Indian movie equation completely baffles me; but it also speaks for the need for variety and breaks from serious drama. Especially, the choreographed songs result in so much viewership delight. Filmmakers have tried making movies which are theme centric without any music. But these movies are indefinitely labeled as art movies. They don’t get shown as mainstream films.
But surprisingly, these movies made a circuit of the International Film Festivals or are showcased in the National Television Channel for a refined viewership. So, it is an unwritten rule for all kinds of commercial movies to have music in them.
Old time movies to present-day blockbusters have the leads shaking their legs to lilting music. Movies made in other countries also have music in them, no doubt about that; but does it have the lead pair running round in circle around a tree in the woodlands or any scenic places? I think, I might be right to say, this is an exclusive uniqueness to Indian Musical Movies. The musical aspect of movies has been replaced with music playing a low-key role in the Western movies.
I believe Indian Movies, at least the mainstream variety, will always be choreographed, where song and dance play a main part in entertainment. I like a good movie like any other movie watcher. But I equally enjoy a song and dance mix; the part when it gets a little difficult to handle is when the movies break into dance at an inappropriate moment. That is laughter therapy for your anxiety for the leads.
Variety is the spice of life and Indian movies have that in galore. It feels silly to break off into a song when the lead character is busy going through critical crisis in the story. But this hasn’t changed in anyway almost since movies have been made in India.
Is it a happy occasion, sad, angry, comical, or just thoughtful moment the Indian movies will break into a song. Our poetry covers all emotions, and it is quite interesting to note that songs themselves make a place in the popularity chart. We might be quirky in moviemaking; but we still love a good laugh over our quirkiness.
Bollywood is not the only Indian films. Every state adds spice to their film-making unit and the composite whole of the Indian Movies will be all the regional movies alongside Bollywood movies. But it generally happens that there are two distinct splits of the movies made in India. One is Bollywood (movies made in Mumbai, or Hindi) and Kollywood (movies made in South India regions).
The fact that viewership is diverse and divided by its language, content, context, syntax, Indian Movies can’t just be Bollywood movies or Kollywood movies. But there is a commonality in all the varied language movies in India includes music and songs unless there is a serious budget restriction. Of course, in that case it becomes “art movie.”
Musical will never move away from the Indian cinema. Audience acceptance towards the presence of music in movies will take a completely different kind of movie. I don’t know, if, Indian audience is ready for that kind of movies.
Want to check out our romancing, running around trees, opening arms as if you are paragliding? Well watch this series on Netflix titled “Romantics.”
Itinerant Storyteller 