Ardeshir Irani's 1931 film, "Alam Ara" brought sound to Indian cinema. But it also brought something more important to the nature of "Bollywood" as we know it today: song and dance as part of the storytelling. Grand musical numbers with colorful costumes began to be incorporated into films, and became a way to underscore the plot of the film. The song-and-dance routines serve another purpose as well. In order to appease the film censor boards, oftentimes the only "sex scenes" in Indian films are the seductive and symbolic dances between hero and heroine!
When did Indian cinema get its start?
When did Indian cinema start introducing song and dance into films?
How did Bollywood get its name?
Who are the Khans of Bollywood?
What did "bad" girls in early Bollywood films represent?
Is there kissing in Bollywood films?
Why are Bollywood films three hours long?
Guru Spotlight |
George Sayour |