The Bollywood film industry began with black and white movies in the 1930s. These pioneer films had simple plots usually based on myths or social life. The introduction of sound was a drastic development. The goal of studios was to entertain Indian viewing on a low budget. This is the time, which formed the base of the future development.
The 1950s and the 1960s became the time of the Golden Age. Movie makers did something productive in terms of societal concern. Actors such as Raj Kapoor and Dilip Kumar became extremely popular. Music entered the realm of a story. Such films created strong connections with national audiences, creating loyalty.
In the 1970s colour technology made it. This saw the introduction of bigger sets, action movies and supposedly big song scenes. The masala genre was a mixture of drama, romance, comedy and action. The era was characterized by superstars such as Amitabh Bachchan. The formula gained a massive popularity in India.
Much more modernization came in the 1990s. Westernized directors were adapting western styles with Indian stories. Music videos became familiar all around the world. There was a significant rise in the production quality and budgets. The increasing size of the middle class and the massive overseas Indian community was the target of the films.
Bollywood has become the producer of global blockbusters today. High technology is applied as well as the use of foreign players in productions. Themes are Indian and universal in stories. The advantages are that streaming services offer immediate global access. Large releases are a direct rival to the Hollywood productions.
Conclusion:
Bollywood has transformed a lot since the days of black and white movies. Adoption of sound, embracement of colour and the masala formula, modernisation in the 1990s and utilisation of technology were some of the key developments. The success of Bollywood started with merging the Indian culture with more widespread global images and leveraging the digital distribution channel into a huge global entertainment entity. This proves its solid versatility and the growing sphere of influence.
