Bollywood, a term that combines “Bombay” and “Hollywood,” is the popular name for the Hindi-language film industry based in Mumbai. Over the decades, it has grown into one of the largest and most influential film industries in the world.
Bollywood is known for its vibrant, high-energy films, which feature iconic song-and-dance sequences, dramatic storytelling, and musicality. From its early days of black-and-white films like Mughal-e-Azam and Pyaasa, which captured the essence of India’s cultural and social fabric, to blockbusters like Sholay and Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, Bollywood has continued to evolve with the times. The influence of Bollywood is far-reaching, with Indian diaspora communities worldwide embracing Bollywood films, music, and actors. It has also shaped global pop culture, cementing its place as an iconic and powerful force in the entertainment world.
However, in recent years, the industry has experienced a decline in box office numbers, compounded by factors such as the rise of Over-the-Top (OTT) platforms and the global COVID-19 pandemic, which forced theatres to close for extended periods. Audiences, now accustomed to on-demand content, have gravitated toward digital platforms. This shift has led to a restructuring of how films are produced, marketed, and consumed. The focus has now shifted to a more nuanced storytelling, experimental filmmaking, and an exploration of real-world issues, aiming to propel its reach through both theatres and OTT platforms.
In addition to these challenges, Bollywood has faced major controversies, particularly after the tragic suicide of actor Sushant Singh Rajput in 2020. His death ignited widespread discussions about mental health, the pressures of the film industry, and the issue of nepotism. Many pointed to the favoritism shown to industry insiders and the lack of opportunities for outsiders, which led to accusations of a closed and biased system. Furthermore, reports of drug abuse within Bollywood, especially in the aftermath of Rajput’s death, fueled media scrutiny.
Movies,Paintings,Literary pieces etc. are certainly artistic creations by Artists.But along with them there are another set of artists who produce their pieces of Art only to create disharmony,dissensions, division and hatred in the society and some time only to make some easy money.As long as such people exists in the world of Art there is need for censorship and also a ban if required.Secondly our’s is not a homogeneous and ideal society. We are living in a very complex and multilayered society having distinct sensibility and value systems unique to each layer.This has to be taken into account by the votaries of FOE including Artists while creating any piece of Art meant for public consumption.Alternative is nothing but censorship and if necessary ban,at least while we make our society homogeneous and Ideal. Why can’t our intellectuals from the Left, Right and Center try to do it first instead of quarreling among themselves and calling each other names?After all the society can ill afford to have chaos and disorder to prevail, only to satisfy the inflated ego of few self serving artists and exponent of FOE.We should not forget that a single cartoon in a magazine published in a far away European country has the potential to create law and order problems at various town and cities across the country .