Date: 2008-04-30 20:48 Charles Griffin:
Rasa, has no one answered you on this topic? I hope you get this to your mailbox
then.
Bollywood is a play on Bombay and Hollywood. Outside Mumbai, India (used to be
Bombay) is the location of the major Indian film studios. Virtually all Indian
movies are a mix of drama, comedy, song and dance. Sometimes the drama is
heavier and sometimes the comedy, but the song and dance is almost always there.
Indian film dancing is a combination of traditional dance moves as from the
Natyaraja combined with nearly everything else, usually with a lead solo, then
masses of people dancing together. All films contain a love story, etc. They can
be a lot of fun.
Most of the songs are dubbed in by professional singers who look nothing like
the stars of the movie who only lip sync. The music is also a mix of traditional
instrument with modern and older melodies with western influences. It's really
funny when they do Rap.
If there is an Indian restaurant or grocery near where you live, you can
probably find they have some videos available.
Charles whilst I admire your enlightening Rasa on all things Bollywood and
giving a 'Canned Version' of it as a generalisation, I must, however, disagree
with the somewhat 'Old fashioned Colonial' way in which you refer to things
here!
Bollywood has progressed into an immense progressive business since the times
you speak of and many stars have come about through that! Asian music and not
just relating to India has developed through these mediums and encouraged Asian
Talents in many Countries none more so than the UK where we are also open minded
and progressive and do not look only to the Corner Shop to find information on
those other cultures! For a man so well travelled I wonder how much culture you
actually take on board, forgive me if I am wrong, but your reply here seemed to
border slightly on belittling a whole vast country and possibly Continent to
asian supermarket level as the only means of Westerners becoming aware? | 
its sool tough
hope that helps!
