Comments on: Chindication and Indification or The Possible Emergence of a More Equally Represented Global Entertainment Culture?

By: Leslie Mann

Leslie Mann — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 11:24:35 +0000

Bollywood has and will continue to gain more world presence, though even with films like “Slumdog Millionaire,” it seems that the industry did not get the recognition it deserves from mainstream America. The film was by no means low budget ($15.1 million), however in comparison to its revenues, over $350 million, it certainly put India on the map, so to speak, in terms of the global film industry. This movie, has paved the way for more like it to emerge in the coming years and to capture the audiences of not just India, but the world. The film won 8 out of 10 Academy Awards, the most of any film in 2008 and I don’t profess to be a movie critic but accolades such as these can only be beneficial for the future of Bollywood and similar industries like it. Capturing another culture, besides the one we Americans always see in films, successfully profiting from it and making Bollywood a familiar term with Americans has proven successful. I only hope that films like these continue to prosper and become more popular with American culture.

By: Chris Phippen

Chris Phippen — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 06:06:49 +0000

The Bollywood vs Hollywood chart answers the question in my mind. As Catherine mentioned, Hollywood spends over 50 times as much per film, on average, but they also earn revenues well over 50 times as much per film. Some (but not all) of the worst movies I’ve seen have been clearly low-budget films. Now I’m not saying that a movie has to have a few hundred thousand dollars in the budget to be worth watching, only that it does raise doubt in my mind. What I don’t know is if the rest of the world has been conditioned as I have by high cost, high speed, low drag trendy American films. Do I expect more out of a movie experience than someone in India or China? On one hand I would expect that I do, but the more I read about other cultures being increasingly “westernized”, the more I wonder if expectations in other parts of the world have followed suit.
I certainly have nothing against Bollywood movies, I haven’t even seen one yet. I do plan to pick one out soon but until I do, I remain skeptical and I have to wonder if the rest of the world will too.

By: Catherine Kristensen

Catherine Kristensen — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 23:15:00 +0000

I think that this chart from Business Week highlights one of the main reasons behind the small scope of the Bollywood industry outside of India. If you compare the average Hollywood marketing budget with the Bollywood marketing budget, you will see that Hollywood spends over 50 TIMES more money per film. This huge budget enables them to promote their film around the world and reap revenues from this worldwide distribution.

Unfortunately, not many American theaters are showing Indian blockbusters. As internet video streaming becomes more popular with faster internet connections, we can hope to see more of these films from our own homes. bollywood.tv is an interesting site providing this service, with popular films streaming online for small fees.

By: Erika Bylund

Erika Bylund — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 22:20:23 +0000

I think the Bollywood influence would be very much welcomed in American entertainment. I feel American drama,thriller, romance, and comedy films feature the same recycled plotlines, redone and spruced up to reflect the current pop culture big issue of the time. To be honest, this is one of the main reasons I haven’t gone to the movies in several years. I feel that the movies lack that WOW factor. The last two times I was impressed at the theater included the times I went to see “The Ring” (Japanese-based horror flick) and “The Matrix” (which featured 360-degree still frame special effects).

In the meantime, when I do watch movies, I usually watch documentaries (whose cinematic presentations have drastically improved over the last decade) or old musicals or 1940s-era classics because the characteristics of these types of films are novel compared to some of the more mainstream American films.

People have told me that the ending dance scene of the movie, “Slumdog Millionaire” most closely represents the feel of Bollywood films. I would definitely welcome some new films with a Bollywood infusion.

By: Lindsay Leaver

Lindsay Leaver — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 00:46:44 +0000

One of the shocking things about my time in Kyrgyzstan was how much American music is a part of the society. I should be more specific, American pop music. My first few months in Krygyzstan, I heard 50 cents song, “Candy-Shop” everywhere I went. After that came the song “Buttons” by the PussyCat Dolls. Then Fergie, then JayZ. A very large TV screen/megatron was placed at the city center near my village and it played pop music videos all day long. My students would ask me what the words meant, the parents would dance to it, radios played it, it was everywhere! The Kyrgyz had their own songs and pop stars, but not nearly as many to choose from.

I hope the world starts to see some variety and import things other than the American music that has permeated even the most remote places… but so far it doesn’t look good. Bollywood barely had a presence in Krygyzstan and there is quite a large number of Indian people there!