Bollywood from past to present.........

Bollywood  reflects  the  transformation  of   the  Indian  psyche  from  a  post-colonial politeness  of  the  1950s  to  the  confident  global  Indian  of  present  century.
            
 Shammi  Kapoor  initiated  this  transformation  during  the  50s  and  Amitabh  signalled  through  his  on-screen  activities  that  Indians  have  been  changing  in  their  thought  and  behaviour.  The  new Indian  could  also  be  seen  in  ‘Dil  Chahta  Hai ’.  Suddenly  it  was  cool  to  be  cool.  For  decades, Bollywood reflected  the  angst  and  agony  of  struggling  India . What  started  as  a  catharsis  of  the  castrated  has  now  ended  in  the  metamorphosis  of  the  mutilated . Along  with  the  heroes, villains  have  also  changed  faces  on  the  screen.  From  the  cruel  zamindars  to  antagonist  rich fathers   of  the  heroines,  from  deadly  smugglers  to  anti  Indian  Dr. Dangs  and  Mogambos ,  from  corrupt  politicians  to  new  age  monsters  like  terrorists,  Bollywood  has  portrayed  all  those  characters  which  Indian  society  has  endorsed  as  villainous  and  anti-social.  The  new  age  heroine  is  also  revengeful  and  strong  like  Anjam's   Madhuri  while  heroines  of  early  days  were  epitome  of  beauty  and  elegancy  like  Vijayanti  Mala  in  Sangam.  From  colourful  ‘Mela’  dances  and  ‘Nautankis’  to  sizzling  item  numbers,  from  Holi  Celebrations  to  Valentine's  Day  Proposals  all  these  represent  slow  westernization  of  our  society.
                

After  Independence,  it  was  early  60s  when  India  had  to  look  for  solutions  to  its  numerous  problems,  Manoj  Kumar's  celluloid  adaptation  of  Lal  Bahadur's  slogan  of  ‘Jai  Jawan  Jai  Kisan' through  his  film  ‘Upkaar’.The  50s  represented  romanticism  and  hope  and  the  60s  were  marked  by  disillusionment  and  escapism,  the  70s  were  clearly  signed  by  rage  and  despair. In  the  80s,  India  faced  real  life  Mogambos,  while  new  frontiers  of  discontent  opened  up  from  Kashmir  to  the  North-East,  Bollywood  was  busy  experimenting  with  ingredients  ranging  from  science  fiction  to  Hollywood  remakes.

             The  90s  witnessed  a  churn  in  politics,  economics  and  society  that  would  often  transport  India  to  the  very  age  of  despair.  Movies  like  ‘HAHK’,  ‘DDLJ’  and  ‘KKHH’  showed  an  affluent  actor-actress  pair.

             In  the  new  Millennium,  the  world  came  to  terms  with  a  cocky  India  bulging  with  a  bare  chest  confidence.  Sex  was  no  longer  a  taboo  and  we  had  movies  like  ‘Murder’ ,  ‘Khwahish’  and  ‘Love,  Sex  Aur  Dhokha’.  On  the  other  hand,  masterpieces  like  ‘Company’  and  ‘Satya’, etc.