Aamir Khan
IN THE past quarter century, Bollywood movies have been gaining ever-increasing popularity in overseas markets, especially in China, the United Arab Republic and North America.
Raj Kapoor’s iconic movies were already popular globally from the 1950s, but few other movies ever made the grade, with distribution abroad largely restricted to cinemas catering to the Indian diaspora. But by the turn of the century all that changed dramatically, to the extent some of the new generation of filmmakers even tailor their product specifically for international markets.
So, what brought about the change from the long-held view that watching Indian films was an acquired taste for anyone that did not speak the language or understand the nuances of the culture?
Largely, it is the realisation by producers, directors and actors that good storytelling speaks a universal language that will find wider appeal. This has led to films where the global box office is no longer dominated solely by Hollywood blockbusters. Instead, a diverse mix of emotional dramas, high-octane action films, and sports biopics have claimed their stake.
