Bollywood Across the GlobeBy: Ashley Domerese

Cultural Diffusion of the Bollywood Music Culture

Bollywood as a Cultural Link

• According to some social scientists, the most important "binding element" among diasporic Indians is Bollywood culture.

• Many Bollywood films make full, explicit use of song and dance to describe the actual journey into diasporic space: the space of imagination is thus amplified across national borders.

The International Audience• International tickets sales

account for 15% to 25% of the money made in theaters by Indian films, analysts say. For some films that figure can be as high as 50%.

• Bollywood films bear signs of the global featured films: the new styles of clothing, music, dance, and cinematography, as well as the diverse, worldwide settings of the films.

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihVAthbc0tI&feature=channel

Bollywood in International Demand• Amitabh Bachchan is the overwhelming favorite of

people of Gaza in Israel and Sholay, a film from 1975, is shown several times every year by all the TV channels.

• Russians have enjoyed Indian films during the time of the former Soviet Union but Bollywood still rules the heart of many generations.

Bollywood in the U.S. • Thanks to exhibitor

pioneers like New Jersey's Vijay Shah and California's Shiraz Jivani, Bollywood films are showing up on bigger and snazzier screens from Brooklyn to Berkeley.

• More American-themed films are coming out, like “My Name is Khan” and “Tere Bin Laden.”

Bollywood in the U.S.

• Bollywood’s influence in American can also be seen in workout videos and dance shows.

• http://youtu.be/02uT7w2PAiw • http://youtu.be/RfbicHCotVE

Bollywood Music in Other Cultures

• Movie-goers often seen the same movie more than once and despite not knowing the language, can sing the songs of their favorite movies.

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZMHHFn9Zi0c&feature=related

Bollywood Music in Other Cultures

• Hindi songs are learned worldwide thanks to Bollywood films.

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CELW8KKc4ng&feature=related

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pdJkblOv7Io

Bollywood Music in Britain

• Because of former British rule in India, there are many Indians in Britain and the Bollywood music culture is popular there.

• Bombay Dreams was a Bollywood-themed musical. The London production opened in 2002 and ran for two years. The musical also was produced on Broadway in 2004.

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fHpKNacmOns

Influences on Bollywood

• The dancing style, choreography, and wardrobe for modern music numbers are largely influenced by MTV music videos and American hip-hop, salsa, and pop music.

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KgmeL_xuB0I

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0p9nwj0aamM&feature=fvst