Bollywood Star Dust

The war and competition is the part and parcel of every human being. Time was there when the kings and emperors used to fight physically. Autocracy claimed many innocent lives. However, in course of time the human being has been more sophisticated. Everyone needed peace and happiness. The social animal became calm day by day. The fight took a different shape. This fight is neither physical nor verbal. This is a virtual war that has touched almost 25 percents of the population of the world. Even this virtual war has not spared Both Hollywood and bollywood. Which is why, the bollywood movies are being popular at a breakneck speed virtually.

Surprisingly, during last five years the social media has been so potential that no one can but use it. The social networking websites have been the integral part of every one's life. It has both created the life and destroyed the life as well. The facebook, twitter, myspace and orkut in India have been a household name in the current scenario of internet business. The bollywood stars have started using of Facebook, Orkut and Twitter etc. at a supersonic speed. Even, the forthcoming bollywood movies are being popularized by means of social media websites. Especially, bollywood actors have been using Facebook and twitter since these social websites have popularity on the web and user friendly as well.

The Hollywood star Michael Jackson has a fan on not only Facebook but has a verified account on twitter. Similarly, the Hollywood's sexy siren Megan fox has a very popular Facebook page and verified twitter page as well. The bollywood stars Amitabh Bachchan, Shahrukh Khan, Salman Khan, Priyanka Chopra and Deepika Padukone etc. are not lagging behind since Bollywood movies have been always seen the follower of Hollywood movies. The bollywood superstar Shahrukh has been twitting at a hypersonic speed while Salman khan has increased his followers on twitter at a supersonic speed.

The bollywood movies were being popularized by dint of television, radio and newspaper beforehand.  However, the bollywood has changed its trend and has stepped forward towards the digital marketing. The forthcoming bollywood movies are being promoted through search engines and on social media websites. This brings millions of visitors to the websites and the movies become popular virtually. So to speak, the popularity by means of internet is the part of viral marketing. During last year the movies like Kambakkht Ishq, Love Aaj Kal, Aladin and De dana Dan has got huge response on the web. Currently, it seems that the forthcoming bollywood movie housefull will have a success at the box office since millions of visitors have the response on the web.

What to speak of desktop and laptop internet connection, even the WAP and 3G technology has made the people easy to access the information as to bollywood movies. The people are being able to entertain the life while on the move. It seems the world is at the humans' disposal due to the presence of internet and WAP technology. The people can enjoy the promos and trailers of the bollywood movies by virtue of FM radio, mobile phones, MP3, MP4 and all other newly developed gadgets.

Talking about clashes, this one was the mother of all clashes. Can you possibly think any director can be a challenge to James Cameroon? Well, it’s the dawn of the new head named Bollywood. To be more precise Raju Hirani has done the impossible.

3 idiots have done what no one had ever thought of. Before Avatar would release, everyone couldn’t stop blabbering about the movie and the accolades which James Cameroon had accomplished, next generation animation and what not. But, now people are just talking over 3 Idiots, which had no special effects, no James Cameroon nor the cost which Avatar had. Yes! The movie did have Aamir Khan though! What can be said about Mr. Perfectionist? Whenever you count him out, he does something supernatural to get himself back on the charts.

Avatar was based on sci-fiction whereas 3 Idiots was based on the life and struggle of youngsters (Engg. Students). Let’s take nothing away from the Hollywood’s ace director James Cameroon. Avatar is one hell of a movie with mind boggling graphics and special effects. It is really a visual treat for all ages, especially children. But, what the movie lacked is the raw emotion which 3 Idiots had. This is also a fundamental distinction between Hollywood and Bollywood. Bollywood films tend to touch our lives somehow or the other. One such movie is 3 idiots. Avatar was something which was appreciative, no doubt. But it hardly related to humans living in today’s world, whereas, 3 Idiots had something for everyone.

No one could have ever imagined that a Bollywood movie can outperform a big time Hollywood movie. But, yet another time Bollywood has shown its forte and caliber to make good movies and left the costliest Hollywood flick Avatar flummoxed.

It turns out that Rajkumar Hirani's 3 Idiots has out grossed and outperformed James Cameron's 'Avatar' at the UK Box Office! Imagine a $1.2 billion (and still counting) phenomenon called 'Avatar' is trampled by Rs 35 crore-budgeted Bollywood flick!

3 Idiots retains its position in the UK Top Ten after raking in more moolah than Avatar on its first day of release. This Bollywood flick has become the highest grossing Bollywood movie in the UK, beating the likes of Shahrukh Khan's 2008 film 'Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi' and even 'Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna'. It has broken records for Indian films in the US, Australia, South Africa, Pakistan, Fiji and Kenya.

Bollywood has vanquished Hollywood for the first time and that too not for any ordinary movie. 3 Idiots has really made the whole Bollywood film fraternity proud.

Bollywood has yet again proved that they have what it takes to make mind-boggling, path breaking movies! What is the need of the hour for Bollywood at this point of time? We need more movies like 3 Idiots which can uplift the level of Bollywood and make a whole new level for movies. We need to draw a line of superiority when it comes to world movies. A few more years down the line and Bollywood will be head to head with Hollywood, and the credit will go to our great film makers!

It might seem strange at first glance that Bollywood and Hollywood have become such cozy friends. The world’s two greatest film industries have always been independent of each other, with different aesthetics, storylines, actors and audiences.

But after more than a century running parallel to each other, Bollywood and Hollywood are now engaged in a symbiotic dance that has seen Bollywood movies become a Hollywood success, Singh is King top the worldwide box office charts, and Spiderman in all its avatars win the box office in India. Aishwarya Rai does a juicy cameo in Pink Panther:2, Sylvester Stallone and Denise Rich do cameos in Khambakht Ishq, and Snoop Dogg is an enthusiastic item boy for the keynote song in Singh is King. Hollywood is now financing Hindi movies, while Bollywood finances Hollywood flicks.

Cultural Imperialism is dead. Long live cultural free trade.

Still, some things do get lost in translation, so the increasing cooperation between the two film industries has created a demand for people who understand them both intimately.

Vishal Solanki is a gifted, young cinematographer who has experience in both cultures and both industries. Solanki began studying photography initially at the Indo American Society in Mumbai and subsequently succeeded in enrolling at the over 150 years old historic Sir J. J. Inst. Of Applied Art, Mumbai (the most reputed institution for Applied Art in India).

While studying for his BFA, Solanki also spent a lot of time drawing, painting and studying all forms of artistic applications. Solanki graduated Sir J. J. Institute Of Applied Art winning 5 awards, including the State Government Bronze Award for best work, the CAG Bronze and the John Walter Thompson ‘Big Idea of the Year’.

He returned to work as an apprentice to renowned veteran Director of Photography Binod Pradhan on commercials, music videos and one of the most successful movies in Bollywood history, Munnabhai MBBS directed by Rajkumar Hirani. Solanki also assisted cinematographer Vijay Kartik on his famous Bollywood venture Taxi No. 9211, directed by Milan Luthria.

On the other side of the world, Solanki was Director of Photography on Losing You, a feature film directed by Canadian director Ian Clay, which is slated for release in 2009.

Apart from feature films, he has created a stir in the Documentary genre, which is almost non-existent in Bollywood. His work on documentary Pashan Palvi has received immense praise and his work on female infanticide documentary titled ‘Sunaina’ is receiving a great response in film festivals in Europe.

When did you know you were going to be a cinematographer?

It happened over time, so I can’t give you a precise date. I always loved movies, and was particularly drawn to the look of a movie. While I was studying painting at Sir J. J. Inst. Of Applied Art, I took up a course in still photography alongside.

Soon I was assisting my seniors in lighting portraits and helping them out in the dark room printing black and white photos. I then took up photography as my specialization at JJ. I was 18 and during that time, I was looking at movies constantly to get inspiration for lighting. Slowly, I realized that cinematography would offer me avenues to discover both lighting along with emotions with the help of narrative. Devdas had just released and whole of Bollywood was stunned by the visuals created by Binod Pradhan. After that, I had no doubts that I wanted to work and learn under him. I called his residence for around fifteen days non-stop, making friends with all his family, but he was generally out on shoots. Finally one day he picked up the phone and allowed me to meet him on set at Concorde Studios where he was shooting a commercial for Fair and Lovely cream. I would say after that shoot, I had no doubts that cinematography is what I wanted to do.

Was there a formal connection between the institute and Bollywood? Did you know when you got out of college you would work in Bollywood?

Well I won’t say that there was a visibly formal connection, but at the same time people seem to trust students of JJ without any doubt. I was doing still photography when I was 19 and 20 for big clients like Airtel, Planet M and a lot of advertising print media. Also, some alumni of JJ had emerged as successful filmmakers both in ad films and feature films. I just looked up to them and I thought that if they could do it, I could do it as well. I did not look at Bollywood as the only area of concentration since there was a lot of media like tv commercials, music videos and documentaries which in essence is not always Bollywood but I still have a strong liking in creating such media.

So your career began when you were still in school. What did you do then?

I am very happy with the way things have gone. I was always the youngest no matter which set I was on. At a certain point, people advised me that I was young and that I had time for formal training. I then planned to leave for my studies in Cinematography and Directing. I received an honors in both from the Los Angeles Film School in Hollywood.

That’s interesting, how do you compare and differentiate between Bollywood and Hollywood? Did you notice a difference between the industries?

Yes, definitely. There is a difference in almost everything. Every thought. Every way of doing things. On a larger level Bollywood is a film industry, whose psychology is primarily based on sentiments and beliefs of the Indian culture to a large extent and Hollywood is a more assorted basket as far as these beliefs are concerned. It is a more cosmopolitan mix of screenwriters, directors and other technicians who come along from diverse backgrounds. Also I think Hollywood films have a more universal liking than Bollywood generally because they are made for a wider audience whereas Bollywood aims at Indian audiences in India and rest of the world generally. Language also plays an important role in reaching larger audiences. Technically, there is also a difference in the length, pacing and the structure in which the scripts are written. Also, it is important to not that Indian audiences are very different from rest of the world. Very often it happens that a Hollywood film which does great in the US may not do as good at the box office in India and vice-versa.

Who are your favorite cinematographers and why?

I admire the work of cinematographers like Vittorio Storaro, Conrad Hall, Roger Deakins, Christopher Doyle, Dion Beebe, John Toll, Wally Pfister, Gordon Willis, Rodreigo Prieto, Dante Spinotti and Bill Pope. From Indian cinematographers, I am a big fan of Binod Pradhan, Ravi K. Chandran, Santosh Sivan, Ashok Mehta and Anil Mehta. I think they all have great skills in lighting and composition of course, but on a higher level it is how they perceive a script and transform it into compelling storytelling.

What was the most challenging job you’ve had and why?

I cannot think of one now. I mean of course there are many challenging things in every project we do, but most of that is planned in pre-production stages. I generally shoot films in many languages. Releve was no dialogue, whereas El Buen Amigo was in Spanish, Pashan Palvi was in Marathi and Losing You in English. India speaks many languages! This is a challenge for any cinematographer because in the end, he has to interpret the script and create his own language on celluloid which is based on lights and shadows; where every audience can connect on an emotional level. Also I have had the opportunity of working with good directors who knew exactly what they wanted so I cannot think of any anecdotes.

What is the future of cinematography, and film itself? The near future? Long term future? What new technology should we look out for?

As everyone knows that film is diminishing, as in film stock, digital technology such as Hi Definition and Blu Ray are definitely the near future. The beauty of technology is that you never know the long term future, because technology

always takes us by surprise! One thing is for sure, media will get more easy to access, through the internet via cell phones, laptops etc. making viewing an easier experience.

And what is the future of Bollywood-Hollywood cooperation and co-production?

It will be a great fusion of different sensibilities and techniques, coming together to tell a universal story with emotions for a worldwide audience. Both India and the US are vast countries, with cosmopolitan cities and people from all around the world and different cultures. India within Indians itself, is so diverse with so many languages, dialects and cultural behavior. This is just the beginning and I am sure it is one of a breathtaking journey!

Initially, it was the multi-starrer thingy and item numbers which created spark and acted like an X factor for a film to do well at the box office, but things are gradually changing year after year. Nowadays it’s the westernization facet which is doing the trick for bollywood. Recently movies like Kambakkht Ishq, Love Aaj Kal and Blue brought this élan into the film industry.

Hollywood celebs are making their way into the Bollywood film industry. Be it supermodels or reputed pop singers or classic actors of main stream cinema, you name it and we have it. Critics may criticize Bollywood against Hollywood when they compare the two with chagrining facts like, Bollywood made a revenue of $1.75 Billion in 2006 which is only half the revenue of what one Hollywood studio, Walt Disney made in 2006. But there is verity in the sentence that, Hollywood is fascinated by Bollywood. Bollywood has a lot to offer to Hollywood and likewise Bollywood can take notes from Hollywood.

Which is better? The debate can go on and on. One might say that there is no debate as Hollywood is way ahead than Bollywood. For example, the hard sell surrounding Bollywood’s increasing influence in the world film industry, it is a long way from being a threat to Hollywood’s influence. Revenue-wise Hollywood movies does not depend on ticket sales alone. It follows the time-tested ‘franchise-formula’ where a main part of the revenue or profit comes from other segments like TV networks, magazines, home-videos etc. Of course, Bollywood is eyeing the same line but it is too early to say if a successful process is in place. But just the profits and loses, the mechanical process and the technologies ain’t the only thing that one should take into consideration because there is a lot of aspects to look into.

The major difference between Hollywood and Bollywood commercial movies is that Indian films possess a must feature of periodic song-and-dance routines of 5 to 10 minutes each, in a good movie. Top 100 disco songs is most selling album in Indian history. Songs are recorded by professional play-back singers and lip synched by movie characters normally actors and actresses. Whereas in Hollywood such things don’t exist, hence they are fascinated towards Bollywood. Bolywood films have anything and everything just like a Santa Claus gift bag and Hollywood aims more at the cinematic experience.

But as the things are coming down nowadays, would we see Bollywood and Hollywood merge? Especially after the feat which Slumdog Millionaire achieved, are we in for seeing more movies wherein Bollywood coalesce with Hollywood? In the near future Barbara Mori will be seen pairing with Hrithik Roshan for the film Kites and we will see Anupam Kher feature in Hollywood’s ace director Woody Allen’s untitled project. After Slumdog Millionaire, the gap between Bollywood and Hollywood has shortened and it is becoming a mutual thingy. If this is for things to come, then very soon we might see Sylvester Stallone going around the trees with Mallika Sherawat and Hrithik Roshan playing James Bond.

Bollywood Pictures

We all know that Hollywood is out of story ideas and is adopting scripts from Asian film hits. For those who may not be well-versed in the international film circuit, the closest encounter they may have had with Bollywood pictures are Hollywood knock-offs such as “The Guru” and the yet to be released “The Love Guru,” both movies tampering with Indian culture with less than flattering representations. But what most people do not know is that Bollywood is a burgeoning film industry with a reputation of producing an impressive number of 1000 feature films a year.

History

No, Bollywood is not what you’d expect it to be, as its name suggests. Perhaps the common thing between Hollywood and Bollywood is that they’re both the entertainment capitals of nations that have a huge movie-loving crowd. There is no Beverly Hills counterpart in India or a mountain which displays big, white letters that spell ‘BOLLYWOOD’ to mark the country’s entertainment center. Instead, ‘Bollywood’ is a portmanteau word derived form ‘Bombay’ and ‘Hollywood’ which is used to refer to India’s movie industry.

India started making films in 1913 (the first being “Raja Harishchandra” a full-length silent feature film) and by three more decades, 200 Bollywood pictures were being produced in a year!

As known by those who enjoy international film sampling once in a while, Bollywood pictures are mostly musicals. It is also known to Bollywood audiences that a film’s success greatly depends on the quality of the musical numbers they present. This means elaborate costumes, a lot of singing, and meticulously choreographed dances.


Bollywood overseas

From the traditional musicals, Bollywood has also produced pictures more suited to the taste of an international audience. In 2002, ‘Devdas,’ which stars

Aishwarya Rai , made a great impact at the Cannes Film Festival, causing audiences to take a closer look at Indian cinema. Not long after, Ronnie Screwvala, a prominent Bollywood producer, took Jhumpa Lahiri’s award-winning novel, ‘The Namesake’ into a full-length motion picture. The movie was a commercial success, providing more opportunities for Bollywood movies to have a wider circulation outside of India.

All in all, Bollywood’s growth is undeniable. Stars such as Aishwarya Rai have now started crossing over, gaining popularity in the western world. She has started being seen in popular television shows such as 60 Minutes and even the ever popular Oprah Winfrey Show.

The scripts of Bollywood films are commonly in ordinary Hindi or Hindustani which are also spoken by most of the population. However, a number of movies have also used regional languages or dialects depending on the local color of the film setting. Current mainstream Bollywood films also make great use of English. A lot of films have several lines of English incorporated in the script. There is also growing number of Bollywood pictures that are made entirely in English. This is another sign of Bollywood reaching out into the global market.

This is a very difficult infection health guide this world exists. There's intimidation, came to authorities from time to time give us a lot. Nevertheless, the world it is no longer facing any end of the world, but the vulnerability seems imminent. The simplest of God can be predicted that the end of the world. After listening to the story, everyone has life-threatening stress, leading to cardiac arrest, including high blood pressure, not simply the diagnosis of other diseases of the lot the way we live. On the other hand, we will be able to let each clever psychological and physical stress of the media and new Bollywood film entertainment benefits. 

One of Bollywood entertainment is to help the release of our daily life good resource constraints. Stress can be introduced in many ways reminiscent of: staring movies, listen to horoscopes, where to eat, and ultimately a holiday. Moreover, the new Bollywood film has a release of pressure a significant role. Basically, each new Hollywood and Bollywood films, TV series has an ideal power to make a substitution. Alternative makes a person feel, and to provide more effective capacity, standing negative characteristics of life. 

Experience of the film is considered to make a political candidate facilities, doctors, engineers, so you can say that this is only a fictional world scientists and other assets. Recently, a new Bollywood film has been widely used as access to the Internet, television and FM radio results generally in every part of India. Terrible start from the rich folks might be able to buy a TV home entertainment. After a virtual TV, to the advantage of more people. 

Virtual TV can also be cheaper considering all about, it has been fierce competition in the market as a result of the fact that cheaper folks. The value of the monthly cable market has been greatly reduced because the digital TV services. The new film is being watched a simple free registration, a new Bollywood film some day. Some films will also be watched only by the number of virtual television company to pay. They can give you a reasonable price large. In the present day, a new Bollywood film, Hollywood has taken some degree of shape. This horror film and special effects movies are very popular all through the last five years. 

Kambakkth Ishq Bollywood's' way once the lead is Akshay Kumar and horror film festival AA Dekhen good Zara is also used to Jammu by superb. Sadly, the strike in the digital channels are no longer any time to provide big business for the 'AA Dekhen Zara. On the other hand, news, and commented that it was a good movie. In the meantime, a lot of movies are very, as in the spine by the Amitabh, Aamir way to do the three directions of the role of those idiots popular. Bollywood film even made three stupid astronomical trade. 

My other movie title is Khan 'is the industry's best terms, because it involves 15 billion rupees, which is only 10 days. Indian films have excellent spine is another new style, as Amitabh Bachchan has attracted a huge flux of people to see the new Bollywood movies. Amitabh Baba is still full of energy, and to ensure adequate, until his 80-year-old painter paintings.

The time it happened, so I can not give you an exact date. I've always liked the movie, and drew particular movie expectations. When I was in graduate school jazz j, j of the painting. Applied arts, I also shot in the next course.

Soon, I was assisting lighting portrait and help in the dark room printing black and white photos out of my predecessors. Then I picked up my Jinjiang professional photography. I am 18 years old at that time, I was looking forward to watching the film constantly lighting inspiration. Slowly, I realized that I will provide photography, found that with both the channels of the narrative and emotional help lighting. Devdas has just released all of Bollywood Mr. Binod Pradhan created by the visual effects stunned. After that, I have no doubt that I would like to work and study under him. Non-stop about fifteen days I called his house, so that all his relatives and friends, but he generally listed in the bud. Finally one day, he picked up the phone, so I set to meet in the Concord studio where he was shooting a lovely cream business to him. I would like to shoot, I have no doubt that I want to do photography.

Is there a research institute and Bollywood formal link between? You know when you put your college in the Bollywood work?

Well, I would not say there is a clear formal links, but people seem to believe, there is no doubt that JJ students. I was doing photography, I am still like Airtel, for 19 years, the earth M and print media advertising many large customers 20. In addition, some alumni of the JJ has become a successful film producer both in commercials and feature films. I just looked at them, I thought, if they can do this, I can do it as well. I did not see as the only concentrated area, because there is a like a TV commercial, music videos and documentaries which, in essence, do not always have Bollywood, but I still like to create such a strong number of media in the media Bollywood.

So, you start your career among the school. What did you do it?



I am very happy things are handled. I was always the youngest, no matter which set I started. At some point, people tell me, I'm young, I had formal training time. Then, I intend to leave the photography and the director in my school. I received two from the Los Angeles Film School in Hollywood honor.

This is interesting, how do you compare and Bollywood and Hollywood is the difference? Did you notice the difference between the industry?



Yes, right. There is a difference in almost all. Every thought. Each way of doing things. Is a much greater extent in the Bollywood film industry, mainly for the psychological feelings and beliefs and Indian culture in Hollywood is a much more convictions on these kinds of baskets. This is a more writers, directors and other technical personnel who went from diverse backgrounds international portfolio. Also I think Hollywood has a love of Bollywood than the average, more generally, because they are wider audience, while Bollywood Indian audience in India and other parts of the world common goals. Language also plays an important role in reaching a wider audience. Technically, but also in length, speed, and in which the script is written to the structural differences. In addition, it is important that the Indian audience is not very different from around the world. In many cases, this kind of thing is no big Hollywood movie in India in the United States may not do as good as the box office and vice versa.

Who is your favorite photographer and why?



I admire such as Vittorio Storaro, Conrad Hall, Roger Deakins, Christopher Doyle, Wong Bibi, John Toll, Wally Pfister, Gordon Willis, Rodreigo Prieto Dante Spinotti and Bill Pope photographer's work. Photographer from India, I am Binod Pradhan, Mr. Ravi Chandran, Santosh Sivan light, Ashok Mehta and 阿尼尔梅塔 big fan. I feel they are in the lighting, of course, an enormous skill, but at a high level is how to treat their script into a compelling story.

What is the most challenging job, you have had, and why?



I can not think of one. I mean, of course, there are many challenging each and every project we do things, but mostly in pre-production phase. I generally make a movie, in many languages. Releve no dialogue, but El Nino is the Spanish Buen Amigo, Pashan Palvi gains and losses in Marathi English you. India's multilingual! This is a challenge to any photographer, because in the end, he explained his play, and create their own language, is the celluloid light and shadow, where viewers in each of the emotional level. With whom I had know exactly what they want, so I can not think of any good anecdotes director jobs.

What is the future of the film, the film itself? The near future? Long term future? We should have seen what new technologies it?



As we all know, the film is in the film as a reduction of inventory, such as the Hi definition Blu-ray and digital technology in the near future, certainly. The beauty of this technology is that you never know what long term future, because technology



We are always surprised! One thing is for sure is that the media will be more easily available via the Internet through mobile phones, laptops and other more easily viewing experience.

What is Bollywood, Hollywood co-operation and co-production of the future?



This will be a different sensitivity and technology come together to tell the world the audience and the general emotional story, great integration. India and the United States is the majority of countries and peoples of the city, from around the world and different cultures. Indians in India itself, so there are so many languages, dialects and cultural behavior are different. This is just the beginning, I believe this is one of an exciting journey!