Difference between art cinema and commercial cinema
Difference between art cinema and commercial cinema

Difference between art cinema and commercial cinema

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Difference between art cinema and commercial cinema

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Indian art cinema

The popular films, sometimes referred to as commercial flicks, are vastly different from Indian art cinema. Art cinema, however, is not one of the murkiest or most conflicting subjects ever discussed. They try to capture significant facets of Indian reality and are realistic and anthropological. Generally speaking, they stay away from flash and glamour and instead use film as an aesthetic vehicle capable of examining significant facets of the Indian experience.

Characteristics of Indian art film

Indian art films are low-budget and presented at international film festivals. It makes sense that Indian art films do not draw large crowds like popular films. There are many regional films produced that are not shown across India. Artistic filmmakers differ greatly from their counterparts in popular cinema in terms of their commitment to serious filmmaking.

This makes cinema a significant vehicle of artistic communication and avoids the vulgarities and crudities associated with Indian popular cinema. Aristotle says art is mimesis, nourished by twice-situated reality. Cinema is the real world on film. Discourses on art house films can be divided into two poles: as a narrative style and as an institution.

The beginning of Indian art cinema

Indian Art Film In India, Satyajit Ray is the first name mentioned when discussing art films. This is due to his major role in creating this genre and popularising it worldwide. The first of these films was his 1955 thriller, Pather Panchali.

Pather Panchali was selected as one of the top 10 films of all time in a 1992 survey by Sight and Sound. Indian popular cinema and Indian art films contrast starkly. They successfully employ understatement, which is lacking in mainstream movies. Visual lyricism and profound humanism are present. In the same vein, Satyajit Ray produced a number of noteworthy films that received praise globally.

Indian commercial cinema

In India, commercial film is the most widely watched genre. Commercial Indian films have grown significantly since their inception. In addition to Hindi, popular or commercial films are also produced in other East and South Indian regional tongues. Let’s examine a few standard practises used in Indian commercial movies.

Commercial films are typically relatively long (about three hours), including breaks, regardless of the language in which they are produced. Music is a key component of Indian commercial movies. Commercial films feature song-and-dance scenes that break up the action.

Routines are used in good films to advance the plot; they are incorporated in bad films to appeal to the audience. Professional playback singers sing, and dancing actors and actresses lip sync to the songs. Melodrama and opera are mixed together in India’s mainstream cinema. These films include romance, comedy, action, and suspense.

Bollywood’s commercial film genres

India’s mainstream commercial cinema includes a variety of significant themes and subjects that are repeated over and over again. The genres of Indian commercial films include romantic comedies, action and vengeance thrillers, social drama and injustice, friendship and male bonding, animation and horror, mythology, and devotion.

To give these commercial films a particularly Indian perspective, the topics integrated into these various film genres represent a distinctively culture-specific approach. The production of motion pictures that draw large crowds to theatres is essential to Indian cinema because of these genres’ charms.

Indian commercial film’s action-thriller genre

One of the most well-known subgenres of Indian commercial cinema is the action and thriller genre, which features the conventional premise of the hero taking on the main villain or a gang of bad guys while also providing the spectator with thrilling stunt sequences. Amitabh Bachchan, the hero of the 1973 Hindi action picture “Zanjeer,” popularised the idea of the Angry Young Man and helped bring action films into widespread popularity in the 1970s and 1980s.

The era’s best-known action heroes included Bollywood performers like Dharmendra, Vinod Khanna, and Bachchan himself. Superstar Rajinikanth set the standard for Tamil cinema in the south, followed by Kamal Haasan. Action films at the time included Sholay, Shahenshah, Agneepath, Don, Kohraam, Dharam Veer, and Hukumat, and in the late 1980s, action star Sunny Deoland helped popularise the genre.

Sanjay Dutt is known for his action flicks such as Ghayal, Ghatak, Khalnayak, and Vaastav: The Reality. Ajay Devgn and Akshay Kumar became reputable action stars in the 1990s; their most well-known films include Khiladi, Mohra, Phool Aur Kaante, and Haqeeqat. Indian, Gangaajal, Khakee, Yuva, Aan: Men At Work, Company, and the Dhoom series are some of the best-known action films of the twenty-first century.

Indian commercial cinema features the romantic genre

Director-producer Yash Chopra personified romance on screen. With his impressive series of romantic movies, including Silsila, Kabhie Kabhie, Darr, Dil To Pagal Hai, and Veer Zaara, he is known as the King of Romance. With Yash Chopra, lovable relationships take on new dimensions. Indian film history includes Jodhaa Akbar, Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, and Mughal-e-Azam. In modern times, the romantic subgenre of Indian commercial cinema has changed and merged with humour.

Conclusion

Finally, art and commercial movies make up Indian cinema. Art cinema depicts important aspects of Indian reality from a realistic and anthropological standpoint. These low-budget films emphasise serious filmmaking and artistic communication at international film festivals. Satyajit Ray’s “Pather Panchali” established Indian art cinema and won international acclaim for its visual beauty and profound humanity.

However, Bollywood leads the Indian film industry in popularity and audience. Commercial films are longer and include song-and-dance sequences and melodrama. They include romantic comedies, action thrillers, social dramas, and more with cultural views.

Legendary Indian performers like Amitabh Bachchan and Rajinikanth have shaped the action-thriller genre. Yash Chopra and other romantic filmmakers gave love stories new dimensions.

Indian art cinema explores the depth of the Indian experience via artistic narrative, while commercial cinema entertains millions with its many genres. Both streams enrich Indian cinema, giving audiences a variety of cinematic experiences.

Faqs

What is the major difference between art cinema and commercial cinema?

Art cinema focuses on capturing significant facets of Indian reality, using film as an aesthetic vehicle to examine the Indian experience. It is often low-budget, presented at international film festivals, and emphasizes serious filmmaking. On the other hand, commercial cinema, particularly Bollywood, is known for its popularity and widespread viewership. It incorporates elements like song-and-dance sequences, melodrama, and a wide range of genres to entertain the audience.

Who is considered the pioneer of Indian art cinema?

Satyajit Ray is considered the pioneer of Indian art cinema. His film “Pather Panchali,” released in 1955, played a significant role in establishing the genre and gaining global recognition. Ray’s films are known for their visual lyricism and profound humanism.

What are some popular genres in Indian commercial cinema?

Indian commercial cinema encompasses various genres, including romantic comedies, action thrillers, social dramas, friendship and male bonding, animation and horror, mythology, and devotion. These genres often feature culture-specific themes that give Indian cinema its unique perspective.

Which actor popularized the action-thriller genre in Indian commercial cinema?

Amitabh Bachchan is credited with popularizing the action-thriller genre in Indian commercial cinema. His portrayal of the Angry Young Man in films like “Zanjeer” in 1973 set the tone for action films and gained widespread popularity in the 1970s and 1980s.

Who is known as the King of Romance in Indian cinema?

Yash Chopra is known as the King of Romance in Indian cinema. He directed and produced a series of romantic movies, including “Silsila,” “Kabhie Kabhie,” “Darr,” “Dil To Pagal Hai,” and “Veer Zaara.” Chopra’s films revolutionized the romantic subgenre and brought new dimensions to love stories on screen.

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Durga Films Production is a Film Production company based in India, Well known for Acting, Auditions, Webseries, Short Films and more. For More Please do contact us.

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