Insider's Guide to Bollywood and Hindi Films

Do you hear the word Bollywood and think someone just mispronounced Hollywood? Or are you a bit more savvy that and need some insight into Hindi culture meanings found in Bollywood films.

Bollywood films are spectacular, over-the-top, and melodramatic. They are also incredibly popular in many parts of the world.

Here is an insider's guide to the gestures, the adornments, and the important words and titles used in Hindi cinema.

Insider's Guide to Bollywood and Hindi Films

What is Bollywood?

Bollywood is a catchy moniker for the popular Hindi films made in India. The term Bollywood also refers to the Hindi language film industry, specifically centered in Bombay, India. A synonym for Bollywood is Hindi cinema, which doesn't quite roll of the tongue like the term Bollywood.

Bollywood films are about romance, comedy, family, melodrama, adventure, and can be musical. While not all Bollywood films are musical, music is an important element in Bollywood films.

To Bindi or Not to Bindi

Bollywood is filled with glamorous women, some wear a bindi, and others do not.
A bindi can designated a married woman, or be used to protect against bad luck. A bindi can be in the form of a dot, or a jewel that adorns the lower forehead of a woman. The bindi has been adopted by Western culture for its sheer style.

Is She Married?

The bindi is one way to indicate a married woman in Bollywood, and in Hindi culture. Another way is to mark the parted hair with a streak of red on the scalp.

Love, Let Me Count the Ways

Different cultures tend to have many ways to express important cultural concepts, and the degrees or levels of those words. In the world of Hindi film, that word is love and its many levels and implications.

How many ways can you say love? In Hindi film titles, there are many word used to express love. One is pyaar, which actually means fondness, affection, love, or attachement. See
Pyaar Ke Side Effects (2006)
Humko Tumse Pyaar Hai (2006)
Khullam Khulla Pyaar Karen (2005)