Nollywood, Bollywood, Lollywood???
Firstly we are not movie critics and just like anyone else we have some level of ignorance or simply not knowing any better so with this disclaimer out of the way an inbox message of a 'new' Lollywood movie inspired this post.
We are not quite sure how many '...'-ywood industries there are but frankly we don't mind. Why? Because there is more than a single story which not only should be and is told but should be sought out and listened to. The beauty of it all being that even with all this diversity within it there is still unity and similarities. We will put our hands up to to the fact that like most we stick to the familiar/mainstream in many areas of our lives. Out of convenience and like many we are warped and wrapped up in our own surroundings. The same goes for movies. There are undisputed stereo typical views on the movie industries like Nollywood, Bollywood, Lollywood (- never even heard of Lollywood! Who new?! - ) still about.
That being said each culture seem to have it's heyday in becoming a 'trend' at one point or another from the French, Nigerian, Indian to the Chinese. Why we should embrace it?
(source: www.ted.com)
There is a tendency to pigeonhole Bollywood movies (or that from any other country/culture) for certain elements i.e. Bollywood with it's sining, dancing, beautiful wardrobe and the prevalence of dramatised romantic themes or rom-coms.
We are inspired to explore more of world movies since our exposure to last year's 'Heroine' a drama on a self-destructive Bollywood's actress (Mahi), who desperate attempts to revive her career and her quest for a relationship or rather any relationship falter.
Watch the trailer here:
Good Morning Karachi, director Sabiha Sumar from Claire Pijman on Vimeo.
We are not quite sure how many '...'-ywood industries there are but frankly we don't mind. Why? Because there is more than a single story which not only should be and is told but should be sought out and listened to. The beauty of it all being that even with all this diversity within it there is still unity and similarities. We will put our hands up to to the fact that like most we stick to the familiar/mainstream in many areas of our lives. Out of convenience and like many we are warped and wrapped up in our own surroundings. The same goes for movies. There are undisputed stereo typical views on the movie industries like Nollywood, Bollywood, Lollywood (- never even heard of Lollywood! Who new?! - ) still about.
That being said each culture seem to have it's heyday in becoming a 'trend' at one point or another from the French, Nigerian, Indian to the Chinese. Why we should embrace it?
Well this brings us to one of our favourite TED talks on the danger of the single story which brings it in right on point. Check it out:
(source: www.ted.com)
There is a tendency to pigeonhole Bollywood movies (or that from any other country/culture) for certain elements i.e. Bollywood with it's sining, dancing, beautiful wardrobe and the prevalence of dramatised romantic themes or rom-coms.
We are inspired to explore more of world movies since our exposure to last year's 'Heroine' a drama on a self-destructive Bollywood's actress (Mahi), who desperate attempts to revive her career and her quest for a relationship or rather any relationship falter.
Watch the trailer here:
Director:
Madhur BhandarkarWriters:
Madhur Bhandarkar, Niranjan Iyengar
(source: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1949548)
While the movie at time was dragging if not strenuous to watch and certainly flawed in places we were taken by it's grittiness and the contrast to what is considered a typical Bollywood movie. The voyeuristic storytelling of an industry and lifestyle that is riddled with scandal, glamour, politics and a cut throat nature kept us watching. The storyline isn't new but no one expect to have the wheel invented just that its' good (one can live in hope).
We thought it makes for decent TV but for us doesn't have enough bite for cinema. Then there are quite a few movies that shouldn't have made the cut to cinema yet did. As much as we liked the story line it left quite a bit to be desired. We did enjoy the acting yet felt the script
at times had tendencies to turn some of the actors to caricatures. Overall it was ok but the movie had is in a state of "bi-polarity"
We were just as split about the movie as these viewers reviews on IMDB.
Which really leaves us to say watch it and if you have already watched it, let us know what you think. As we are not of Indian heritage it would interest us what not only what people from India think but people around the world.
What made us think is that some of the topics often don't seem to be put in context. We naturally assume that each cultures has is issues surrounding gays/ illness/ equality etc and that we all have the same problems. Yet the impression of how each culture deals with it/ accepts it or not varies. So hence our surprise (and if you watched the TED clip you should have a smirk) at the implied lesbian scenes between the actress'. Our impression was that it is not talked about much less shown (unless we are talking amongst the younger generations of this diaspora).
We thought it makes for decent TV but for us doesn't have enough bite for cinema. Then there are quite a few movies that shouldn't have made the cut to cinema yet did. As much as we liked the story line it left quite a bit to be desired. We did enjoy the acting yet felt the script
at times had tendencies to turn some of the actors to caricatures. Overall it was ok but the movie had is in a state of "bi-polarity"
We were just as split about the movie as these viewers reviews on IMDB.
Which really leaves us to say watch it and if you have already watched it, let us know what you think. As we are not of Indian heritage it would interest us what not only what people from India think but people around the world.
What made us think is that some of the topics often don't seem to be put in context. We naturally assume that each cultures has is issues surrounding gays/ illness/ equality etc and that we all have the same problems. Yet the impression of how each culture deals with it/ accepts it or not varies. So hence our surprise (and if you watched the TED clip you should have a smirk) at the implied lesbian scenes between the actress'. Our impression was that it is not talked about much less shown (unless we are talking amongst the younger generations of this diaspora).
Of course we know it's movie industry is as diverse as any. For someone without that cultural connection it is easy to go through life without ever watching a Bollywood movie whether it is due to association, availability or other factors. Some of our friends seek out particular Bollywood movies precisely for their wholesomeness the singing and dancing and the elements that mainstream movies seems to no longer have in the same way when the likes of Fred Astaire and Rita Haywood dominated screens. Full on glamour and escapism.
Regardless we are on our quest and our wish was granted as the new Lollywood film 'Rafina' also known as 'Good Morning Karachi' landed in our inbox today.
Regardless we are on our quest and our wish was granted as the new Lollywood film 'Rafina' also known as 'Good Morning Karachi' landed in our inbox today.
Good Morning Karachi, director Sabiha Sumar from Claire Pijman on Vimeo.
We enjoyed The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel for an intergenerational and intercultural take and Slumdog Millionaires. Yet our interest is in how as a people how do we tell own stories. As it often expresses things that we don't talk or get to talk about in passing.
For those just as confused as us - and trust us we had to look up Nollywood too:
Lollywood - refers to the Pakistani film industry based in the city of Lahore.
Nollywood - Nigerian cinema
Bollywood - Hindi-language film industry based in Mumbai(Bombay), Maharashtra, India.
AnaïsNoir is looking to explore more and would love to know your recommendation as to what movies you are watching? Your likes, dislikes.
Comments
Post a Comment