Bollywood...Que??

I started this blog during my tenure as the web editor at the Santa Fe New Mexican, and migrated it to my regular music site when I left there. I think it needs a more separate, more nimble and (perhaps more economically viable) location , so here it is - lets hope its third home is the lucky one.


So what's this all about?

More than just Bollywood, this blog will also look at the country's rapidly shifting cultural and economic changes. India is an overwhelming, rich and varied experience, and as India hurls itself into the 21st century, positioning itself to be a major player in the world economy, the sociocultural impact it is experiencing as a by-product is equally deep and varied. So we'll try to cover it all.

As an online/new media professional, I devote a lot of personal and professional interest in looking at developments in Indian media over at the New Media blog I maintain. Areas in that sphere Ill point to from here and vice versa.


So how does a Bollywood blog come out of New Mexico?? For a quick context, I am a musician of Indian music (of Mexican descent with Lebanese families ties as well) and had the great honor to be chosen to work on an Indian indie art-film in that capacity. You can learn about the music work here (where you can also learn all about the film) or, alternatively, here, which is a little more active.

Would New Mexicans be interested in Bollywood? who knows, but here's some random points to consider:

With the emerging film industry in New Mexico, it could be a good market to tap into. I'd personally love to see a Mumbai - New Mexico film connection develop.

An interesting thread on one of the Bollywood forums I frequent was a discussion on the rising affinity and enthusiasm for Bollywood amongst Hispanics.Despite some surface similarities (use of bright and festive color, emphasis on family, big weddings, spicy food), another interesting lynchpin was discovered: Bollywood = telenovelas + songs!

As I posted there, "both genres have love knots, family conflict, a tendency towards melodrama, gorgeous actors and actresses..." The equation is of course simplistic, but if you love the Spanish-language soaps, you'll relate to Bollywood movies, trust me -- and it belies some interesting cultural affinities that are worth exploring at a deeper level, too.

That's not to say you have to have a Hispanic or Latino background to enjoy these films. Bollywood's scope and unique cinematic voice is much much broader, and what makes these movies special (in my view) I'll explore soon.

But -- as the title implies -- this will cover more than Bollywood. Its a very special time to be watching and falling in love with India with all of its hope, history and heartbreak converging at a breakneck pace in these times.