THE EVOLUTION OF BOLLYWOOD- A JOURNEY THROUGH AGES

Through the decades, Bollywood has undergone an intriguing transformation. Let's examine the main eras and movements that helped to create the Bollywood of today:

The SILENT ERA (1890S–1930S): Early Indian cinema was characterized by the silent era (1890s–1930s), during which pioneers like Dadasaheb Phalke produced masterpieces like "Raja Harishchandra" (1913), the country's first feature-length-motion picture. The theatrical plays and mythology of India were a major impact on these flicks.

THE GOLDEN AGE OF INDIAN CINEMA (1940S–1960S) AND TALKIES: The introduction of sound signaled a dramatic change. The talkie era began with films like "Alam Ara" (1931). With the rise of renowned actors like Dilip Kumar, Raj Kapoor, and Dev Anand, the 1940s to the 1960s are frequently referred to as the "Golden Age of Bollywood." During this time, social issues, melodrama, and romance were prevalent in films. Three notable motion pictures are "Mother India" (1957), "Pyaasa" (1957), and "Mughal-e-Azam" (1960).

MASALA FILMS AND THE ANGRY YOUNG MAN (1970S–1980S): Masala films, which mixed several genres like action, drama, romance, and humor, became increasingly popular in the 1970s and 1980s. With roles in films like "Zanjeer" (1973), "Sholay" (1975), and "Deewaar" (1975), Amitabh Bachchan established himself as the "Angry Young Man" of Bollywood. These films were popular with the general public and depicted societal change and political upheaval.

MAINSTREAM COMMERCIAL CINEMA IN THE 1970S–1990S: The parallel film trend, which focused on more realistic and socially important issues, evolved alongside mainstream commercial cinema in the 1970s–1990s. Rural life, women's issues, and political criticism were all tackled by filmmakers like Shyam Benegal, Govind Nihalani, and Satyajit Ray. The films "Ankur" (1974), "Ardh Satya" (1983), and "Pather Panchali" (1955) are noteworthy examples.

GLOBALISATION AND NEW GENRES (the 1990S–2000S): Bollywood saw enormous changes as a result of the liberalization of the Indian economy, the introduction of satellite television, and globalization. In the 1990s, romance, comedy, and action were introduced in a new manner as stories became more urban and contemporary. Blockbuster films like "Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge" (1995) and "Kuch Kuch Hota Hai" (1998) made new stars like Shah Rukh Khan famous.

NEW AGE CINEMA AND EXPERIMENTAL FILMMAKING (2000S-2010S): Beginning in the 2000s, new-age cinema began to take off as filmmakers pushed the envelope and tried out new storytelling methods. The films "Lagaan" (2001), "Devdas" (2002), and "Rang De Basanti" (2006) received praise from critics and gained notoriety on a global scale. Filmmakers like Vishal Bhardwaj, Anurag Kashyap, and Sanjay Leela Bhansali explored a variety of themes and cinematic genres.

BOX OFFICE SUCCESS AND CONTENT-DRIVEN FILMS (2010S-PRESENT): Socially conscious, biographical, and real-life story-driven films have been increasingly popular in recent years. movies like "Dangal" (2016), "Uri: The Surgical Strike," and "Bajrangi Bhaijaan" (2015).