Jennifer Hopfinger,
editor of The Bollywood Ticket, spotlights all things filmy in her column,
Open to Interpretation.
GUEST COLUMNIST:
Ekta Garg is a contributor to The Bollywood Ticket.
Appreciating the artistry of Bollywood is simply a matter of understanding India’s unique way of filmmaking. Jennifer Hopfinger explains the basics.
Far from India, at home at the movies
Ekta Garg explains what Bollywood means to her as an American Desi and how the landmark 1995 film Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge changed the way Bollywood related to the Indian diaspora.
Who’s Who in Bollywood: New Directors
The new generation of Bollywood directors has created some of the most memorable films in cinematic history, and they’ve also dared to tackle subjects and ideas their esteemed predecessors wouldn’t touch. Here is Bollywood’s future.
The American film industry is slated to release about 75 remakes in 2010, and while that number is unusually high, remakes are nothing new in Hollywood. So why does Bollywood get such a bad rap for remaking Hollywood films when Hollywood is guilty of the same thing?
Who’s Who in Bollywood: Transition Directors
Many Bollywood directors who tried to stay within the confines of the old-school approach have come and gone. Many others, however—those who understand that to keep up with cultural and societal shifts they must continue to challenge themselves—have successfully made the transition from old to new.
An Introspective of Filmmaker Karan Johar
Love him or hate him, Karan Johar is one of the most prominent directors in Bollywood—despite having helmed only four films. Guest columnist Ekta Garg critiques his track record and delves into his motivations.
Who’s Who in Bollywood: Directors of Yesteryear
In the first of a three-part series on the great directors of Bollywood, learn about the notable Hindi filmmakers of the past, from Guru Dutt and Raj Kapoor to Manmohan Desai and Prakash Mehra. Their work is revered today as classics.
Books Bollywood fans will love
Hindi film may be one of the most dynamic mediums ever, so much so that its magic springs from mere written words about it with undiluted vibrancy—in the hands of a skilled author, that is. The Bollywood Ticket recommends essential reading for film buffs and bookworms alike.
Bollywood deserves its own Oscar category
Bollywood, the largest film industry in the world, has never won the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film at the Academy Awards—and it’s not because Bollywood films don’t deserve the honor. The category should be renamed Best European Film for the sake of accuracy—and Bollywood should get its own category.
Who’s Who in Bollywood: Actresses
You met the biggest actors in Bollywood in Part 1—now learn about the top actresses who light up the screen.
Who’s Who in Bollywood: Actors
Despite the fact that Bollywood exceeds Hollywood in film output, Bollywood has a much smaller star system—and that makes it easier for new fans to figure out who’s who. In the first of two parts, a rundown of the biggest and brightest in the Bollywood universe.
Hollywood and Bollywood are melding right now, with big bucks driving the fusion, and those financial forces were bringing the two industries together long before the phenomenon of Slumdog Millionaire.
