Foundations of Bollywood Cinema

This unit introduces students to the historical development, major genres, key figures, and cultural practices that define Bollywood film and music. Through film case studies, music and dance examples, and analysis of industry structures and cross-cultural influence, students build foundational knowledge to support deeper production and critical study in subsequent units.

Learning Objectives

• Analyze the historical development and major genres of Bollywood by citing milestone films, movements, and industry shifts (e.g., Sholay, realist-to-romance trends, the rise of the Khans).
• Evaluate the role of music and dance in Bollywood storytelling by comparing musical forms and soundtrack practices (filmi disco, qawwalis, Punjabi traditions, rock influence) and assessing contributions of notable composers and performers.
• Demonstrate the ability to identify and categorize recurring narrative tropes and character archetypes (e.g., antihero, romantic hero), as well as practices of plot recycling, using case studies such as Baazigar and Kapoor and Sons.
• Apply media-analysis vocabulary to explain Bollywood’s cultural reach, cross-industry exchanges (Tollywood, Hollywood), and the influence of film families and awards on production, promotion, and audience reception.