Although Pakistan banned the import of Bollywood films in 1965, trade in unlicensed DVDs and illegal cable broadcasts ensured their continued popularity. Exceptions to the ban were made for a few films, such as the colourised re-release of ''Mughal-e-Azam
''Mughal-e-Azam'' () is a 1960 Indian epic historical drama film produced and directed by K. Asif. Starring Prithviraj Kapoor, Dilip Kumar, Madhubala, and Durga Khote, it follows the love affair between Mughal Prince Salim (who went ...
'' and ''Taj Mahal'' in 2006. Early in 2008, the Pakistani government permitted the import of 16 films. More easing followed in 2009 and 2010. Although it is opposed by nationalists and representatives of Pakistan's small film industry, it is embraced by cinema owners who are making a profit after years of low receipts. The most popular actors in Pakistan are the three Khans of Bollywood: Salman Khan, Salman, Shah Rukh Khan, Shah Rukh, and Aamir Khan, Aamir. The most popular actress is Madhuri Dixit
Madhuri Dixit Nene (née Dixit; born 15 May 1967) is an Indian actress who primarily works in Hindi films. A leading actress of Indian cinema, she has appeared in over 70 films. Noted by critics for her beauty, dancing skills, and characters, ...
; at India–Pakistan cricket rivalry, India-Pakistan cricket matches during the 1990s, Pakistani fans chanted "''Madhuri dedo, Kashmir lelo!''" ("Give Madhuri, take Kashmir
Kashmir () is the northernmost geographical region of the Indian subcontinent. Until the mid-19th century, the term "Kashmir" denoted only the Kashmir Valley between the Great Himalayas and the Pir Panjal Range. Today, the term encompas ...
!") Bollywood films in Nepal earn more than Cinema of Nepal, Nepali films, and Salman Khan, Akshay Kumar
Rajiv Hari Om Bhatia (born 9 September 1967), known professionally as Akshay Kumar (), is an Indian-born naturalised Canadian Quote: "(Former prime minister Stephen) Harper campaigned in 2011 alongside one of Modi's biggest celebrity backer ...
and Shah Rukh Khan are popular in the country.
The films are also popular in Afghanistan due to its proximity to the Indian subcontinent and their cultural similarities, particularly in music. Popular actors include Shah Rukh Khan, Ajay Devgan, Sunny Deol, Aishwarya Rai
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan ( Rai; born 1 November 1973) is an Indian actress who is primarily known for her work in Hindi and Tamil films. The winner of the Miss World 1994 pageant, she has established herself as one of the most popular celebriti ...
, Preity Zinta, and Madhuri Dixit. A number of Bollywood films were filmed in Afghanistan and some dealt with the country, including ''Dharmatma'', ''Kabul Express'', ''Khuda Gawah'' and ''Escape From Taliban''.
Southeast Asia
Bollywood films are popular in Southeast Asia, particularly in maritime Southeast Asia. The three Khans are very popular in the Malay world, including Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore. The films are also fairly popular in Thailand.
India has Indosphere, cultural ties with Indonesia, and Bollywood films were introduced to the country at the end of World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
in 1945. The "angry young man" films of Amitabh Bachchan
Amitabh Bachchan (; born as Amitabh Shrivastav; 11 October 1942) is an Indian actor, film producer, television host, occasional playback singer and former politician known for his work in Hindi cinema. He is regarded as one of the most succe ...
and Salim–Javed
Salim–Javed were an Indian screenwriting duo, composed of Salim Khan and Javed Akhtar, working in Bollywood. They are noted for being the first Indian screenwriters to achieve star status, becoming the most successful Indian screenwriters o ...
were popular during the 1970s and 1980s before Bollywood's popularity began gradually declining in the 1980s and 1990s. It experienced an Indonesian revival with the release of Shah Rukh Khan's ''Kuch Kuch Hota Hai
''Kuch Kuch Hota Hai'' () also known as ''KKHH'' or ''K2H2'', is a 1998 Indian Hindi-language musical romance film written and directed by Karan Johar and produced under Dharma Productions. It stars the popular on-screen pair of Shah Rukh Kh ...
'' (1998) in 2001, which was a bigger box-office success in the country than ''Titanic (1997 film), Titanic'' (1997). Bollywood has had a strong presence in Indonesia since then, particularly Shah Rukh Khan films such as ''Mohabbatein'' (2000), '' Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham...'' (2001), ''
Kal Ho Naa Ho
''Kal Ho Naa Ho'' (, ), also abbreviated as ''KHNH'', is a 2003 Indian Hindi-language romantic comedy drama film directed by Nikhil Advani, written by Karan Johar with dialogue by Niranjan Iyengar, and produced by Yash Johar. The film stars ...
'', ''Chalte Chalte (2003 film), Chalte Chalte'' and ''Koi... Mil Gaya'' (all 2003), and ''
Veer-Zaara
''Veer-Zaara'' () is a 2004 Indian Hindi-language romantic drama film directed by Yash Chopra, who co-produced it with his son Aditya Chopra. It stars Shah Rukh Khan and Preity Zinta as the eponymous star-crossed lovers: Veer Pratap Singh (Kha ...
'' (2004).
East Asia
Some Bollywood films have been widely appreciated in China, Japan, and South Korea. Several Hindi films have been commercially successful in Japan, including
Mehboob Khan
Mehboob Khan (born Mehboob Khan Ramzan Khan; 9 September 1907
at filmreference.com. – 28 ...
's ''
Aan
''Aan'' (Hindi: आन, Urdu: آن, translation: ''Pride''), released as ''The Savage Princess'' in the United Kingdom and United States, is a 1952 Indian Bollywood adventure film, produced and directed by Mehboob Khan. It was India's first t ...
'' (1952, starring
Dilip Kumar
Mohammed Yusuf Khan (; 11 December 1922 – 7 July 2021), better known by his stage name Dilip Kumar, was an Indian actor who worked in Hindi cinema. Credited with pioneering method acting in cinema, he dominated the Indian movie scene from lat ...
) and Aziz Mirza's ''Raju Ban Gaya Gentleman'' (1992, starring
Shah Rukh Khan
Shah Rukh Khan (; born 2 November 1965), also known by the initialism SRK, is an Indian actor, film producer, and television personality who works in Hindi films. Referred to in the media as the " Baadshah of Bollywood", "King of Bollywood" ...
). The latter sparked a two-year boom in Indian films after its 1997 release,
with ''Dil Se..'' (1998) a beneficiary of the boom. The highest-grossing Hindi film in Japan is ''
3 Idiots
''3 Idiots'' (stylized as ''3 idiots'') is a 2009 Indian Hindi-language coming-of-age comedy-drama film written, edited and directed by Rajkumar Hirani, co-written by Abhijat Joshi and produced by Vidhu Vinod Chopra. Adapted loosely from Cheta ...
'' (2009), starring
Aamir Khan
Mohammed Aamir Hussain Khan (; born 14 March 1965) is an Indian actor, film director and producer who works in Hindi films. Through his career spanning over 30 years, Khan has established himself as one of the most notable actors of Indian ci ...
,
which received a Japanese Academy Award nomination. The film was also a critical and commercial success in South Korea.
''Dr. Kotnis Ki Amar Kahani'', ''Awara (1951 film), Awaara'', and ''
Do Bigha Zamin
''Do Bigha Zamin'' () is a 1953 Indian Hindi-language drama film directed by Bimal Roy. Based on Rabindranath Tagore's Bengali poem " Dui Bigha Jomi", the film stars Balraj Sahni, Nirupa Roy in lead roles. Known for its socialist theme, it is c ...
'' were successful in China during the 1940s and 1950s, and remain popular with their original audience. Few Indian films were commercially successful in the country during the 1970s and 1980s, among them Tahir Hussain's ''Caravan (1971 film), Caravan'', ''Noorie'' and ''Disco Dancer''.
Indian film stars popular in China included Raj Kapoor,
Nargis
Nargis Dutt (born Fatima Rashid; 1 June 1929 – 3 May 1981) was an Indian actress and politician who worked in Hindi cinema. Regarded as one of the greatest actresses in the history of Indian cinema, she made her screen debut in a minor role ...
,
and Mithun Chakraborty.
Hindi films declined significantly in popularity in China during the 1980s.
Films by Aamir Khan have recently been successful,
and ''
Lagaan
''Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India'' () is a 2001 Indian Hindi-language sports drama film written and directed by Ashutosh Gowariker. The film was produced by Aamir Khan, who stars alongside debutant Gracy Singh and British actors Rachel Sh ...
'' was the first Indian film with a nationwide Chinese release in 2011.
Cinema of China, Chinese filmmaker He Ping (director), He Ping was impressed by ''Lagaan'' (particularly its soundtrack), and hired its composer
A. R. Rahman
Allah Rakha Rahman (; born A. S. Dileep Kumar; 6 January 1967) is an Indian music composer, record producer, singer and songwriter, popular for his works in Indian cinema; predominantly in Tamil and Hindi films, with occasional forays in int ...
to score his ''Warriors of Heaven and Earth'' (2003).
When ''3 Idiots'' was released in China, China was the Aamir Khan, world's 15th-largest film market (partly due to its widespread pirate DVD distribution at the time). The pirate market introduced the film to Chinese audiences, however, and it became a cult hit. According to the Douban film-review site, ''3 Idiots'' is China's 12th-most-popular film of all time; only one domestic Chinese film (''Farewell My Concubine (film), Farewell My Concubine'') ranks higher, and
Aamir Khan
Mohammed Aamir Hussain Khan (; born 14 March 1965) is an Indian actor, film director and producer who works in Hindi films. Through his career spanning over 30 years, Khan has established himself as one of the most notable actors of Indian ci ...
acquired a large Chinese fan base as a result.
After ''3 Idiots'', several of Khan's other films (including 2007's ''
Taare Zameen Par
''Taare Zameen Par'', also known as ''Like Stars on Earth'' in English, is a 2007 Indian Hindi-language drama film produced and directed by Aamir Khan. The film stars Khan himself, along with Darsheel Safary, Tanay Chheda, Sachet Engineer, Vip ...
'' and 2008's ''Ghajini (2008 film), Ghajini'') also developed cult followings. China became the world's second-largest film market (after the United States) by 2013, paving the way for Khan's box-office success with ''Dhoom 3'' (2013), ''PK (film), PK'' (2014), and ''
Dangal'' (2016).
The latter is the List of highest-grossing films in China, 16th-highest-grossing film in China,
the fifth-highest-grossing non-English language film worldwide,
and the highest-grossing non-English foreign film in any market.
Several Khan films, including ''Taare Zameen Par'', ''3 Idiots'', and ''Dangal'', are highly rated on Douban. His next film, ''
Secret Superstar
''Secret Superstar'' is a 2017 Indian Hindi-language musical drama film written and directed by Advait Chandan, and produced by Aamir Khan and Kiran Rao under the studio Aamir Khan Productions. for The film stars Zaira Wasim, Aamir Khan, Meher ...
'' (2017, starring Zaira Wasim), broke ''Dangal''s record for the highest-grossing opening weekend by an Indian film and cemented Khan's status
as "a king of the Chinese box office";
''Secret Superstar'' was China's highest-grossing foreign film of 2018 to date.
Khan has become a household name in China, with his success described as a form of Indian
soft power
In politics (and particularly in international politics), soft power is the ability to co-opt rather than coerce (contrast hard power). In other words, soft power involves shaping the preferences of others through appeal and attraction. A defin ...
improving China–India relations despite political tensions.
With Bollywood competing with Hollywood in the Chinese market, the success of Khan's films has driven up the price for Chinese distributors of Indian film imports.
Salman Khan
Abdul Rashid Salim Salman Khan (; 27 December 1965) is an Indian actor, film producer, and television personality who works in Hindi films. In a film career spanning over thirty years, Khan has received numerous awards, including two Nation ...
's ''Bajrangi Bhaijaan'' and Irrfan Khan's ''Hindi Medium'' were also Chinese hits in early 2018.
Oceania
Although Bollywood is less successful on some Pacific islands such as New Guinea, it ranks second to Hollywood in Fiji (with its large Indian minority), Australia and
New Zealand
New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 smaller islands. It is the sixth-largest island count ...
.
Australia also has a large South Asian diaspora, and Bollywood is popular amongst non-Asians in the country as well.
Since 1997, the country has been a backdrop for an increasing number of Bollywood films.
Indian filmmakers, attracted to Australia's diverse locations and landscapes, initially used the country as a setting for song-and-dance scenes;
however, Australian locations now figure in Bollywood film plots.
Hindi films shot in Australia usually incorporate Australian culture.
Yash Raj Films
Yash Raj Films (YRF) is an Indian film production and distribution company founded by veteran filmmaker Yash Chopra in 1970. It mainly produces and distributes Hindi and Punjabi films. The company has grown to be one of the largest film studios ...
' ''Salaam Namaste'' (2005), the first Indian film shot entirely in Australia, was the most successful Bollywood film of 2005 in that country. It was followed by the box-office successes ''Heyy Babyy'', (2007) ''Chak De! India'' (2007), and ''Singh Is Kinng'' (2008).
Prime Minister John Howard said during a visit to India after the release of ''Salaam Namaste'' that he wanted to encourage Indian filmmaking in Australia to increase tourism, and he appointed Steve Waugh as tourism ambassador to India. Australian actress Tania Zaetta, who appeared in ''Salaam Namaste'' and several other Bollywood films, was eager to expand her career in Bollywood.
Eastern Europe and Central Asia
Bollywood films are popular in the former Soviet Union (Russia, Eastern Europe, and Central Asia),
and have been dubbed into Russian language, Russian. Indian films were List of Soviet films of the year by ticket sales, more popular in the Soviet Union than Hollywood films
[''Moscow Prime Time: How the Soviet Union Built the Media Empire that Lost the Cultural Cold War'', page 44](_blank)
Cornell University Press, 2011 and, sometimes, domestic Soviet films. The first Indian film released in the Soviet Union was ''
Dharti Ke Lal
''Dharti Ke Lal'' ( ''Children of the Earth'') is a 1946 Hindustani film, the first directorial venture of the noted film director Khwaja Ahmad Abbas (K. A. Abbas). It was jointly written by Khwaja Ahmad Abbas and Bijon Bhattacharya, based on ...
'' (1946), directed by
Khwaja Ahmad Abbas
Khwaja Ahmad Abbas (7 June 1914 – 1 June 1987) was an Indian film director, screenwriter, novelist, and journalist in Urdu, Hindi and English. He won four National Film Awards in India. Internationally, his films won the Palme d'Or (Golden ...
and based on the
Bengal famine of 1943, in 1949.
Three hundred Indian films were released in the Soviet Union after that; most were Bollywood films with higher average audience figures than domestic Soviet productions.
Fifty Indian films had over 20 million viewers, compared to 41 Hollywood films. Some, such as ''
Awaara
''Awaara'', also written ''Awāra'', ur, , Āvārā, group=n, name=HindiUrdu and known overseas as ''The Vagabond'', is a 1951 Indian Hindi crime drama film, produced and directed by Raj Kapoor, and written by Khwaja Ahmad Abbas. It stars Raj ...
'' (1951) and ''Disco Dancer'' (1982), had more than 60 million viewers
and established actors
Raj Kapoor
Raj Kapoor (pronunciation: aːd͡ʒ kəpuːɾ born Shrishti Nath Kapoor; also known as Ranbir Raj Kapoor; 14 December 1924 2 June 1988) was an Indian actor, film director and producer, who worked in Hindi cinema. He is considered one of th ...
,
Nargis
Nargis Dutt (born Fatima Rashid; 1 June 1929 – 3 May 1981) was an Indian actress and politician who worked in Hindi cinema. Regarded as one of the greatest actresses in the history of Indian cinema, she made her screen debut in a minor role ...
,
Rishi Kapoor
[''Moscow Prime Time: How the Soviet Union Built the Media Empire that Lost the Cultural Cold War'', page 43](_blank)
Cornell University Press, 2011 and Mithun Chakraborty in the country.
[Do you remember Jimmy Jimmy?](_blank)
SBS One, SBS, 18 March 2017
According to diplomat Ashok Sharma, who served in the Commonwealth of Independent States,
After the collapse of the Soviet film-distribution system, Hollywood filled the void in the Russian film market and Bollywood's market share shrank.
A 2007 RT (TV network), Russia Today report noted a renewed interest in Bollywood by young Russians.
In Poland,
Shah Rukh Khan
Shah Rukh Khan (; born 2 November 1965), also known by the initialism SRK, is an Indian actor, film producer, and television personality who works in Hindi films. Referred to in the media as the " Baadshah of Bollywood", "King of Bollywood" ...
has a large following. He was introduced to Polish audiences with the 2005 release of ''
Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham...'' (2001) and his other films, including ''Dil Se..'' (1998), ''Main Hoon Na'' (2004) and ''Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna'' (2006), became hits in the country. Bollywood films are often covered in ''Gazeta Wyborcza'', formerly Poland's largest newspaper.
The upcoming movie ''Squad (2021 film), Squad'', is the first Indian film to be shot in Belarus. A majority of the film was shot at Belarusfilm studios, in Minsk.
Middle East and North Africa
Hindi films have become popular in Arab world, Arab countries,
and imported Indian films are usually subtitled in Arabic when they are released. Bollywood has progressed in Israel since the early 2000s, with channels dedicated to Indian films on cable television; MBC Bollywood and Zee Aflam show Hindi movies and serials.
In Egypt, Bollywood films were popular during the 1970s and 1980s. In 1987, however, they were restricted to a handful of films by the Egyptian government.
Amitabh Bachchan
Amitabh Bachchan (; born as Amitabh Shrivastav; 11 October 1942) is an Indian actor, film producer, television host, occasional playback singer and former politician known for his work in Hindi cinema. He is regarded as one of the most succe ...
has remained popular in the country and Indian tourists visiting Egypt are asked, "Do you know Amitabh Bachchan?"
Bollywood movies are regularly screened in Dubai cinemas, and Bollywood is becoming popular in Turkey; ''Barfi!'' was the first Hindi film to have a wide theatrical release in that country. Bollywood also has viewers in Central Asia (particularly Uzbekistan and Tajikistan).
South America
Bollywood films are not influential in most of South America, although its culture and dance is recognised. Due to significant South Asian diaspora communities in Suriname and Guyana, however, Hindi-language movies are popular. In 2006, ''
Dhoom 2
''Dhoom 2'' (trans. Blast 2) is a 2006 Indian Hindi-language action thriller film directed by Sanjay Gadhvi and written by Vijay Krishna Acharya, based on a story by producer Aditya Chopra, who backed the film at an estimated budget of unde ...
'' became the first Bollywood film to be shot in Rio de Janeiro. In January 2012, it was announced that UTV Motion Pictures would begin releasing films in Peru with ''Guzaarish (film), Guzaarish''.
Africa
Hindi films were originally distributed to some parts of Africa by Lebanese people, Lebanese businessmen.
In the 1950s, Hindi and Egyptian films were generally more popular than Hollywood films in East Africa. By the 1960s, East Africa was one of the largest overseas export markets for Indian films, accounting for about 20-50% of global earnings for many Indian films.
''
Mother India
''Mother India'' is a 1957 Indian epic drama film, directed by Mehboob Khan and starring Nargis, Sunil Dutt, Rajendra Kumar and Raaj Kumar. A remake of Khan's earlier film '' Aurat'' (1940), it is the story of a poverty-stricken village wom ...
'' (1957) continued to be screened in Nigeria decades after its release. Indian movies have influenced Hausa people, Hausa clothing, songs have been covered by Hausa singers, and stories have influenced Nigerian novelists. Stickers of Indian films and stars decorate taxis and buses in Nigeria's Northern Region, Nigeria, Northern Region, and posters of Indian films hang on the walls of tailoring shops and mechanics' garages. Unlike Europe and North America, where Indian films cater to the expatriate marke, Bollywood films became popular in West Africa despite the lack of a significant Indian audience. One possible explanation is cultural similarity: the wearing of turbans, animals in markets; porters carrying large bundles, and traditional wedding celebrations. Within Muslim culture, Indian movies were said to show "respect" toward women; Hollywood movies were seen as having "no shame". In Indian movies, women are modestly dressed; men and women rarely kiss and there is no nudity, so the films are said to "have culture" which Hollywood lacks. The latter "don't base themselves on the problems of the people"; Indian films are based on socialist values and the reality of developing countries emerging from years of colonialism. Indian movies permitted a new youth culture without "becoming Western."
The first Indian film shot in Mauritius was ''Souten'', starring
Rajesh Khanna
Rajesh Khanna () (; born Jatin Khanna; 29 December 1942 – 18 July 2012) was an Indian actor, film producer and politician who worked in Hindi films. He is called as the "First Superstar of Hindi cinema", he consecutively starred in a record ...
, in 1983.
In South Africa, film imports from India were watched by black and Indian South Africans, Indian audiences.
Several Bollywood figures have travelled to Africa for films and off-camera projects. ''Padmashree Laloo Prasad Yadav'' (2005) was filmed in South Africa. ''Dil Jo Bhi Kahey...'' (2005) was also filmed almost entirely in Mauritius, which has a large ethnic-Indian population.
Bollywood, however, seems to be diminishing in popularity in Africa. New Bollywood films are more sexually explicit and violent. Nigerian viewers observed that older films (from the 1950s and 1960s) had more culture and were less Westernised.
The old days of India avidly "advocating decolonization ... and India's policy was wholly influenced by his missionary zeal to end racial domination and discrimination in the African territories" were replaced. The emergence of Nollywood (West Africa's film industry) has also contributed to the declining popularity of Bollywood films, as sexualised Indian films became more like American films.
Kishore Kumar
Kishore Kumar (born as Abhas Kumar Ganguly (); 4 August 1929 – 13 October 1987) was an Indian playback singer and actor. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest, most influential and dynamic singers in the history of Indian music.
He ...
and
Amitabh Bachchan
Amitabh Bachchan (; born as Amitabh Shrivastav; 11 October 1942) is an Indian actor, film producer, television host, occasional playback singer and former politician known for his work in Hindi cinema. He is regarded as one of the most succe ...
have been popular in Egypt and Somalia.
In Ethiopia, Bollywood movies are shown with Hollywood productions in town square theatres such as the Cinema Ethiopia in Addis Ababa.
Less-commercial Bollywood films are also screened elsewhere in North Africa.
Western Europe and North America
The first Indian film to be released in the Western world and receive mainstream attention was ''
Aan
''Aan'' (Hindi: आन, Urdu: آن, translation: ''Pride''), released as ''The Savage Princess'' in the United Kingdom and United States, is a 1952 Indian Bollywood adventure film, produced and directed by Mehboob Khan. It was India's first t ...
'' (1952), directed by
Mehboob Khan
Mehboob Khan (born Mehboob Khan Ramzan Khan; 9 September 1907
at filmreference.com. – 28 ...
and starring
Dilip Kumar
Mohammed Yusuf Khan (; 11 December 1922 – 7 July 2021), better known by his stage name Dilip Kumar, was an Indian actor who worked in Hindi cinema. Credited with pioneering method acting in cinema, he dominated the Indian movie scene from lat ...
and Nimmi. It was subtitled in 17 languages and released in 28 countries,
including the United Kingdom,
the United States, and France.
''Aan'' received significant praise from British critics, and ''The Times'' compared it favourably to Hollywood productions.
Mehboob Khan's later Academy Awards, Academy Award-nominated ''
Mother India
''Mother India'' is a 1957 Indian epic drama film, directed by Mehboob Khan and starring Nargis, Sunil Dutt, Rajendra Kumar and Raaj Kumar. A remake of Khan's earlier film '' Aurat'' (1940), it is the story of a poverty-stricken village wom ...
'' (1957) was a success in overseas markets, including
Europe
Europe is a large peninsula conventionally considered a continent in its own right because of its great physical size and the weight of its history and traditions. Europe is also considered a Continent#Subcontinents, subcontinent of Eurasia ...
,
Russia, the Eastern Bloc, French colonial empire, French territories, and Latin America.
Many Bollywood films have been commercially successful in the United Kingdom. The most successful Indian actor at the British box office has been
Shah Rukh Khan
Shah Rukh Khan (; born 2 November 1965), also known by the initialism SRK, is an Indian actor, film producer, and television personality who works in Hindi films. Referred to in the media as the " Baadshah of Bollywood", "King of Bollywood" ...
, whose popularity in British Asian communities played a key role in introducing Bollywood to the UK
with films such as ''Darr'' (1993), ''Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge'' (1995),
and ''
Kuch Kuch Hota Hai
''Kuch Kuch Hota Hai'' () also known as ''KKHH'' or ''K2H2'', is a 1998 Indian Hindi-language musical romance film written and directed by Karan Johar and produced under Dharma Productions. It stars the popular on-screen pair of Shah Rukh Kh ...
'' (1998).
''Dil Se'' (1998) was the first Indian film to enter the UK top ten.
A number of Indian films, such as ''Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge'' and ''Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham'' (2001), have been set in London.
Bollywood is also appreciated in France,
Germany
Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated betwe ...
, the Netherlands, and Scandinavia. Bollywood films are dubbed in German language, German and shown regularly on the German television channel RTL II. Germany is the second-largest European market for Indian films, after the United Kingdom. The most recognised Indian actor in Germany is Shah Rukh Khan, who has had box-office success in the country with films such as ''Don 2'' (2011)
and ''Om Shanti Om'' (2007).
He has a large German fan base,
particularly in Berlin (where the tabloid ''Die Tageszeitung'' compared his popularity to that of the pope).
Bollywood has experienced revenue growth in Canada and the United States, particularly in the South Asian communities of large cities such as Toronto, Chicago, and New York City.
Yash Raj Films
Yash Raj Films (YRF) is an Indian film production and distribution company founded by veteran filmmaker Yash Chopra in 1970. It mainly produces and distributes Hindi and Punjabi films. The company has grown to be one of the largest film studios ...
, one of India's largest production houses and distributors, reported in September 2005 that Bollywood films in the United States earned about $100 million per year in theatre screenings, video sales and the sale of movie soundtracks;
Indian films earn more money in the United States than films from any other non-English speaking country.
Since the mid-1990s, a number of Indian films have been largely (or entirely) shot in New York, Los Angeles, Vancouver or Toronto. Films such as ''The Guru (2002 film), The Guru'' (2002) and ''Marigold: An Adventure in India'' (2007) attempted to popularise Bollywood for Hollywood.
Plagiarism
Pressured by rushed production schedules and small budgets, some writers and musicians in Hindi cinema have been known to plagiarism, plagiarise. Ideas, plot lines, tunes or riffs have been copied from other Indian film industries (including
Telugu cinema
Telugu cinema, also known as Tollywood, is the segment of Indian cinema dedicated to the production of motion pictures in the Telugu language, widely spoken in the states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Telugu cinema is based in Film Nagar, Hy ...
, Tamil cinema, Malayalam cinema and others) or foreign films (including Hollywood and other Asian cinema, Asian films) without acknowledging the source.
Before the 1990s, plagiarism occurred with impunity. Copyright enforcement was lax in India, and few actors or directors saw an official contract.
The Hindi film industry was not widely known in the Global North (except in the Soviet states), who would be unaware that their material had been copied. Audiences may not have been aware of plagiarism, since many in India were unfamiliar with foreign films and music.
Although copyright enforcement in India is still somewhat lenient, Bollywood and other film industries are more aware of each other and Indian audiences are more familiar with foreign films and music. Organisations such as the India EU Film Initiative seek to foster a community between filmmakers and industry professionals in India and the European Union.
A commonly-reported justification for plagiarism in Bollywood is that cautious producers want to remake popular Hollywood films in an Indian context. Although screenwriters generally produce original scripts, many are rejected due to uncertainty about whether a film will be successful.
Poorly-paid screenwriters have also been criticised for a lack of creativity.
Some filmmakers see plagiarism in Bollywood as an integral part of globalisation, with which Western (particularly American) culture is embedding itself into Indian culture.
Vikram Bhatt, director of ''Raaz (2002 film), Raaz'' (a remake of ''What Lies Beneath'') and ''Kasoor'' (a remake of ''Jagged Edge (film), Jagged Edge''), has spoken about the influence of American culture and Bollywood's desire to produce box-office hits based along the same lines: "Financially, I would be more secure knowing that a particular piece of work has already done well at the box office. Copying is endemic everywhere in India. Our TV shows are adaptations of American programmes. We want their films, their cars, their planes, their Diet Cokes and also their attitude. The American way of life is creeping into our culture."
According to Mahesh Bhatt, "If you hide the source, you're a genius. There's no such thing as originality in the creative sphere".
Although very few cases of film-copyright violations have been taken to court because of a slow legal process,
the makers of ''Partner (2007 film), Partner'' (2007) and ''Zinda (film), Zinda'' (2005) were targeted by the owners and distributors of the original films: ''Hitch (film), Hitch'' and ''Oldboy (2003 film), Oldboy''. The American studio 20th Century Fox brought Mumbai-based B. R. Films to court over the latter's forthcoming ''Banda Yeh Bindaas Hai'', which Fox alleged was an illegal remake of ''My Cousin Vinny''. B. R. Films eventually settled out of court for about $200,000, paving the way for its film's release. Some studios comply with copyright law; in 2008, Orion Pictures secured the rights to remake Hollywood's ''Wedding Crashers''.
Music
The Pakistani Qawwali musician Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan had a big impact on Hindi film music, inspiring numerous Indian musicians working in Bollywood, especially during the 1990s. However, there were many instances of Indian music directors plagiarising Khan's music to produce hit
filmi
Filmi ("of films") music soundtracks are music produced for India's mainstream motion picture industry and written and performed for Indian cinema. In cinema, music directors make up the main body of composers; the songs are performed by playba ...
songs.
Several popular examples include Viju Shah's hit song "Tu Cheez Badi Hai Mast Mast" in ''Mohra'' (1994) being plagiarised from Khan's popular Qawwali song "Dam Mast Qalandar",
"Mera Piya Ghar Aya" used in ''Yaraana (1995 film), Yaarana'' (1995), and "Sanoo Ek Pal Chain Na Aaye" in ''Judaai (1997 film), Judaai'' (1997).
Despite the significant number of hit Bollywood songs plagiarised from his music, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan was reportedly tolerant towards the plagiarism.
One of the Bollywood music directors who frequently plagiarised him, Anu Malik, claimed that he loved Khan's music and was actually showing admiration by using his tunes.
However, Khan was reportedly aggrieved when Malik turned his spiritual "Allah Hoo, Allah Hoo" into "I Love You, I Love You" in ''Auzaar'' (1997).
Khan said "he has taken my devotional song ''Allahu'' and converted it into ''I love you''. He should at least respect my religious songs."
Bollywood soundtracks also plagiarised Guinean singer Mory Kanté, particularly his 1987 album ''Akwaba Beach''. His song, "Tama", inspired two
Bollywood songs
Hindi film songs, more formally known as Hindi Geet or filmi songs and informally known as Bollywood music, are songs featured in Hindi films. Derived from the song-and-dance routines common in Indian films, Bollywood songs, along with dance ...
: Bappi Lahiri's "Tamma Tamma" in ''Thanedaar'' (1990) and "Jumma Chumma" in Laxmikant–Pyarelal's soundtrack for ''Hum (film), Hum'' (1991). The latter also featured "Ek Doosre Se", which copied Kanté's "Inch Allah".
His song "Yé ké yé ké" was used as background music in the 1990 Bollywood film ''Agneepath (1990 film), Agneepath'', inspired the Music of Bollywood, Bollywood song "Tamma Tamma" in ''Thanedaar''.
See also
* Noida Film City
* Bombay Hindi
* Bibliography of Hindi cinema
* Central Board of Film Certification
* Film and Television Institute of India
* Film City, Mumbai, Film City
* Hindi film distribution circuits
* Indian animation industry#List of Indian Animated Movies, List of Indian animated films
* Lists of Hindi films
* List of cinema of the world
* List of highest-grossing Indian films
** List of highest-grossing Hindi films
** List of highest-grossing South Indian films
* List of highest-grossing films in India
* List of highest domestic net collection of Hindi films
* National Science and Media Museum
* Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute
References
Bibliography
*
*
Further reading
* Stephen Alter, Alter, Stephen. ''Fantasies of a Bollywood Love-Thief: Inside the World of Indian Moviemaking''. .
* Begum-Hossain, Momtaz. ''Bollywood Crafts: 20 Projects Inspired by Popular Indian Cinema'', 2006. The Guild of Mastercraftsman Publications. .
* Bose, Mihir, ''Bollywood: A History'', New Delhi, Roli Books, 2008. .
* Dwyer, Rachel. ''Bollywood's India: Hindi Cinema as a Guide to Contemporary India'' (Reaktion Books, distributed by University of Chicago Press; 2014) 295 pages
* Ganti, Tejaswini. ''Bollywood'', Routledge, New York and London, 2004.
* Ganti, Tejaswini. ''Producing Bollywood: Inside the Contemporary Hindi Film Industry'' (Duke University Press; 2012) 424 pages; looks at how major changes in film production since the 1990s have been influenced by the liberal restructuring of India's state and economy.
* Gibson, Bernard. 'Bollywood'.'' Passing the Envelope'', 1994.
* Jolly, Gurbir, Zenia Wadhwani, and Deborah Barretto, eds. ''Once Upon a Time in Bollywood: The Global Swing in Hindi Cinema'', TSAR Publications. 2007. .
* Joshi, Lalit Mohan. ''Bollywood: Popular Indian Cinema''. .
* Kabir, Nasreen Munni. ''Bollywood'', Channel 4 Books, 2001.
* Mehta, Suketu. ''Maximum City'', Knopf, 2004.
* Mishra, Vijay. ''Bollywood Cinema: Temples of Desire''. .
* Pendakur, Manjunath. ''Indian Popular Cinema: Industry, Ideology, and Consciousness''. .
* Prasad, Madhava. ''Ideology of the Hindi Film: A Historical Construction'', Oxford University Press, 2000. .
* Raheja, Dinesh and Kothari, Jitendra. ''Indian Cinema: The Bollywood Saga''. .
* Raj, Aditya (2007) "Bollywood Cinema and Indian Diaspora" in ''Media Literacy: A Reader'' edited by Donaldo Macedo and Shirley Steinberg New York: Peter Lang
* Rajadhyaksa, Ashish (1996), "India: Filming the Nation", ''The Oxford History of World Cinema'', Oxford University Press, .
* Rajadhyaksha, Ashish and Willemen, Paul. ''Encyclopedia of Indian Cinema'', Oxford University Press, revised and expanded, 1999.
* Jha, Subhash and Bachchan, Amitabh (foreword). ''The Essential Guide to Bollywood''. .
External links
''National Geographic Magazine'': "Welcome to Bollywood"National Institute Of Film and Fine Arts
{{Subject bar
, commons = yes
, q = yes
, voy = yes
, d = yes
, portal1 = Bollywood
, portal2 = Films
Hindi cinema,
Economy of Mumbai
Hindustani language