Bollywood has a strong desire to explore new genres, but it does so with great caution. Black humor was not explored until the early 1980s. Pioneering filmmakers like Kundan Shah and Hrishikesh Mukherjee introduced the genre with their ground-breaking films like Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro, Golmaal, and Khoobsurat. Even the horror or periodic genres saw sporadic exploration in the 20th century. In recent years, Bollywood has seen a tremendous metamorphosis, with a renewed emphasis on sports-based films. The sports genre has now found its true place in the Indian cinema industry, from enthralling tales of success and tenacity to exhibiting the spirit of sportsmanship. This blog examines Bollywood’s appropriation of the sports genre and its effects on both filmmakers and spectators. Scroll down to read Sports-Themed Films Impact On The Indian Film Industry.
Sports-Themed Films Impact On The Indian Film Industry
Sports films were one of the mostly unknown genres in the Indian film industry. In actuality, the inclusion of Sports in Indian films has been ignored for a considerable amount of time. Even if they did produce a sports film, it would not receive the same level of respect as other genres.
However, it is not the fault of the film business that sports are ignored. After all, aside from India’s spectacular hockey win, there wasn’t much activity in the other sports. There wasn’t much to show for it, except a few exceptional events like the 1983 Cricket World Cup and the eight Olympic gold medals in hockey.
Another crucial factor was the failure to recognize that sports films might also make for fascinating content as opposed to turning out to be more of a documentary. As a result, stories of Indian heroes like Major Dhyan Chand and Milkha Singh went unsung, while sports giants like Jesse Owens and Muhammad Ali went on to inspire several biographies and sports films.
History
Sports did not feature on the big screen in a significant way, which is easily understandable given the lackluster reception that such “different” types of films received.
The first well-known film with a sports theme was Mohan Kumar’s “All-Rounder,” which he also produced and directed. The successful cricketer who swears to restore his lost reputation and career after becoming embroiled in a significant dispute served as the central character of the 1984 film.
“Hip-Hip Hurray” was another film with a sports theme released in the same year. It was based on the protagonist’s brief job as a computer engineer who helped a school football team win. The fact that the movie was centered on football during a time when cricket was becoming enormously popular was just one of many ground-breaking aspects of it. India had just claimed the World Cup in 1983.
Breaking Stereotypes
Bollywood has historically been famous for its action-packed blockbusters and romantic dramas. But with the popularity of sports-themed films, the business has defied expectations and forayed into unexplored waters. These films have offered a welcome change of pace by telling motivating stories of athletes and their incredible exploits.
The Modern Era
A 2001 film by the name of Lagaan catalyzed the true resurrection of sports in Bollywood. After its debut, the Amir Khan-led periodic drama-sports movie, which had a massive $30 crore budget, did indeed shatter several prejudices. It told the tale of a group of Indian men competing against English men on a cricket pitch and was set in a village in British India.
In addition to portraying sports in a captivating way, it also emphasized how liberating they can be. Without even a whiff of chauvinism, the film joyfully glorified “Indianness.” It also demonstrated the possibility of financial success for critically acclaimed films. It wasn’t shocking that the film went on to become only the third Indian film to receive an Oscar nomination for Best Foreign Film. Lagaan carried the torch and served as an inspiration for many upcoming sports-themed films.
Iqbal, a film about cricket, was released in 2005 to positive reviews. The deaf and mute cricket player named Iqbal, who hoped to play for the national team, was the subject of the Nagesh Kukunoor-directed film. It was a groundbreaking movie. Iqbal was the first to discuss bowling rather than batting. Then, among other things, it illustrated numerous social stigmas and cricket politics.
Real-life Heroes
Sports films can bring to life stories of unsung heroes from real life. Bollywood has immortalized the accomplishments of athletic legends and displayed their inspirational journeys by portraying the challenges, victories, and sacrifices of athletes. In addition to entertaining viewers, films like “Bhaag Milkha Bhaag” and “Dangal” have reintroduced popular national figures to the public eye.
Three different types of formats served as the foundation for the sports genre:
- Chak De India! Where the story was centered on sports.
- Milkha Bhaag Bhaag was another film where the story focused solely on the challenges and struggles of an athlete.
- Dangal, where the larger social, political, or cultural problems in the society were shown using the narrative of athletics as a backdrop.
During this decade, around 15 films in the sports genre were released. They featured both independent films like Mukkabaaz and popular entertainment like Sultan and Gold. After 2010, more biographies, including those of Mary Kom, Milkha Singh, MS Dhoni, and Sandeep Singh, were also released. Two significant biographies about Saina Nehwal and Kapil Dev’s lives have recently been revealed, further demonstrating that sports films are here to stay.
The stakes were raised further when Dangal, starring Amir Khan, became the highest-grossing movie in Indian cinema history. It continued to amuse the masses not just in India but even in China. It made $ 180 million there, which is more than twice as much as it did in India.
Strangely, the rise in the nation’s sporting accomplishments paralleled the rise in the number of sports films released. In the past ten years, Indian athletes have taken home 23 medals from the Youth Olympic Games, 11 Olympic medals, and a cricket World Cup.
Conclusion
One of the most uplifting subgenres in cinema is the sports film. Though enjoyable, it can present many problems and difficulties. It represents important ideals like freedom, resiliency, and unwavering spirit, among others.
Without being overly didactic, a good sports movie delivers both excitement and knowledge. Additionally, it aids in the development of sports and motivates millions of children to pursue careers in the field. Biographies help to preserve the memory of renowned athletes and their contributions to the nation.
The importance of sports films to both the film business and the world of sports cannot be overstated.
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