Your opinion about what Nawaz is saying here? - Page 10

@ Zeal

Then you wouldn't have a unified India, I can guarantee you.

Hindi is not the mother tongue for a huge chunk of Indians, and most of us prefer to keep our own. Thanks very much.

Southern states have their language, their own culture, their own ways of worshipping, their own politics, their own damn identity. Imposition of any of these would have been/is/will be seen as nothing more than brown colonialism. Rule of the brown saahib instead of white saahib. No, thank you. Most of us prefer to be free people than slaves.

Originally posted by: NathuPyare

Well here we'll have to agree to disagree.

Cos I do believe a unique term signifying individuality would be better than a copycat or spin-off term of Hollywood.

But why is Hollywood being used as a reference point to suggest the name change at this point when Bollywood is already a strong brand with a wide market? How is it even relevant this far down the line that the name initially got its inspiration from Hollywood? Who/what are you trying to assuage by dissociating from Hollywood? Your opinion prompts some of these questions ... but you don't have to answer them cuz I'm outta here. 😆

Originally posted by: HearMeRoar

More to the point, if teaching people who can't speak English would earn them job - say, in sales - and get them out of poverty, would you still say pride on mother tongue comes first?

My general policy is knowing mother tongue is important because it gives you a sense of your roots and helps generations remember past culture. But survival is more important.

English is a skill for advancement in career so knowing good English is an asset. But knowing English should not come at the expense of forgetting ur mother tongue or looking down upon it.

Originally posted by: NathuPyare

English is a skill for advancement in career so knowing good English is an asset. But knowing English should not come at the expense of forgetting ur mother tongue or looking down upon it.

I agree.

I actually signed up for sanskrit classes. Not at all related to my mother tongue but wanted to read some of the texts. Not getting time to do any of it Maybe I should stay off IF😆

Originally posted by: return_to_hades

Perhaps Bollywood should be clarified as the Bombay film industry. It was conceived and rose to prominence in Bombay. A large majority of the film fraternity lives in Bombay. Linguistically, Bombay is a melting pot.

Some interesting discussion here by folks.

Language imposition is wrong. You cannot force people to speak a specific language. People will naturally speak in the language they are most familiar with.

Language accommodation is reasonable. People who are more comfortable reading in Devanagiri should get scripts in Devanagiri. If people are uncomfortable with English then the best efforts should be made to translate or restate.

Mocking someone for not knowing English is wrong. And yes, the Bollywood elites often use their fluency in English as a status symbol to exert superiority and that is disgusting.

But turning the tables and looking down on everyone whose default language is English is also not right.

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At one point Nawaz mentions theatre actors being more comfortable in Hindi. In the USA, LA is the movie and pop music scene. NYC is the theatre scene. Where is the theatre scene in India?

In Mumbai for sure. Probably in Delhi too but I wouldn't know.

Mumbai has an excellent regional theatre scene with plays being performed in Hindi, Marathi and Gujarati. Some of these plays are by well known playwrights but many are original works that touch on topical issues. I've seen a lot of Hindi plays and some Marathi ones, and the acting talent there would put all Hindi film actors to shame. Many of them are trained singers and perform exceptionally well in musicals. Their fluidity of movement, the way they utilize every inch of the stage is commendable. Mumbai has regional plays performed at multiple venues across the city the whole year round and several theatre festivals as well as workshops for children etc.

@HearMeRoar

How will speaking one language detach them from their culture or identity? Absurd.

Nobody is arguing that there should only be one language, Hindi, and that everyone should give up their mother tongue. Mother tongue should be prioritised, followed by one second language that connects everyone in the country, and finally one international language that connects everyone in the world.

Most of the world speaks English so it should be learned. Similarly, most of India speaks Hindi so shouldn't it given same importance withing a country.

@Smitten: I have a genuine question? Why do you feel that regional film enthusiasts are the ones who want to call Bollywood as Hindi Cinema? Amitabh Bacchhan has been the one who has been advocating against this term since time immemorial, I have been listening to this debate since a decade at least. Not just him, but I recall a lot of Hindi actors doing that since a long long time. There is nothing wrong with it.

Originally posted by: SmittenKitten

But why is Hollywood being used as a reference point to suggest the name change at this point when Bollywood is already a strong brand with a wide market? How is it even relevant this far down the line that the name initially got its inspiration from Hollywood? Who/what are you trying to assuage by dissociating from Hollywood? Your opinion prompts some of these questions ... but you don't have to answer them cuz I'm outta here. 😆

There are many brands of instant noodles in market like maggi yippee top ramen etc.

For India atleast instant noodles started with Maggi and still now everyone refers to instant noodles as maggi. But there are still some brands which have their, individuality & distinct names like Top Ramen or chings as well as others that seem copycat or spin-off of maggi like Yippee. It all comes down to where u are trying to position yourself. Top Ramen in itself was a big well known brand (though not so big in India at the time of maggi) but yippee was directly competing with maggi and was the first popular non maggi brand of instant noodles.

Same happened with coca cola too. There were many imitations or copycat names like campa cola etc but some like thumbs up and pepsi went for more individual names. I guess it comes down to how u r trying to position urself in the market... And i don't see any wrong if changing the name benefits hindi film industry in any way.

Anyways I'm outta here too ...😆

@SmittenKitten The one in your DP also has issue with it being called Bollywood and not Hindi Movie Industry, just saying. 😛

Originally posted by: HearMeRoar

I agree.

I actually signed up for sanskrit classes. Not at all related to my mother tongue but wanted to read some of the texts. Not getting time to do any of it Maybe I should stay off IF😆

I wanted to learn Sanskrit too....

But now i don't. Now i place more importance on personal experience than knowledge gained through scriptures...

Though knowing Sanskrit would definitely be an asset I'd like to have and be very proud of having.