Introduction
Today, people get a good opportunity to learn about Indian society and its cultural peculiarities from a well-developed Hindi commercial film industry. In the chapter under analysis, Hasan (2010) examines Bollywood and Indian popular culture, focusing on complex relationships between the Indian state and the indigenous people who live in North-East India. Several key points make up the argument about the impact of commercial films and the role of the local identity of filmmakers. The author investigates the historical relationships between different regions of India, cultural assimilation, personal identity, political implications, and the creativity of Bollywood. Hindi commercial cinema is predetermined by past achievements, while modern producers use Bollywood as their form of cultural survival.
Importance of a Topic
The author of the chosen reading aims at discussing the role of commercial movies in understanding Indian cultures in several regions. The relationships between North-East India and other parts of the Indian state were complex and characterized by inequality and dominance, and locally produced films show the creativity of indigenous filmmakers. In Bollywood, the imagination of producers threatened peripheral indigenous cultures but also promoted the recognition of a national cultural identity (Hasan, 2010). People believed that there was no need to borrow methods from the world but develop local traditions and share stories about Indians from different parts of the state.
Key Points
Several critical issues prove how influential Hindi popular culture can be concerning the film industry. In India, many ethnic groups exist, and their development depends on different historical achievements and political decisions. Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister in India, believed that North-East India had its future based on the policy of integration for indigenous societies (Hasan, 2010). This territory was represented as an amorphous mass, which explained the differences between people. The cultural autonomy of the region was recognized, but it was necessary to create one cultural identity where the representatives of different regional groups could cooperate. According to Hasan (2010), commercial movies were a serious step in this direction because local producers and filmmakers wanted to combine their cultural standards with indigenous beliefs and open the discourse of entertainment through assimilation. It was planned to obtain a balance and use Bollywood as a mediator in such complex relationships. Hindi movies introduced North-East India, underling the principles of nationalism and patriotism and showing the power of nostalgic vision. The promotion of digital technologies was another means to tell stories with clear pictures and pleasant music.
Conclusion
In general, the impact of Hindi commercial cinema on Indian cultures remains great. The industry consists of Bollywood movies and regional works and becomes one of the most meaningful art spheres in the whole world. Although filmmakers continue producing thousands of films annually, questioning their quality and context, millions of people can watch Indian movies and investigate the complex world of India. Bollywood producers consider their opportunities to reveal traditions, respect cultures, and underline the worth of contemporary social issues on the screen.
Reference
Hasan, D. (2010). Talking back to ‘Bollywood’: Hindi commercial cinema in North-East India. In S. Banaji (Ed.), South Asian media cultures: Audiences, representations, contexts (pp. 29-50). Anthem Press.