Bollywood

The first cinema show in India took place at the Watson Hotel in Bombay.

Save Dada Films produced the first Indian documentary in 1897.

The first short film in India titled 'A Dancing Scene' was directed by Hiralal Sen in 1898.

J.F. Madan built the first cinema hall 'Elphinstone Picture Palace' in Calcutta in 1907.

'Shree Pundalik' became the first theatrical film released in India on 18th May 1912, directed by Dadasaheb Torne.

The first fully indigenous Indian feature film Raja Harishchandra, made by Dadasaheb Phalke, was released on May 3, 1913. It was a silent film with titles in Hindi and English, and it marked a significant milestone in Indian cinema history.

The Indian Cinematograph Act of 1918 was established to regulate the exhibition of films in India, marking a significant development in the country's film industry.

Baburao Painter was the first individual to promote his film 'Vatsala Haran' through the use of cinema posters, pioneering a new marketing strategy in the Indian film industry.

Dhiren Ganguly's Bilat Ferat, released in 1921, was the first Indian love story film. It marked the beginning of a new genre in Indian cinema during the 1920s.

On March 14, 1931, Ardeshir Irani released 'Alam Ara', the first Indian film with synchronized sound, marking a groundbreaking milestone in the history of Indian cinema.

'Indra Sabha' was released in 1932 with a remarkable 71 songs, setting a record for the highest number of songs in any Indian film at that time.

In 1933, Regal cinema in Bombay became the first air-conditioned cinema in India, offering a new level of comfort and luxury to moviegoers.

The first Indian color movie, 'Kisan Kanya,' was created in 1937, although it only found popularity in the late 1950s and early 1960s.

Kismet, released in 1943, was a groundbreaking film in Indian cinema, featuring bold themes such as an anti-hero character and an unmarried girl getting pregnant. It also showcased the first double-role by an Indian actor.

Bollywood films were introduced to Indonesia at the end of World War II in 1945, marking the beginning of cultural ties between India and Indonesia. The popularity of Bollywood in Indonesia has seen fluctuations over the years.

The social-realist film Neecha Nagar, directed by Chetan Anand and written by Khwaja Ahmad Abbas, received the Palme d'Or at the inaugural 1946 Cannes Film Festival, bringing international recognition to Hindi cinema.

The partition of India in 1947 divided the country into the Republic of India and Pakistan, leading to the migration of filmmaking talent from centers like Lahore and Calcutta to Bombay.

In 1948, Raj Kapoor established RK Studios, which became one of the prominent film studios in Bollywood. It played a significant role in shaping the Indian film industry during its era.

Indian films, particularly Bollywood productions, gained immense popularity in the Soviet Union, surpassing even Hollywood and domestic Soviet films. The release of Dharti Ke Lal in 1949 marked the beginning of a trend where Indian films attracted large audiences in the region.

The Parallel Cinema Movement emerged in the 1950s as an alternative to mainstream Bollywood films, drawing inspiration from Indian literature and offering a different cinematic experience to audiences.

Raj Kapoor's film Awaara, released in 1951, is known for its chemistry between Kapoor and Nargis. The film's dialogues, songs, and dream sequence made it a classic of the '50s.

Aan, directed by Mehboob Khan and starring Dilip Kumar and Nimmi, was the first Indian film to gain mainstream attention in the Western world in 1952, being subtitled in 17 languages and released in 28 countries.

The Filmfare Awards were introduced in 1954 by the Indian screen magazine Filmfare to recognize the best films of the year. Initially known as the Clare Awards, they follow a poll-based merit format similar to the Academy Awards.

In 1955, the Bollywood Cine Costume Make-Up Artist & Hair Dressers' Association (CCMAA) prohibited female makeup artists from becoming members. This ban was later overturned by the Supreme Court of India in 2014, citing violations of constitutional rights.

Mehboob Khan's Mother India (1957) was the first Indian film nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, defining conventional Hindi cinema for decades.

K. Asif's Mughal-e-Azam (1960) is one of the best-known epic films of Hindi cinema, produced during the Golden Age of Hindi cinema.

In 1965, Pakistan banned the import of Bollywood films. However, the ban did not stop the popularity of these films in the country, as trade in unlicensed DVDs and illegal cable broadcasts continued.

In 1970, the term 'Bollywood' was coined, giving the Indian film industry its iconic name and global recognition.

Yaadon Ki Baarat, directed by Nasir Hussain and written by Salim-Javed, is considered the first masala film and quintessentially 'Bollywood' film, pioneering the Bollywood-blockbuster format.

Sholay, released on August 15, 1975, directed by Ramesh Sippy, is considered one of the biggest Hindi films ever made. It introduced new technical aspects like a stereophonic soundtrack and widescreen format.

In 1976, the Film Finance Corporation faced criticism during a Committee on Public Undertakings investigation for not doing enough to encourage commercial cinema.

In 1982, Bhanu Athaiya made history by becoming the first Indian to win an Oscar for her costume design in the film 'Gandhi'.

In 1983, the Indian film Souten, starring Rajesh Khanna, became the first Indian film to be shot in Mauritius.

Sridevi's film Naagin, released in 1986, propelled her to stardom in the 1980s. Along with Madhuri Dixit, Sridevi dominated the Bollywood scene during this decade.

Mira Nair's Salaam Bombay! was a highly acclaimed Bollywood film in 1988 that played a crucial role in the international recognition and acceptance of Bollywood films. It contributed to shaping the Indian film culture and introducing it to a global audience.

Mory Kanté's song 'Yé ké yé ké' was used as background music in the 1990 Bollywood film Agneepath, inspiring the Bollywood song 'Tamma Tamma' in Thanedaar. This was one of the instances where Kanté's music influenced Bollywood.

Shah Rukh Khan's popularity in British Asian communities significantly contributed to the success of Bollywood films in the United Kingdom, with films like Darr (1993), Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge (1995), and Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998) playing a key role.

Indian music director Viju Shah's hit song 'Tu Cheez Badi Hai Mast Mast' in Mohra (1994) was plagiarised from Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan's popular Qawwali song 'Dam Mast Qalandar'. This was one of the instances where Khan's music was used in Bollywood.

Shah Rukh Khan's film Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, released in 1995, is considered an all-time blockbuster and the longest-running film in Indian cinema history. It marked the era of King Khan in Bollywood.

Bollywood music director Anu Malik turned Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan's spiritual 'Allah Hoo, Allah Hoo' into 'I Love You, I Love You' in Auzaar (1997), which reportedly aggrieved Khan. Malik claimed admiration for Khan's music but Khan expressed disappointment in the plagiarism of his religious song.

In 1998, the Indian government officially recognized the film industry, including Bollywood, as an industry. This marked a significant milestone in the history of Indian cinema.

In January 2000, Rakesh Roshan, a prominent Bollywood film director and father of actor Hrithik Roshan, was shot by Mumbai organised-crime hitmen.

The critical success of 'Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India' in 2001 marked a significant milestone for Bollywood as it received substantial box office success worldwide.

In 2002, Bollywood sold 3.6 billion tickets and generated a total revenue of $1.3 billion, showcasing the industry's financial success and global reach.

Salaam Namaste was the first Indian film shot entirely in Australia and became the most successful Bollywood film in the country in 2005. It marked the beginning of Bollywood's significant presence in Australian cinema.

In 2006, the Bollywood film Dhoom 2 became the first Bollywood film to be shot in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Aamir Khan's films from Taare Zameen Par to Secret Superstar have been credited with redefining and modernizing the masala film genre with socially conscious cinema.

Danny Boyle's Slumdog Millionaire (2008), inspired by mainstream Hindi films, achieved critical acclaim and won numerous awards, including four Golden Globes and eight Academy Awards. It is considered an homage to Hindi commercial cinema.

3 Idiots was introduced to Chinese audiences through the pirate market and became a cult hit. It is considered one of China's most popular films of all time, leading to Aamir Khan gaining a large fan base in China.

Salman Khan's film Dabangg, released in 2010, was a massive success at the box office. It marked the beginning of Salman Khan's dominance in Bollywood during the 2010s.

The 2010s saw the emergence of successful female-centered films like The Dirty Picture, Kahaani, and Queen, which gained wide financial success in Bollywood.

A blog post discussing the history of Bollywood, mentioning the variations in Hindi transliteration and the use of nationalist renaming of cities. It also includes comments from readers appreciating the information shared.

A visitor appreciating the information shared about Bollywood for their school project.

Priya expressing interest in the information shared about Bollywood.

SS Rajamouli's Telugu language film Baahubali: The Beginning, released in 2015, started a new wave of Pan-India films, influencing the Indian film industry.

Dangal became the 16th-highest-grossing film in China and the highest-grossing non-English foreign film in any market. Aamir Khan's success with Dangal solidified his status as a box office king in China.

Secret Superstar broke records for the highest-grossing opening weekend by an Indian film in China, surpassing the success of Dangal. Aamir Khan further solidified his position as a prominent figure in the Chinese box office.

Hindi films sold an estimated 341 million tickets in India in 2019, showcasing the popularity and reach of Hindi cinema.

Bollywood actress Taapsee Pannu has produced a new project titled 'Dhak-Dhak', set to be released on October 13. The film is anticipated to make an impact in the Indian film industry.

In 2022, the Hindi industry released 44 movies, out of which 4 emerged as hits and 40 flopped, showcasing the challenges faced by Bollywood in recent times.

Incorporating Bollywood-inspired sounds into music productions to add a unique cultural element. The event focuses on exploring the sounds and techniques used in Bollywood music.

Aamir Khan reminisces about his early days in Bollywood and the critical perspective he had towards his own work in the movie 'Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak'.