One of my more intrusive friends has taken up the dubious
yet somewhat heroic act of periodically nagging me to watch the pride and joy
of Indian entertainment: Bollywood. Being an ignoramus of titanic proportions
when it comes to South Asian entertainment, I was instantly turned off by my
companion’s unceremonious persistence. It was by sheer, biblical coincidence
that I encountered a Bollywood video clip on YouTube. For reasons that would
have confounded the world’s foremost psychiatrists, I went on a venomous
rampage of Bollywood video content that lasted roughly an hour. Coming up for
air, it dawned on me how little I know about Indian culture and how much I
detest Bollywood movies.
Supporters of Bollywood may frantically argue that my
disdain for Indian movies is unjust due to my lack of understanding and
experience of Indian culture. But whose fault is that? With Indian culture
still possessing a certain aura of mystic in the Wild West; the blame cannot be
rightfully pinned on me. Modern homo sapiens attain the majority of their
culture from the media. Thus, unless I partake on a daring adventure through
the cool streets of Calcutta for six months, my tiny and rather simplistic excuse for a brain will never
truly grasp the Indian point of view towards Bollywood. Myself, like most
Americans, will never give the proper appreciation to the singing, dancing and
flamboyant apparel that can be found in many Bollywood movies. With most
Bollywood movies only appearing on specialty digital channels and flights to India being more valuable than a non-smokers
lung, India may very well stay foreign to me for a very long time.
As I mentioned previously, my friend is a very persistent
sort and she rightfully argued that it would be relatively inexpensive and
virtually harmless to subscribe to the Bollywood channel my cable provider
offers and give it a run through for a month or so. To be honest, I just don’t
have the time or the energy to embark on a new journey across a very foreign
and monstrously big entertainment medium. It is daunting and cumbersome to just
follow the goings on in Hollywood and adding Bollywood isn’t going to make it any easier. I am also worried that
instead of the usual Hollywood sewage of explosion, breasts and sub par acting,
I will instead witness cheesy romance, awkward singing and dancing and Indians
playing British soldiers in a harrowing and dramatic game of Cricket. My
assumption may be ignorant, but it is my assumption. Bollywood may have much to
offer when it comes to well made and entertaining content, but right now, it’s
simply too foreign for us foreigners to understand.
of understanding and
experience of Indian culture. But whose fault is that? With Indian culture
still possessing a certain aura of mystic in the Wild West; the blame cannot be
rightfully pinned on me. Modern homo sapiens attain the majority of their
culture from the media. Thus, unless I partake on a daring adventure through
the cool streets of 
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