Bollywood’s elder statesman, actor Amitabh Bachchan, and his daughter-in-law, actress Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, who has had some crossover success in the West, are the two Indian movie stars most frequently interviewed by foreign media, and condescending Western reporters often ask them why Bollywood doesn’t make “serious” or “realistic” films, to which they tiredly reply that Bollywood is “escapist cinema. ” I can’t blame them for giving reporters the answer they want to hear Bigg Boss 16 Today Episode. The Bachchans are probably trying to be polite and diplomatic because they’d love to gain new fans in the West. Or maybe they’re just sick of explaining what appears to be a baffling concept to Western critics: entertainment is supposed to be entertaining.
But Bollywood films aren’t all fun and frivolity. What could be more serious and grounded in the reality of most people’s lives than finding love and making relationships work? Or how about struggling to resolve domestic problems and religious differences that tear families and communities apart? The clash between tradition and modernity is another favorite Bollywood theme Bigg Boss 16 Today Episode, as is the experience of Indian emigrants. Indians are fiercely proud of their culture and they want to protect their values-just as American values are important to us-and films are vehicles for asserting the meaning of those values and exploring their relevance.
So the claim that Hollywood is realistic because it focuses on the marginalized and degenerate and that Bollywood is not because it focuses on different social realities doesn’t make any sense. And realistic or not, on a basic level, all entertainment is escapist-otherwise, what would be the point?
If the movie, The Wrestler, for example, is realistic, then I’ll have to take Hollywood’s word for it because I don’t know any washed-up professional wrestlers, and I have no idea if Anne Hathaway’s portrayal of a narcissistic drug addict in Rachel Getting married is spot-on because I don’t hang out with anyone like that. And yet, I watch these films and enjoy them-but not because of their realism. Rather, they’re a departure from my normal, ordinary existence. And likewise, the reason I love Indian films is because they’re so different from my American life.
In August 2003, Time magazine reporter (and Bollywood fan) Richard Corliss wrote: “Movies give audiences what they don’t have. In the U. S., an economically comfortable nation, films often deal with life on the edge: danger and deprivation are glamorous to those who have everything. The same, upside down, applies in India: it’s a poor country, so the movie image is of the middle, upper-middle and fabulously-rich classes. ” I understand the latter-why would poor people want to watch movies about social injustices they experience every day? But the former, while clearly true, is unsettling to me. Finding deprivation glamorous-and fancying ourselves hip and enlightened for it-says what to the deprived?
Indians weren’t wild about the film Slumdog Millionaire, partly because they were offended by the portrayal of poverty (protesters outside Mumbai theaters carried signs that read: “Poverty Porn” and “I am not a slumdog”), but also because they found the story so unrealistic-preposterous even. Perhaps Indians are more acquainted with the reality that such stories simply do not happen in real life. Obviously, Americans felt otherwise (myself included-I loved it) because it was a fairy tale of determination and destiny triumphing over impossible odds (America’s cultural myth), set in a nightmarish world of poverty (we love cinematic grittiness)-and it made our hearts soar. Hmm, an emotional fantasy based on cherished cultural values and told through accepted film conventions-kind of sounds like the same criticism leveled at Bollywood movies. Dancing is one of the most entertaining and energetic forms of art. For some it is simply a hobby while others also take it up as a profession or career. Some people even claim it to be a therapy that keeps you fit both physically and emotionally. It is an art form that is immensely popular all over the world and manifests itself in various forms and styles. Dancing is a part of every social function in any society while at other times it is performed for purely aesthetic reasons. A few of the very popular dance forms across the world include ballroom dance, salsa, tango, waltz, ballet, break-dance, tap dance, folk dance, belly dance and Bollywood dance.
The Indian film industry is more popularly known as Bollywood which is immensely popular for its song and dance sequences in its films. While earlier these songs and dances were much subtle and had a mix of folk dances in them, in recent times the Bollywood dances have become much more bold, glamorous and energetic in style. The dance moves are more skilful and groovy and there are various types of steps and mannerisms involved in the Bollywood style of dancing. This form of dance is becoming increasingly popular amongst beginners since it is easy to learn and is also entertaining. Classes start with a warm up session, followed by basic steps, practice and finally dancing to the actual songs.
Kids are easily attracted to this dance form which is popularized by television channels and through online or cell phone videos. There are various types of classes which are designed for beginners in Bollywood dancing. Some are meant for toddlers and children, while some are especially held for teenagers. For adults who seek to learn Bollywood dancing, Dvds and Cds are available at the local store, apart from various online videos. However it is preferred that a trained dancer/choreographer is present to guide you through the steps so that you can understand and learn the exact moves. A few choreographers may even be ready to come to your home for in-home classes. Bollywood dances vary according to the theme of the film and the concept or occasion portrayed in the movie.