Bollywood Mumbai

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About Bollywood :

Mumbai, the City of Dreams, houses the prime centre of Hindi Film Industry, better known as Bollywood. Acclaimed as one of the biggest film industries of the world, Bollywood produces over 1000 films every year. Since 1913, Indian Cinema has made a long journey from simple silent movies to sound films, then colored films to technically advanced movies of the present day. Bollywood imbibed its name from the merger of the term Bombay (now Mumbai) and Hollywood, the American Film Industry. Another point worth-mentioning is that Bollywood is just the part of Indian Film Industry, which also encompasses other language film industries. The movies churned out here are the major source of entertainment, with an audience of 3.6 billion people, which is more than half of the world’s population. Bypassing the reality, Hindi films are usually ‘masala’ (spicy) movies that comprise all the ingredients like music, dance, violence and melodrama of a good entertainer. The languages of Hindi, Urdu and English are extremely common in Bollywood.

Potpourri of Various Elements of Life :

Infact, numerous English films have also been produced by the directors of India. Not only English, sometimes, one can find amalgamation of a number of Indian languages in a single film, whether in its dialogues, subtitles or soundtracks. The films of Bollywood are typically musicals that have some or the other catchy music woven into the script. Good music, in the form of songs and dance numbers, is the main attribute of a successful film. The plot of movies is, more often than not, melodramatic. It usually has features like unlucky lovers and angry parents, love triangles, family attachments, sacrifice, crooked politicians, kidnappers, devious villains, courtesans with golden-hearts, long-lost relatives, theatrical reversals of destiny, siblings estranged by fate and opportune coincidences. Though the pattern is changing, films with hilarious stunts, technically advanced films, and art films are being produced.

Evolution:

The first silent feature film of India was Raja Harishchandra (1913), which was made by Dadasaheb Phalke. It was by the 1930′s that the industry started producing more than 200 films every year. Alam Ara (1931) was the first Indian sound film, produced by Ardeshir Irani. With the bang of the Great Depression, World War II, the Indian Independence Movement and the Partition Violence, Bollywood suffered and then emerged with plots of social issues and independence struggle. By the late 1950s, the first color films of the Bollywood were released. During this period, the films were defined by sumptuous romantic musicals and melodramas. The period of late 1960s and early 1970s gave rise to romantic movies, action films and violent films. In the mid 1990′s, the box-office was stroked by family-centric romantic musicals once again. The quality, cinematography, innovative story lines and technical quality advances of the filmmaking have taken Indian cinema to great heights.

21st century Bollywood :

The 21st century brought immense popularity to the Bollywood, so much so that its films appeal the audience of all segments. Owing to aperture of the abroad market, more movies are released abroad and in cine-multiplexes that cause wider box office successes in India and overseas.

Interesting Facts about Bollywood :

• Production-wise, Bollywood is the largest film industry in the world with over 1000 films produced every year.
• Its movies are watched by almost 14 million Indians everyday.
• Raja Harishchandra (1913) was the first silent feature film of India.
• ‘Alam Ara’ – the first Indian sound film was released in 1931.
• Kisan Kanya (1937) was the first colored movie produced in India.
• ‘Kagaz ke Phool’ (1959) was the first cinemascope film of Bollywood.
• The first 70 MM film of Bollywood was ‘Around the World’.
• The first 3D movie in Hindi was ‘Shiva ka Insaaf’.
• ‘Noorjahan’ (1931) was the first Indian English film.
• Every year, Bollywood movies are celebrated in no less than 6 award functions.

General Information about Bollywood Mumbai :

Location: Mumbai

State: Maharashtra

Capital: Mumbai

Language: Marathi, Hindi, English

Temperature: Max 42˚C, Min 27˚C (summer), Max 26˚C, Min 14˚C (winter)

Best Season: September to March

How to Reach Mumbai Bollywood :

By Air:

Mumbai can be reached through numerous flights. The international terminal Sahar, renamed as Chatrapatti Shivaji International Airport operates round the clock. Hotel bookings and pre-paid taxis are available at the terminal. The domestic terminal Santa Cruz is about 5km apart and can easily be reached through regular shuttle buses between the two terminals. The domestic airport is well connected and can be used to visit most parts of Western and Southern India.

By Rail:

Mumbai is a prominent railway hub of the country. It is the headquarters to two railway zones, central and western. While Central Railways handles services to the east and south, Western Railways has services to the north from Church gate and Central stations. The main railway station Chatrapatti Shivaji Terminus (CST) formerly known, as Victoria terminus (VT) is located in the heart of the city. Local and outstation trains ply from here. Other railway stations are Dadar, Church gate and Kurla. Bookings are to be made in advance to avoid the last minute rush, as trains are the most used mode of transport. The extensive system of suburban electric train network is the most sought after transport means in Mumbai for city travel.

By Road:

Mumbai is well connected by a network of roads to the rest of India by and state highways. Mumbai has one of the best public bus systems of any major Indian city called BEST buses. Mumbai has a huge fleet of metered black-and-yellow taxis as well.

How to travel in Mumbai:

The Metro Trains of Mumbai add a different dimension to your travel in Mumbai and are also easily available. Mumbai has one of the best public bus systems of any major Indian city. Called BEST buses, their red double-decker buses are an experience to cherish. One can also try suburban electric trains that connect most places in the city, or the large and efficient fleet of metered black-and-yellow taxis.