Rakesh Roshan (father of star Hrithik Roshan) in January 2000. In 2001, the Central Bureau of Investigation seized all prints of Chori Chori Chupke Chupke (quietly and stealthily) after illegitimate sources were found to have funded the film.

Copyright Infringement in Indian cinema:

One of the significant problems facing Bollywood is widespread copyright infringement of its films. Pirated DVD copies of movies are available before they are released in cinemas. Manufacturing of illegal DVDs, VCD, and VHS copies of the latest movie titles is an established small-scale industry in parts of south and southeast Asia. The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) estimates that the Bollywood industry loses $100 million annually from unlicensed home videos and DVDs.

Films are broadcast without compensation by small cable TV companies in India and other parts of South Asia.

The availability of illegal copies of movies on the internet also contributes to industry losses. Satellite TV, television, and imported foreign films make their way into the local Indian entertainment market.

Bollywood ticket sales from theatres in Western countries continue to increase as more Indians migrate to these countries.

Advertising in Bollywood

Many Indian artists hand-painted movie billboards and posters. M. F. Husain painted film posters early in his career as this form of labour was found to be affordable. Most of the billboards in India's major cities are now created with computer-printed vinyl.

Releasing film music, or music videos before a film's release is a form of advertising. Bigger-budget films have websites where viewers can view trailers and information on the story, cast and crew. Bollywood is also used for advertising other products such as energy drinks, cosmetic lines and hotel chains.

Bollywood movie awards? and annual events

There are many award ceremonies and events hosted in Bollywood to honor actors, actresses, and those working behind the scenes. This also includes playback singers, music production and supporting roles. These award shows are equivalent to the likes of Hollywood red carpet events such as The Grammy Awards, Academy Awards, Golden Globe Awards and many more.

Filmfare Awards

The Filmfare Awards ceremony takes place annually, and the awards are meant to honor artistic and technical excellence in Bollywood. The Times Group first introduced the awards in 1954, the same year as the National Film Awards. They were initially referred to as the "Clare Awards" or "The Clares" after Clare Mendonca, the editor of The Times of India.

A dual voting system was developed in 1956, whereby winners are voted on by both the public and a committee of experts.

The Filmfare Awards have been often referred to as the Hindi film industry's equivalent to the Academy Awards in the United States. Until the mid-1990s, Filmfare Awards were the most recognized awards in Bollywood until several other awards sprouted up in Mumbai. This has resulted in poor viewership since the 2000s.

In addition to the flagship event, Filmfare also has other variants for Indian film industries such as Filmfare Awards South for South Indian cinema, Filmfare Marathi Awards for Marathi cinema and Filmfare Awards East for eastern Indian cinema.

In the first awards function, held on the 21st of March 1954 at the Metro Theatre of Mumbai, only five awards were presented:

Best Film

Best Director

Best Actor

Best Actress

Best Music Director

Do Bigha Zameen was the first movie to win the Best Film award. (Bigha is a South Asian term used to measure an area of land varying locally from 1/3 to 1 acre or 1/8 to 2/5 hectare.)

Postponement in 1986 and 1987

In 1986 the 'Bombay film Industry' went on strike in due to many contentious issues with the Maharashtra government. Due to security reasons, Filmfare awards were not given in 1986 and 1987. The winners of 1985 were awarded on the 28th of January 1987.

The Red Carpet

The Red Carpet is a segment that takes place before the awards ceremony. The red-carpet ceremony allows for actors, actresses, producers, directors, singers, composers and others that have contributed to Indian cinema to be introduced.

The Filmfare award segments now include:

Best Film

Best Director

Best Actor

Best Actress

Best Supporting Actor

Best Supporting Actress

Best Performance in a Negative Role

Best Performance in a Comic Role

Best Male Debut

Best Female Debut

Best Debut Director

Best Music Direction

Best Lyricist

Best Male Playback Singer

Best Female Playback Singer

Critics' awards

Critics Award Best Film

Critics Award for Best Actor

Critics Award for Best Actress

Best Documentary

Technical awards

Best Story

Best ScreenplayBest Dialogue

Best Action

Best Art DirectioN

Best Background Score

Best Cinematography

Best Editing

Best Choreography

Best Sound Design

Best Special Effects

Best Costume Design

Lifetime AchievementRD Burman Award for New Music Talent

Special Performance Award

Best Scene of the Year (1998-2012)

Power Award (2003-2007)

People's choice award for Best Short Film

Best Short Film in Fiction

Best Short Film in Non-Fiction

Best Actor Male Short Film

Best Actor Female Short Film

GiMA Awards

The Global Indian Music Academy Awards (GiMA Awards) are presented annually by the Global Indian Music Academy to honor and recognise Indian music. GiMA's jury votes the nominees, some of the most respected artists in the country. GiMA provides a platform to celebrate and acknowledge the immense contribution of those who push the boundaries in Indian music. The awards ceremony was first televised in 2010 and has been presented annually. The 4th GiMA Awards ceremony was held on the 20th of January 2014 at the National Sports Club of India Stadium. The 1st edition of the Global Indian Music Academy Awards was held on the 10th of November 2010 at Yash Raj Studios in Andheri and Asha Bhosle presented the Lifetime Achievement Award to her sister Lata Mangeshkar. The show was hosted by Sajid Khan, Shreyas Talpade and Dia Mirza. A total of 29 awards under film and non-film categories were presented. The 2nd Chevrolet Global Indian Music Academy Awards was held on the 30th of October 2011 in Gurgaon, hosted by Ranveer Singh and Neha Dhupia. The 3rd edition of the award ceremony was held on the 1st of October 2012 and was hosted by Parineeti Chopra and Saif Ali Khan at Yash Raj Studios, Mumbai. The 4th GiMA Awards was hosted by actor Ranveer Singh. The show was held at the National Sports Club of India Stadium on the 20th of January 2014.

Film Music Awards categories include:

Best Music Arranger and Program

Best Engineer - Film Album

Best Engineer - Theatre Mix

Best Background Score

Best Music Director

Best Music Debut

Best Female Playback Singer

Best Male Playback Singer

Best Duo/Group Song

Best Duet

Best Lyricist

Best Film Song

Best Film Album

Best Music Debut

Best Non-Film Song

Best Fusion Album

Best Devotional Album

Best Hindustani Classical Album - Vocal

Best Hindustani Classical Album - Instrumental

Best Pop Album

Best Rock Album

Best Ghazal Album

Best Folk Album

Best Carnatic Classical Album - Vocal

Best Carnatic Classical Album - Instrumental

Best Semi-Classical Album Best Popular Music Album

Most composing awards

Best playback singer - female

Best playback singer - male

Global Indian Film Awards

Global Indian Film Awards (GIFA) was an awards ceremony held between 2005 and 2007. It was conceptualised to acknowledge excellence in the Indian film industry and honour artists in 28 categories across various genres, from acting to film making. The awards show was held in Dubai in 2005 and Kuala Lumpur in 2006. The jury members for the first awards were Aziz Mirza, Om Puri, Firoz Nadiadwala, Kabir Bedi, Bharti Pradhan, Umesh Mehra, and Priti Hiranandani. The ceremony was organized at Dubai's Al-Wasl Stadium from the 25th to the 27th of January 2005. A football match also took place between the Bollywood actors' team and the UAE football team. The ceremony was produced by Dubai based event company Global Events and is backed by Suniel Shetty, Chairman of Popcorn Entertainment. The jury members included Jackie Shroff, Rati Agnihotri, Sajid Nadiadwala, Sandeep Chowta, Shyam Benegal and Smita Thackeray. Mathew Abel, Managing Director and Sameer Khan, Vice President of Global Events, Dubai, Suniel Shetty, Chairman and Jordy Patel Director of Popcorn Entertainment, Mumbai, were present for the media briefings. The GIFA trophy is made from 24ct gold and based on the five elements of the universe: earth, water, fire, air and space. The award presented to each winner is produced by Citigold Corporation, Australia and certified by a leading global certification house for its purity.

Some of the categories include:

Best Film

Best Director

Best Actor

Best Actress

Best Supporting Actor

Best Supporting Actress

Most Searched Actor on the internet

Most Searched Actress on the internet

Best Comedian

Best Villain

Best Music Director

Best Lyrics

Best Playback Singer Female

Best Playback Singer Male

Best Debut Actor

The event has been held in London, Toronto, and Singapore, and most recently, Bangkok. Revenues from the sale of digital rights grew nearly 60% in 2018. According to the EY-FICCI report Amazon Prime and Netflix were among the major buyers. The streaming giants have also started producing original Indian content. For example, Netflix recruited the superstars Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Saif Ali Khan for its acclaimed series Sacred Games.

Film Awards

The Producers Guild Film Awards (previously known as the Apsara Film & Television Producers Guild Award) was an accolade given by the Apsara Producers Guild to recognize excellence in Indian film and television. Originated by filmmaker and scholar Amit Khanna, the Star Guild Awards have been one of the major award events since 2004 till 2016 when the last awards ceremony took place. The 22ct gold statuette was sculpted and designed by the jewellery brand Tanishq. Nominations for the awards come from selected members of the association. The membership has 160 associates and all are eligible to vote for the winners. The ballots cast by the guild members are then taken to a familiar venue for the final counting.

The Guild Awards ceremony was held on the 28th of May 2004 in Mumbai, India, to honor the outstanding film and television achievements of the 2003-04 film and television season. The fourth edition of the award ceremony (2008-09) was postponed to the end of the year as a sign of respect to the victims of the 2008 Mumbai attacks.

Film Awards categories include:

Best Film

Best Director

Best Actor in a Leading Role

Best Actress in a Leading Role

Best Actor in a Supporting Role

Best Actress in a Supporting Role

Best Actor in a Negative Role

Best Actor in a Comic Role

Best Male Debut

Best Female Debut

Best Debut Director

Music Director

Best Lyricist

Best Male Playback Singer

Best Female Playback Singer

Screen Awards

The Screen Awards are held annually in India. The award ceremony honors professional excellence in Bollywood. The nomination and award selection is made by a panel of distinguished professionals from the industry. The name of the annual ceremonies is prefixed by the presenting network. The first Star Screen Awards were telecasted on Star Plus in 2000 and ran until 2011, after which the Screen Awards were previewed on Colours TV. The Screen Awards, initiated by the chairman of The Express Group, Viveck Goenka, in 1994, is focused on excellence in India's films. The awards attempt to position themselves as India's first awards given by the film fraternity to the film fraternity by way of a jury, as opposed to the other "popular" awards. The awards are also the first to be conducted every year.

Several editions of the awards include:

Screen Weekly Awards

Screen Videocon Awards

Star Screen Awards

Colours Screen Awards

Life OK Screen Awards

These awards have been presented until 2001. The awards were sponsored by Videocon International and hence known as the Screen Videocon Awards. For the regional cinema of South India, Screen has held three editions of the "Screen Awards for excellence in South Indian Cinema." The awards were presented for Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada cinema. The 23rd Star Screen Awards was held on the 4th of December 2016 and broadcast on Star Plus on the 31st of December 2016. The event was created and designed by Anil Jha and produced and executed by Mohamed Morani and the Cineyug Group of Companies.

Jury Awards include:

Best Film

Best Director

Best Actor

Best Actress

Best Supporting Actor

Best Supporting Actress

Best Villain

Best Comedian

Best Music Director

Best Lyricist

Best Male Playback

Best Female Playback

Most Promising Newcomer - Male

Most Promising Newcomer - Female

Critics' Awards

Best Actor (Critics)

Best Actress (Critics)

Popular Choice Awards

Best Actor

Best Actress

Technical Awards

Best Story

Best Screenplay

Best Dialogue

Best Background Music

Best Editing

Special Effects

Best Art Direction

Best Action

Best Cinematography

Best Choreography

Best Sound Design

Special Awards:

Lifetime Achievement

Jodi No. 1

Best Child Artist

Special Jury Award

Entertainer of the Year

Best Animation Film

Best Film in English

Best Fresh Talent

Screen Award Best Jodi of Decade

Screen Award for Showman of the Millennium

Screen Award for Best Performer of The Year

Screen Legend of Indian Cinema Award

Stardust Awards

The Stardust Awards is an award ceremony for Hindi movies sponsored by the Stardust magazine. The first ceremony was held in 2004 for films released in 2003. The last awards ceremony happened in 2016, with several discontinued, intermittent and individual awards.

Editor's choice

Film of the Year

Filmmaker of the Year

Performer of the Year - Male

Performer of the Year - Female

Main Awards

Best Film of the Year

Best Supporting Actor

Best Supporting Actress

Best Director

Best Actor

Best Actress

Best Playback

Best Playback Female

Best Film

Best Film - Comedy or Romance

Best Film - Drama

Best Film - Thriller or Action

Hottest Film of The Year

Directors

Best Director - Comedy or Romance

Best Director - Thriller or Action

Best Director - Drama

Hottest New Director

Acting

Best Actor in a Comedy or Romance

Best Actress in a Comedy or Romance

Best Actor in a Drama

Best Actress in a Drama

Best Actor in a Thriller or Action

Best Actress in a Thriller or Action

Superstar of Tomorrow - Male

Superstar of Tomorrow - Female

Best Breakthrough Performance - Male

Best Breakthrough Performance - Female

Music

Standout Performance by a Music Director

Standout Performance by a Lyricist

New Musical Sensation - Male

New Musical Sensation - Female

Special awards

Best Director of the Millennium

Best Artists of the Millennium

Pride of Film Industry Award

Best Singer of the Millennium

Voice of the Millennium

Exciting New Face

Style Icon of The Year

Star of the Century

Zee Cine Awards

The Zee Cine Award, known as ZCA, is an awards ceremony for the Bollywood industry. They were instituted in November 1997 to award "Excellence in cinema - the democratic way". The Zee Cine Awards differs from other award shows as all the award recipients are selected by the viewers. When the ZCA went international, the awards ceremony took place in Dubai and the following years in London, Mauritius, Malaysia, and London again in 2008. It was not held in 2009 and 2010, but resumed in 2011, being held in Singapore, and in 2012 it was held at the Cotai Arena in Macau. The 2018 edition was held at MMRDA Grounds, Mumbai.

Some of the award categories include:

Viewer's choice

Best Film

Best Actor

Best Actress

Song of the Year

Jury's choice

Best Film

Best Director

Best Actor

Best Actress

Best Actor in a Supporting Role

Best Actress in a Supporting Role

Best Villain

Best Comedian

Most Promising Director

Best Male Debut

Best Female Debut

Best Male Playback Singer

Best Female Playback Singer

Best Music Director

Best Lyricist

Screen Award Best Jodi of Decade

Screen Award for Showman of the Millennium

Screen Award for Best Performer of The Year

Screen Legend of Indian Cinema Award

IIFA

The International Indian Film Academy Awards, also known as the IIFA Awards, is a set of awards presented annually by the International Indian Film Academy to honor actors and actresses and many professionals in Bollywood cinema. IIFA is one of the most well-recognized awards shows in Bollywood cinema. The awards ceremony was first hosted in 2000 and is held in different countries around the world, with the most recent one being held in Mumbai on the 18th of September 2019. Many Bollywood fans worldwide travel abroad to watch the IIFA awards and hopes of possibly meeting their favorite Bollywood celebrity.

Popular awardS

Best Movie

Best Director

Best Actor

Best Actress

Best Supporting Actor

Best Supporting Actress

Best Performance in a Negative Role (2000-2017)

Best Performance in a Comic Role (2000-2017)

Star Debut of the Year - Male

Star Debut of the Year - Female

Best Music Director

Best Lyricist

Best Playback Singer Male

Best Playback Singer Female

Best Story

Special awards:

IIFA Lifetime Achievement Award

Style Icon

Style Diva

Most Glamorous Star of the Year

Best On-Screen Beauty

Contribution to a Greener Earth

Face of the Year

Entertainer of the Year

Special Award for Global Impact

Outstanding Contribution to Indian cinema

Outstanding Achievement in Indian cinema

Outstanding Achievement by an Indian in International Cinema

Artists of the Decade

Technical awards:

Best Art Direction

Best Action

Best Background Score

Best Cinematography

Best Choreography

Best Costume Design

Best Dialogue

Best Editing

Best Makeup

Best Screenplay

Best Song Recording

Best Sound Recording

Best Sound Re-Recording

Best Special Effects

Bollywood's biggest movies

The highest-grossing film in India is Baahubali 2: The Conclusion (2017), with a total domestic gross of $218 million. The film broke several local records, grossing over Rs 415 crores, which is $54,827,102 in its opening weekend.

Other films include:

Bajrangi Bhaijaan - Director: Kabir Khan

Secret Superstar - Director: Advait Chandan

P.K. - Director: Rajkumar Hirani

Sanju - Director: Rajkumar Hirani

Sultan - Director: Ali Abbas Zafar

Padmavat - Director: Sanjay Leela Bhansali

Dhoom 3 - Director: Vijay Krishna Acharya

Tiger Zinda Hai - Director: Ali Abbas Zafar

Bollywood's biggest stars

According to a media publication in the UAE, Shah Rukh Khan is said to be the biggest star in Bollywood cinema and the biggest movie star in the world, because his fame has remained relevant throughout decades. Most Bollywood stars have a massive fan following in some foreign countries. However, Shah Rukh is famous globally.

Other famous Bollywood stars include:

Amitabh Bachchan

Salman Khan

Akshay Kumar

Aamir Khan

Ranveer Singh

Ranbir Kapoor

Saif Ali Khan

Deepika Padukone

Alia Bhatt

Priyanka Chopra

Anushka Sharma

Katrina Kaif

Kareena Kapoor

Bollywood tourist attractions:

Mumbai Film City Tours conducts a live show tour that focuses on the shooting of T.V. serials. Mumbai Film City is not open for public admission unless special prior approval is obtained. However, it is possible to take a guided tour there. The official visit of Film City is a two-hour guided bus tour, operated by Mumbai Film City Tours in conjunction with the Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation. Should there be a film shooting in progress, you may only see this once in a lifetime experience from the bus.

Tour timings are as follows:

From 10.30 a.m. to 12.30 p.m.

From 12.30 p.m. to 2.30 p.m.

From 2.30 p.m. to 4.30 p.m.

From 4.30 p.m. to 6.30 p.m.

Bookings can be made via http://www.mumbaifilmcitytours.com.

The cost is Rs599 per person for Indians and $49 per person for foreigners.

Film City tours was established in 2003. The full-day tour consists of a drive past Bollywood stars' homes and a visit to a shooting studio. The Bollywood Tours can be combined with Dharavi slum or city sightseeing. Some tours also offer Bollywood dance workshops as well as a short screening of a Bollywood movie, a visit to a film studio to see a live shoot, and a visit to a sound recording studio.

Film cities in other locations

Film cities can also be found in Noida, not far from Delhi, Hyderabad, and Chennai. Noida Film City has over 25 acres of indoor set and is used mostly for making T.V. serials, news, and current affairs programs.

How can you become a Bollywood extra?

Many people dream of being featured in a Bollywood movie. Foreigners are always in demand to be extras in Bollywood movies. You may have some luck hanging around Colaba Causeway in Mumbai, particularly in the area around Leopold's Café. Other options include auditions and having a good network of people who can make necessary introductions to assist you in pursuing your dream. As an extra, you are required to work long hours and wait on the A-list cast.

13 famous locations in India include:

Basu Chatterjee - 4th of January 1930 - the 4th of June 2020. Veteran filmmaker Basu Chatterjee, known for his films such as 'Rajnigandha' and 'Chitchor', passed away following age-related health issues.