When I was a kid, I remember my parents introducing me to old Bollywood movies. The slow, family-centric films with strong narratives, where actors were still mastering their craft. This was what they called the Golden Age of Bollywood, spanning from just after independence in 1948 to around 1965.
You see, when the British left India, they left behind a nation struggling to find its footing. War weary from World War II, with mounting tensions at its borders and little to boast about on the global stage. Yet, in this hardship, India found its true identity. Unlike the West, India wasn’t producing Olympic champions or building glamorous cities to attract tourists. Instead, its character was best reflected by Gandhi a humble, patient, and peace-loving people.
Cinema of that era was a reflection of this identity. It was original, deeply rooted in Indian culture, and crafted by an educated elite.
But today, when I watch Indian films, I’m absolutely appalled. The protagonists have been reduced to one-dimensional macho men who obsessively stalk women and throw enemies into the air like rag dolls. Most stories are hyper unrealistic with dialogues so uninspired that they make you question the writer’s maturity. Random dance scenes and so much money being flaunted that it will make your annual salary look like pocket change. Over-the-top spectacle of ostentation and flashiness. Whenever someone tells me they’ve been exposed to Indian culture, I only hope they haven’t based that perception on Bollywood movies.
Plagiarism in Bollywood music has become so normalized that it’s hardly even frowned upon. Many songs are blatantly lifted from international hits, regional folk tunes, or older classics sometimes with minimal changes beyond a tempo shift or a few altered notes. What’s worse is that this practice has persisted for so long that audiences barely question it anymore. Instead of being called out, music directors often get away with labeling these copies as "inspiration" or "tributes," making originality in mainstream Bollywood music a rarity rather than the norm.
If that weren’t enough, Bollywood has now taken to making films heavily centered on ethnic tensions, often portraying certain communities (specially the Muslims) in a degrading light.
What went wrong? How did it become this bad? Is there something for America to learn from the case of Indian cultural shifts? Let’s take a deep dive-
A Tragic Tale
If you want to watch a good Indian movie, watch Pyaasa. Seriously! Made in 1957 this classic story revolves around struggling poet whose work is dismissed by society, leaving him disillusioned and lost. After being presumed dead, his poetry gains recognition, but when he returns, he rejects the materialistic world that once shunned him, choosing love and solitude over fame.
Bollywood movies during this era were widely watched in Sub Continent, Middle East, the Soviet Union and Africa. People loved the strong family values, financially humble society and unique stories. Even now when I meet people from these cultures (being the cultural explorer I am) they talk about movies from these eras and remember names like Raaj Kapoor and even Amitab Bacchan.
This was a time when India’s educated elite didn’t immediately jump on a plane at the first opportunity to settle in the West. Instead, they were part of the Indian community, challenging mediocrity and encouraging fresh ideas.
During this time, India had its share of challenges but remained a unique nation admired for its rich culture and heritage. However, something changed in the late 1960s, the Green Revolution. Yes, yes, I know… I probably wouldn’t exist without it. But to put it simply, India’s population had remained stagnant at around 400 million due to limited food supplies and recurring famines. With the introduction of the Green Revolution, food became more affordable, leading to higher food security, lower death rates, and a sharp decline in famine-related mortality. Ultimately triggering a population boom.
Everything seemed great until this booming population reached the job market. The intense competition for employment pushed many educated individuals to seek opportunities abroad. Soon, having a family member living overseas became a mark of prestige, and most upper-middle-class families had at least one relative settled abroad. This shift also fueled a growing appetite for international goods, including yes, you guessed it, the movies. As a result, the upper middle class gradually stopped investing in Bollywood cinema the way they once did.
Now enter B-grade movies in the scene. Low-budget films with simple storylines, primarily catering to lower-income communities. While these films had their niche, they gradually began reshaping Indian cinema itself, paving the way for the over-the-top, commercialized industry we see today.
Intellectual theft is the death of creativity. I remember, as a kid in school, teachers encouraged cramming Creative writing comprehension passages for better grades. The so-called ‘Jugaad culture’, as they call it, stems from the need to succeed quickly in a fiercely competitive environment. Plagiarism is normalized from childhood, to the point where people engage in it without even thinking. A prime example? Scroll through the comments on a Indian YouTube video you’ll often see people outright copy-pasting the top-liked comment as their own. I mean, what’s the reward? They are just hardwired to plagiarize. You’ll even find some people convinced that India is the true inventor of modern technology, rewriting history with bold but baseless claims. Unfortunately, this mindset traps a nation bursting with potential in an innovative desert.
I hope the country rediscovers its core essence and redefines its identity beyond religious and ethnic divisions. With time, perhaps it will serve as an example for emerging nations in the developing world showing them the importance of retaining their educated elite rather than losing them to opportunities abroad.
