Page 12 - Seniorstoday October 2023 Issue
P. 12
Point of View
A new star
is born
South Indian cinema is breaking new ground as Bollywood lags, writes
Harsh Goenka
The other day I came across an article South Indian cousin. Even as Tollywood,
that caught my eye. It spoke about the Kollywood and Mollywood have been
then-impending release of the latest releasing hit after hit, the punches
Rajinikanth-starrer ‘Jailer’. More Bollywood has landed post-pandemic have
specifically, it talked about how companies been few and far between. To put it simply,
were giving employees time off from the industry seems to be on the ropes.
work so they could go to watch it. Cinema, The once-talismanic pulling power of its
regardless of language, has long captured biggest stars, that drew crowds to cinema
the imagination of Indians across the halls across India, appears to have lost its
country. It is intrinsically woven within charm, with Shah Rukh Khan probably
the fabric of our culture. Generations of being the only exception. Why is the fabled
Indians have lived out their fantasies Hindi film industry, which long stood as a
vicariously through the on-screen exploits cultural touchstone for all things Indian,
of their celluloid idols. Rajinikanth is a now on the decline?
towering, god-like figure of South Indian I cannot claim to be an industry expert,
cinema and it is not out of place for his but, on reflection, I think there are several
films to be greeted with jubilation and factors behind it. For starters, Bollywood
reverence in equal measure. But reading appears mired in a formulaic groove.
that article got me thinking – what has The stars, the themes, the music, the
happened to Bollywood? Why has its lustre storytelling all increasingly feel tired and
faded? clichéd. Nothing really stands out anymore.
Once the global flagbearer for the Indian Films come and films go in a seemingly
film industry, it has been overtaken by its endless loop of below average substance.
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