FS20180 Global Bollywood

Academic Year 2022/2023

The term “Bollywood” (a blend of Bombay and Hollywood) is often used to describe Hindi
films produced out of the Indian film industry based in Mumbai (formerly Bombay).
Bollywood today is more than just cinema: it has become a global culture industry that
encompasses a gamut of commodities, like music, dance, and fashion, becoming
synonymous with “Indian culture.” However, the Bollywoodization of Indian
cinema/culture has been strongly criticized by several scholars, industry professionals, fans
and commentators. They have argued that the term perpetuates the long history of
colonization and subordination of “others” by the West, and in this case, Hollywood. Yet, it
cannot be denied that “Bollywood” does signify cultural pride. How did Hindi-Urdu cinema
become Bollywood? Focusing on this key question, this course will examine Hindi cinema’s
pre and post-globalization representations of the nation, family, diaspora, religion, gender,
romantic relationships and cultural traditions to help us understand a complex and
contentious term like “Bollywood.” By locating the Bombay film industry within its
contemporary global political economy we will examine the local, national, and transnational
appeals of a mammoth cinema-culture.