By: Arshnoor
‘It’s back in those days, a dusky evening where the entire family steps into a cozy cinema in Bollywood colours. As the light dims, the screen shows off Shahid Kapoor from Jab We Met, and one knows the film is going to be what we call quintessentially ‘feel good’. One ought to be transported to a world where love
has no bounds, the whims and fancies are believed by everyone, and every moment is filled with vibrant emotions.’
The Hindi film industry has comparatively reduced its production in the rom-com genre since 2015 and one really cannot blame them. The industry needed a gradual shift so that other genres could be explored too, but not at the cost of almost seeing a vulnerable site. The growth of Netflix English and Korean rom coms maybe a justified reason, but the old school Bollywood had a different charm all together! One cannot ignore how this genre made the careers of many Bollywood actors. Shah Rukh khan’s palat moment from Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge [1995] is etched into our memories forever. Those hopelessly romantic notions were the moments of innocence and wonder, we miss those today. We may not realise it today as an audience, but we never really needed the jingoistic approach that films
today have, abundantly! Films have changed, and unfortunately so have we as an audience. Bollywood has always been a tale of musicals, we lost that too with the sidelining of rom coms. I still avidly remember dancing to the tunes of Teri Ore, taking my mom’s dupatta, swaddling it as a saree, it was silly, but it was fun! Gone are the days when Bollywood impacted the masses, now we change our political narratives.
The last such film that really reminded one of the same was Bareilly ki Barfi [2017], a beautiful film and beautiful storytelling. The emotional climax where Jai and Aditi from Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na [2008] realise their love for each other amidst the backdrop of an airport departure, culminating in a heartfelt reunion and declaration of love made me clap like no one else. Today, the process of filmmaking has changed, producers touch the nerves of their audiences but forget to touch their hearts. One of the reasons may
also be about filling pockets, which is totally justified from a perspective of a production house whose money is invested.
It is all revolving around us, it all lies within us, the audience. I still remember the streak of Akshay Kumar’s filmography back then, it indeed had a cultural impact, now he is nowhere to be returning back to that square. We must remember, on our bad mood days, we may watch Namaste London [2007] or Hum Tum [2004] but definitely not what Bollywood produces today. Even the repeat value of films has gone. Today the genre is covered with a blanket of social awareness, Toilet-Ek Prem Katha [2017] is one of them, but I wish the genre really revives, we cannot lose it! And Imran Khan, please come back 🙂
