Reflecting the changing times and societal shifts in India
Mumbai: The evolution of Hindi cinema over the decades reflects both changing societal values and audience tastes. In the aftermath of the Golden Age of Bollywood, certain themes came to dominate narratives and audience expectations. MovieMe- a cutting edge entertainment tech and content discovery platform did a detailed study to understand the evolutions of the different themes.
In the 1960s and 1970s, themes like love, family, and identity dominated, while more recent narratives have begun to explore themes of struggle, war, truth, and justice, a study by MovieMe reveals. While some classic tropes, such as revenge and familial bonds, remain timeless, contemporary cinema increasingly focuses on deeper societal issues like inequality, freedom, and power.
As the world has changed and Indian society evolved alongside, so too has the content of Hindi films, reflecting the times and concerns of the present day. The new themes we see prevalent today represent a shift in Bollywood’s storytelling approach, moving away from formulaic plots to more diverse, complex narratives.
Could this thematic evolution herald a new Golden Age of cinema, or does it signal a move toward uncharted territory? Bollywood has come a long way over the decades – and continues to evolve in its role as a mirror of Indian society.