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Movies are considered to be the most popular medium of mass communication in India (Raina 131-141, Gargan 11-12). In terms of quantity of films produced per year, India indisputably leads over 75 feature film producing nations in the world (Dharap 626). The Bombay film industry, popularly known as 'Bollywood' (Gargan 11), on the average produces over 700 full length films every year (India News 5-6, Abbas and Sathe 354-371). When regional films are included, the count exceeds 800 per year. However, the popularity of Hindi films in India has been increasing at such a phenomenal rate that it has all but choked the production of films in regional languages. The number of Hindi talkie films produced per year went up from 23 in 1931 to 750 in 1983 (Abbas and Sathe, 354-371); an increase of over three thousand percent in 70 years.
Although the impact of movies on the Indian populace has not yet been studied systematically, scholars focusing on films as popular culture speculate its influence to be quite strong. Abbas and Sathe write: In a country, where less than five per cent (sic) buy or read newspapers and books, the Hindi film is the only popular form of literature and art for the vast masses of the common people. Their contact with prose is the dialogue that they hear, the only poetry that enriches their lives is the poetry of film lyrics. Hence the importance of the talkie that can educate and inspire the people even while entertaining them. (1985: 369)
The influence of films on the nation may be estimated crudely by the fact that in the last two decades, several film stars have been achieving resounding victories over veteran politicians in major elections. Not only have film stars been gaining footholds in politics, but they have been steadily coming to the forefront in many other arenas of social activity. Bombay film stars have lately been leading environmental, communal harmony, anti-dislocation, anti-violence and several other social change movements and service organizations in India.
Interestingly, the far reaching influence of Hindi films does not stop at the geographic borders of the country of their origin. When Indian immigrants reached the shores of the U.S., they brought with them their love for the familiar...