''Lights, Camera, Masala: Making Movies in Mumbai'' is a 2006 book by Naman Ramachandran, published by India Book House and designed by Divya Thakur of Design Temple. The concept and photography were by Sheena Sippy. In 2007, the book won a ''Gold for Publication Design'' at the

New York Festival New or NEW may refer to: Music * New, singer of K-pop group The Boyz * ''New'' (album), by Paul McCartney, 2013 ** "New" (Paul McCartney song), 2013 * ''New'' (EP), by Regurgitator, 1995 * "New" (Daya song), 2017 * "New" (No Doubt song), 1 ...

. It was the author's first book. A complete insider look in the glitz, grit and grandeur of world's largest film industry,

Bollywood Hindi cinema, popularly known as Bollywood and formerly as Bombay cinema, is primarily produced in Mumbai. The popular term Bollywood is a portmanteau of "Bombay" (former name of Mumbai) and "Cinema of the United States, Hollywood". The in ...

. Photographs of

Abhishek Bachchan Abhishek Bachchan (; born 5 February 1976) is an Indian actor and film producer known for his work in Hindi films. Part of the Bachchan family, he is the son of actors Amitabh Bachchan and Jaya Bachchan. From 2012 to 2016, Bachchan appeared in ...

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan Aishwarya Rai Bachchan (; Rai; born 1 November 1973) is an Indian actress who is primarily known for her work in Hindi and Tamil language, Tamil films. Rai won the Miss World 1994 pageant and later established herself as one of the most-popu ...

Salman Khan Abdul Rashid Salim Salman Khan (; born 27 December 1965) is an Indian actor, film producer, and television personality who predominantly works in Hindi films. In a career spanning over three decades, his awards include two National Film Awa ...

Shah Rukh Khan Shah Rukh Khan (; born 2 November 1965), also known by the initialism SRK, is an Indian actor and film producer who works in Hindi cinema. Referred to in the media as the "Padishah, Baadshah of Bollywood" and "King Khan", he has Shah Rukh K ...

Preity Zinta Preity G. Zinta (pronounced ; born 31 January 1975) is an Indian actress primarily known for her work in Hindi films. After graduating with degrees in English honours and criminal psychology, Zinta made her acting debut in '' Dil Se..'' in 19 ...

and

Bipasha Basu Bipasha Basu (born 7 January 1979) is an Indian actress. Primarily known for her work in Hindi films, she List of awards and nominations received by Bipasha Basu, has received a Filmfare Awards, Filmfare Award. In the 2000s and 2010s, she was ...

were also included.

Reception

Hindustan Times ''Hindustan Times'' is an Indian English language, English-language daily newspaper based in Delhi. It is the flagship publication of HT Media Limited, an entity controlled by the Birla family, and is owned by Shobhana Bhartia, the daughter o ...

'' review said "I flipped through this hardback on Bollywood films twice before reading a word within its glossy covers. The first time, I turned the pages quickly and curiously and I was impressed - actually blown away - because Lights Camera Masala is a design surprise." Kaveree Bamzai of ''

India Today ''India Today'' is a weekly Indian English-language news magazine published by Living Media, Living Media India Limited. It is the most widely circulated magazine in India, with a readership of close to 8 million. In 2014, ''India Today'' laun ...

'' described the book's design as "distractingly overwhelming" and asked whether one should see it, read it or tear it. Ramachandran's interviews of several actors were also included. Bamzai praised the photographs by saying that they had "repose which blinds us to their ubiquity". The book had 10 chapters. They were "The spark", "The reality", "The game is afoot", "The shoot 1", "Objects of desire", "The shoot 2", "Young Turks", "From pillar to post", "Brand Bollywood" and "The people have spoken". It discussed all the steps a film is involved in before being released; script, cast selection, filming, costumes and marketing. The presentation of the content in the book is very good and catchy that binds the reader to it. Arati Menon Carroll of ''

Business Standard ''Business Standard'' is an Indian English-language daily edition newspaper published by Business Standard Private Limited, also available in Hindi. Founded in 1975, the newspaper covers the Indian economy, infrastructure, international busi ...

'' wrote "Despite being sponsored by the

International Indian Film Academy The International Indian Film Academy Awards (IIFA) is an annual awards ceremony for Hindi cinema. Produced by Wizcraft International Entertainment Pvt. Ltd, the winners of the awards are decided by fans, who vote online for their favourite ac ...

, Lights... commendably is not slavish in its critique of the industry. There are unapologetic mentions of plagiarism, like the similarities between portions of Munna Bhai M.B.B.S. and

Robin Williams Robin McLaurin Williams (July 21, 1951August 11, 2014) was an American actor and comedian known for his improvisational skills and the wide variety of characters he created on the spur of the moment and portrayed on film, in dramas and comedie ...

's Patch Adams."

References

External links

''Lights, Camera, Masala: Making Movies in Mumbai''
at

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