Why so much importance on approval from the West? - Page 2

Originally posted by: sayali_babes

That's exactly what I've issues with. Why all the prestige labels attached only to "Hollywood"? Why not any others, such as the Japanese, Iranian, Hungarian or Brazilian film industries?[/QUOTE]

My short take on this is that Hollywood is worldwidely mainstream, it's everywhere so they are supreme in markets all over with way more fans than the other industries. The only time I can see Japanese, Iranian, Hungarian, Brazilian films are only during film festivals, sad but a reality.

As Hollywood is everywhere we see all that its dished out and it doesn't really go in phases like Bollywood. Hollywood dishes out several generes at the same time whereas in Bollywood it follows the current trend of successess of whether they are rom-com's, masalas, thrillers or whatever. I do have to admit that at least now there are directors that make films that are not part of the current trend of movies so there's variety and those get noticed along with the best of the best masals's or whatever is the trend of the year.

Originally posted by: drummedup

Hmmm... maybe because Western flicks have larger reach (because of language etc) and their production values are top-notch.So, if they praise wouldn't you feel good?I guess, it's like you are a science student getting a pat on back by Kalam 😆

Having said that, I don't really think approval of west is something important or necessary. Their sensibilities are different from Indian, how many films can they identify with or understand? The worship of western films should tone down in India. But that will happen only when we improve. But here we are copying their settings and stories in the name of inspiration instead of getting inspired by their respect and love for craft more than ego , experimentation and other better things. We are in no dearth of stories but very lazy and scared to leave comfort zones.
It's like when you know you are not doing good enough, you try to feel good enough about yourself by trying to look good or get appreciated in the eyes of the Champ. Human Psych!

Originally posted by: babloo_mka

Bollywood has been "experimental" for almost a decade now. We have a horde of good original offbeat films, as well as old classics.
Why do you think Hollywood is more 'mainstream' than others? Is this not the famous "cultural imperialism"? 😛

Edited by sayali_babes - 13 years ago

Originally posted by: sayali_babes

Bang on about the sensibility part. Song and dance are central to Indian cinematic culture, its a pattern we're used to and they are not. However, they do like Japanese movies for some reason, despite the Samurai random martial stuff 😆. They dig Kurosawa big time, even copied his Seven Samurai.

Personally, I don't understand the need for approval in Hollywood. Our cinema is very different. It is based on unrealistic storylines full of dance and music. It is kitsch and camp at its worst. But I thoroughly enjoy it. I watch mindless Bollywood flicks because they are fun fun fun. There are people all over the world who enjoy Bollywood movies for the kind of entertainment they offer. Even Hollywood to a certain extent is enamored with the fun and color flavor of Bollywood. The revival of musicals in film and television, the popularity of Bollywood dance and success of films like Slumdog Millionnaire, Bend it Like Beckhan show that even in the west there is a market for desi flavors.

If a product has a market, satisfies the need of the market and churns profit – then it is a damn good product. A product is inferior only if it makes no money or does not meet its market needs. Bollywood films are no match for Hollywood summer blockbusters or some gritty serious cinema, but it is a damn good product for the market it serves.

That being said not everyone is satisfied serving only one market. Growth means successfully serving wider markets and gaining more market share. In that sense Bollywood is lacking. We don't produce fantasy fiction adventures like Batman, Avengers or Spiderman, we don't make serious films True Grit, Million Dollar Baby or There will be blood, we don't even make feel good films like The Help, Juno or Easy A, often we don't even match the cinema of less loaded industries like Brazil (City of God, Elite Squad) Mexico (Pan's Labyrinth, Y' Tu Mama Tambiem, Amores Perros) or Sweden (Millennium Series). So if our goal is to capture any of these market shares then the obsession with needing approval is explicable.