Dadasaheb Phalke's Raja Harishchandra, a silent movie made in 1913, heralds the beginning of Bollywood's history, as Mumbai's huge movie industry is often referred to. The film's popularity inspired artistes, technicians and creative people to venture into film making. After the silent era came the talkies, and the first Hindi sound film Alam Ara hit the screens in 1931, followed by the first colour film Kisan Kanya.
The period of the Second World War (1939-1945) coincided with the tumult of the Indian independence movement, and so Bollywood movies during this time were usually escapist ones so that the audience could get some relief from the harsh reality. But, relevant social problems were also depicted on screen, and Achhut Kanya that dealt with the trials and tribulations of a Dalit woman was released, besides a series of patriotic films like Shaheed.
Rural poverty and lasting family values were remarkably portrayed in Mehboob Khan's Mother India, which hit the screens in 1957. During the same time, the great actor and director Raj Kapoor directed two remarkable films - Awara and Shree 420 - and director Guru Dutt also produced and directed such timeless classics as Pyaasa. Mughal-E-Azam, an epic movie released in 1960, brought the Mughal era on the silver screen with remarkable finesse.
Music composers like OP Nayyar and SD Burman enchanted the masses with their musical compositions and actors like Nargis, Madhubala, Dev Anand and Ashok Kumar won nationwide acclaim. The 1950s and 60s saw the dizzying popularity for talented singers such as Mohammed Rafi and Lata Mangeshkar, who enthralled listeners with their melodious voice.
Shammi Kapoor, Bollywood's answer to Elvis Presley, danced his way to fame in the swinging 60s. Amitabh Bachchan with his action hero image ruled Bollywood in the 1970s. Action films had their sway over the audience towards early and mid eighties, but with Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak (1988), the tastes of the audience changed and romantic movies became popular. This popularity largely continued well into the 90s and is an important factor even in the latest Bollywood movies. However, today Bollywood films are much more sophisticated and they have created a global audience.
The period of the Second World War (1939-1945) coincided with the tumult of the Indian independence movement, and so Bollywood movies during this time were usually escapist ones so that the audience could get some relief from the harsh reality. But, relevant social problems were also depicted on screen, and Achhut Kanya that dealt with the trials and tribulations of a Dalit woman was released, besides a series of patriotic films like Shaheed.
Rural poverty and lasting family values were remarkably portrayed in Mehboob Khan's Mother India, which hit the screens in 1957. During the same time, the great actor and director Raj Kapoor directed two remarkable films - Awara and Shree 420 - and director Guru Dutt also produced and directed such timeless classics as Pyaasa. Mughal-E-Azam, an epic movie released in 1960, brought the Mughal era on the silver screen with remarkable finesse.
Music composers like OP Nayyar and SD Burman enchanted the masses with their musical compositions and actors like Nargis, Madhubala, Dev Anand and Ashok Kumar won nationwide acclaim. The 1950s and 60s saw the dizzying popularity for talented singers such as Mohammed Rafi and Lata Mangeshkar, who enthralled listeners with their melodious voice.
Shammi Kapoor, Bollywood's answer to Elvis Presley, danced his way to fame in the swinging 60s. Amitabh Bachchan with his action hero image ruled Bollywood in the 1970s. Action films had their sway over the audience towards early and mid eighties, but with Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak (1988), the tastes of the audience changed and romantic movies became popular. This popularity largely continued well into the 90s and is an important factor even in the latest Bollywood movies. However, today Bollywood films are much more sophisticated and they have created a global audience.
