tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1668731454857654821.post9040732016863058237..comments2024-02-01T13:13:31.933+02:00Comments on ..so they dance!: Bollywood, Slumdog & "the West".veracioushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14437521137603205617noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1668731454857654821.post-4931702182867726022009-04-06T21:36:00.000+03:002009-04-06T21:36:00.000+03:00I have seen movie.I liked it,http://upcoming-india...I have seen movie.I liked it,<BR/><BR/>http://upcoming-indianmovies-2009.blogspot.com/kimcareenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05879979796858048812noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1668731454857654821.post-59079054932508323282009-02-12T12:05:00.000+02:002009-02-12T12:05:00.000+02:00Kallista, yes, I think some people are more open t...Kallista, yes, I think some people are more open to media from other cultures and countries. While others rather stick to what they know. Hence why I don't think Bollywood will ever break out in the great Western mainstream.<BR/><BR/>Anita - New fans are always welcome, of course. I'd rather they discover it through Slumdog, as I think that film is probably better than Bride & Prejudice or these other "sort of" Bollywoodish movies. Agree with you on the emotional appeal.<BR/><BR/>Beth - Good point. You can't force anybody to like something, but respect and a bit of open-mindedness; like, let's see what these things have to offer. They might not become favourites but recognition that they must be doing something right should be enough. <BR/><BR/>ajnabi - Word. Ash keeps doing Hollywood movies and they're all crap, pretty much. :Dveracioushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14437521137603205617noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1668731454857654821.post-16452608011902080642009-02-10T16:39:00.000+02:002009-02-10T16:39:00.000+02:00Really, when you think about it, Jet Li and Jackie...Really, when you think about it, Jet Li and Jackie Chan are recognizable in the States but are second- or third-tier famous. However, they get the respect that comes with knowing they're huge stars elsewhere. If all this hoopla ends up doing the same for my fave B'wood stars, I'll settle for that. ;-)ajnabihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08296593338690811213noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1668731454857654821.post-29971502579580907452009-02-09T07:14:00.000+02:002009-02-09T07:14:00.000+02:00Here's another part of the question, one that I ha...Here's another part of the question, one that I haven't heard anyone talk about (and I have largely turned off paying attention to what people are saying about <I>Slumdog</I> now, so I'm not trying to say I'm the only person who's thought about this): not only is there no particular reason why Hindi films should want to gain popularity in "the west," there's no particular reason why "the west" should try to embrace them - any more than, say, India should want to embrace American popular cinema. We don't all have to love (or even vaguely understand) each other's pop culture. We have to recognize that it's out there and that it's meaningful to some people, but it's perfectly okay to prefer the stuff that is created by the culture from which you come. Respect and flexibility towards, yes; embrace, not necessarily. <BR/><BR/>To me, what's far more important is that we - all of "we," everyone on the globe - realize that different cultures have different values and modes of expression and that they're all equally valid and all equally capable of producing art and thought and beauty and all that. It's also extremely important that we all be open to trying to experience things that fall under "other" or "foreign" or "not what I'm used to." Nobody's culture is superior, and trying to learn about other cultures is a surefire way to understand that, I think.<BR/><BR/>So if <I>Slumdog</I> - or anything else - inspires people not in India to try out an Indian film, or films set in India, then great!Beth Loves Bollywoodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05540154833326987567noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1668731454857654821.post-41561133387938419102009-02-08T19:25:00.000+02:002009-02-08T19:25:00.000+02:00When I watch a "Hollywood" film nowadays, I realiz...When I watch a "Hollywood" film nowadays, I realize that western filmmakers are just as guilty of "bad" habits as Indian ones---that is to say, Indiana Jones requires the same suspension of disbelief and willingness to overlook plot holes as a Bollywood masala film. I don't know where this attitude of western superiority comes from, but I don't buy it.<BR/><BR/>That said, Indian films have a definite sensibility of their own, and I don't think they will ever appeal to a large audience here. They appeal on a very emotional level, and if you aren't sucked in right at the onset you probably never will be. That's been my experience in trying to introduce Hindi films to my friends and family, anyway.<BR/><BR/>Great post, Sanni :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1668731454857654821.post-59641052379574968582009-02-08T19:06:00.000+02:002009-02-08T19:06:00.000+02:00I totally agree with this. I feel like post-Slumdo...I totally agree with this. I feel like post-Slumdog there will just be an increase in people who have an interest in BW and actively search it out. Maybe that number will double or something, but that doesn't mean it will be mainstream in the least. Soon enough the next big thing will come along and Indian cinema will lose its novelty. <BR/><BR/>I don't really see Indian films becoming like Chinese films here in the West. Action is very much universal, but breaking out into song for a dream sequence? Not quite as universal. Even in musicals made by Hollywood, they take place in a natural and realistic setting, not up on some mountain in Switzerland! And don't get me started on item numbers. ;)<BR/><BR/>Lol, all I'm saying is that there has been a DEFINITE increase is recognition of BW in the West these past five years (I've been very attentive of every bit of media attention we get, lol) but I don't think there will be that sudden burst into the mainstream, at least, not anytime soon. And really, there's nothing wrong with that. :)anitaramahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01785044882853838619noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1668731454857654821.post-26255323130983491332009-02-08T14:17:00.000+02:002009-02-08T14:17:00.000+02:00The ironic thing is that I started to see A LOT of...The ironic thing is that I started to see A LOT of indian movies (after seeing Lagaan years ago and a couple of -average- movies that oddly were on tv last summer) only after I saw Slumdog Millionaire. And not because I thought it was a Bollywood movie, but because one of the only part I really enjoyed were the credits (with the infamous Bollywood-style-dancing) at the end of the movie!<BR/><BR/>I don't really know if Bollywood can spread in western countries. I mean, the things you said are true: the very first Bollywood movie you see it's hardly "understandable". But, IMHO, it's still very fascinating because of it. Maybe it's because I'm used to see foreign asian movies and dramas, but I found their way to make cinema very refreshing and addicting. Above all, one of the thing I like the most is the two or three partition of the movies, generally parted by the "intermission".Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com