Bollywood movies
The meaning of the word "Bollywood"
Bollywood is the name given to the Indian film industry based in Mumbai (formerly called Bombay) and who produces Hindi movies. "Bollywood" is a word combining "Bombay" and "Hollywood". It refers to a movie genre characterized by the length of the movies, usually of two to three hours, and the presence of several song and dance sequences. Bollywood films have the particularity to mix several genres into one movie often called masala ('mixed'), which has a melodramatic and rather chaste love story, action, violence, revenge, sport scenes, celebrations (weddings, Holi, Diwali etc.), reincarnation, comedy scenes. Bollywood movies' glamor make the audience dream and allows Indians to escape from everyday life.
Bollywood for the beginners
For those who want to initiate themselves to the Bollywood's magic, here are some references on Indian cinema:
The cult film: "Devdas". Adapted from a Bengali bestseller published in 1917, written by Sarat Chandra Chatterjee, the story of "Devdas" went on to be filmed as many as nine times in various Indian languages. The 2002 movie version with Aishwarya Rai and Shahrukh Khan is the best known by the Europeans. With its blow-your-socks-off traditional costumes, star cast and settings, it gained public and critical acclaim at the Cannes Film Festival. Devdas is the film that propelled the career of Aishwarya on the international scene, made her a mega star and the best known Indian actress abroad. Devdas is also the most expensive film in the history of Bollywood, with a budget of more than 500 million rupees!
The second highest paid actor in the world: the Indian version of Tom Cruise, impossible to miss Shahrukh Khan. From advertising for chisps to the magazines'first page, the 46-year-old actor is omnipresent. Voted "The Entertainer of the year" by People India, Mr Khan takes it all with his films "Don", "Ra One " and "Devdas ", of course.
The handsome: an unpronounceable name, blue eyes and a perfect body, Hrithik Roshan is the canon of Indian cinema in recent years. His recent film performances can be seen in the movie remake of "Agneepath" (2012) and "Defender" (2013).
International muse: undisputed beauty and renowned actress, Aishwarya Rai surely stqnds for the best Bollywood export (from cheese to naan). L'Oreal spokesmodel, the beautiful Aishwarya is a charming ambassador of the Indian cinema. In 2014, Aishwarya Rai was ranked fourth in a poll of the world's most beautiful women, by international website Hollywood Buzz.
The dean: Amitabh Bachchan, the Bollywood Sir, the actor with 200 films. Distinctive emblem, a stylish two-color hair cut.
The young dandy: Imran Khan, young actor revealed in the movie "Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na." Born in the United States, he gathers success movie appearances and comedies.
The it-girl: Alia Bhatt, new Indian beauty revealed on the international fashion scene. She made the cover of Vogue magazine in July 2014. Actress and singer, she starts out in cinema with the romantic drama produced by Karan Johar, "Student of the Year" (2012).
The going-up film director: Karan Johar, one of the most prominent filmmakers in Bollywood. We owe him the highly anticipated movie "Agneepath". He is ranked among the top three directors, together with Kunal Hohli and Sanjay Leela Bansali.
Top 10 Bollywood filmmakers of all times: Farhan Akhtar, Rohit Shetty, Karan Johar, Subhash Ghai, Mahesh Bhatt, Manmohan Desai, Yash Raj Chopra, Raj Kapoor, Guru Dutt, Rajkumar Hirani.
Top 10 Bollywood romantic movies of all times: Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Qayamat Qayamat Tak is, Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, Bobby, Guide, Mughal-E-Azam, Devdas, Veer Zara, Aradhana, Pyaasa.
The 10 best actresses: Katrina Kaif, Kareena Kapoor, Deepika Padukone, Sonakshi Sinha, Priyanka Chopra, Anushka Sharma, Bipasha Basu, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Vidya Balan, Madhuri Dixit.
The sexiest actresses of Bollywood: Mallika Sherawat, Bipasha Basu, Katrina Kaif (she is called India's super sexy Barbie doll), Aishwarya Rai (Miss World 1994), Priyanka Chopra (Miss World 2000), Sushmita Sen ( Miss Universe 1994), Shilpa Shetty, Ayesha Takia, Madhuri Dixit.
Top 10 most iconic Bollywood actresses of all times: Madhuri Dixit, Sridevi, Sharmila Tagore, Rekha, Mumtaz, Madhubala, Hema Malini, Aishwarya Rai, Kajol, Rani Mukherji.
The most famous Indian actresses abroad: Aishwarya Rai. Aishwarya was crowned Miss World in 1994. She is the Indian ambassador to Hollywood. In 2013 she was elected "the most popular actress", the 2nd global icon in Filmfare 100 years of Indian cinema issue list and the only woman in the ranking. Cited twice by Times in top of the ranking, among the 100 most influential persons of the planet.
Top 10 Bollywood Dance Divas of all times: Hema Malini, Waheeda Rehman, Urmila Matondkar, Karishma Kapoor, Helen Richardson Khan, Sridevi, Katrina Kaif, Priyanka Chopra, Madhuri Dixit.
The 10 best actors: Shahrukh Khan, Aamir Khan, Salman Khan, Akshay Kumar, Ranbir Kapoor, Hrithik Roshan, Saif Ali Khan, John Abraham, Sanjay Dutt, Ajay Devgan.
The five highest paid actors: Akshay Kumar, Aamir Khan, Shahrukh Khan, Hritik Roshan, Salman Khan.
The biggest Bollywood star in India and abroad: Amitabh Bachchan. It is often claimed that he has more fans worldwide than any other actor, including the biggest stars of Hollywood. Amitabh Bachchan is the cultural ambassador of the Indian cinema.
Top 10 best Bollywood dance songs ever: Chaiyya Chaiyya ('Dil Se', 1998), Choli Ke Peeche Kya Hai ('Khalnayak', 1993), Paan Banaras Wala Khaike ('Don', 1978), Piya Tu ('Caravan', 1971), Dholi Taro Dhol Baje ('Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam', 1999), Mehbooba Mehbooba ('Sholay', 1975), Aankhon Ki Masti (Umrao Jaan, 1981), Ramaiya Vasta Vaiya ('Shree 420', 1955), Ude Jab Jab Teri Zulfein (' Naya Daur ', 1957), Are Ja Re Hat Natkhat ('Navrang', 1959).
The 10 unforgettable Bollywood choreographies: Helen in the song "Piya Tu Ab To Aaja", Aishwarya Rai in the song Kajra Re, Madhuri Dixit and Aishwarya Rai in the song "Dola Re Dola", Waheeda Rehman in the song "Piya to-be laagey naina re ", Madhuri Dixit, Prabhu Deva in the song " Que Sera Sera ", Kareena Kapoor, Hrithik Roshan in the song " You Are My Sonia ", Mithun Chakraborty in the song " I am a disco dancer ", Sridevi in the song" Main Teri Dushman ", Urmila in the song " Kya Hai Mangta ", Aruna Irani, Jeetendra in the song " Chadti Jawaani ".
The film awards: the National Film Awards, the Filmfare Awards, Star Screen Awards, Stardust Awards, Big Star Entertainment Awards, Zee Cine Awards, Bollywood Movie Awards, Zee Gold Awards, Sansui Awards, Apsara Film &Television Producers Guild Awards.
Bollywood is also an infernal machine producing about 800-900 films a year, more than Hollywood, which produces about 500 films a year.
Indian cinema in France
Indian films have played an important part in the Cannes Film Festival since 1946, the year when the film Neecha Nagar of Chetan Anand shared the Grand Prix with David Lean's Brief Encounter. Several Indian filmmakers are known internationally. Satyajit Ray wins the prize of the human document in 1956, with his movie Pather Panchali. Mira Nair's Salaam Bombay won the Golden Camera and public acclaim in 1988. In 2002, Bollywood made a stunning, mind-boggling start with the out of competition screening of Devdas, by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, featuring Shah Rukh Khan and Aishwarya Rai, who was also a member of the jury.
In 2013, The Cannes Film Festival is inaugurated by Amitabh Bachchan, who plays a role in the opening film, The Great Gatsby. Vidya Balan and Nandita Das are members of the jury. The movie Bombay Talkies is projected in the official out of competition selection, as well as Monsoon Shootout of Amit Kumar and Ugly of Anurag Kashyap. The Lunchbox is projected at the Critics' Week and Charulata of Satyajit Ray is part of the Cannes Classics program. In 2014, Titli by Kanu Behl is projected at Un certain regard.
Indian actress Aishwarya Rai is the brand ambassador of Longines, since 1999 and of L'Oréal, since 2003, which brings her regularly at Cannes film festival. She was awarded France's second highest civilian honour, Chevalier des Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters) on 1st November 2012 in Bombay, for her "invaluable contribution to the world of cinema and to the development of the Indian-French cooperation in film, art and culture. "
Since 2005, more than twenty Indian producer-directors from different parts of India have chosen France as a shooting place. Bollywood filmmakers such as Vipul Shah ("London Dreams"), Farhan Akhtar ("Don"), Shaad Ali ("Jhoom Barabar Jhoom"), Anu Menon ("London Paris New York") came to France to shoot their films.
The film "Ishkq in Paris" directed by Prem Raj Soni in 2012 was the first Bollywood film shot entirely in France (Lyon and Paris) and it was also the first time that a great actress like Isabelle Adjani joined the cast of a Bollywood film.
Last edited: 05/07/2021