Have you ever wondered why the Indian film industry is referred to as “Bollywood”? As it turns out, there is quite a fascinating story behind why Bollywood got its name. From the early beginnings of Indian cinema to the present day, Bollywood has amassed quite a cultural impact, and its name carries a significant amount of history and meaning.
Thus, in this article, we’ll explore the intriguing history of why Bollywood is called Bollywood. Buckle up and get ready to discover the captivating tale of India’s cinematic legacy!
Why is Bollywood Called Bollywood?
Bollywood is the term given to the hugely popular Hindi-language film industry based in Mumbai. It is one of the largest film industries in the world, producing over 1,500 films every year.But why is it called Bollywood?
Origin of the Name
The term Bollywood comes from the two words ‘Bombay’ and ‘Hollywood’.Hollywood is the world-famous film industry based in the United States and ‘Bombay’ is the former name of Mumbai city. The combination of these two words resulted in Bollywood.
It is a portmanteau of the two words, showing the influence of Hollywood in India. While many early filmmakers in the industry adopted Hollywood’s style and themes, it was the advent of ‘talkies’ – films with dialogues that drove Bollywood to fame. Thus, the term Bollywood was seen as a reference to India’s rival to the US film industry.
The Growth of Bollywood
When Bollywood started appearing in international markets, the growth of the Hindi film industry was fast. The 1960s and 1970s saw the emergence of Parallel Cinema, which focused on realistic storylines. However, the growth of the industry was largely attributed to the masala films that appealed to the emotions of the audience.The 1980s and 1990s continued to be hugely successful for Bollywood and the global reach of Bollywood films increased. This era saw the resurgence of dance numbers and songs in films, while action films and romantic comedies were also popular.