Bollywood Movie Industry
Not only is Mumbai the largest city in the world, it is also the cultural, commercial and entertainment capital of India. Formerly called Bombay, the city proper has approximately 14 million people and lies on the Western coast of India. Being the economic epicenter of India, it houses many of the nation’s important financial institutions and the corporate headquarters of major companies. It only stands to reason that tourists flock to this metropolitan area and stay in one of many 5 star Mumbai hotels.
Bollywood is the local name for the movie center of India, an obvious reference to the film capital of the United States, Hollywood, California. Dhundiraj Govind Phalke was an Indian director, screen-writer and producer. He is credited with establishing the film industry in India. His first feature film, Raja Harishchandra, is also recognized as the first full length film to be shot in India. In his 19 year career Phalke made 26 short films and 95 movies, profific for anyone, but even more so for a pioneer in the field. Some of his most well known films include Shri Krishna Janam, made in 1918, and Kaliya Madan, made in 1919. The prestigious Indian film award, Dadasaheb Phalke Award is named after him and was created in his honor. It is given for lifetime achievements in cinema.
The term Bollywood is taken from Bombay, and unlike its American counterpart, it does not refer to a specific area or location, but to India’s largest film producer. It is commonly mistaken to include the entire Indian film industry. The early Twenty First Century saw Indian films becoming more popular and respected througout the world. This created a boom in the industry and led to better quality productions. Large production houses like Yash Raj Films and Dharma Productions made most of these new films. Phalke died in 1944 though his legacy lives on and thrives in its remebrance of him.
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