While engrossed in a scholarly discussion with my professor friend,Dr S Raghunath,the phone rang. Bhavna has invited us all to see a Hindi movie, his wife Usha announced. How can we refuse their beautiful daughter? I blurted out to Usha my one-frame resume of 65 years of Bollywood: Suresh! Tumne mujhe dhoka diya! Doesnt this capture the poignant scene of betrayal the heroine suffers at some moment in every film?
No,no,its very different nowadays … Usha said. So,we went to see Shanghai. At half time,the near-dead heros wife came from Delhi to take her husband away,only to discover a girlfriend attending to her husband in hospital. So my contention that Suresh,tumne mujhe dhoka diya is Bollywoods single point focus was proved! Experiencing Bollywood extravaganza after many years has inspired me to narrate these cliches Ive absorbed. With utmost respect to the millions of spectators who enormously enjoy these films,let me give you typical sensational ingredients that churn out box office hits.
Dance-song: Songs comprise the films core,determining success formula. Everyone knows that actors only lip sync. Playback singers were earlier associated with certain actors whose voices tallied with their harmonious renditions. Some actors carried one playback singers voice for their whole career. I remember in our youth,a song would be released,made into a hit,and subsequently the film would ride piggyback on its success. Electronic media has made singers better known today,but their public fame is appended to the hero/ heroine and films performance.
The hero always has a crooners role,teasing a girl who plays hide-and-seek to display shes shy and unwilling-but-actually-willing. Rarely would heroines start romantic overtures. Sometimes,reminiscent of Lord Krishnas girlfriend Radha and her gopis,the girl dances with village belles in colourful lehengas in front of wheat fields. Or the passionate couple prances around some forest,garden,mountain,snowfield or beach.
From such natural locales,Hindi film songs have shifted to the streets of New York. The inspiration seems to be from Broadway choreography for group street dancing from the 1961 comedy musical,Westside Story composed by Leonard Bernstein. You can spot the romantissimo couple in Bollywood versions as theyre dressed differently from the backdrop dancers in perfect aerobic routine. Suddenly dancing on foreign streets has almost become mandatory. You see foreigners gaping askance on the sidelines sometimes,but the couples oblivious to the surroundings,as people in love are. Dancing to songs builds up the crescendo; so high excitement whistles come ferociously in quick succession at Indian theatres.
Crime: Villains are must-haves,theyre the salt-and-pepper of Hindi movies. Dialogues of the powerful,pan-juice (addictive betel nut and leaf) spitting Boss are memorised for real life play acting by imitative fans. Sometimes they become Robin Hood,stealing from the rich to save the poor.
Political drama: The plot always features some direct or indirect political corruption. The public is jealous of the politicians ill-gotten wealth yet has no voice to check them. So when Hindi films portray politicians being punished for their scandalous corrupt crimes,it thrills the public. The trend still has the law and order machinery backing the right cause,whether thats true or not. The police station has both good and bad policemen,but the ethical ones always prevail.
Fight: Spiciest of all is the fight. Initially the hero doesnt win,but you can be sure he will come back to win. The fighting hero is a handsome dude. He has the power to fight multiple villains,mix techniques of wrestling,judo,karate. The villain is bad all the way. A gun fight is okay,but it is the physical dhishum-dhishum fighting that brings every spectator to the chairs edge. The fight gives you more involvement. You mentally feel a punch,physically crouch on your seat,take in your breath in quick,short exclamations,or narrow your eyes. A girl may squeeze her partners hand and hide behind his shoulder when the scene gets too graphic. That of course is bonus pleasure of watching fight scenes at the movies.
Intermission! Hindi movies cannot end so quickly. What about footage on hate,love,foreign tours,betrayal,lecturers dialogue,happy end,value-for-money technical effects,trend influence,mother and son affection,all so essential to complete a real Bollywood format? Coming next week.
Shombit Sengupta is an international creative business strategy consultant to top management. Reach him at http://www.shiningconsulting.com
