Bollywood Cinema: A Transnational/Cultural Role

There has always been a strong link between India's social and political history and Bollywood cinema. Within the context of the nationalist movement in India, Bollywood cinema has played an important role in constructing various dichotomies such as tradition/modernity, Indian/Western and spiritual/material. By negotiating with these binaries, Bollywood narratives have contributed to the dialogue on women's roles and position in Indian society. In the past, Bollywood filmmakers were faithful to representations of women who were bound by patriarchal structures in the sense that they were expected to be loyal to ancient Indian traditions and belief-systems. Based on the increase in Indian migration, contemporary Bollywood filmmakers are now catering to the demands of the Indian diaspora and therefore, a more global market. Diasporic Bollywood films provide audiences with material that suggests re-thinking patriarchal structures in a transnational world. This article examines the impact that transnationalism has had on the Indian diaspora and the manner in which this translates into the narratives and representations of female characters in popular Bollywood films. Through the progression of time, Bollywood cinema has evolved. As a result, it has become a transnational/cultural role player for Indian audiences worldwide.