Bollywood Films for BeginnersWant to watch Bollywood films but don’t know where to start? Here is a list which will have you hooked in no time… Bollywood movies are overwhelmingly about love triumphing against opposition, such as unimpressed parents, religious differences, caste and wealth disparities." Ironic considering the country has run fairly successfully on arranged marriages for thousands of years... The reason I’m putting so much about Bollywood films on the India Travel Secrets website is not just because I’m obsessed by all things Bolly. It’s because Hindi movies have really come of age in the last five to ten years. Everything about the industry has become more polished and the results are worth a good look, as when done well, they’re so far beyond Hollywood it’s breathtaking. Unfortunately, many Westerners are patronizing towards the Bollywood industry, expressing surprise that a movie here or there is good. This is completely unjustified and shows that perhaps they’ve just not been exposed to the best that Bollywood has to offer. The Hindi movie industry can stand proud beside Hollywood in both number and quality of films produced. The enthusiasm with which young Indians have taken to IT professions including visual effects also bodes well for the industry over time.
But it is this emotional quality which attracts us, then sneaks in and cracks our hardened hearts when we least expect it. I have seen this happen time and again with Kal Ho Na Ho, for instance. This movie is so good for the Western soul that it should be sold as therapeutic goods. I have showed Kal Ho Naa Ho to friends and family who try always to keep their feelings locked away, but every single time they have cracked and I have to bring out the tissues. It is this higher tolerance level for expressing emotion which is one of the key things India can offer the 21st century world in my opinion. Life is often raw and keenly felt in India and this translates to a compelling and attractive energy in film. The key catalyst to this rise and rise of Bollywood amongst Western viewers has been Shahrukh Khan and certain heroic roles he has played in several romantic and masala movies. He has been quoted by director and friend Karan Johar on TV show Koffee with Karan, as saying that he doesn’t enjoy doing romantic roles, but he is revered by many as at least King Khan and at best a god primarily because he is regarded as a quality human being as well as much as for his acting skills. And it’s certainly true that he seems to manage humility, diplomacy, tact, engagement, grace and humor more often than most, and a little flirt here and there with the mums and grannies only adds to his universal charm. Along with improved production qualities and large NRI (non-resident Indian) populations, Shah Rukh Khan is why Bollywood movies are becoming more and more popular amongst Westerners throughout Europe, Australia and the USA and it’s set to continue, especially with Hollywood studios now setting up in Bollywood. Which means if you want to be in the know, you should get ahead by watching either the top 10 Shahrukh Khan Bollywood movies, or my Bollywood for Beginners list. Then when your friends finally figure out what all the fuss is about, you’ll be a seasoned pro. What have I graded these on? A combo of points based on overall entertainment value, plot & character, music, intensity and my desire to watch them multiple times, tempered of course by how approachable they are to someone who’s never seen a Bollywood film.
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