SlideShare a Scribd company logo
Intertextuality
     in Bollywood
              Films
The Seven Samurai
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xnRUHtSgJ9o
The Magnificent Seven
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FPsm_po7lKA
Sholay
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLhzpe3_V_g
Localization
What makes a Japanese film Japanese?
What makes an American film American?
What makes an Indian film Indian?
Localization
A form of intertextual play in which
systematic changes are introduced to a text
intended to make it more meaningful to local
consumers.
WHAT ARE THE KEY ELEMENTS
OF BOLLYWOOD FILM?
Influences
• Indian epics
   – Mahabharata
   – Ramayana
• Theater traditions
   – Classical
   – Folk
   – Parsi
• World cinema
   – Hollywood
• Music TV
   – MTV
   – Star TV
Genres
              Follow indigenous aesthetics

Popular       Offer idealistic/mythic portraits

              Aimed at local audiences


              Follow Western „realist‟ aesthetics

Artistic      Offer socially realistic portraits

              Aimed at foreign „art‟ circuit
Bollywood Themes
•   Melodrama
•   Morality
•   Caste & Community
•   Family
•   Women
•   Aesthetic of Interruption
Melodrama
     A narrative form
     characterized by
      – the sharp delineation
        of good and evil,
      – the use of
        coincidence,
      – emotional hyperbole,
      – the privileging of
        moral conflicts over
        psychological ones.
                  (Ganti 2004: 135)
Morality
• Good vs. Evil
• Order vs. Chaos
• Moral order and social
  order (dharma)
• “committed to the
  maintenance of the
  status quo” (Gokulsing and
  Dissanayake 2004: 20)
Communities
       •   Hindus
       •   Muslims
       •   Sikhs
       •   Christians
       •   Jains
       •   Parsis
       •   Buddhists
Caste
Varnas
                  Varna            Gloss
Purity   Brahmin          Priestly caste

         Kșatriya         Ruling caste

         Vaisya           Trading caste

         Șudra            Servants and laborers

Pollution Dalit           Untouchables
VARNA         JATI     FAMILIES   INDIVIDUALS


Purity      Brahmin

            Kshatriya
                        Brahmin

                        Thakur
                                       3

                                      64
                                                    ?

                                                   450
             Vaisya     Sonar          1            5
                        Nonias        10           200
                        Kahars         4            ?
                        Gonds          2           10
                        Kandus         2            ?
                        Ahirs         15            ?
             Şudra
                        Nais           3           40
                        Baris          1            4
                        Lohars         8           50
                        Kohars         6           25
                        Barais         3            ?
                        Kalwars        2           10
                        Telis         10           40
                        Dhobis         1            4
                        Dharikars      1            4
                        Khatiks        3           10
                        Bhars          4           20
              Dalit
                        Musahars       1           15
                        Chamars       37           350
                        Dafalis        4           16

                        Bhats          1            6
Pollution               Dhunias        4           20
                        Helas          2            ?
Family
THE JOINT FAMILY                IDEAL TYPE
• Patrilineal                   • Nurturing, self-sacrificing
                                  mother
• Patriarchal
                                • Generous Father
• Patrilocal household          • Dutiful wife/daughter-in-
• Marriage joins two              law/sister-in-law
  families                      • Dutiful son/son-in-
• Family constructed by           law/brother-in-law
  relations of mutual service   • Modest daughter/sister
  and sacrifice                 • Strong, wise elder brothers
• Household gods                • Smart, affectionate
                                  younger brothers
Women
        • Chaste and self-giving
           – Sita
        • Sweet and alluring
           – Radha
        • Avenging Goddesses
           – Durga
Mothers
    • The most important
      person in Indian
      family life
    • Juncture of moral and
      social values
Rituals
• Samskāra (40)
   – Pre-birth
   – Birth
   – Coming of Age
     (upanayana)
   – Marriage
      • Arrangement
      • Engagement
      • Wedding
   – Death
• Puja
• Holidays
Aesthetic of Interruption
                                           •   Digressions
                                           •   Interludes
                                           •   Songs
                                           •   Love scenes

An aesthetic of interruption refers to this practice of continually distracting
the viewer and delaying the development of the plot. Deferring the
climax builds anticipation and enjoyment (Gopalan 2002).
Best Current Book on Bollywood:
Ganti, Tejaswini. 2012. Producing
Bollywood:Inside the Contemporary Bollywood
Film Industry. Duke University Press
References
• Ganti, Tejaswini 2004 Bollywood: A
  Guidebook to Popular Hindi Cinema.
  Routledge.
• Gokulsing and Dissanayake 2004 Popular
  Indian Cinema.
• Gopalan, L 2002 Cinema of Interruptions:
  Action Genres in Contemporary Indian
  Cinema. British Film Institute.

More Related Content

More from Mark Peterson

Simulacra
SimulacraSimulacra
Simulacra
Mark Peterson
 
From Godzilla To Monster Island
From Godzilla To Monster IslandFrom Godzilla To Monster Island
From Godzilla To Monster Island
Mark Peterson
 
Moral panics
Moral panicsMoral panics
Moral panics
Mark Peterson
 
Oshin, The Bold & The Beautiful, and the Great Escape
Oshin, The Bold & The Beautiful, and the Great EscapeOshin, The Bold & The Beautiful, and the Great Escape
Oshin, The Bold & The Beautiful, and the Great Escape
Mark Peterson
 
Children’s Consumption
Children’s ConsumptionChildren’s Consumption
Children’s Consumption
Mark Peterson
 
Imsukuhum kulhum
Imsukuhum kulhumImsukuhum kulhum
Imsukuhum kulhum
Mark Peterson
 
World systems theory
World systems theoryWorld systems theory
World systems theory
Mark Peterson
 
Pokemon: What This Class Is About
Pokemon: What This Class Is AboutPokemon: What This Class Is About
Pokemon: What This Class Is About
Mark Peterson
 
Kashmir Policy Briefing
Kashmir Policy BriefingKashmir Policy Briefing
Kashmir Policy Briefing
Mark Peterson
 
What are miami anthropology faculty doing at the AAA?
What are miami anthropology faculty doing at the AAA?What are miami anthropology faculty doing at the AAA?
What are miami anthropology faculty doing at the AAA?Mark Peterson
 
Bollywood intertextuality
Bollywood intertextualityBollywood intertextuality
Bollywood intertextualityMark Peterson
 
Medical anthropology
Medical anthropologyMedical anthropology
Medical anthropologyMark Peterson
 
Succeed at Miami University-Students
Succeed at Miami University-StudentsSucceed at Miami University-Students
Succeed at Miami University-StudentsMark Peterson
 
Succeed at miami: Parents
Succeed at miami: ParentsSucceed at miami: Parents
Succeed at miami: ParentsMark Peterson
 
The four fields of anthropology
The four fields of anthropologyThe four fields of anthropology
The four fields of anthropologyMark Peterson
 
What Is An Anthropologist?
What Is An Anthropologist?What Is An Anthropologist?
What Is An Anthropologist?
Mark Peterson
 
Egyptian youth in urban and virtual spaces
Egyptian youth in urban and virtual spacesEgyptian youth in urban and virtual spaces
Egyptian youth in urban and virtual spaces
Mark Peterson
 
At War in Afghanistan
At War in AfghanistanAt War in Afghanistan
At War in Afghanistan
Mark Peterson
 

More from Mark Peterson (19)

Simulacra
SimulacraSimulacra
Simulacra
 
From Godzilla To Monster Island
From Godzilla To Monster IslandFrom Godzilla To Monster Island
From Godzilla To Monster Island
 
Moral panics
Moral panicsMoral panics
Moral panics
 
Oshin, The Bold & The Beautiful, and the Great Escape
Oshin, The Bold & The Beautiful, and the Great EscapeOshin, The Bold & The Beautiful, and the Great Escape
Oshin, The Bold & The Beautiful, and the Great Escape
 
Children’s Consumption
Children’s ConsumptionChildren’s Consumption
Children’s Consumption
 
Imsukuhum kulhum
Imsukuhum kulhumImsukuhum kulhum
Imsukuhum kulhum
 
World systems theory
World systems theoryWorld systems theory
World systems theory
 
Pokemon: What This Class Is About
Pokemon: What This Class Is AboutPokemon: What This Class Is About
Pokemon: What This Class Is About
 
Kashmir Policy Briefing
Kashmir Policy BriefingKashmir Policy Briefing
Kashmir Policy Briefing
 
What are miami anthropology faculty doing at the AAA?
What are miami anthropology faculty doing at the AAA?What are miami anthropology faculty doing at the AAA?
What are miami anthropology faculty doing at the AAA?
 
Bollywood intertextuality
Bollywood intertextualityBollywood intertextuality
Bollywood intertextuality
 
ATH slideshow web
ATH slideshow webATH slideshow web
ATH slideshow web
 
Medical anthropology
Medical anthropologyMedical anthropology
Medical anthropology
 
Succeed at Miami University-Students
Succeed at Miami University-StudentsSucceed at Miami University-Students
Succeed at Miami University-Students
 
Succeed at miami: Parents
Succeed at miami: ParentsSucceed at miami: Parents
Succeed at miami: Parents
 
The four fields of anthropology
The four fields of anthropologyThe four fields of anthropology
The four fields of anthropology
 
What Is An Anthropologist?
What Is An Anthropologist?What Is An Anthropologist?
What Is An Anthropologist?
 
Egyptian youth in urban and virtual spaces
Egyptian youth in urban and virtual spacesEgyptian youth in urban and virtual spaces
Egyptian youth in urban and virtual spaces
 
At War in Afghanistan
At War in AfghanistanAt War in Afghanistan
At War in Afghanistan
 

Bollywood localization

  • 1. Intertextuality in Bollywood Films
  • 5. Localization What makes a Japanese film Japanese? What makes an American film American? What makes an Indian film Indian?
  • 6. Localization A form of intertextual play in which systematic changes are introduced to a text intended to make it more meaningful to local consumers.
  • 7. WHAT ARE THE KEY ELEMENTS OF BOLLYWOOD FILM?
  • 8. Influences • Indian epics – Mahabharata – Ramayana • Theater traditions – Classical – Folk – Parsi • World cinema – Hollywood • Music TV – MTV – Star TV
  • 9. Genres Follow indigenous aesthetics Popular Offer idealistic/mythic portraits Aimed at local audiences Follow Western „realist‟ aesthetics Artistic Offer socially realistic portraits Aimed at foreign „art‟ circuit
  • 10. Bollywood Themes • Melodrama • Morality • Caste & Community • Family • Women • Aesthetic of Interruption
  • 11. Melodrama A narrative form characterized by – the sharp delineation of good and evil, – the use of coincidence, – emotional hyperbole, – the privileging of moral conflicts over psychological ones. (Ganti 2004: 135)
  • 12. Morality • Good vs. Evil • Order vs. Chaos • Moral order and social order (dharma) • “committed to the maintenance of the status quo” (Gokulsing and Dissanayake 2004: 20)
  • 13. Communities • Hindus • Muslims • Sikhs • Christians • Jains • Parsis • Buddhists
  • 14. Caste
  • 15. Varnas Varna Gloss Purity Brahmin Priestly caste Kșatriya Ruling caste Vaisya Trading caste Șudra Servants and laborers Pollution Dalit Untouchables
  • 16. VARNA JATI FAMILIES INDIVIDUALS Purity Brahmin Kshatriya Brahmin Thakur 3 64 ? 450 Vaisya Sonar 1 5 Nonias 10 200 Kahars 4 ? Gonds 2 10 Kandus 2 ? Ahirs 15 ? Şudra Nais 3 40 Baris 1 4 Lohars 8 50 Kohars 6 25 Barais 3 ? Kalwars 2 10 Telis 10 40 Dhobis 1 4 Dharikars 1 4 Khatiks 3 10 Bhars 4 20 Dalit Musahars 1 15 Chamars 37 350 Dafalis 4 16 Bhats 1 6 Pollution Dhunias 4 20 Helas 2 ?
  • 17. Family THE JOINT FAMILY IDEAL TYPE • Patrilineal • Nurturing, self-sacrificing mother • Patriarchal • Generous Father • Patrilocal household • Dutiful wife/daughter-in- • Marriage joins two law/sister-in-law families • Dutiful son/son-in- • Family constructed by law/brother-in-law relations of mutual service • Modest daughter/sister and sacrifice • Strong, wise elder brothers • Household gods • Smart, affectionate younger brothers
  • 18. Women • Chaste and self-giving – Sita • Sweet and alluring – Radha • Avenging Goddesses – Durga
  • 19. Mothers • The most important person in Indian family life • Juncture of moral and social values
  • 20. Rituals • Samskāra (40) – Pre-birth – Birth – Coming of Age (upanayana) – Marriage • Arrangement • Engagement • Wedding – Death • Puja • Holidays
  • 21. Aesthetic of Interruption • Digressions • Interludes • Songs • Love scenes An aesthetic of interruption refers to this practice of continually distracting the viewer and delaying the development of the plot. Deferring the climax builds anticipation and enjoyment (Gopalan 2002).
  • 22. Best Current Book on Bollywood: Ganti, Tejaswini. 2012. Producing Bollywood:Inside the Contemporary Bollywood Film Industry. Duke University Press
  • 23. References • Ganti, Tejaswini 2004 Bollywood: A Guidebook to Popular Hindi Cinema. Routledge. • Gokulsing and Dissanayake 2004 Popular Indian Cinema. • Gopalan, L 2002 Cinema of Interruptions: Action Genres in Contemporary Indian Cinema. British Film Institute.