Films which aim to become “all India hits”

8 January 2019
Formula films

• Viewers differ in class, caste, religion, reginal culture, age, gender, education, urban/rural lifestyle.
• Films which aim to become “all india hits” must cater to all of these demographics
• Hence, the popularity of the masala genre of film which includes a mixture of elements
• Instead of tacking a specific psychological or dramatic element (see Hollywood films), these films are broad- based entertainment which appeal to the communal experience desired by the audience.
  Social dimension
• Movies are often attended by groups of family members or friends (4-10+ people)
• Including all ages, infants to elderly.
• Camaraderie among these groups is evident during the film (interaction with film), interval, and after: “dialogue”
• Film becomes secondary after convenience for groups members, proximity of theatres, ease of access.
• Issues around censorship and “A” (adult) ratings
• Socializing in the theatre, during the film is the norm
  o Singing or humming along, catcalls, whistling, commentary
• Repeat viewing some films become “Superhit” though repeat viewership and stay in theatres for months and years
  o Sholay etc
• Theatre often seat huge crowds: approx. 100 in different sections
  Masala Film
• “I just want to see some masala”
• “entertaining! Pure masala”
• Masala is a mixture of spices indicating the mixture of filmic ingredients n this genre of film
  o Family drama
  o Love triangle
  o Class and status, political humour
  o Song and dance/ musical numbers
  o Fights and chase scenes
  o Comedic interludes/ slapstick
  o Lavish spectacle
  Indian cinema: Summary
• A decentralized industry with many regional bases: Bollywood, Kollywood, Tollywood etc.
• Bollywood films (hindi language from Mumbai) are very popular overseas, especially in ex- sovient union, middle east, parts of Africa, south east asia, mediterreanean and Caribbean.
• Productions started in
  Sholay (“embers”/ Flames)
• First release (1975) to tepid critical reception

- Word of mouth publicity led to it being a commercial hit

Questions for Sholay (reflection)

1. How does Jai embody aspects of a typical “hero” of the 1970s?

• Brave ()coin flip in the end
• *Honest (commitment person gave commitment to Thakur to help him fight the thieves)
• *Caring (took Thakur to hospital then running away )
• Relation with authorities
• Intelligent (thrown holi colors in gabar eyes)
• He starts with nothing but ends up being a “hero”
• He is always helping out people, which makes him a hero. And being a criminal before and than transitioning towards not being a criminal or getting money.
• Everytime he flipped the coin, he always something right and always wanted to keep his friend away from dangerous things.
• He went beyond the moral code and do something that is right. Being a widow and remarrying.
• Which was right for Jai, because radha has the right to enjoy her life and be happy.
• Helping Thakur in fighting against bad (gabar)
• Kindhearted (after listening to Thakur story they gave him money back anf decided to help him anyways)

1. Describe the character of imam, and his role in the idealized village life of the film?

• The village is not realistic. There is no drama going in the village. Everyone gets along with one another etc.
• Everybody listens to him, not everyone in the town is muslims. When basanti helped him go down from the stairs and said that everyone loves him.
• Imam represents the unity of the village. He is the voice of the village. Which is not realistic.
• Showed the village as an idealistic but imam still wanted him son to go out the village and work and earn good.
• Imam told everyone to fight with gabar and they all listen to him
• Physical difference didn’t matter for imam, doesn’t matter what religion they had in the village.
• Everybody is helpful to imam (postman reading letter to imam)
• Message for the movie:
  o he is old-> respect elders, he is blind or disable.
  o Muslim and hindu can get along together, there isn’t any fight between different religions.
  Imam present in the holi festival

1. What form of justice is depicted in the film? Why might his have resonated with film audiences of the 1970s?
   Visualanti justice – when you take authorities in your hands.

• Taking justice from gabbar from killing thakur’s family. But he hired 2 criminals (jaidev and veeru as they have been in all jails but they were nice in nature (helped Thakur in fighting with thieves) ) to take the revenge.
• To fight the thieves in train Thakur took help of two criminals .
• Retributed justice
• Veero taking justice for killing jai
• Taking help from criminals in jail also depending on them in listening what to do (pistol wala scene)

1. How do the songs function in the movie?
   -1st song in the movie ye Dosti showing their true friendship there strong bond )
   Holi song (after jo dar gaya woh mar gaya song comes) celebration after killing his two scared and useless people

• Mehbooba ( finish barood wagera by jai and veeru )
• Koi haseena jab rooth jati hai tou ()
• Jab tak hain jahan (to save veeru)

-True emotions of the character-> throughout the movie

Sample Solution