There is often debate whether we are being corrupted by what we see on the silver screen and the idiot-box. There are drives to remove "immoral" scenes from movies such as deleting scenes showing the protagonists smoking or getting cozy which may give ideas to the populace at large. This however raises the further question whether movies are influenced by life around us or are we influenced by movies?
I think it is more of the former than the latter. Let's take a brief view of the history of Indian cinema itself. Earlier movies were historical and mythological in nature. Perhaps because these kind of stories were predominant. Then as the country struggled to get back on its feet itself after independence and moved from an agro to an industrial economy, movies like "Do Beegha Zameen" centered around the struggles of the people moving to city centres and exploitation of the common man during the late fifties and early sixties. This followed by the dacoit movies, when "Chambal ki Ghaati" and "Gabbar Singh" put fear in the heart of all during the seventies.
Then came social issues related to dowry, untouchability and family values which led to movies like "Saraansh" in the eighties. The Nineties were more romantic and some level of experimentation by directors. "Shiva", "Gentleman" are classic examples and it was surprising that many fresh concepts originated outside Bollywood in more regional cinema. We are a more open society today and movies today are a reflection of the same. Some recent examples - "Salaam Namaste", "Hum-Tum", "Ek Hasina thi", "Bhoot" and even "Krrish". Romance and Comedy have been evergreen subjects, "Devdaas: has been made thrice with K. L. Saigal, Dilip Kumar and Shah Rukh Khan all playing the lead character in the different eras of Indian cinema.
Are their more live-in relationaships and single mothers after "Salaam Namaste" released or is the movie a reflection of the trend in the society with higher disposable income, higher eductaion levels and greater independence among the youth... I rest my case...
I think it is more of the former than the latter. Let's take a brief view of the history of Indian cinema itself. Earlier movies were historical and mythological in nature. Perhaps because these kind of stories were predominant. Then as the country struggled to get back on its feet itself after independence and moved from an agro to an industrial economy, movies like "Do Beegha Zameen" centered around the struggles of the people moving to city centres and exploitation of the common man during the late fifties and early sixties. This followed by the dacoit movies, when "Chambal ki Ghaati" and "Gabbar Singh" put fear in the heart of all during the seventies.
Then came social issues related to dowry, untouchability and family values which led to movies like "Saraansh" in the eighties. The Nineties were more romantic and some level of experimentation by directors. "Shiva", "Gentleman" are classic examples and it was surprising that many fresh concepts originated outside Bollywood in more regional cinema. We are a more open society today and movies today are a reflection of the same. Some recent examples - "Salaam Namaste", "Hum-Tum", "Ek Hasina thi", "Bhoot" and even "Krrish". Romance and Comedy have been evergreen subjects, "Devdaas: has been made thrice with K. L. Saigal, Dilip Kumar and Shah Rukh Khan all playing the lead character in the different eras of Indian cinema.
Are their more live-in relationaships and single mothers after "Salaam Namaste" released or is the movie a reflection of the trend in the society with higher disposable income, higher eductaion levels and greater independence among the youth... I rest my case...
1 comment:
Nice Post Wise Crack!
There is a parallel between video games and it's impact on the society and vice versa...
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