A Short History Of Bollywood Movies - By: Kevin Fernandez

Dadasaheb Phalke's Raja Harishchandra, a silent film released in 1913, marks the beginning of Bollywood's history, as Mumbai's huge movie industry is often referred to. It was a major hit and served as an impetus to many creative people and technicians to make their own movies. After the silent age came the talkies, and the first sound film Alam Ara was released in 1931, followed by the first colour film Kisan Kanya.

The period of the Second World War (1939-1945) coincided with the tumult of the nationalist movement in India, and hence Bollywood movies during this time were usually escapist fares to bring some joy to the audience in those difficult times. However, relevant social issues were also showed on screen, and Achhut Kanya that told the tale of the struggles of a Dalit girl was released, besides a series of patriotic films like Shaheed.

Rural poverty and lasting family values were finely portrayed in Mehboob Khan's Mother India, which was released in 1957. During the same time, the great actor and director Raj Kapoor made two immortal classics - Awara and Shree 420 - and director Guru Dutt also gifted the audience such wonderful films as Pyaasa. Mughal-E-Azam, a 1960 release, was an immortal movie that told a tale of undying love set in the Mughal era.

Cine actors like Dev Anand, Nargis, Ashok Kumar and Madhubala became household names, and music composers like OP Nayyar and SD Burman enthralled listeners by their immortal musical scores. The 1950s and 60s saw the soaring popularity for talented singers such as Mohammed Rafi and Lata Mangeshkar, who enchanted listeners with their melodious voice.

Shammi Kapoor, with his Elvis-like looks, danced his way to stardom in the rocking 60s. The 70s saw the rise of the action hero, portrayed superbly by Amitabh Bachchan. Action films had their sway over the audience during the eighties, but with Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak (1988), the tastes of the audience changed and romantic movies became popular. This popularity largely continued well into the 90s and is an important factor even in the latest Bollywood movies. However, today Bollywood films are much more sophisticated and they have created a global audience.

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