My Opinion on Bollywood Movies
Growing up, there was a phase when I liked Bollywood movies.
I liked Shah Rukh Khan, Amitabh Khanchan, Salman Kahan, etc.
Watching Bollywood movies was a family bonding experience.
Once I got older, I found Bollywood movies to be so cringe.
There was one moment where there was a riveting storyline…
Then out of nowhere, they just bust out singing and dancing!
What am I watching, a movie or a musical?
Throughout my life, my opinion of Bollywood movies has ping-ponged.
At the time of writing this, I find Hollywood to be in an abysmal state.
- There is no creativity.
- Too much wokeness.
- And there are too many sequels.
In this abysmal state of Hollywood, I have found myself willingly watching Bollywood more.
Why Bollywood Is Different
Bollywood is different from Hollywood because of the length, musicality, and versatility of the stars.
Most American movies are ~1.5 hours.
Whereas a Bollywood movie can go up to 3 hours.
The top actors and actresses are way more prolific in Bollywood too.
A guy like Leonardo DiCaprio will make a movie every year to 3 years.
A guy like Amitabh Khanchan will make multiple movies in a year.
The music element is different too.
I don’t expect to see Leonardo DiCaprio having an intense scene in Shutter Island….
Then suddenly break out into song and dance.
No lie…
If you’ve ever seen a Bollywood movie, that’s exactly what they do!
You’ll be mid-way into an intense scene, and suddenly, there is a music video.
These songs are long and there are backup dancers as well.
I hate this feature of Bollywood movies.
Whenever I see a song, I just fast-forward it.
But the people I watch with have the opposite reaction:
‘Don’t fast forward it! This is the best part.’
The top star in Bollywood needs to be able to:
- Act.
- Sing (or lip-sync).
- Dance.
While in Hollywood, being able to act is more than enough.
Asking a Hollywood star to sing and dance is like asking a quarterback to tackle and kick.
Not needed.
The Cringe Factor
The reason I strayed away from Bollywood many times is due to the cringe factor.
Have you ever had that moment when Facebook showed you an old comment that you wrote?
It’s 2024, and Facebook shows you how you used to type in 2014.
“Brb, Skipping skool 2day.”
You cringe as you see that.
Feel that feeling.
That’s how I feel when I watch Bollywood.
I’m like:
‘Good lord! This shit is soo corny.’
The corniness was enough to make me stray in the past.
But nowadays, I noticed something radically different.
I invite in the corniness.
When I watch a Bollywood movie, I like the cheesiness.
I believe the cheesiness is a unique marketing angle.
Bollywood fails when it tries to copy Hollywood.
Bollywood succeeds when it embraces corniness.
In my book, The Art & Science of Storytelling, I say that the best brands are unapologetically themselves.
They know who they want to attract, and more importantly, who they don’t want to attract.
Lifetime is a station for women.
If I have a bunch of opinions on how Lifetime should operate, the network CEOs will laugh at me.
They’ll be like.
“You’re a boy! You’re not our target audience.”
I believe Bollywood would be in a better state if they stopped trying to copy Hollywood so much and were unapologetically themselves.
Embrace the cringe.
One person’s cringe is another person’s nostalgia.
Should You Watch Bollywood Movies?
If you want to become a better storyteller, then you need to be versatile.
You can’t just consume 1 style of content and expect to tell riveting tales.
Consume a wide range of content.
From Korean movies to anime, to Hollywood, to African dramas, to Bollywood.
When you see how different countries:
- Build up characters.
- Reduce tension.
- Add in tension.
- Introduce settings.
It will be easier to turn your life experiences into stories.
It will also be easier to introduce a compelling narrative to capture your audience in work meetings.
Watching Bollywood movies is an underrated way to build storytelling skills.
They take tons of risks that Hollywood couldn’t even fathom.
Sit through everything.
- The cheesy lines.
- The overly dramatic action scenes.
- And the abrupt musical scenes.
Afterward, you’ll see a spice in the movies that you’re not used to seeing.
Current Stance on Bollywood
If I’m being transparent, I don’t really connect with any of the new actors or actresses.
The rare times I watch a Bollywood movie is if it’s an old school film (from the late 90s to early 2000s) or if an old school actor is releasing a new film today.
Since Hollywood has been an incredible disappointment as of late, Bollywood movies introduce a unique twist.
There’s a big difference between eating a hamburger vs chicken biryani.
The flavor levels are different.
I view Bollywood to be extra spicy chicken biryani.
Bollywood will grow on some.
While others will hate it forever.
There is always a special spot for Bollywood in my heart.
It was a big part of my childhood.
I’m receptive to it because I’m familiar with it.
My final stance on Bollywood is that it’s a fun way to pass time.
What Type of Content Do You Consume?
I miss the old days when directors were trying to create art rather than only trying to make money.
Nowadays, these studios only greenlight scripts that can reach box office success, despite poor storylines.
They are trying to capitalize on past brands rather than focus on creating new ones.
I’m different when it comes to self-improvement.
I don’t think you should just be doing productive tasks and that’s it.
I think you should appreciate the arts and invite it into your life.
Movies are a form of art.
There’s a style for everyone.
Right now, I’m waiting for Hollywood to get back on track.
Till then, Bollywood has a couple of classics that I can get behind.
For more insights into storytelling, check out the Art & Science of Storytelling
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