Why A Book On Bollywood
Why a book on Bollywood? For most people traveling to India is one of the big bucket list destinations, probably a one and done. If you are lucky and smart then you’ve set aside a good chunk of time, two weeks if not more to see a few cities, check out the sites, experiment with the food, experience the culture. At the very least having a passing familiarity with Indian history is important, read up on the Indus Valley civilizations, Mughals, Marathas, the British Raj. You’ve probably had Indian food, been to an Indian restaurant, had curry’s and tandooris, nan bread is delicious. All of this is excellent preparation for your trip, but to really get the most out of it, the best suggestion to be made is to get a taste of modern Indian pop culture. There is no better way to do that than reading up on Bollywood and watching a few films before you go. Having the ability to rattle off a favorite film or two and recognizing some of India’s movie stars will get you far. Yes, pretty much any Indian is going to know who Tom Cruise is, but they probably are not expecting you to comment on how much you like Shah Rukh Khan or Katrina Kaif. Being able to mention a few movie stars will absolutely lighten the atmosphere and lead to friendly conversation. Every travel guide always suggests to try and learn a few words in a local language, in this case learning a bit of their pop culture is going one step further.
In terms of learning about Indian history and culture, Bollywood films are just as “accurate” as Hollywood historical fiction, but the broader strokes are there. Feelings about British rule, independence, the Indian diaspora, tradition, honor, family ties are all topics that you can pick up on by watching a varied selection of movies. In short, seeing India through the eyes of Indian storytellers is invaluable.
