Indian Cinema=Bollywood?

In a lot of Hindi entertainment channel programmes, we hear the term "Indian cinema" repeated a lot while referring exclusively to Bollywood. While paying homage to a certain Star or Director, we hear them described as "one of the greatest that Indian cinema has ever seen". While criticizing Bollywood, its not uncommon to hear how "Indian cinema/moviemakers are this or that", far though it might be from the truth. Why is Bollywood always confused with "Indian cinema" both at home and abroad? Tyranny of the majority? Discuss.

Indian cinema = Hindi cinema, Marathi cinema, Punjabi cinema, Gujarati cinema, Bengali cinema, Telugu cinema, Malayalam cinema, Tamil cinema, Bhojpuri cinema (yes, that too), Kannada cinema, Assamese cinema and so on. It includes all kinds of documentaries and short films that are rarely seen outside certain circuits. And I'm sure it includes other kinds of films that i've forgotten to post here.

Edited to add: I read your post again and realised that you had asked why Indian cinema was equated with Bollywood. Sorry 😊

I would say that is mostly because that is the perception of the majority. Though regional cinemas also make a lot of money abroad, partly driven by nostalgia.

It's highly biased. Regional movies make good money abroad, but their all-India distribution is almost nil.

What I really hate is these days all government focus is on Bollywood. Pathetic work from BW is awarded while some good work from regional cinema is ignored.

Originally posted by: -ksh-

What I really hate is these days all government focus is on Bollywood. Pathetic work from BW is awarded while some good work from regional cinema is ignored.

The National Awards only got their shit together recently. They too for a few years had been leaning the Bollywood way and were influenced by Bollywood. Some of the winners of some years were ridiculous.

^^^Saif for Hum Tum and Raveena for some random movie...not at all convinced about those.

The joke that was the 2009 National Awards.

Originally posted by: -ksh-

^^^Saif for Hum Tum and Raveena for some random movie...not at all convinced about those.