Explain in Brief if Bollywood has gotten over its addiction of putting style over substance.
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Bollywood has long been criticized for prioritizing style over substance, often focusing on glamorous visuals, star power, and elaborate song-and-dance sequences at the expense of storytelling depth. However, in recent years, there has been a noticeable shift towards more content-driven cinema.
Films like Andhadhun, Article 15, and Gully Boy have garnered critical acclaim and commercial success, indicating a growing appetite for nuanced narratives and strong performances. These films address social issues, offer complex characters, and prioritize storytelling over spectacle. Directors like Anurag Kashyap, Zoya Akhtar, and Shoojit Sircar have been at the forefront of this movement, bringing more realistic and thought-provoking content to mainstream audiences.
Additionally, the rise of digital streaming platforms like Netflix and Amazon Prime has played a significant role in this shift. These platforms provide a space for more experimental and varied storytelling, allowing filmmakers to explore unconventional themes and narratives without the pressure of box office performance.
While traditional Bollywood masala films still dominate the industry, the increasing success and popularity of content-rich movies suggest that Bollywood is gradually moving away from its addiction to style over substance. The industry is evolving to balance both, offering audiences a mix of entertaining and meaningful cinema.
One of the common criticisms directed towards Bollywood involves the blatant prioritizing of style over the substance of cinema created. Focus is largely centered over extravagant set design, glamourous costumes, fusions of classical dances and upbeat songs. Plot and sometimes even acting, tends to take a backseat in this extravaganza that is propagated as “cinema”.
Cinema is a visual art, but visuals are not the only important aspect. Sanjay Leela Bansali’s recent work “Heeramandi” displayed extraordinary visual cinematography, excellent set designs and yet, failed to create a compact and convincing plot. While certain actors had stellar performances, others absolutely failed to capture the essence of their characters.
Certain films have managed to avoid this tendency. Kiran Rao’s recent work “Laapata Ladies” is an example of the perfect amalgamation of a decent storyline, excellent performances and good cinematography. Despite being a fairly low-budget film, it managed to capture the interest of a significant audience. What Bollywood films need the most is a strong captivating screenplay. However, such films are getting rarer day by day and Bollywood does need to make a conscious effort to move away from big-budget blockbuster extravaganza to proper gripping cinema.
Bollywood’s relationship with style over substance has evolved significantly, though it still grapples with this dynamic. Historically, the industry prioritized visual appeal, extravagant sets, and star power over narrative depth and character development. Films often focused on glossy presentation, dance numbers, and melodrama, sometimes at the expense of meaningful storytelling.
In recent years, however, there has been a noticeable shift. Filmmakers are increasingly prioritizing substance, with a growing emphasis on realistic narratives, complex characters, and socially relevant themes. Movies like “Gully Boy,” “Article 15,” and “Andhadhun” showcase this change, blending strong storytelling with engaging style in a more balanced way. These films address contemporary issues and provide nuanced portrayals of characters, reflecting a departure from the purely style-driven approach of the past.
This evolution is also driven by changing audience expectations and the influence of new storytelling formats, such as web series, which demand richer content. Despite these advancements, Bollywood still occasionally leans on style-heavy elements, particularly in commercial blockbusters. However, the increasing success of content-driven films suggests that the industry is progressively moving towards a more balanced approach, valuing both substance and style.
Bollywood has traditionally been critiqued for prioritizing style over substance, often favoring glamorous visuals and star power over meaningful content. However, recent trends suggest a shift. Filmmakers are increasingly blending style with substance, as seen in films like “Article 15” and “Andhadhun,” which deliver strong narratives alongside aesthetic finesse. The rise of diverse storytelling and an emphasis on character-driven plots reflect a growing recognition of the importance of substance. Yet, challenges remain, with high-budget productions occasionally overshadowing smaller, content-rich films. Overall, while there’s progress, Bollywood’s journey towards balancing style and substance is ongoing, with some inconsistency in its execution.