Various Regional Cinemas functioning in India

“Cinema”



Topic: Various Regional Cinemas functioning in India


Prepared by: Sonal Baraiya

Class: M.A.Sem-4

Paper No.: 15- Mass Communication and Media Studies

Submitted to: Smt.S.B.Gardi, Maharaja Krishnkumarsinhji  

                       Bhavnagar University, Department of English. 


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Introduction:

What is Cinema?

Why is there need of cinema?

What is the importance of Cinema?

Is it the tool for entertainment? Or not?

What is the necessity of regional cinema?

These are some of the questions leads towards cinema. Look more about the Cinema.

What is Cinema? –

“Cinema, or motion picture, is the art of moving images; a visual medium that tells stories and exposes reality.”

More than that it is reflects the way of living life. It is show the reflection of our own self. Do doubt sometimes it came with more exaggeration. But still it has something real or facts in it and because of that people love to watch it. It is not only entertaining but also reforming when it is needed. It is through light on the dark reality also. In a more specific way if we try to conclude it then it is “the modifying form of literature”. It is one of the parts of society. Whatever happening in an around that can be shown in movie with more refined way. As it is the part of society, it’s came with not only event or incidence but also with tradition, culture, language, and what not which are surrounded with us. So the regional films have its own importance because it is come with various verities.

India is having one of the largest film industries in the world. Indian film industries produce thousands of movies every year. Indian film industries included different mass industries like Hindi films, regional movies and art cinema. The film industries divided according to the region because India is the country of languages. Various languages are spoken in India. Many of the larger languages supported their own film industry. There is various different regional film industries in India are Bengali, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Punjabi, Bhojpuri, Gujarati, etc. The Hindi/Urdu film industry known as Bollywood lies in Mumbai. Same as Neologims have been coined for the Tamil film industry Kollywood and the Telugu film industry. Tollywood is based on the Bengali film industry. Tollywood is known for its very famous and notable director Satyajit Ray, an internationally renowned filmmaker and a winner of many awards. In this, Bollywood remain as one of the greatest film industries and produced thousands of films.

The introduction of cinema starts with the first moving picture Lumiere in London (1895), which was screening in Bombay, in the year 1896. Cinema is known as motion picture. The first experiment with   the picture to motion picture done by a scholar on India’s language and culture is Dadasaheb Phalke. He did tremendous work with cinema. First he brought Sanskrit epics and produced a silent film Raja Harish Chandra (1913) in Marathi. The film is more like “Bhavai” because the female role played by male characters which was one of the characteristics of it. Dadasaheb is known as the father of Indian cinema and his first film got very good commercial success. He wasn’t only the producer but was also the director, writer, cameraman, editor, make-up artist and art director. The film was screening in London in the year 1914.

In the twentieth century cinema as a medium gained increasing movements across the popularity among the people and also in its many economic sections. Tickets are according to the pocket of audience.  It is in very low price so it can be affordable to common man. It is one of the affordable entertainment medium which dragged people to the cinema hall and the price was 4 paisa or an Anna. With the commerce, the content also make important. The content based on the social life and culture. It also brought the idea or content all across the world. The important point here is that the precious time was this because in this time the international audience and marketing take place into Indian cinema. Commercial films included Masala elements like songs, dance, and romance with slangs. Commercial Hindi cinema further grew throughout the 1980s and the 1990s.

There were six major influences that brought sudden changes in Indian cinema:

1.    Ancient Indian epics:

The first was the ancient Indian epics of Mahabharata and Ramayana. It is change the thoughts and imagination of Indian cinema. It is highly impact on the way of living life of people. It is highly impact on the narrative style.

2.    Ancient Sanskrit drama:

The second influence was the impact of ancient Sanskrit drama, with its highly stylized nature and emphasis on spectacle, where the combination of three music, dance and gesture “create a vibrant artistic unit with dance and mime being central to the dramatic experience.”

3.    The traditional Falk Theatre of India:

The third influence was the traditional Falk theatre of India, which start from the decaline of Sanskrit theatre and around the 10th century it become popular. These regional traditions include the Yatra of Bengal, the Ramlila of Uttar Pradesh, and the Terukkuttu of Tamil Nadu.

4.    Parsi Theatre:

The fourth influence was Parsi theatre, which “blended realism and fantasy, music and dance, narrative and spectacle, earthy dialogue and ingenuity of stage presentation, integrating them into a dramatic discourse of melodrama.

5.    Influence of Hollywood:

The influence of Hollywood cinema is more. Especially the impacts of close-up, camera angle, musical aspects, lighting and what not.

Regional Cinema:

Cinema is goes from the both side; particular to general and general to particular. It is goes regional to global cinema industry and also global to particular means regional cinema industry. Let’s have a look on regional cinema.

Hindi Cinema:

The Hindi cinema covers the large area in Indian cinema. The Hindi language film industry of Mumbai also known as Bollywood is one of the great and powerful cinema industry in India. The Hindi cinema rise with the content of caste and cultural issues in films like such as Achhut Kanya (1936) and Sujata (1959). Achhut Kanya deals with the social position of Dalit girls and is considered a reformist period-piece. The movie stars Ashok Kumar and Devika Rani in the lead roles. Film was one of the successful in Bombay Talkies. Sujata is a Bimal Roy film based on the caste system in India. Likewise the growth of Hindi cinema rise through the international visibility start with Raj Kapoor’s Awara and later in Shakti Samantha’s Aradhana starring by Rajesh Khanna and Sharmila Tagore. The golden age of cinema with the movie of “Sholay” starts. The rise of Amitabh Bachchan start with this movie along with this, Janjir is one of the best movies which put Amitabh into the category of “Big B” and also “Sadi Ka Mahanayak”.

Instead of that the middle era got highlight because of the movie which was highly considered by the audience is Dilwale Dulhania Lejayenge. It is registered its commercial presence in the Western world. In the year 1995, the Hindi cinema industry showing its sustainable growth and also the commercial rise in the world. Moreover the salary of lead stars also growing and the actors are working simultaneously in 3-4 films in one year. To help film industry financially, the industrial Development Bank of India came forward. Later on another growth take place which was related to the film industry is the magazines. The Magazines also make very good financial attempts. And such magazins are Filmfare, Stardust, Cineblitz, etc., became popular.

Gujarati Cinema

Gujarati cinema or Gujarati film industry referred as Dhollywood or Gollywood. It is one of the known regional and vernacular film industry in Indian cinema. The first film in Gujarati cinema was Narsinh Mehta, released on 7 April 1932. The Gujarati Cinema can be divided into three phase such as:

Silent films era (1913-1931)

Early talkies (1932-1947)

Post-independence (1946-1970)

Rise and decline (1970-2000)

Revival (2001-present)

Silent films era (1913-1931)

The silent film Bilwamangal (Bhakta Surdas, 1919) was directed by Parsi Gujarati, Rustomji Dotiwala. The silent film Narsinh Mehta (1920) produced by Oriental featured Gujarati song, “Vaishnav Jan To” which was sung by audience and musicians in cinema halls with relevant scenes on screen. Another film which was remark of Gujarati culture is garba presented the film Kach-Devyani (1920) was directed by S.N.Patankar. Kohinoor produced its first film Sati Parvati (1920) depicting Gujarati culture. Bhakta Vidur (1921) produced by Kohinoor and directed by Kanjibhai Rathod was implicitly political film. It was the first film banned in India by British authorities. Manilal Joshi was an experimental Gujarati director. He directed Abhimanyu (1922) produced by Star Film Company and later Prithivi Vallabh based on the novel by Gujarati author K.M.Munshi of same name.

Early talkies (1932-1947)

The first full length Gujarati talkie Narsinh Mehta was released on 9 April 1932 marking the beginning of Gujarati Cinema. It was followed by Sati Savitri (1932) based on epic story of Savitri and Satyavan. In 1935, Ghar Jamai directed by Homi Master was a comedy film.

Post-independence (1946-1970)

Vishnukumar M. Vyas directed Ranakdevi (1946). Meerabai released in the year 1946. Punatar also directed Gunsundari (1948) starring Nirupa Roy. Kariyavar (1948) directed by Chaturbhai Doshi. He also directed Vevishal (1949), an adaptation of the novel of same name by Jhaverchand Meghani. Leeludi Dharti (1968) directed by Vallabh Choksi and based on the novel of same name by Chunilal Madia. Leeludi Dharti was the first colour film of Gujarati cinema. The problems of modernization are the underlying concern of several films. The films like Gada no Bel had a strong realism and reformism.

Malela Jeev (1956) was directed by Manhar Raskapur. It was based on novel by Pannalal Patel and was scripted by novelist himself. Director Raskapur and producer-actor Champshibhai Nagda produced several films including Jogidas Khuman (1948), Kahyagaro Kanth (1950), Kanyadan (1951), Mulu Manek (1955), Malela Jeev (1956), Kadu Makrani (1960), Mehndi Rang Lagyo (1960), Jogidas Kuman (1962), Akhand Saubhagyavati (19630 and Kalapi (1966).

Rise and Decline (1970-2000)

This era can be considered as the era of rise and decline of Gujarati cinema. Feroze A. Sarkar directed Janamdeep (1973) adapted from the novel of same name by Ishwar Petlikar. Kanti Madia adapted Vinodini Neelkanth’s short story Dariyav Dil in the film Kashi no Dikro (1979). Dinesh Raval directed several films including Mena Gujari (1975), Amar Devidas (1981) and Sant Rohidas (1982). Actor-director Krishna Kant directed about dozen Gujarati films including Kulyadhu (1977), Gharsansar (1978) and Jog Sanjog (1980). Mehul Kumar directed several hits including Janam Janam na Sathi (1977), Ma Vina Suno Sansar (1982), Dholamaru (1983) and Meru Malan (1985). Jesal Toral (1971) directed by Ravindra Dave was one of the biggest hits of Gujarati cinema. Sonbai ni Chundadi (1976) directed by Girish Manukant was the first Gujarati cinemascope film. Mansai na Deeva (1984), directed by Govind Saraiya, was based on the novel of same name by Jhaverchand Meghani.

In 1998, Desh Re Joya Dada Pardesh Joya directed by Govindbhai Patel became very successful and went on to become super-hit. The film grossed more than 10 crore. Vipul Amrutlal Shah produced Dariya Chhoru in 1999. Upendra Trivedi was one of the most successful Gujarati actor and producer. He also produced Jher To Pidhan Jaani Jaani (1972) based on epic novel of the same name by Manubhai Pancholi ‘Darshak’. He also produced, acted and directed Manvi ni Bhavai (1993) based on the novel of Pannalal Patel.The film become super-hit and went to win the national award. The retirenment of Upendra Trivadi the decline of Gujarati cinema started.

Revival (2001-present)

It is the rising of Gujarati cinema. The movies are coming through various innovative and modern ideas. Maiyar Ma Manadu Nathi Lagtu (2001) directed by Jashwant Gangani, starring Hiten Kumar, was commercially successful. Vikram Thakore starred in several films like Ek Var Piyu Ne Malva Aavie (2006), Radha Tara Vina Gamtu Nathi (2007), Vaagi Kalje Katari Tara Premni (2010), Premi Zukya Nathi Ne Zukshe Nahi (2011) and Rasiya Tari Radha Rokani Rannma (2014).

Kevi Rite Jaish (2012) and Bey Yaar (2014), both directed by Abhishek Jain, became commercially and critically successful drawing urban audience. Kevi Rite Jaish and Bey Yaar were released worldwide and become successful and appriated by the audience also. The Good Road (2013), directed by Gyan Correa, won the Best Gujarati Film at the 60th National Film Awards and was later became the first Gujarati film selected to represent India at the Oscars. The film won the Best Feature Film Jury Award at the Indian Film Festival, Houston in October 2013. Other films like Gujjubhai, The Great (2015) and Chhello Divas (2015) were commercially successful.

Bhojpuri Cinema

Bhojpuri Cinema presented the film in the language of Bhojpuri in the eastern Utter Pradesh, western Bihar and Madhesh in Southern Nepal. It is known as Bhollywood. The first Bhojpuri talkie film was Ganga Maiyya Tohe Piyari Chadhaibo, was released in 1961 by Vishwanath Shahabadi. In the 80’s, there were many notable films such as:

Bitia Bhail Sayan

Chandwa Ke Take Chakor

Hamar Bhauji

Ganga Kinare More Gaon and Sampoorna Tirth Yatra

Though it is the smaller one industry it is came with rapid changes and interesting filmography. The industry now supports an awards show and a trade magazine, Bhojpuri City.

Cinema of Assam

Assam cinema referred as the Assamese language. The Assamese language film industry traces its origins works of revolutionary visionary Rupkonwar Jyotiprasad Agarwala. He was great poet, playwright, composer and also freedom fighter. The first Assamese film is Joymati in1935. The second picture Indramalati was filmed between 1937 and 1938 finally released in 1939. The beginning of the 21st century has seen Bollywood-style Assamese movies hitting the screen.

Bengali Cinema

The first talkie film in Bengali was Dena Paona in the year 1931. The Bengali language cinematic tradition referred as Tollygunge. It has highly renowned filmmakers like Satyajit Ray, Ritwik Ghatak and Mrinal Sen.

Recent Bengali films that have capture national attention include Rituparno Ghosh’s Choker Bali, starring Aishwarya Rai. The Bengali films capture the science-fiction and also focus on social issues. The first Bengali Feature film, Billwamangal, was produced in 1919, under the banner of Madan Theatre. Bilat Ferat was the IBFC’s first production in 1921. The Madan Theatres production of Jamai shashthi was first Bengali talkie.

Tamil Cinema

Kalidas (1931) is Tamil cinema’s first talkie. Sivaji Ganesan became India’s first ever actor to receive an international award when he won the Best Actor” award at the Afro-Asian film festival in 1960 and was awarded the title of Chevalier in the Legion of Honor by the French Government in 1995. Tamil cinema influenced by Dravidian politics which was also reflected in the films also.

Rajnikanth is referred to as Superstar and also considered as the divine perspective in the heart of Tamil people. He earning 26 crore for his role in Sivaji (2007), he became the highest paid actor in Asia after Jackie Chan. The music and songs are one of the best parts of the Tamil film.

Telugu Cinema

In a cinema city the contribution of Telugu is a lot. The highest numbers of theatres are located in the Indian states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana which referred films in the Telugu language. It has the highest theatre across the India. It is also produced the largest number of films. Ramoji Film City, which holds the Guinness World Record for the world’s largest film production facility, is located in Hyderabad, India. The world’s IMAX 3D screen lies located there.

Vuppaladadiyam Nagayya, was the multilingual actor in South India to be honored with the Padma Shri. N.T.Rama Rao was one of the most commercially successful Telugu actors of his time. Chiranjeevi, was listed among “The Men who Changed the Face of the Indian Cinema” by IBN-live India.

Tulu Cinema

Tulu film industry is one of the parts of Indian cinema. It is very less in producing the movie throughout the year. It produces 2 to 3 films annually. The first film being Enna Thangadi released in theatres across the Tulu Nadu region and on DVD. The critically acclaimed Tulu Film Suddha, won the award for the best Indian Film at the Osian film festival held at New Delhi in the year 2006. Oriyardori Asal released in 2011 is the most successful Tulu film till date.

Conclusion:

As time pass the definition of cinema change but the importance of it day by day increase. Now it is become the part of human being. Now the definition of cinema is not only the motion picture but it has something more than that. It is because it is not shows the event or fiction but with that the culture, tradition, rituals, rules, class, beliefs also came along with that. So the motion picture not remains as a motion picture only but it is connect or involve people in it. Cinema has the capability to change or reform society and it has the capability to spoil the society. Now cinema becomes the heart of people. The importance of regional cinema is because of this that it shows the culture and tradition. Even more it is trying to show the mass mentality, thinking process, imagination power and what not.

Works Cited

n.d. <Wikipedia contributors. "Cinema of India." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 7 Mar. 2016. Web. 17 Mar. 2016.>.